2010 L99 Upgrades (Cali)

[Tonys10SS]

Hey guys, I am getting ready to upgrade my 2010 Camaro with the L99 and need get some of the opinions on what to do as far as what mods to do to get a little more power out of the car. Problem being, I live in California where it is especially strict on mods of any kind.

I already have a CAI cold air intake. As far as sound I have the NPP exhaust and an x-pipe.

Here is what I was thinking of doing as far as mods and would obviously have to keep my stock parts for smog purposes:
1. Kooks 1-7/8 LT headers with high flow cats
2. I would love to have a cam so what are you CA guys using that is not crazy big? I was thinking the Texas Speed VVT-1 cam: http://www.texas-speed.com/p-764-tex...-camshaft.aspx
3. I was also thinking of going with a lower gear setup like 3.73 or something of the like.

That is what I was thinking. Any advice any of you CA guys can give would be greatly appreciated. I know this has been discussed but just wondering on my particular application and now mind you I do drive this everyday so like I said cannot go too crazy. My Chevelle is so much easier since I do not have to worry about smog on that haha.

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

make sure the parts are CARB approved..

I modded the hell out of my 300c SRT, and I got refereed by the CHP for the LT headers, the Intake, and a few other non-CARB items.

they took a mirror and looked under the car at the exhaust and headers, then made me pop the hood..

I had 30 days to put it back to stock or it was going to be impounded, technically they could have impounded it on the spot but I was cooperative with the officer so she only gave me a $2300 ticket.

The ticket ended up only costing me about $75 (court fees and CHP inspection fees) because I put everything back to stock, which cost me a quite a bit in labor, time, and frustration.

Whatever you put on the car be sure it is CARB approved and has the stickers and documentation to go with it, and LT headers as far as I know are illegal because it requires you to move the OEM location of the cats which is a CA and Federal Violation.

That's my advice..

sorry to be a debbie downer, but after having gone thru it once I will never engine mod a CA car again.. I will move to someplace car friendly like Texas when I decide to mod again. CA SUCKS for a car enthusiast.



LOL I just saw your location.. I was in Fullerton (57 @ State College) where I got the ticket.

[Tonys10SS]

Mr. Incredible, I definitely know what you are saying, CA is terrible on newer cars modifications wise. When I take the Chevelle out all I get are looks and thumbs up from officers, fire fighters, whoever and all they say is rev it, even had an officer want to see what his new SRT8 Charger would do against it. Has a pretty healthy 383 with a healthy solid flat tappet cam, headers, and nice exhaust. Even had people question me on whether I was sure it was a small block because it sounds like a big block according to them. I tell them I built the motor so I would know haha. Just sucks because on the newer cars all the good stuff has no CARB #.

[tekteq]

Originally Posted by Tonys10SS

Hey guys, I am getting ready to upgrade my 2010 Camaro with the L99 and need get some of the opinions on what to do as far as what mods to do to get a little more power out of the car. Problem being, I live in California where it is especially strict on mods of any kind.

I already have a CAI cold air intake. As far as sound I have the NPP exhaust and an x-pipe.

Here is what I was thinking of doing as far as mods and would obviously have to keep my stock parts for smog purposes:
1. Kooks 1-7/8 LT headers with high flow cats
2. I would love to have a cam so what are you CA guys using that is not crazy big? I was thinking the Texas Speed VVT-1 cam: http://www.texas-speed.com/p-764-tex...-camshaft.aspx
3. I was also thinking of going with a lower gear setup like 3.73 or something of the like.

That is what I was thinking. Any advice any of you CA guys can give would be greatly appreciated. I know this has been discussed but just wondering on my particular application and now mind you I do drive this everyday so like I said cannot go too crazy. My Chevelle is so much easier since I do not have to worry about smog on that haha.

LT's are illegal in Cali as they move the cats from their original position. Your best option would be to get your car some forced induction, that the most horsepower you are going to get without violating carb laws (Vortech in Oxnard)

[ilirg]

Man that blows living in a state with all those restrictions. As a cop I don't never give tickets for violations that my own car has. So tints, exhaust, and no front license plate are good all day long.

As for mods, with a CAI and highflow cats my l99 has become a different animal. Next up is npp exhaust, Lt headers and tune and I think that should keep me happy for a while.

[tekteq]

Originally Posted by Tonys10SS

Hey guys, I am getting ready to upgrade my 2010 Camaro with the L99 and need get some of the opinions on what to do as far as what mods to do to get a little more power out of the car. Problem being, I live in California where it is especially strict on mods of any kind.

I already have a CAI cold air intake. As far as sound I have the NPP exhaust and an x-pipe.

Here is what I was thinking of doing as far as mods and would obviously have to keep my stock parts for smog purposes:
1. Kooks 1-7/8 LT headers with high flow cats
2. I would love to have a cam so what are you CA guys using that is not crazy big? I was thinking the Texas Speed VVT-1 cam: http://www.texas-speed.com/p-764-tex...-camshaft.aspx
3. I was also thinking of going with a lower gear setup like 3.73 or something of the like.

