Nissan 370Z Forum  

No Catalytic Converters

It is a violation of Federal and state law to remove your catalytic converter. Therefore, my guess is the tuner could be fined under VA law for tuning your car.

Go Back   Nissan 370Z Forum > Nissan 370Z Tech Area > Engine & Drivetrain > Tuning


Like Tree56Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-19-2021, 10:02 AM   #1 (permalink)
Enthusiast Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: San Diego
Posts: 443
Drives: 2011 370Z S/T A7
Rep Power: 2902
wanker has a reputation beyond reputewanker has a reputation beyond reputewanker has a reputation beyond reputewanker has a reputation beyond reputewanker has a reputation beyond reputewanker has a reputation beyond reputewanker has a reputation beyond reputewanker has a reputation beyond reputewanker has a reputation beyond reputewanker has a reputation beyond reputewanker has a reputation beyond repute
Default

It is a violation of Federal and state law to remove your catalytic converter. Therefore, my guess is the tuner could be fined under VA law for tuning your car.
FL 4Motion and djburke87 like this.
wanker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2021, 10:55 AM   #2 (permalink)
Base Member
 
djburke87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Staunton, VA
Posts: 72
Drives: 2018 370z Nismo
Rep Power: 6
djburke87 is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by wanker View Post
It is a violation of Federal and state law to remove your catalytic converter. Therefore, my guess is the tuner could be fined under VA law for tuning your car.
I'm not sure if it's a legal thing or not. I can't find any statewide laws for Virginia regarding them except that the inspection book says that if they are repaired they may be welded to the exhaust pipe. I bought my car from Carmax, and took it to the dealer to have it looked over. The dealer told me about my exhaust set up, and I asked if it was going to be a problem with the law or passing inspection, and they said, "No." They passed it this past winter, so it seems like they weren't lying (about passing inspection anyway).

I have a very loud exhaust, and have never been pulled over for it. In fact, I think recently Virginia banned cops from pulling people over for exhaust, tint, lights out, etc.

So maybe the law is on my side? Probably not, though.

Either way, I'm looking to get it tuned. I guess sooner rather than later, from the sounds of it.
__________________
2018 Nismo - Z1 Cold Air Intake, Z1 Silicone Hoses, Catalytic Converter Delete, Remark Axleback V1 Exhaust
djburke87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2021, 12:07 PM   #3 (permalink)
Enthusiast Member
 
chuckie311's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: las vegas
Posts: 313
Drives: Q50/G37
Rep Power: 13
chuckie311 is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by djburke87 View Post
I'm not sure if it's a legal thing or not. I can't find any statewide laws for Virginia regarding them except that the inspection book says that if they are repaired they may be welded to the exhaust pipe. I bought my car from Carmax, and took it to the dealer to have it looked over. The dealer told me about my exhaust set up, and I asked if it was going to be a problem with the law or passing inspection, and they said, "No." They passed it this past winter, so it seems like they weren't lying (about passing inspection anyway).

I have a very loud exhaust, and have never been pulled over for it. In fact, I think recently Virginia banned cops from pulling people over for exhaust, tint, lights out, etc.

So maybe the law is on my side? Probably not, though.

Either way, I'm looking to get it tuned. I guess sooner rather than later, from the sounds of it.

https://19january2017snapshot.epa.go...hsysrepair.pdf

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/adminco...70/section300/
__________________
Tuned by (Seb@Specialty-Z)
2011 G37 Cam'd FBO 347whp 280wtq Corn Fed 4.08 Gears
chuckie311 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2021, 12:49 PM   #4 (permalink)
Base Member
 
djburke87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Staunton, VA
Posts: 72
Drives: 2018 370z Nismo
Rep Power: 6
djburke87 is on a distinguished road
Default

I had not seen that EPA file before, and it does state you can't remove the cats. The VA law does not say if you can or not.
__________________
2018 Nismo - Z1 Cold Air Intake, Z1 Silicone Hoses, Catalytic Converter Delete, Remark Axleback V1 Exhaust
djburke87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2021, 07:31 PM   #5 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
FL 4Motion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: FL
Posts: 4,776
Drives: Baby Shark
Rep Power: 701616
FL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by wanker View Post
It is a violation of Federal and state law to remove your catalytic converter. Therefore, my guess is the tuner could be fined under VA law for tuning your car.
Agreed, plus,

Federal law supersedes state law every time.

EPA reg states all vehicles built after (iirc) 1968 must have cats if they came with them oe.

Again, iirc, the FEDERAL fine for violating this is around $37k per offense. The EPA has been known to have vans parked along the highways that are equipped with “sniffers” that can get you when/if you drive by. Odds are good that probably won’t happen but it’s out there. Also, any LEO can pull you over in any state if they smell that “catless” odor as probable cause and a quick visual inspection could mean a state level fine but possibly even a federal one depending on your luck.

Long story short, IMO it’s not worth the risk for a street driven car to go catless. ESP when there are federal EPA compliant hfc’s out there. No hfc will meet CARB, but some will meet federal regs. I don’t know if fast intentions hfc fall into that category or not, but they are one of the best companies out there for high quality z parts.
FL 4Motion is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2021, 07:38 PM   #6 (permalink)
Ronin Samurai - Assassin
 
Rusty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Fayettenam,Pennsyltucky
Age: 69
Posts: 35,436
Drives: 2011 Nismo GM 6M
Rep Power: 2684438
Rusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond repute
Talking

You can go catless until you get caught.
danegrey and SteveVQ like this.
__________________

浪人 - 殺し屋
"The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only"
http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html
Rusty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2021, 07:42 PM   #7 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
FL 4Motion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: FL
Posts: 4,776
Drives: Baby Shark
Rep Power: 701616
FL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond reputeFL 4Motion has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Just want to add one more thing, I was just perusing the latest EPA reg update from December 2020. They reiterated that epa compliant cats are ok, but they’ve tightened regs on OBD tampering. In other words, only afaik carb approved tuning is epa compliant regardless of hfc used.

