Passed CA Emissions

[zr1don]

First I would like to give a shoutout to JR at TeamZR1 in Oregon. He runs a shop there that does custom tunes for anyone that wants to pay for the service. He came up with a number of sugestions that led to my passing emissions. I have contracted with him for a performance tune for my ZR1.
Thanks to all members who have posted info regarding their emissions testing, it took me a while to process the info and I believe I have a descent understanding of what effects emmisions testing and what to do to pass. I began the current testing process last August and failled. In 2010 CA reduced the measured emissions gases allowable from the previous standards. I last tested in 2008 and passed. My numbers in August would have passed with the old standards (what happened to the EPA rule that standards cannot be changed to become more restrictive?) Sorry, thats a little frustration coming through. My tests failled to meet the required NOX standards. My factory cats failed in 2009 and I replaced them with SSW headers and their bullet cats. I removed the AIR inj tubes from my stock manifolds and installed them on the SSW headers. My first attempt at passing in August was w/the aftermarket cats and headers. After failing I found the exterior cat temps were in the neighbor hood of 250 d F, not hot enough to significantly reduce emissions gases. An inquiry to SSW tech support brought the response "our cats are not certified to meet CA standards". Time to look for another set of cats. GM does not sell the cat/manifold for 90 LT5's so thats not an option. I have personal experience using after market magnaflow cats on a 96 Chevy 454 p/u, so I talked to their tech reps about it and found they have a CA approved cat for the 90 LT5. I was concerned about how to get the cat to heat up enough to work efficiently, and came up with a possible solution - thermo wrap. Several companies make the stuff, I chose Thermotec from NAPA. I wrapped both headers and both cats (see attached pics) Additionally I installed an oil catch can between the pcv valves and the intake manifold (as a result of finding oil in the intake manifold during a plenum pull to check all vacume lines. Of course you need to go through all the normal stuff if you are trying to pass an emissions test - fresh gas, fresh oil, plugs, pcv valves, all vacume lines, properly functioning O2 sensors, I Seafoamed the engine to assure no carbon buildups, and stock chip programming. My cats are now heating to 450d + and I passed. Anyone who isn't bored to death can ask whatever questions you might have, don't know if I have an answer but someone here will.
Just to summerize: Trying to pass CA smog w/aftermarket cats and headers:
1. Do all the normal stuff: fresh Chevron premium gas, fresh oil, fresh plugs, pcv valves, all vacume lines, properly functioning O2 sensors, Seafoam the engine to assure no carbon buildups, and stock chip programming.
2. Thermo wrap headers and cats (I did ask Magnaflow if this was OK, they said no problem)