Network
If you live in a part of the country that must comply with strict emissions regulations—such as California or New York—then you’re probably already aware just how difficult it is to modify your late-model musclecar, while keeping things legal.
Finding an aftermarket provider whose components comply with the California Air Resource Board standards and are awarded an Executive Order number can be virtually impossible. However, the folks at JBA Performance Exhaust have worked directly with CARB in order to achieve emissions-legal components in all 50 states.
The JBA Cat4ward short-tube headers are even compatible with the factory manifold-mounted catalytic converters found on the latest Mustang GT. You must cut off the factory cat and attach it to the willing JBA header, but the two work well together.
“One of the things that we’ve done really well is work directly with the California Air Resource Board to gain compliance on our JBA components all the way up to our 2017 units,” Greg Raymond of JBA told us. “We’re one of the only manufacturers that has CARB E.O. numbers that go that far up, and that’s included on the ’15-plus Mustang GT, the ’17 Camaro, the latest Dodge cars, and Toyotas.”
Obviously, JBA has the hang of building exhaust components that meet these strict emissions standards, as the Mustang is one of several JBA applications to pass emissions.
“We’re one of the only manufacturers with a Dodge E.O. number all the way up to 2016, and that includes Challengers, Chargers, 300/C, and Magnums. Virtually every Cat4ward header option in our catalog has a CARB E.O. number associated with it.”
Obtaining a CARB E.O. number is an incredibly difficult and lengthy process, but JBA works closely with the Specialty Equipment Market Association to ensure its products gain this designation.
“During the research and the development phase, we work with the SEMA lab (who basically does all of the testing now for CARB) to bring all of the items together for testing,” Greg explained. We bring the components and a vehicle straight to them. They do a baseline test, then they do a test with our component on it. It’s a very tight perimeter, not like a smog test. It’s a very stringent set of criteria we have to meet.”
Whether you’re in the market for a set of long-tube headers or 50-state legal Cat4ward headers for your late-model or early musclecar, head over to JBA Performance Exhaust’s website and checkout what’s available for your application.
