No, I'm not saying it will fail visually. I'm saying that CA smog law requires each vehicle to have the cat that was meant for that vehicle. Each cat has a part number, and if the smog guy notices that you have a new cat, then he must check the part number on the cat to see that it matches the part number that is required for that make, model, and year. If you don't have the right cat, it will fail smog. You have no choice but to buy the cat that belongs on that car. If you want to remove the cat after getting it smogged so you don't beat it up on the trail, then do it, but when you get it smogged it must have the correct cat. PIA