CA Doug Thorley Header help

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Subscribed...new CA resident here.

Dear God, WHY? You can't be one of those people.

And we're strongly considering a move to Arrowcreek or Caughlin Ranch in future. If not sooner.
 
Subscribed...

Is this something that you California guys have to go through every year?

The time/cost of doing the header R&R every year would make it not worth any gains. What else would be an automatic fail? What if the headers weren't shiny and fancy?

How do all the Honda/Acura racers get by in SoCal? It seems like 25% of the cars in SoCal have been modded.

Smog is every other year, and the pass or fail on inspection is going to depend on how diligent your shop is, and how well they know stock engines, versus after market parts.
 
It seems so counter-intuitive to me that you can pass OBDII and sniff test but yet fail a visual. If it's performing its performing. Who cares what the pipes look like. Bureaucracy! I could see requiring a sniff for modified OBDII vehicles because of things like O2 emulators, but the sniff is the sniff, right?
 
Dear God, WHY? You can't be one of those people.

And we're strongly considering a move to Arrowcreek or Caughlin Ranch in future. If not sooner.

sharpen up that lawnmower blade


just different brands of guberment
 
Subscribed...

Is this something that you California guys have to go through every year?

The time/cost of doing the header R&R every year would make it not worth any gains. What else would be an automatic fail? What if the headers weren't shiny and fancy?

How do all the Honda/Acura racers get by in SoCal? It seems like 25% of the cars in SoCal have been modded.

Mostly you just have to run parts that are cali ARB approved and have an exemption blah blah blah... so your upgrade dollars go to support cali govt while little shops (small business) can't afford certification testing etc.

And yes, Colorado is quickly slipping too.
In Colorado I had to go buy a new gas cap to pass the test last time, so lots of extra driving around, refining fossil fuels, shipping, idling in lines, etc, etc... all to reduce fuel waste and exhaust gas. You guys in the metro area can stuff a glove in your gas hole and just drive by a couple of mobile test vans and you're good to go, since the vans don't come this far north I get to do it the hard way. Now large tires are becoming a 'safety issue' for the test centers here so you may need a set of wheels and tires for emissions day once you're at 35" on up... at their discretion of course.

Ok, sorry, sorry, I'll stop bashing our fair and noble overlords.
 
Based on some research, aftermarket headers are considered inspection compliant if there is an executive order for the headers and vehicle listed on the arb site. I did find one for doug thorley headers, however although it lists toyota, it doesn't include the landcruiser:

http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/eo/D-540-2.pdf
 
Maybe the Attorney General is a place to start...

Well...like ToddLC I was denied smog pass certificate this morning at a smog inspector in Seaside (non-STAR inspection only facility BTW). My modded '99 100 passed all other aspects of the smog test, including the sniffer test, without issue.

So it appears Doug Thorley has and is continuing to provide false and misleading information to support the sale of their headers.

This taken from their website this morning:

"Q: Are your headers smog legal? A2: Yes!!! All of our headers are smog legal in all 50 states. The EO or carb number is welded on each header"

Along with the false and misleading information presented to me et al by Nick Thompson, who is no longer employed by Summit Industries/Doug Thorley Headers BTW, apart of all the header orders taken by him apart of various group buy orders here.


So for those looking to purchase ANY AFTERMARKET HEADERS, from Doug Thorley or any others, and your headers need to or will need to comply with your state law I highly recommend you flush out the BS by demanding a copy of the certification before purchase!

You've been warned!
 

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Wow! Wondering if Colorado is next to feel that sting. Sorry to hear that.

I'm guessing this will hurt DT sales as a whole, not just for headers. Hard to trust once you've been burned.
 
Well this really sucks Dan.

Recourse?


Really only have one option: Buy OEM sucky cracky exhaust manifolds.

Mike, without any written proof to offer of course, told me DT had indeed applied for the exemption with the California ARB. But given Nick said that over 2-years ago...doesn't hold water.

The reality is DT lied. It would be one thing if they stated they weren't approved...but they did just the opposite AND STILL DO AS OF TODAY ON THEIR WEBSITE!

I will be contacting the State of California Attorney General. This will probably be just another waste of time but one never knows until he tries.

But DT has provided false and misleading information in exchange for sales of headers to 100-Series/LX470 owners :mad: Gotta believe any state's AG would lend an ear.


All this after the first set of DT headers cracked due to failed welds. So I was already pissed about having to do two R&R's for 2-pairs of Doug Thorley headers. And now this!

I mean jeebus...its not like they're Walmart...headers and exhaust systems is all they do/have done...so you'd think they've be a little more forthright on all fronts.
 
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Other options... move to Oregon! ;-)

I had a set of un-cracked OE manifolds that I just sold. Wish I had known.
 
Visual is going to very by inspection station.

Mine passed visual. There is not one stock component in my system.

Of course I passed the sniffer with flying colors.

As you can imagine I've dealt with DT a bunch with exhaust testing and manifold stuff. At no time was I under any impression or told that the 100 series headers were CARB legal, only that application had been made.

Dan I have a set of leaky manifolds you can borrow for your visual.
 
No question that was DT's promise and position...still is: Disbelievers just need to go to the DT website in my post #27 above to see "...smog legal in all 50-states..."

Wasn't trying to say you are wrong on this. I just ignored what the thread said and never saw 100 series headers at the website. I asked the question directly and was told "applied for" by Nick.
 
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Are EMS's compliant? I like every other CA DT Header owner wish I'd known this before buying too. I suppose everyone with DT Headers could collectively sue DT. But I don't know if everyone is that angry. The law seems dumber than DT lying.
 
Sucks Dan. Almost bought these a couple times. And was planning to soon. Glad i didn't now. Between the cracked headers and this.... It is completely unacceptable.
 
^ per Mike at DT earlier today: "They've applied for the cert...". Given the fact DT states on their current websit all their headers are legal in all 50-states...I can only believe his comment about the cert app must be bogus too.

Then he told me to go to a specific smog shop in Salinas...2nd one today...and that was a no go too.

Sorry to sound so aggressive on this issue...but they're liars.
 
Subscribed. Spressomon, I am also Monterey Peninsula/Salinas area and look fwd to seeing your rig on the road. Low-rider festival this weekend. Our trucks, and those cars, are each relatively old, and much loved by their respective curators. Mutual respect. Hope you'll update the header fiasco saga as it develops. I am an interested party.

Sent from my MUDPad
 

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