Getting cold feet about Maggie

clg82 · 11-05-2021, 01:24 PM

Long story short living in Cali is frustrating with all the rules and regulations with smog and cars etc..... I have put down a deposit for a Magnuson 2650R because it's about to get it's CARB certification, since my car is basically stock is it worth the cash to get the Magnuson or should I just stay stock? I know it's up to me and how I use the car etc, I just want to know that the money is well spent in the amount of 8K+ to upgrade to the Magnuson. Thoughts?

Z OH 6 · 11-05-2021, 01:36 PM

Not really worth it until you install a cam and start looking north of 700whp.

clg82 · 11-05-2021, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z OH 6

Not really worth it until you install a cam and start looking north of 700whp.

Which won't be happening here where I live.

Mark R · 11-05-2021, 02:43 PM

I would not do it. You have taken your car about as far as you can go and still pass a smog inspection - maybe. Unless they give you a hassle about the cat-back. I have the same one, and it clearly says "Borla" on all the tips.

ZL1 1LE · 11-05-2021, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clg82

Long story short living in Cali is frustrating with all the rules and regulations with smog and cars etc..... I have put down a deposit for a Magnuson 2650R because it's about to get it's CARB certification, since my car is basically stock is it worth the cash to get the Magnuson or should I just stay stock? I know it's up to me and how I use the car etc, I just want to know that the money is well spent in the amount of 8K+ to upgrade to the Magnuson. Thoughts?

I'm in this predicament as well. I'm wondering if a ported blower without a tune would be worth it either.

JasonGofast · 11-05-2021, 03:23 PM

I don't understand. Do police wait at stoplights with decibel readers and smog checkers? Is there a reason to follow the laws so closely in California? I understand if it's because you're just a law abiding citizen, but reading so many threads about California laws makes me feel like driving around with no cats there will have my car impounded.

Mister Will · 11-05-2021, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonGofast

I don't understand. Do police wait at stoplights with decibel readers and smog checkers? Is there a reason to follow the laws so closely in California? I understand if it's because you're just a law abiding citizen, but reading so many threads about California laws makes me feel like driving around with no cats there will have my car impounded.

If you are cited for a Cat-back, the OEM exhaust has to be re-installed and you pay a fine. Since this will require cutting the aftermarket cat-back out and welding the OEM one back in. It is more expensive and troublesome to fix. Its just a hassle and costs money.

clg82 · 11-05-2021, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Will

If you are cited for a Cat-back, the OEM exhaust has to be re-installed and you pay a fine. Since this will require cutting the aftermarket cat-back out and welding the OEM one back in. It is more expensive and troublesome to fix. Its just a hassle and costs money.

Catback exhausts aren't illegal here. They come with carb compliant paperwork.

Z OH 6 · 11-05-2021, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZL1 1LE

I'm in this predicament as well. I'm wondering if a ported blower without a tune would be worth it either.

Normally, I would tell you to get a tune with a ported blower, but the new CT5-V Blackwing picked up a LOT of HP with nothing but a Kong X ported blower. No tune at all.

kropscamaro16 · 11-05-2021, 04:53 PM

do it you only live once

SSUNDVL · 11-05-2021, 05:09 PM

If I had to deal with smog/vehicle rules like you I would probably be looking into a nitrous throttle body system and ignition timing retard box or faster stock car if it mattered.

serper3 · 11-05-2021, 05:20 PM

I am contemplating what the options are here in CA for myself as well.

For one, I wouldn't bet that CARB will issue EO for the 2650r. I would wait to buy it once the EO is actually approved. they may change the model number or actual design slightly, and you would be out of luck. I wanted a whipple kit for a gt350 and whipple swore up and down that it was coming years ago. last I checked a few months ago, still nothing. most recently they blamed covid.

My goal is to make in the low 700whp range, be able to smog the car without a ton of work. and also do not want to worry about overheating on track.

I do not want to do LTs because that is too much work to put back to stock for smog. From what I see, it seems like stock exhaust manifolds will really limit power potential.

I have access to e85 so was thinking of flex fuel at whatever mixture, tune, ported stock blower, maybe a TB, and intake. for smog, I would pull the flex sensor(on regular gas), TB and intake and after a bit of driving and the car is ready to smog, I should be good to smog. Guessing I wont get to my ideal hp without LTs though.

The other option i am considering is if the 2650r CARB EO comes out, I could do that, and also flex fuel sensor, e85, swap back to carb legal tune before smog. It seems like again, with no LTs though, this will be a good bit more money, and not much more hp than sticking with the stock blower as the LTs are a big bottleneck.

I don't think heads would really help much with stock ported blower, again, without LTs and without a cam, and cam would obviously be too much work to swap and would not smog on stock tune.

serper3 · 11-05-2021, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonGofast

I don't understand. Do police wait at stoplights with decibel readers and smog checkers? Is there a reason to follow the laws so closely in California? I understand if it's because you're just a law abiding citizen, but reading so many threads about California laws makes me feel like driving around with no cats there will have my car impounded.

