i live in fresno, ca and they do illegal car modification check points (make you pop open your hood and check for carb stickers) or often make you pop your hood if you get pulled over to check for illegal mods. so my question... is there any way to modify the stock heat shields to fit over aftermarket headers so the engine bay looks stock?

 

just gut out the cat on the stock header.

 

wow cali is that strict about that stuff, i guess there desperate for money, but any how im sure you can have the stock heatshield modified to fit over the header..the question is how,well,alot of brain storming and thinking,

 

and by gutting the cat on the stock header i should see some gains as if i got an aftermarket header? because most of the gains come purely from the removal of the cat, am i right?

 

cali is strict and broke verrrry true haha. and ill have to try it out once i purchase/if i decide to purchase a header... im sure i could work something out. i just honestly have no clue how the heat shield attaches to the stock header in the first place...

 

dont gut your cat, you'll need it for smog. if your worried about the cops, don't get a header. it doesn't matter what type of heat shield you put on it, they are not stupid, if they are going to go through the trouble to set up a check point then they are going to go through the trouble to find illegal mods on your car. one reason i don't have a header.

 

the stock heatshield attaches the the stock header with bolts...two on top and two on the sides...but honeslty if cali is that strict i wouldn't even both with messing around with the header,we can get away with that here in NY but you can get a fix it ticket if the cop thinks your exhaust is too loud thats about it....

 

seen a heatshield on aftermarket header done on a second gen xB, in cali if you wanna draw that much police attention might as well get a turbo

 

How about leave it alone? If you live in Cali, your really pushing it when you go take your car to the ref bro. Do you want fines and stuff, or do you like your nice car?

Get suspension work, get new tires, get aero work, rims, a DVD gps nav, whatever.

Do you have an intake and exhaust yet? that would be your first step I believe. You wont get any rasp by doing that, and your car will sound sweet.