gone postal

What you don't understand is that he's dealing with NY inspection law, which specifically prohibits altering a vehicle emission system from the stock system.

Is it done all the time? Yep.

Does anyone really give a damn as long as the cats are in place and it's not popping codes? Nope.

However, finding a shop which will do it can be problematic.

otto457

But when the stock ones are causing issues and they are direct stock replacement (not changing the number and are compliant) I don't see how even the state law could stop them. I do understand their mentality though of always refusing to do it no matter the job with those types of laws.

gone postal

Visual inspection. Everything needs to be stock in appearance. Now, can a shop tell what's stock and what's not? Depends on the person and the vehicle. Most shops like to keep their license intact. Those laws are probably the only reason anyone ever sells an OEM replacement cat.

Longarms

What a pain in the ***... Why does it have to be stock? I don't get that. If I buy a Ford, by NYS law, I have to buy ford products for the emissions? I can't get the equivalent, made by magnaflow? It's a catalytic converter, it hooks up to my 2.5" pipes, it's approved for 49 states...

That ~800 total for cats and cat-back (from the first shop) is sounding better...

otto457

Even visual inspection should be fine as you're replacing two stock cats with two full replacement cats. I don't know how the law is worded but I would highly doubt they force you to buy OEM products and OE equivalents would be fine.