HFC confusion....
 

So, I have my HFCs waiting in my garage to be installed. After calling several performance exhaust shops, no one wants to install them. They say that the stock cats have the same guts as the HFC and there really isnt such a thing as HFC and that they will cause more problems than whats its worth. Also, that they are all made pretty much by the same cataltic manufactures and im just wasting my money. Is there any merit to this? Ive read tons about them from this site, i just want to know where they are coming from? I mean, if everyone is seeing results, then i'll take proof of gain over what some guy says, im just wantng to know where they are coming from on this?

Thanks, i just need some clarification!

No clue where they're coming from, but there is plenty of evidence of proven gains here on the forum.

Maybe this will help?

http://www.the370z.com/intake-exhaus...-berk-hfc.html

test pipes :yum:

Cores all the same made by Magnaflow, with different fabrication companies manufacturing the end result. All HFCs, assuming identical size and cell count in core, will net the same power.

My car put down 287.5 on the dyno, they jacked the car up, installed the CNT HFCs and then ran it on the dyno again and it put down 304.

Plus it sounds really mean now under throttle!

E

Go somewhere else, they clearly don't want your business.

I gained 15whp from my Berks when I had my Z, those guys are idiots. And when you do find a shop that'll do it, warn them about the demon bolt :tup:

Here's my install

http://www.the370z.com/intake-exhaus...pe-h-pipe.html

:iagree:

I've got the erz hfc's had em on about 2 weeks now and I'm getting constant CELs. I clear it and within 10 miles its back, used to throw 4 codes about the cats, now it just throws 2 codes about the cats being below thresh hold. I've seen the anti foulers on erz's site but I dont think I should have to pay 1/3 of the cost of the hfc's new for two small fittings.

Did you do the steel wool?

I've thought about the steel wool, but I would like a more permanent solution. I'd like to wait till my breather mods are complete and get the tune done and omit the 02 readings, however closest tuner is 4 hours from me. I have a scan tool of my own which is nice to keep erasing it as it appears.

I installed mine with steel wool havent had any cel's and its been about 500 miles

and I don't blame them. They face a $25,000 EPA fine for installing them.

Here's the correct link to my install (

http://www.the370z.com/intake-exhaus...p-install.html

So i attempted to install them but with the combination of it being 100+ degrees at night and my lack of patience, i really need to find a shop.

For anyone who had them installed, how much did it cost? im just trying to get a ballpark figure. Meineke charges $95hr with 1.5 hr min and they could not give me an estimate over the phone

I paid $125.00 for the install here in central Jersey.

:iagree:What they're telling you is hilarious:inoutroflpuke:

In CA its 150 to 200 for install.

between 100-200 sounds right

i would say anything less than 150 is a pretty good deal.

Beware of the "bolts from hell"!! (When attempting this install.......)

I'm surprised nobody else mentioned this. Unless emissions equipment is faulty or defective, it's illegal to mess with it.

Kind of ironic comment coming from you, didn't you have a TT S2k? :icon17:

Not in Alberta, Canada.

just wait..... i keep getting CEL on my CNT res test pipes and i have the CNT etended o2 bungs and steel wool inside. its keeps coming back on....:shakes head:

just wait for you too! hahahah

Have yours UpRev tuned. You can eliminate the rear oxygen sensor inputs.

Problem solved.

EPA fine was why I sold it. :(

Oh that sucks, :(

Sorry to hear that man, that is exactly why I would never bother trying to go FI in Cali.

Cali is nice because of the carb stuff. Everything is pretty clearly defined.

Considering how bad the air quality is here I don't consider it over-reaching.

I just know better than to go with an FI setup here, hell I just got pulled over/ticketed for tint but thankfully he didn't notice my HFC's ;)

The OP is in TX. As far as local emissions regulations go, even in the big cities with stricter rules, installing aftermarket HFCs (which are emissions functional, not just some empty shell) is perfectly fine.

As far as the feds go: the EPA regs are about improper catalytic convertors. You can install aftermarket converters and still be in compliance with the EPA. They just have to be correct for the car in question and be fully functional, and carry an EPA designation on them. I think it's safe to assume major manufacturers aren't churning out non-compliant HFCs, because even *selling* such an HFC is worth a $25K fine per unit to the mfg, if you go read the EPA docs. If in doubt, I guess you could ask the mfg?

Either way, HFCs are a common upgrade performed by lots of shops all over Houston, and you can get a state inspection with them just fine (and I don't mean with some under the table ******** - they'll pass anywhere in the state randomly).

they get away with it by putting

"FOR OFF ROAD USE ONLY"

Except the fine has nothing to do with actual emissions, and everything to do with removing functional equipment.

370Z/G37 High Flow Catalytic Converters - Nissan 370Z/Infiniti G37 - Berk Technology

^ There's Berk's blurb on their HFCs for our cars. It's street legal other than in Cali.

First, never trust manufacturer claims. The berks failed VA Inspection for me.


Second, that has nothing to do with the fact that it is ILLEGAL to remove or replace functional factory emmissions equipment, even if it is with something equivalent.

Do people get away with it? Sure. But I don't blame a shop for refusing the work.


Now of course... If you factory cats got damaged somehow...:stirthepot:

And this part is completely un-enforceable. It's not hard to "accidentally" cause your cats to malfunction and need replacement. Have you ever heard of this being enforced on anyone, ever (other than California)?

....yes?

If VA has some specific state-level rules, maybe. Or maybe the inspection shop just screwed you? Berk isn't claiming off-road-use-only on these, and I can't imagine they've been around doing as much as business as they are if they're risking $25K fine per item for selling them for street use. The easy way to tell if the mfg's claims are correct is to look for the code number on the cat itself, as stipulated by the EPA rules. I never bothered to look at mine ~2+ years ago, I could try with a mirror later.