Thread: whats legal tailpipe exit ?

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any one know if its still legal to exit the exhaust in front of the back tires? i was thinking of trying to find some of those tips
that curve up from the gravel pan, like they used back in the day.
keeping the bends down to a bear minimum. on a 66 mustang.

Go and find your local & state laws then you'll have your answers.
A local Highway patrol officer may give you a good idea of what they look for when writing others up, if you ask him .....

Some new Mustangs came out with exhausts exiting ahead of the rear wheel, and they were illegal in some jurisdictions. Up here in the wilds of Canada, Saskatchewan at least, the pipes must extend to a point behind the passenger compartment, which makes sense when you think about it.

treekiller, with all due respect to you, all you're gonna get if you ask a cop is his interpretation of the law. I've been down that road before and found out that the only way to be sure is to hunt down the laws of your state and read them for yourself in black and white. I beat a ticket in court by reading the actual law myself.

You know, Google is a terrific research/information gathering tool. Google searches such as North Carolina Vehicle Inspection can reap wonderful benefits. I'd suggest that those with questions try it now and then.

http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/vehicle_ser...lationsmanual/

Originally posted by DennyW
Henry, unlike where you are, if you want to get some laughs, just check out Illinois. Theres more jump over the hoops than you can shake a stick at.

they may have changed it by now, but when i had a shop in NC the exhaust wasn't on the st. insp. if you thought it was to loud you ware suppose to call the law and report it. and im not joking

I have the exhaust exiting just in front of the rear tires on my truck (Daytona style), and havent had any problems from the police. Then again... it is behind the passenger compartment. I was stopped a couple days ago for the first time in the 4 years i've been driving it for the blue dot tail lights.

I'm not sure about NC but in Texas.......
Fumes must be ejected to the sides or back of the vehicle. The only side of your car that it can't be on is the front.
I got this from a state emissions inspector.

I can definately agree with that DennyW..

Yeah dude, you need to find out about your local laws. I know here in New Mexico it is more about decibals than it is placement. In front of your tires, behind, out the back. Personally I would try to get it behind the passenger compartment. Depending on what you are using for mufflers and end pieces should be a consideration also, especially in a car the size of yer muskrat. That will put the exhaust pretty much right in your ear, not real fun on long runs with a fairly open and loud exhaust. But you need to find out what's legal in your area before anything else. I can also agree with not asking a cop, sometimes they're real good, sometimes not. For me it's always kinda been hit and miss. If you can find one who is a car guy and that you get along with it helps.

The one(cop) that tells you it is ok will be the one to bust you for it.

i say run 'em as long as its not to loud why should they bother. then again i got pulled over and 10 pm. for no seat belt good eyes huh

Originally posted by techinspector1
treekiller, with all due respect to you, all you're gonna get if you ask a cop is his interpretation of the law. I've been down that road before and found out that the only way to be sure is to hunt down the laws of your state and read them for yourself in black and white. I beat a ticket in court by reading the actual law myself.

I got'cha Tech, now that you say that, gets me thinking of a conversation a while back .
Around here we have no emissions test like down in Texas and other places. pretty lenient (?, ... then I know most of 'em 2 so I never get stoped enless they want to talk ) that I've seen , But there was a law past a while back that seems somewhat Vague.... there are no inspection stickers here any more so if pulled over you can be sited for :low tread on tires,broken mirrors,any lighting problems, and pretty much anything else they can think of "I was told even a dirty tag /that can't be read ?" pretty much any reason to pull you over 2 ...

So ya "interpretation of the law" I see your point .
not everybody goes fish'n with they'R local Bacon .......

T L
what's that saying ? "ignorance of the law is no excuse " < works both way I guess .......

Definitely check into state, county, and even city ordinances. They may differ wildly. I remember a friend of mine living in Dade county fla had a 97 Ford F150, it had a side exit exhaust in front of the tire. He got 9 tickets for it from FHP over the course of 7 months. He finally got rid of the truck. Sometimes the law has nothing else better to do then to pull people over for where the factory decides to exit their exhaust.

Here in Ohio there is not a Revised Code (law) restricting an exit. There may be a City ORD somewhere that may, but I highly doubt it. Enforcement is more less for the noise of the exhaust. Here it is decibels from 100 feet. Not many officers are going to be caring decibel meters with them, therefor, if you ever get stopped ask the official what decibel your exhaust rates This will really stump them. I am a Police Officer and highly disagree with some old hot rods that get stopped for a good sounding V8. I mean there is "too loud" also, but what about the pack of Harley's cruising with straight pipes. Some feel that's OK because it is motorcycle. I bet none of us would get a pass through town with a car that loud. Just wanted to add my two cents.