Well guys,
I don't know if you remember my last post concerning the emissions test my car with the TPIS headers but here is what has happened lately.
I decided to file a complaint with the Bureal of Automotive Repair. They sent me a letter with a case number and I ended up taking the car to a state referee. The referees put the car on the dyno and ran it through an extensive test. More than you get a regular smog station. As far as the emissions test, here is what they found: first of all they test for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrous oxides at 15 and 25 mph.
Max allowable at 15 mph:
HC=112 (ppm) CO=0.72 (ppm) NO=778 (ppm).
Max allowable at 25 mph:
HC=86 (ppm) CO=0.60 (ppm) NO=717 (ppm).
My car came in at the following figures:
At 15 mph: HC=39 (ppm) CO=0.02 (ppm) NO=554 (ppm).
At 25 mph: HC=38 (ppm) CO=0.01 (ppm) NO=332 (ppm).
Now what does this tell you about the emissions in California?
I told the the man from the B.A.R. that this is all about money. He said: "I'll be honest with you, it is about money".
If California really cared about emissions and the budget they would try to create a win win situation for the consumer and the state given the condition of California's financial situation. In my 2 cent opinion I would allow a waiver for any modification that passes the emission test provided the consumer pay for the waiver worth $300 to $500 dollars. Now what California Vette owner or any other owner of a modified car that they love wouldn't pay the state for the waiver? At the same time the state makes money, the consumer is happy and so is the air. But no!!!!!!!!!!! All California cares about is that E.0. number (Executive Order). Never mind the emissions just show me the number.
As you can tell, I am not happy. Like some of you guys stated: put the old equipment back on.
Maybe this will help some of you who live in California who are thinking of going the route I have gone.
Later dudes. :U :bs


[Modified by ciscokid, 7:04 PM 7/2/2003]

 

Yeah what he said!!!!

 

Do you mean to say that even with passing the tests with better than flying colors they still want you to put back the original equipment? If that is so, what is the purpose of wasting the time to put you through the test? Something is wrong with this picture :crazy:

 

Hey I used to live in the state of fruits and nuts. This all makes perfect sence to them. You know, SC is looking better everyday. :yesnod:

 

CA=Gray Davis=Duchebag. :U :U :U :U :U :U :U :U :U :U :U

 

Does this mean you passed?

 

I think he said he has to put the OEM back on, even if it passed the emissions test.

 

No I did not pass. If you don't pass the whole ball of wax and that means emissions and the visual (no modifications without the E.O. # for each part you install) you flunk. Come back to school next year and try again.
Oh, the reason why they ran me throught the emissions test was so that I would not get charged for the test. That is there policy. Again, more waste of tax payers money. It cost money to run that equipment. It does not cost a thing to do a visua except the technicians state wage.


[Modified by ciscokid, 9:42 PM 7/2/2003]

 

Hey, shorties are looking better and better to me.

Laugh now at CA but your time will come. California is the leader in EVERYTHING, including the smog laws. You're next! Providing you have enough warm bodies in those hick states to make smog, that is. I like fruit (not fruits) and nuts. Heck with the politics.

BIG JIM

 

Moral of the story: Bribe the guy testing your Vette or have all the OEM stuff ready each time you get tested. :bs

How long before our C-4 is considered too old for replacing emission equiptment?

 

This situation is my conundrum also. I have always passed previous smog checks done at Chevy dealer, even with my minor mods. The most visual is the flipped air intake and change of MAF. Well, in addition to a set of roller rockers I have been trying to get installed, I have a set of shorty headers that I also want to install. The shorties have all the smog hookups but no CARB number. I could only hope that they do not look too much different from stock to call attention to themselves. Also, maybe I can ask one of the speed shops around here if they know of any smog shops where they will not scrutinize the visual so much (my past observations with other cars is they just hook the stuff up and don't really do much visual).

 

Gotta love California. We currently have a rolling 30 year requirement for smog equipment. Once your vehicle is over 30, no more smog. Of course by the time my 92 gets there, they will have changed the laws again. (Or I'll be in a C8 by then!!!)

For a really good time, try to smog a VW bug of 74 vintage! Now that's challenging!

Bribing is getting harder to come by. You have to know people because the fines are HUGE - to the tune of $25K! It just isn't worth the risk to the mechanic anymore.

 

I wonder if Arnold has headers on his Hummer?????? Bet he passes the tests. :conehead

 

So do you have to remove the headers????
Thats why I have kept away from many mods I'd love to do.....
You just got to believe that most cars out here run much "Dirtier", than our well kept vette's.....
Good Luck
tony
:eek: :eek: :eek:

 

That's crappy!!

Last April when I did a pre-test, I failed visual at this one smog shop; He said that not having the resonator makes my exhaust a true dual, which is not OEM.

I took it to another place and the guy didn't care about the resonator because it did not affect emissions (merely noise). I passed at that shop.

Maybe my case will be different to yours since the headers are equipment before the CATS. Regardless, the writing may be on the wall here in Cali that all OEM stuff needs to be on the vehicle to pass visual. That would suck!!!

Aren't they more concerned about "emissions" and "pollution"???? I guess not!!!!

 

Is there a local Vette club with a member who owns a garage nearby? My 79 has straight duals, if you stand behind it too long, you'll choke. But I always bring a 12 pack of Heineken with me... AL-A-KA-ZAM :cheers: Truly the American way!

 

Is this the part where your suppose to slip him a 100? :lolg:

Yeah it figures. we need to sue the state for just being stupid.
If this gave you a way around the CARB/EO BS, everyone would be doing it, and the carb number would become a thing of the past. in other words, no loop hole.
thing goes on, things come off. ;)


[Modified by bill mcdonald, 11:51 AM 7/3/2003]

 

i have long tubes. if i ever have to take them off, what is a suitable replacement? does anyone make smog leagle shortie header for L98 vettes? are the shorties any better than the oem manifolds?

 

I've thought about doing the shorties and radom cats myself, but the EO stuff kills me. Even if you do get past the normal inspection, you could still be hit by the random roadside inspection and get a no dicker fine from the CHP. :cry

 

What really pissed me off about the whole emissions testing when I lived in San Diego was the fact that I had to jump through all the hoops to pass the test only to see cars drive across the border from Mexico dumping out more pollution than 20 cars put together. :cuss :cuss :cuss