when getting inspected it does not require a 2004 to have a cat conv on it because they never came with one correct??? but the inspection manuals say if it came on the truck it should have it to be inspected. well the 2004.5 have the cats on them but if i remove it how would the garage know any differnce? or is it stated at the garages that 2004.5 have to have cats?...


dumb question maybe but so are some of the laws..

 

Manufacture date, sorry don't think that will work.

 

If they are on top of things, they will run the VIN and will know. If they are laid back, try it.
What can they do besides fail you and tell you to have it fixed?

 

They get confused. I test drove an early 04 that had stacks and had failed the state inspection due to not having the CAT on there. I showed the dealer's salesman how to tell the truck was an early one w/ no CAT from the factory and he took it back and got it straightened out. Dodge loves making things difficult. They did the same on 07 mid-year.....

 

manufacture date is on the the sticker on the side of the motor. I lucked out and bought the 04 without knowing what I was doing (this is my first diesel and I didn't find this site until a month or two after I had it). Luckily I live in a state that doesn't require emissions testing. I always wonder if I'm allowed to drive mine in CA because this model was not available for sale there.

 

CARB standards only apply to new vehicle sales, you can drive around all you want with no fear.

After 7500 miles you can buy a non-CARB vehicle and license it in CA also, as long as it meets the emissions it was built for.

 

I don't know if the 325hp cats are any more trouble free than the 94-98.4 12v cats but the 12v cats would plug up even on a stock truck. I gutted my 97 cat (plugged at 18k) and welded a straight 4" pipe thru it. It passed the e-test fine and they couldn't tell the difference. Craig

 

CAT's rarely plug, they are pretty free flowing as they are really just a soot trap. Biggest problem is excessive EGT's melt the catalyst causing reduced flow.

Thats generally from drastic overfueling and abuse.