[Mr. G]

Hey Dave, out here in NV, The rule is that there is a visual required, but my smog guy tells me that there is a loophole in the state versus federal law as it pertains to pre 1982 vehicles basically meaning that although the inspector must do a visual check, the vehicle isn't actually required to have to have the converter if it is pre 1982. As long as the car passes the test of the exhaust gases for the year of the vehicle, it will be considered a passed emission test. I have a 1978 T/A that has no converter or EGR valve and have been able to register it through this method with no problem. Out here, test are performed by comercial busineeses and not through state emission inspections. If you can do it through a commercial business, then all you need to do is get friendly with a particular smog tech and he may tell you the ins and outs of the smog checks. If not, why not cut a converter in half, and weld it on to your existing straight pipe, giving the appearance that a converter exist while not actually being functionable? Just a thought!

[Bull]

Estimate from Midas to install a new exhaust from behind the cat back is over $500! I failed inspection in part because of the exhaust, and all together the repairs needed on my car (exhaust, axle seals, rear brake work, ball joint) is almost $1000 That's what I paid for the car in the first place! Sometimes, it feels like life is just giving you repeated kicks in the stones for fun... I e-mailed the Pypes people again about a system for my application, and they can't say whether one for the more popular G-bodies would fit because they have never test fit one on my type of car.

[scott w]

Dave, I would'nt go to any Midas or any other big name type place for work, there all over priced. Do a little checking around to see who some other people in your area go too, some of the little shops have some very good guys that know how to bend pipe and are resonable. When I put dual exhaust on my 80 GP (same underside as your GL) I used a old double hump crossmember from a 70 lemans, they usually rust off on the ends and thats were you would have to do the modifications anyway, I cut off several inches on the passengers side and welded a plate on so it could be mounted to the frame, and I think I did a little modification to the drivers side and the trans mount area also, nothing big or too detailed. I put a pontiac 400 in the car and used the down pipes off of the 70 lemans, they came back exactly where they did on the Lemans, threw the humps, then I mounted a old set of chery bombs with about 18 inches of 2 1/2 inch pipe welded to the back, it stops in front of the rear end, sounds good but its a little illegal. I only ran it that way until the inspection ran out. You may want to buy a GM Service Manual to do some of your own repairs, those prices they quoted you even make my A%% hurt, and those Midas places work on commission, so they will sell you all kinds of stuff you really don't need.

[dwmilton]

Good info from all! I'd like to throw in my 2 cents as a rookie (if I may). I'm a "geek" with some reading info, but little hands-on knowledge. I've recently learned the following. In Texas there's a HUGE loophole in the catalytic converter requirement. From what I read on the state site, all cars require a safety inspection, and some areas have emissions testing also (we do in El Paso). Cars prior to 1984 are emissions exempt, so only the safety check applies. One may be concerned about the visual part of the safety inspection, which includes inspecting the cat. Here's the loophole: during the visual (as it relates to the converter), the tech is looking for it's presence, and leaks (on 84 and newer), and only for leaks (on older than 84) IF A CONVERTER IS PRESENT. If you have an older-than-84 car without a cat, and the pipes are in good shape, the tech CANNOT fail your vehicle. If you have an older car with a leak at the cat, or a 84-newer where the cat is missing or leaking, then you can be failed on the visual safety inspection. Sorry if this is wordy, but I wanted to pass it along. BTW, here's a link to where I got all this info:

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/insp...ejectsubmit=Go

Hope this helps for my fellow Texans.