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My `85 460 in a F350 does not have cats but it did have air injection pumps. To retain the pumps the headers will need to have the boss on each header tube for the air tube to be installed. If you don’t need the air pumps for emissions testing, then it is easy to remove them and use headers that don’t have the boss for the air tubes. If you check with L&L directly I bet they will tell you the “smog-legal” headers had the boss and did not have anything to do with cats.
Shops are restricted in what they can do. They can be fined if they told you something different. They must take the position that if the truck had emission equipment then they have to advise you only about retaining all of it.
I will still bet that the only issue is the air tubes. If the tubes aren’t there for the shop to be obligated to re-attach, then they would not have an issue on putting non-emission headers on it for you.
Okay, so Randy didn't know if the headers will fit the F350 with the DANA60 straight/solid front axle. Anyway, I just ordered a set from Summit and will know by next week if it doesn't fit.
Call Summit, I am sure that they can get you the ceramic headers if you request them. They don't like to lose business because they don't have it listed. I have called them about things that I have not seen listed, and they have always come through.
The interesting thing is that they are "smog legal" but do not come with a CARB EO number.
The manual states that the headers are "considered a legal replacement part on vehicles that do not have a catalytic converter, as long as the original emissions control devices are connected and functioning properly. As a result, this part number does not require an Executive Order ("E.O.") number."
I wonder if this also applies to other brands of headers. Hedman headers for the 460 are less than $150. Are they also considered smog-legal for vehicles without cats (like my '86 F350)?