I live in NH, where we have to submit to an inspection every year. After some research, it seems that the only exhaust mod I can do, aside from replacing the muffler, is putting in a new s-pipe (as everything else, headers/mid-pipe deletes some emmissions equipment). That is, if I didn't want to have to switch the system back to stock just to pass inspection. That seems like a lot of work to do every year, not to mention increasing the chance of damaging parts (I can just see the header bolts welded to the block...). It also seems that this eliminates the possibility of putting on a turbo. Does anyone have any thoughts, or insights to my situation that I might have overlooked?

 

You might find your DMV website and take a look. I can tell you that you can not do much to a tC in California for exactly the same reasons that you list--it negates the smog equipment. Even in CA we don't get inspected yearly any more. In fact you don't get inspected for the first 4 years at all.

 

I have been to the DMV website. The rules are pretty strict, and we do have inspection every year. In fact, I got a rock chip in my windshield, as I was driving my brand new car home from the dealer (yeah, 10 minutes after I bought the darn thing), and my car failed inspection due to it. I had to get the windshileld replaced on a brand new car, 2 days after I bought it. The chip was tiny, too.

 

Does anyone at least know of an *ahem* friendly inspection shop?