hey guys I want to put test pipes on my car as my first mod for a few reason. first they are relatively inexpensive. second they make the car sound better. third they supposedly give you one of the best horsepower increases for the money. But i need to know if my z will pass emissions in nc if i have them put on?

 

Every state is supposed to have a visual inspection component to the emission test to detect changes to the oem design. States and locations vary as to the actual implementation of the look see.

Just remember to keep every oem part so that when you sell the vehicle you return to oem to avoid future emission fraud charges and restoration costs.

 

why would you want to put test pipes first? You still aren't getting anymore air into the engine with the stock air box...well at least change the filter or get a pop-charger first. Then change to test pipes but then you need exhaust bc you have to get that exhaust out so you have to get the air in quicker and in more volume and poop it out faster too to really see a difference.

 

I like the way they sound mostly. and from what i understand the stock exhaust isn't all that restrictive

 

If you do go with test pipes make sure you get them with resonators, this will fool most inspectors into thinking you have cats on there when doing the visual test, also do not tell them you have these installed b/c you will not pass. I originally bought HFC so I would not have to deal with this problem and there is not much difference between the two. Also you will start to get a rasp once you do the switch, it will be more noticeable with an aftermarket exhaust so make sure thats what you want.

 

what exactly do you mean by rasp?

 

^some TPs don't sound raspy at all..It's from cheapo ebay TPs that sounds like civic fart can.
Search for TPs that don't sound raspy.. Most people praise Labree Testpipes..
but there are more TPs that have high in quality..

 

I have yet to hear TP's with zero rasp, even HFC rasp a little. Quality is important if you don't want yours to crack or rust but its really all the extra air flow that creates the rasping and it gets worse when adding headers or aftermarket exhaust.

 

but you guys still didn't tell me what rasp is.

 

it sounds like a very loud buzzy civic sound after 3500 RPM at WOT. At partial throttle, there is no rasp. Its more severe for straight pipes on very open exhausts. It can be imroved w/ an X pipe or resonating the TP portion. Its pretty annoying.