Example, APR has apr plus carb approved stage 1 tines for many vehicles. Edelbrock has carb approved s/c for Jeeps that includes a locked carb compliant tune. I’m not sure anything like this exists for the 370z.

This is good motivation to pick up a z35 since it’s tt from factory and carb approved stage 1 tuning is pretty easy to get for turbo cars.
FL 4Motion is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2021, 10:11 AM   #8 (permalink)
Base Member
 
djburke87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Staunton, VA
Posts: 72
Drives: 2018 370z Nismo
Rep Power: 6
djburke87 is on a distinguished road
Default

Well, I think I'm going to look into getting HFCs, just to be compliant and whatnot. Plus it will probably help resale if I ever sell my car. They should also reduce the rasp in my exhaust tone.

So Fast Intentions is the way to go? The only other exhaust mod I have is AAM Resonated Short Tales. Anyone have this axleback and have an HFC they like?
__________________
2018 Nismo - Z1 Cold Air Intake, Z1 Silicone Hoses, Catalytic Converter Delete, Remark Axleback V1 Exhaust
djburke87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2021, 10:54 AM   #9 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
Leingod's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Some Place Cold
Posts: 16,060
Drives: In Circles
Rep Power: 2684397
Leingod has a reputation beyond reputeLeingod has a reputation beyond reputeLeingod has a reputation beyond reputeLeingod has a reputation beyond reputeLeingod has a reputation beyond reputeLeingod has a reputation beyond reputeLeingod has a reputation beyond reputeLeingod has a reputation beyond reputeLeingod has a reputation beyond reputeLeingod has a reputation beyond reputeLeingod has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by djburke87 View Post
Well, I think I'm going to look into getting HFCs, just to be compliant and whatnot. Plus it will probably help resale if I ever sell my car. They should also reduce the rasp in my exhaust tone.

So Fast Intentions is the way to go? The only other exhaust mod I have is AAM Resonated Short Tales. Anyone have this axleback and have an HFC they like?
If you have the cash and don't mind the wait time, FI is definately the way to go. I've been running the rhfcs for years without a single issue. I ran them initially with stm short tails. They're now paired with FIs full exhaust. With the short tails, it was loud, but maneagable. You will piss off your neighbors in the morning. With a full exhaust, you can have a conversation in the cabin without yelling.
__________________
I AM FLOOF! SOMEBODY FLOOF MY HORN!! ALL HAIL THE FLOOF!!I JUST FLOOFED ON THE FLOOR
Leingod is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2021, 11:04 AM   #10 (permalink)
Base Member
 
djburke87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Staunton, VA
Posts: 72
Drives: 2018 370z Nismo
Rep Power: 6
djburke87 is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Leingod View Post
If you have the cash and don't mind the wait time, FI is definately the way to go. I've been running the rhfcs for years without a single issue. I ran them initially with stm short tails. They're now paired with FIs full exhaust. With the short tails, it was loud, but maneagable. You will piss off your neighbors in the morning. With a full exhaust, you can have a conversation in the cabin without yelling.
I leave before most of my neighbors wake up, so I'm sure most of them don't even set alarm clocks because the just consider my cold start all the alarm they need.

It would be nice to have a conversation once in a while I guess, but getting rid of the rasp is my main concern. I actually put a different axleback on my car 2 days ago that had bigger resonators on it, but the cold start was just as loud. The cruising drone was less though. I like the way the AAM Short Tales look and sound better, though, so I switched back.

If I go with Fast Intentions, should I get the High Flow Cats (HFCs) or the Resonated High Flow Cats (RHFCs). I see on their website they only have the RHFCs for sale, but I heard the used to make non-resonate ones. I'm sure I could find some if I look hard enough.
__________________
2018 Nismo - Z1 Cold Air Intake, Z1 Silicone Hoses, Catalytic Converter Delete, Remark Axleback V1 Exhaust
djburke87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2021, 12:23 PM   #11 (permalink)
Enthusiast Member
 
zeeder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Columbia, MO
Age: 48
Posts: 460
Drives: ‘13 370Z ST 6M
Rep Power: 3428
zeeder has a reputation beyond reputezeeder has a reputation beyond reputezeeder has a reputation beyond reputezeeder has a reputation beyond reputezeeder has a reputation beyond reputezeeder has a reputation beyond reputezeeder has a reputation beyond reputezeeder has a reputation beyond reputezeeder has a reputation beyond reputezeeder has a reputation beyond reputezeeder has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Steve Dinan was on The Smoking Tire Podcast and he was saying that you don't need to remove the cats!
__________________
Zack
FI catback, HFC, and Start Button - Z1 Intake - Nismo S-Tune Spoiler - PasswordJDM V2 Shift Knob
zeeder is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
[FOR SALE] OEM Catalytic Converters theiazn Parts for sale (Private Classifieds) 4 02-11-2016 03:12 PM
[FOR SALE] OEM Catalytic Converters- $150 OBO Iceagetlc Parts for sale (Private Classifieds) 7 06-16-2013 11:05 PM
[FOR SALE] OEM 09 Catalytic Converters nurseryboy Parts for sale (Private Classifieds) 4 06-16-2013 11:02 PM
[FOR SALE] OEM Catalytic Converters Push370zzz Parts for sale (Private Classifieds) 6 06-17-2011 05:38 PM
Catalytic converters and oil Mt Tam I am Nissan 370Z General Discussions 4 07-15-2010 07:47 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:14 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2