List of CARB Approved Camaro Mods
 

I’ve noticed a few people asking for “is there a CARB-legal version of mod X?” or "is replacing part Y CARB-legal?". I’ve asked those questions a few times myself. Since CARB doesn’t let you search their aftermarket parts database by car model, it’s hard to figure out what’s been approved in California for the 5th gen Camaro specifically. Clearly there are plenty of mods to do out there that aren't CARB compliant (many of which you probably wouldn’t get busted for, or that are legal for “off-road use only”), and plenty of threads about how to make mods hard to detect or how to swap back to stock before smog check, but for anyone interested in finding stuff that is truly CARB legal, I thought it might be helpful to prepare a thread of CA-legal mods. I had already researched a bunch of these over the past while, so figured I would share them in case they are helpful to anyone.

After doing some digging, here are the things I’ve found that are certified legal in CA. Please note some of these are tied to specific model years. Not really sure what that implies for later model years (since nothing much has changed from what I understand).

Cold Air Intakes

Volant - for V6 only: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...eo/D-526-7.pdf

AEM Inductions & AirAid – True CAI for V6 only, with some strange ‘air filter and tube’ combo for the SS http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-670-20.pdf http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-609-11.pdf

K&N – True CAIs for the V6 and ZL1 only, same type of filter and tube thing for the SS: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-269-49.pdf

Powerteq - Jammer CAI for 6.2L: https://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/eo/D-802.pdf

Throttle Body

JET performance: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-234-10.pdf

BBK 95mm and 102mm: https://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/d...o/D-245-17.pdf

There are a bunch of throttle body boosters / spacers that are CARB approved, but from I understand those don’t really add any power so I’ve not bothered to list them.

Intake Manifold

LSXR:http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...eo/D-279-9.pdf

MSD Atomic Airforce (for Z28/LS7 only): https://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/d...eo/D-722-1.pdf

Superchargers

Magnuson: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-488-17.pdf and http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-488-21.pdf

SLP: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-187-21.pdf

Whipple: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-231-32.pdf

E-Force: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-215-73.pdf

Kenne Bell: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-271-27.pdf

Turbochargers

Turbonetics stage 1: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/eo/D-99-7.pdf and http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/eo/D-99-8.pdf

Heads

TrickFlow: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/eo/D-747.pdf

Edelbrock: https://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/d...o/D-215-98.pdf

Air Flow Research: https://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/d...eo/D-250-5.pdf

Cams

GM LS3 Heads and Cam Upgrade: https://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/d...o/D-126-45.pdf

Comp Cams Stage 1 Cam for 6.2L: https://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/d...o/D-279-11.pdf

Comp Cams Stages 1-3 for 6.2L: https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/afterm...o/d-279-12.pdf

Rocker Arms

SLP: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-187-20.pdf

Exhaust Headers

ARH shorties: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/eo/D-693.pdf

JBA shorties: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...eo/D-57-25.pdf

Flowmaster shorties: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/eo/D-698.pdf

Gibson Performance shorties: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-411-11.pdf

Pacesetter Shorties: https://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/d...eo/D-439-9.pdf

Gears

SO, I don’t really understand how swapping gears impacts emissions (if someone does, please explain). There could be an argument that they don’t, and hence don’t need approval (since CARB is meant to control products that are ‘before the catalytic converter and affect emissions’). That said, the GM 3.91 gears are CARB certified. I’m not sure why GM would have gone to the trouble and cost of certifying them if they didn’t have to, but who knows.

GMPP: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-126-35.pdf

Tuning / Other

Range AFM Plus: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/eo/D-751.pdf

Hypertech tuning devices: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-260-15.pdf and https://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/d...o/D-260-22.pdf

Superchips Flashpaq: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-330-15.pdf

Z Industries: https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/afterm...eo/d-264-2.pdf

From what I understand, things like suspension changes, wheels, tires, anything related to exhaust but behind the converter (and theoretically anything that can’t impact emissions) doesn’t require CARB certification. Neither does wear and tear stuff like replacement air filters, spark plugs or wires.

Please add to the list if you know of more things!

nice list - I use Volant in all my vehicles for just that reason. Comes with a CARB compliant sticker you can affix close to the CAI...

all the smog places do is 'plug and play' - and visual inspection. as long as you don't throw any codes, I'm pretty sure you'll be fine.

Just point to doug headers number. I would bet using the number from doug headers most shops would not know any difference between doug thorley or doug headers and there would be no issues.

Hambo,

Hats off to you for doing the leg work. You just helped a lot of people. :thumb:
I think Kenne Bell has a Carb approved supercharger for Camaro also;

http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-271-23.pdf

Thanks!

Great, thanks for the link. I'll add to the original post.