That is what I was thinking. Any advice any of you CA guys can give would be greatly appreciated. I know this has been discussed but just wondering on my particular application and now mind you I do drive this everyday so like I said cannot go too crazy. My Chevelle is so much easier since I do not have to worry about smog on that haha.

I got basically what you have, my next mod is going to be a Vmax CnC ported throttle body to increase throttle sensitivity!

[SS PANTHER]

Most superchargers and short tubes are CARB legal. A CAI is not. I would add a scoop, a Vmax tb, and a set of high flow cats. None of these would require a tune and would be easy to r&r when your smog check came up. If you don't care about your pt warranty I would get a dyno and trans tune. Obviously a sc would be the nicest way to go.

[ModBargains.com]

Easier solution, find a dirty smog place, do whatever you want to your car. And NO by saying this, I'm not actively telling anyone to do anything illegal, I'm just saying there are still places that can.

[Mr. Nasty]

Originally Posted by Mr. iNCREDIBLE

make sure the parts are CARB approved..

I modded the hell out of my 300c SRT, and I got refereed by the CHP for the LT headers, the Intake, and a few other non-CARB items.

they took a mirror and looked under the car at the exhaust and headers, then made me pop the hood..

I had 30 days to put it back to stock or it was going to be impounded, technically they could have impounded it on the spot but I was cooperative with the officer so she only gave me a $2300 ticket.

The ticket ended up only costing me about $75 (court fees and CHP inspection fees) because I put everything back to stock, which cost me a quite a bit in labor, time, and frustration.

Whatever you put on the car be sure it is CARB approved and has the stickers and documentation to go with it, and LT headers as far as I know are illegal because it requires you to move the OEM location of the cats which is a CA and Federal Violation.

That's my advice..

sorry to be a debbie downer, but after having gone thru it once I will never engine mod a CA car again.. I will move to someplace car friendly like Texas when I decide to mod again. CA SUCKS for a car enthusiast.



LOL I just saw your location.. I was in Fullerton (57 @ State College) where I got the ticket.

Wow with the mod I have they would not just write me a ticket but lock me up also. LOL

[Tonys10SS]

Well I no longer have a warranty so that does not matter. I was going to probably get a tune anyway, and I was planning on going with Solo High Flow cats but should I do that with short tubes? What would be the point you know? I would almost rather go with long tubes, high flow cats and rear gears with a tune and save for a supercharger in the future. That would probably be enough for me for the time being seeing as how I still have to put money into my 1969 Chevelle L78.

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

Originally Posted by ModBargains.com

Easier solution, find a dirty smog place, do whatever you want to your car. And NO by saying this, I'm not actively telling anyone to do anything illegal, I'm just saying there are still places that can.

Makes no difference if you get nailed by CHP, you MUST use a CHP inspection station.

SMOG on a new vehicle isn't required for 7 years from the date purchase or when the vehicle is sold / retitled to a new owner, which ever comes first.

So unless the OP sells the car, a SMOG test isn't his problem.. CHP and Local PD crackdown on modded cars is his issue.

and if they cite you or referee the vehicle you have to use a Sheriff (if local PD) or a CHP (if State Police) inspection and Star Certified SMOG station to clear the referee ticket..

[ModBargains.com]

Originally Posted by Mr. iNCREDIBLE

Makes no difference if you get nailed by CHP, you MUST use a CHP inspection station.

SMOG on a new vehicle isn't required for 7 years from the date purchase or when the vehicle is sold / retitled to a new owner, which ever comes first.

So unless the OP sells the car, a SMOG test isn't his problem.. CHP and Local PD crackdown on modded cars is his issue.

and if they cite you or referee the vehicle you have to use a Sheriff (if local PD) or a CHP (if State Police) inspection and Star Certified SMOG station to clear the referee ticket..

Guess I'm happy I've never been pulled over for that, and that I have lots CHP friends who are customers

Is it 7 years now? Thought it was 5... hmm.

[JewelSS]

My advice is do what you want and don't be a dumbass on the street and they wont bother you. A lot of guys including myself here up in the Bay Area have modded the crap out of our cars and nobody has had any issues "YET" that I know of. If your street racing or doing something to draw attention well then you know what can happen. Just my .02 from a guy who has done this stuff so far vvvvvvvvv

[SS PANTHER]

Originally Posted by Tonys10SS

Well I no longer have a warranty so that does not matter. I was going to probably get a tune anyway, and I was planning on going with Solo High Flow cats but should I do that with short tubes? What would be the point you know? I would almost rather go with long tubes, high flow cats and rear gears with a tune and save for a supercharger in the future. That would probably be enough for me for the time being seeing as how I still have to put money into my 1969 Chevelle L78.

Some of the Cali guys like VR Baron have made some decent gains with JBA high flow cats and shorties. With a tune 32rwhp. The advantage of the shorties are that they are CARB legal and you won't have to spend the time and money to remove them. High flow cats can be r&r'd in about an hour or so. Long tubes with the matching cats and long tubes would take much longer and r&r'ing the long tubes with the stock manifolds and cats is labor intensive. I would do the dyno and get a trans tune before you do gears. You may be satisfied with the results.