Header legality in California

JimRummy · Jun 13, 2016

I had a quick question as to the legality of exhaust headers in California. I just obtained a set of Hedman headers (with the egr smog port) for my 93 4.0. I know the headers are legal, but with our smog restrictions any modifications to the intake system will cause a visual inspection fail.. so what can be done or not be done, because the intake has a small tube that comes off it and wraps around the exhaust manifold..

RonD · Jun 13, 2016

Performance parts, or other parts, can be used if they have an EO(Executive Order) number.
When you go in to get the smog check show them the EO number for the headers and that will allow them to pass visual inspection.

Google: California emissions and EO number

If the part doesn't have an EO number then you are out of luck, so don't buy it unless Manufacturer has done the work to get EO number.

Hedman headers that do have EO number often came with a sticker you could put in the engine bay, rad support, that had the EO number on it.
You don't need the sticker, just the number, smog guys can look it up if they want, in case they don't think number is valid.

JimRummy · Jun 13, 2016

Thank you, good answer, and fast!

hoosier1104 · Jun 13, 2016

Even easier solution, move out of California.

JimRummy · Jun 13, 2016

Believe me, if I could I would.
So assuming I got that sticker, what would I want to do, disconnect the cold start tube part, or leave it connected and just hanging?

adsm08 · Jun 13, 2016

hoosier1104 said:
Even easier solution, move out of California.

This here fixes more stuff than duct tape and WD-40 together.

RonD · Jun 13, 2016

The air pre-heater on the stock exhaust manifold can be removed, tube and all.
The valve will still open and pull air in from engine bay, but it will switch back to being a Cold Air Intake after a few minutes of warming up.

JimRummy · Jun 14, 2016

RonD said:
The air pre-heater on the stock exhaust manifold can be removed, tube and all.
The valve will still open and pull air in from engine bay, but it will switch back to being a Cold Air Intake after a few minutes of warming up.

Alright cool. Hedman is sending the EO sticker some time this week, so I'm good on that. Just curious if the smog tech will be savy enough to understand the situation and not try to fail me for having the tube gone.

RonD · Jun 14, 2016

The air preheater was originally used on carburetors because they could ice up in very cold weather when cold starting.
With fuel injection that is not too much of a problem although the 3.0ls were sold with throttle body heaters, coolant hoses, in Northern states.
And that duct is only used for 2 or 3 minutes after cold start, based on engine coolant temp and Intake air temp

I doubt very much if air preheater missing would be questioned, but might be worth a call to Hedman, I am sure they have gotten similar calls about this

JimRummy · Jun 15, 2016

RonD said:
The air preheater was originally used on carburetors because they could ice up in very cold weather when cold starting.
With fuel injection that is not too much of a problem although the 3.0ls were sold with throttle body heaters, coolant hoses, in Northern states.
And that duct is only used for 2 or 3 minutes after cold start, based on engine coolant temp and Intake air temp

I doubt very much if air preheater missing would be questioned, but might be worth a call to Hedman, I am sure they have gotten similar calls about this

So is it best to leave it open or to plug it?

RonD · Jun 15, 2016

Leave it open, if you plug it and disabled the valve it would be fine, but down the road a year or two if valve should open engine would stall, no air, lol, and you may have forgotten about this entirely.
So you end up chasing your tail around trying to figure out why it is stalling or stumbling(no power) just after cold start

JimRummy · Jun 16, 2016

Gotcha. Thanks for the info. I know when people put on CAIs they just plug the one connector on the top back of the air box that just slides onto that small metal rod, usually just with a like sized screw. That the disabling you're referring to?

Jimmyrig · Mar 12, 2017

Leave it open. Up here its not uncommon to see the heat shield the pipe hooks to tack welded to the header so it will still function. If you put the headers on and have a raw fuel issue during cold weather you may want to do this, nut even if you don't it will still pull some warm air from around the header during warm up.

So glad I don't have to deq where I live.

Header legality in California

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