Emission Legal Heads

Discussion in 'Technical' started by GrabberGT, Jul 3, 2007.

  1. GrabberGT

    GrabberGT Chris

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    I bought a set of AFR 185 heads recently that are emission legal. What is the difference between legal and non-legal heads and will I have to do anything to use them on my Maverick?
     
  2. Maverick Man

    Maverick Man The Original Maverick Man

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    i think they have smog holes for air injection to the head. sorry not up to par on offical wording... lol! btw just becuase they are CARB doesn't mean they will pass sniffer.
     
  3. 20cows

    20cows Member

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    Is this an issue for a car as old as a Maverick?

    ...in Texas?
     
  4. GrabberGT

    GrabberGT Chris

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    I am not saying I am concerned about the emissions with my car in TX. I am just asking if there are any special considerations I need to make when installing these on my non-emissions 302. Are there and connections that need to be made, ports to be plugged? Anything? Or do I just ignore the fact that they are E-L and install them as usual. Are there any negative performance impacts of using these on my car?
     
  5. newtoford

    newtoford Member

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    since your car has no emissions equiptment to begin with it shouldnt make a difrence. you dont have an AIR pump or cat right?
     
  6. bmcdaniel

    bmcdaniel Senile Member Supporting Member

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    Yep, smog-legal means they have ports for air injection and/or manifold heat passage. The later 5.0 heads used the old manifold heat passage for EGR.
     
  7. newtoford

    newtoford Member

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    im guessing the non-emission legal heads probably flow better or have a higher CR or something that causes more pollution out the tail pipe???
     
  8. bmcdaniel

    bmcdaniel Senile Member Supporting Member

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    Most of the aftermarket head manufacturers say there is no performance difference between the smog- and non-smog heads. Just some people need the smog heads to pass state emmissions. Most people who have older performance cars remove all of that stuff anyway, so they make heads that don't need to be plugged up.
     
  9. MNTony

    MNTony aka Godzirra

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    I have a set of the 185's. They have a hole in the back of each head...basically a large threaded hole up near the exhaust port. They need to be blocked off. The same hole in the front of the heads will have a threaded insert that blocks it off and you can thread your accessories into them. Hope this helps!
     
  10. 69 ina 1/2

    69 ina 1/2 Fox body nut!!!

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    :yup: Last time I bought those threaded inserts at the Ford dealer. You will have a massive exhaust leak without plugs. If the guy behind the counter seems inteligent you might ask for "thermactor port plugs/inserts".
     
  11. 69 ina 1/2

    69 ina 1/2 Fox body nut!!!

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    HUH :hmmm: ? That"s exactly what it means. Companies spend thousands of dollars for lab time to get that carb number or executive order number. When the company passes this super intense "smog check", the government allows them to sale something that will pass, both, the visual and "sniffer" portion of the test.

    What pisses me off...

    Alot of companies make good performance parts that work well but have not invested the money to get the governments stamp of approval even though these parts will not affect emissions, just the visual :mad: . The only thing that really matters is what comes out of the tail pipe!! The crap we have to deal with is just retarded!
     
  12. Maverick Man

    Maverick Man The Original Maverick Man

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    Two 1973 LDO Mavericks (one 4 Drag one 4 driving like Mad on the roads :) ) also have a 75 6cyl Stock! Ok, well sort of Stock :P
    i agree that is what is supposed to mean but again just because it says that doesn't means it is going to pass. way to many variables wouldn't you agree ;)

    when you have time look at this one...

    http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/streetlegal.html

    read the bottom part... well heck i'll just post it....

    Exhaust systems which meet smog requirements but are still too loud. Exhaust equipment that states it is, "Legal in all 50 states," refers to smog, not noise.
    Note: New law (27150.2 VC) does not require law enforcement to use sound level meters to test for excessive noise. Citation is based on officer's judgment. Cited violators may have testing done at smog referee stations or may be directed by the court to have testing done. Vehicles in violation must be brought into compliance. A fine may also be imposed.

    that should make you real happy since you guys do headers... just more like you said "crap" we have to deal with.. so yeah your headers / mufflers or whatever can be 50 state but...... note the "new law" just made for this. crap!
     
  13. 69 ina 1/2

    69 ina 1/2 Fox body nut!!!

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    Headers don't really change the level of noise, so this doesn't concern me too much. But ya, when I build an exhaust system that is questionable, I use a decibel meter to make sure that it meets noise requirements (around 95 db's). I realize that it is now at the officers discretion so I just try to keep it reasonable but It's those damn 4 bangers that are hard to keep quiet :p .
     

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