Thread: CARB approved 3" cat?

Where could I find a CARB approved 3" cat? I need it to match the 3" exhaust. Or do they even make one? I looked around but everywhere i found said the whole "not for sale or use in California" phrase. I live in Texas, but in Austin we have to pass emissions standards similar to CARB regulations.

Here's info about the new CA cat converter laws effective 1/1/09:
California Catalytic Converter - MagnaFlow Catalytic Converters by Car Sound

If this is what you have for a vehicle:
For California non-OBD-II vehicles, the application list will identify the vehicle based on the categories below:
(PC-1): Passenger cars with single or dual exhaust systems with one catalytic converter per exhaust bank.

Here's a PC-1 front cat 3" in/out: $406.93!!!
Product Search Results - MagnaFlow Catalytic Converters by Car Sound

For a PC-2 rear cat 3" in/out: $263.45!!!
Product Search Results - MagnaFlow Catalytic Converters by Car Sound

So it looks like I would just have to get the regular one meant for my car and not so much the engine. Is it really going to make much of a difference on the exhaust with having the smaller cat there? PartsTrain.com - Hard to Find Auto Parts and Truck Parts - Catalytic Converter For 1995 Nissan 200SX SE-R 4 Cyl 2.0L $100 FTW!

I use a universal Magnaflow 3" cat. It was relatively cheap, IIRC. In the neighborhood of $80~$100.

It's obvious you have an OBD-1 vehicle, otherwise you shouldn't be concerned. Texas state emissions laws are nowhere near as stringent as CA laws, so using a magnaflow universal hi-flow cat is more than acceptable. You will need to warm it up a bit more than the stock cat, though. (Just means more driving enjoyment until you go to get the car inspected.) I would make sure to set up an appt. at the inspection station so that you can drive it right into the inspection bay after driving it hard for a little bit, so the catalytic converter is SUPER hot. The hotter the better. If they can't get you right in, leave the car running at idle until you can be seen.

I put a Magnaflow 3" cat on @ 151,111 miles, VRS 3" exhaust went on @ 149,870 miles.
I removed the VRS 3" cat-back exhaust @ 157,054 miles.
The exhaust has been sitting Sep 2006.
Now I'm putting the VRS exhaust on my turbo car, and noticed something
plugging it up.
Turns out, it was the entire core of the magnaflow cat, busted into 3 or 4 pieces.
It was pushed through the 18" resonator, and was stuck just before the
90 degree bend.
The Magnaflow cat lasted less than 5 months / 6000 miles.
Maybe the hyperco/agx combo has too harsh of a ride, and caused it to break up?

Never had that issue, so I wouldn't be able to tell you for certain. I put my magnaflow on prior to driving from CT to GA for the convention. The car was driven hard and around 2K miles were put on it in one weekend. I ride with AGX/RM gen 2 setup, and everything was fine. Maybe you just got a bad cat?

Sounds like it. Shouldve stayed in one piece!