The main hurdle is if you live in most populated counties in CA, you need a smog check every two years. The smog station workers now are paranoid and will not pass anything if even remotely possibly not stock. now, you need to go back to your stock, or carb compliant tune. My stock c6 corvette was failled because the smog tech thought it was modded. two other smog techs saw it failed and didnt want to even bother smogging it. huge pain.

The other issue is you can get pulled over and if you are modified (even just exhaust) they can send you to the state ref. the state ref will go through your car to make sure you are compliant so your car has to be stock or of course have carb eo parts and now no tune.

kropscamaro16 · 11-05-2021, 05:52 PM

smog in cali is 8 years for new cars then once every two years so even if you have a 16 you still good for another 2 years...

https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018...-smog-checked/

11-05-2021, 01:24 PM	#1
clg82 Drives: 2020 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 1,152	Getting cold feet about Maggie Long story short living in Cali is frustrating with all the rules and regulations with smog and cars etc..... I have put down a deposit for a Magnuson 2650R because it's about to get it's CARB certification, since my car is basically stock is it worth the cash to get the Magnuson or should I just stay stock? I know it's up to me and how I use the car etc, I just want to know that the money is well spent in the amount of 8K+ to upgrade to the Magnuson. Thoughts? __________________ 2020 ZL1 A10 Shadow Gray Metallic Magnuson Magnum DI TVS2650R\| Mamo Throttle Body V2\| RotoFab Intake\| AWE Touring Catback Exhaust\| TCM Tune\| Tune\| Eibach Pro\| BMR Rear Cradle Lockout\| PPF\| Ceramic\| BCForged HCS21

11-05-2021, 04:53 PM	#10
kropscamaro16 Drives: 2016 1ss camaro Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: 909 Posts: 9,817	do it you only live once __________________ 16 1SS NIGHTFALL GRAY METALLIC WITH NPP #BECAUSERACECAR #SAVETHEMANUALS

11-05-2021, 05:52 PM	#14
kropscamaro16 Drives: 2016 1ss camaro Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: 909 Posts: 9,817	smog in cali is 8 years for new cars then once every two years so even if you have a 16 you still good for another 2 years... https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018...-smog-checked/ __________________ 16 1SS NIGHTFALL GRAY METALLIC WITH NPP #BECAUSERACECAR #SAVETHEMANUALS

11-05-2021, 01:36 PM	#2
Z OH 6 Drives: 2021 Red Hot ZL1 Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Gapplebees Posts: 3,095	Not really worth it until you install a cam and start looking north of 700whp.

11-05-2021, 02:43 PM	#4
Mark R Drives: 2018 ZL-1 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 948	I would not do it. You have taken your car about as far as you can go and still pass a smog inspection - maybe. Unless they give you a hassle about the cat-back. I have the same one, and it clearly says "Borla" on all the tips.

11-05-2021, 03:23 PM	#6
JasonGofast Used to own a ZL1 Drives: '16 Z06 Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: TX Posts: 279	I don't understand. Do police wait at stoplights with decibel readers and smog checkers? Is there a reason to follow the laws so closely in California? I understand if it's because you're just a law abiding citizen, but reading so many threads about California laws makes me feel like driving around with no cats there will have my car impounded.

11-05-2021, 05:09 PM	#11
SSUNDVL Drives: 2016 Camaro SS Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 149	If I had to deal with smog/vehicle rules like you I would probably be looking into a nitrous throttle body system and ignition timing retard box or faster stock car if it mattered.

11-05-2021, 05:20 PM	#12
serper3 Drives: 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 288	I am contemplating what the options are here in CA for myself as well. For one, I wouldn't bet that CARB will issue EO for the 2650r. I would wait to buy it once the EO is actually approved. they may change the model number or actual design slightly, and you would be out of luck. I wanted a whipple kit for a gt350 and whipple swore up and down that it was coming years ago. last I checked a few months ago, still nothing. most recently they blamed covid. My goal is to make in the low 700whp range, be able to smog the car without a ton of work. and also do not want to worry about overheating on track. I do not want to do LTs because that is too much work to put back to stock for smog. From what I see, it seems like stock exhaust manifolds will really limit power potential. I have access to e85 so was thinking of flex fuel at whatever mixture, tune, ported stock blower, maybe a TB, and intake. for smog, I would pull the flex sensor(on regular gas), TB and intake and after a bit of driving and the car is ready to smog, I should be good to smog. Guessing I wont get to my ideal hp without LTs though. The other option i am considering is if the 2650r CARB EO comes out, I could do that, and also flex fuel sensor, e85, swap back to carb legal tune before smog. It seems like again, with no LTs though, this will be a good bit more money, and not much more hp than sticking with the stock blower as the LTs are a big bottleneck. I don't think heads would really help much with stock ported blower, again, without LTs and without a cam, and cam would obviously be too much work to swap and would not smog on stock tune.

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