Hambo , good thing they don't worry about the gears regarding the CARB thing
Because if they ever come up with that , ( like they do in Europe ) the days with cars that get bigger wheels , wider wheels and or tires will be a thing off the past , for the very same reason as switching the gears , different thing , same result

CARB stands for California Air Restrictions Board - only monitors emissions controls and issues. Gears would have nothing to do with air.

Updated to include Flowmaster shorty headers.

I just installed this CARB compliant K&N Air Intake system: http://www.knfilters.com/search/prod...x?prod=57-3074

Can anyone recommend the best CARB compliant headers?

What are the expected/reported performance gains from the headers?

:thanks:

Regarding the gears, theoretically, if you are crusing down the freeway at 70 in 6th gear with 3.43's you're pulling 1700 rpm's or something. You switch to 3.91's and you're pulling 2100 rpm's at the same speed. You are producing more emissions since you are at a higher rpm, so gears do in fact effect emissions. It's one reason why cars these days have such tall overdrives/double overdrives, not for "driver comfort". [those numbers are off the top of my head, but you get the idea]

That being said, not sure if CARB cares about that or not. But just wanted to point out that gears can effect emissions. Do they effect them that much? No, but still I could see the EPA caring about that to some degree

Interesting. I am also guessing, and this is just a guess, that part of the issue may be that new gears require a new tune (if only for the speedometer). I think any part that requires a new tune may need a CARB E.O.

Cool. How do you like the tube/filter combo? Did you notice any difference?

For headers, only the shorties above are CARB compliant, and from what I've heard shorties in general don't offer any meaningful gains vs stock for an SS. For what it's worth I've heard ARH products are very high quality, and that their shorties are better quality than others.

To be frank, not a damn bit of difference...

they way Cali does smog testing does not take that inot effect (but, hey, dont post your theory anywhere else, k? dont want to give them any ideas that would cost us more money... haha

Haha yeah I'm sure they don't, and it would be hard for them to do that.

But if the overarching question (without thinking about CA) is "does gearing affect pollution emission" the answer is yes. But whether jurisdictions care about that is a whole thing altogether.

Edit: added SLP Rocker Arms. I don't think they make them anymore, but may be a few sets still out there.

Finding a shop in a couple of weeks and let you know I have doug thorley also. Hoping if using the doug headers EO number no one will tell difference.

you should get a CARB compliant sticker for your intake, at the least.... Contact Volant, they are one of the only approved CARB compliant CAI in Cali - ((You DO have a VOLANT? correct??? hint, hint, wink, wink)

note: CARB sticker does not mention brand name anywhere - only CARB compliant regulations....

K&N also makes CARB compliant CAI's. My K&N decal has the K&N logo on it as well as the E.O. #, and a phone number and address in case anyone has questions.

If you check the 1st post there are a few CARB compliant CAIs. Volant is one of them, but AEM, K&N and AirAid also have CARB approved V6 cone intakes.

I was talking with a GM Performance specialist at an event last weekend and he said that the ARH shorties give about 14-16hp gain with no tune required, not substantial, but thats 3.5-4%, better than a kick in the head IMO.

Interesting. I know manufacturers claim numbers in that range for shorties, but most tests I've seen in the forums here don't show anywhere near those gains.

Will have carb legal JBA headers for sale soon if anyone is interested.

well, anyone of them that will send out a sticker would work. I just know for a fact, Volant does, as I have Volant on all my vehicles...

Not sure where you live, but up around Sacramento when I've brought my car in the first thing the guy did was a visual and if headers are on his list he will find them. Talk to some of the local car clubs about what their guy/gal is looking for during an inspection. Good luck.

Before spending the big bucks, check with a local exhaust shop, I kind of recall asking my exhaust guy about headers for my 2010 and I think he said shorty headers will pass because they don't interfere with the CATS, but I would check into it to be safe.

Doug thorleys forget it. Just failed with doug thorleys. Buying doug headers which have an EO number then should be good. California is such a croc of shit for us muscle car guys.

The shop guy is pretty cool. Issue is bar just busted them a month ago over similar situation. Cant blame the guy based on bars fines. He said everything else is good. I will find out tomorrow. Just put on JBA headers and going back in tomorrow.

BTW if you are in Brentwood area Brentwood mufflers rocks. The put on my shortie headers for 380. Not bad if you take into account In running a edelbrock supercharger and the have to come out the bottom. Gut spent most of the day changing out doug thorleys for JBA's

Thanks for the tip! BTW, did you have / notice any gains from adding the JBA shorties?

All passed with smog. Glad that is over for another 2 years. The good part is smog does not detect custom tune. On performance not sure yet. I really do not expect much difference between the doug thorleys or JBA's but will see.

Added some tuning options to the bottom of the list on page 1

i find it kind of hilarious that you can put on a supercharger but not a cai.

You can also go crazy with any 78 and older(i believe) cars as much as you want, no smog.