commifornia c5 mods
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
commifornia c5 mods
1999 c5 targa
manual
shorty headers
catback exhaust
well, after scouring the forums and discovering that a 224/224 114lsa cam is the largest cam that can pass the california dyno sniffer (with a good tune) i then discovered that california now will fail any car that has an aftermarket tune. Am i totally fucked here? I want to make some power without dropping 6k on a smog legal supercharger. Im starting to look into registering my vette in riverside. seems to be a “partial” smog area where i may only have to smog when title is transferred? any help or advice is appreciated.
Cade
manual
shorty headers
catback exhaust
well, after scouring the forums and discovering that a 224/224 114lsa cam is the largest cam that can pass the california dyno sniffer (with a good tune) i then discovered that california now will fail any car that has an aftermarket tune. Am i totally fucked here? I want to make some power without dropping 6k on a smog legal supercharger. Im starting to look into registering my vette in riverside. seems to be a “partial” smog area where i may only have to smog when title is transferred? any help or advice is appreciated.
Cade
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 378
From: Bellinum Wa
Here in Wa. State performance tuning is acceptable, just look up Mr Black’s supercharged C5 with a cam
I think California is a great place but unfortunately the politics are against aftermarket performance.
I think California is a great place but unfortunately the politics are against aftermarket performance.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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Yeah, CA is not too friendly when it comes to modding a car.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
If I lived in CA, that would be the 1st avenue I'd research...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 1,144
From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
I even had LEO's compliment my obnoxiously loud vettes three separate times while cruising Lincoln, Washington and SM Blvd. I also had one in Hollywood throw me in the slammer in 2002 (I deserved it).
Things were a bit more relaxed there 15 years ago. But you still needed to "know a guy" at DMV.
Bring back the days of "The Hollywood Knights" damn it!!!!
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Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 313
Likes: 56
From: Long Beach California
I had cammed mine about 5 years ago with that same Texas Speed 224R cam. Did full bolt ons and tune along with it. Was fun to drive, but went back after like only a week or two to the factory set up, kept the valvetrain, and knew I would be going with the carb legal supercharger eventually.
The tune stuff came out a while later and I felt like I dodged a bullet. My C5 is the first car I've kept street legal, I'd say at this point you just gotta bite the bullet and pay up if you want the legal performance.
You can of go to enthusiast friendly smog shops of course, but that doesn't stop you from getting stopped. I never once have been stopped with any of my old F Bodies or anything that weren't legal, except once where they let me off with a tint fix it ticket. But there's no way of knowing if you're about to go out one day and end up with the headache of needing to go back to smog legal/stock.
The tune stuff came out a while later and I felt like I dodged a bullet. My C5 is the first car I've kept street legal, I'd say at this point you just gotta bite the bullet and pay up if you want the legal performance.
You can of go to enthusiast friendly smog shops of course, but that doesn't stop you from getting stopped. I never once have been stopped with any of my old F Bodies or anything that weren't legal, except once where they let me off with a tint fix it ticket. But there's no way of knowing if you're about to go out one day and end up with the headache of needing to go back to smog legal/stock.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 1,144
From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
4.10 gears are the way to go in an MN6. I've done both 3.90 and 4.10 in an MN6 and it's one of the best bang for the buck upgrades one can do in an NA car. Personally preferring 4.10 over 3.90. Plus it doesn't mess with emissions or the need to open the engine. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 1,389
From: Orange County, CA
As noted a tune on your car should not cause a fail because of age. I'd be more worried about failing the sniffer test if the tune isn't dialed in well since yours is a pre-2000 (2000+ don't need sniffer).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 747
If you're talking about Riverside, Ca, no special smog rules. Just regular old smog every 2 years.
As long as your shorty headers have a CARB EO number, they're good. If not, they're asking for trouble and they're not worth the effort.
There are a couple threads addressing the smog law changes, check the SoCal and scan/tune forums. As MetalMan2 mentioned, most C5s seem to be fine so far.
With that being said, swapping a cam out is a pain in the butt if/when you need to (i.e. if rules change again or they get "wiser"). Slapping a CARB approved A&A kit on it is the smart move if you're looking for a reliable power bump. Re-gearing to 4.10 is another suggestion that was also my original plan of action, but after doing 4.10s, I wasn't content, so now I have both.
Registering the car in a different state is another option, and I've got friends who have done that, but CA is always looking to eliminate workarounds like that so don't be surprised when it becomes an issue and you have to show proof of an out-of-state residence or something of the sort. I'm getting too old to play the skirt-the-law game, ain't nobody got time for that anymore. A&A kit and done for a reliable, legal 500+ whp.
As long as your shorty headers have a CARB EO number, they're good. If not, they're asking for trouble and they're not worth the effort.
There are a couple threads addressing the smog law changes, check the SoCal and scan/tune forums. As MetalMan2 mentioned, most C5s seem to be fine so far.
With that being said, swapping a cam out is a pain in the butt if/when you need to (i.e. if rules change again or they get "wiser"). Slapping a CARB approved A&A kit on it is the smart move if you're looking for a reliable power bump. Re-gearing to 4.10 is another suggestion that was also my original plan of action, but after doing 4.10s, I wasn't content, so now I have both.
Registering the car in a different state is another option, and I've got friends who have done that, but CA is always looking to eliminate workarounds like that so don't be surprised when it becomes an issue and you have to show proof of an out-of-state residence or something of the sort. I'm getting too old to play the skirt-the-law game, ain't nobody got time for that anymore. A&A kit and done for a reliable, legal 500+ whp.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 937
Likes: 175
From: Raleigh Suburbs
No gears, you can't tune the correction
No Cam, you can't tune
No Supercharger anymore either ? Doesn't that require a tune
Check to see if your car still is required to pass modern smog rules, and go from there
No Cam, you can't tune
No Supercharger anymore either ? Doesn't that require a tune
Check to see if your car still is required to pass modern smog rules, and go from there
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 1,144
From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 16,106
Likes: 473
It's just not worth the brain damage and logistics to mod a car with non-CARB compliant stuff in this stupid state...regardless if the mods may in some cases both increase performance AND allow the car to burn cleaner.
Many manufacturers simply don't want to go through the $ shakedown required to get the CARB sticker.
And shops can't afford the risk of installing or doing non-CARB compliant work. They'll get closed down.
West Coast Corvettes closed down their garage, for example. Now just a products mail order shop, which is too bad. They did some quality work for me in the past for basic routine maintenance.
Many manufacturers simply don't want to go through the $ shakedown required to get the CARB sticker.
And shops can't afford the risk of installing or doing non-CARB compliant work. They'll get closed down.
West Coast Corvettes closed down their garage, for example. Now just a products mail order shop, which is too bad. They did some quality work for me in the past for basic routine maintenance.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 937
Likes: 175
From: Raleigh Suburbs
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,218
Likes: 1,174
From: Southlake, TX
I feel sorry for y'all in California. I've been reading for years about all the (increasing) rules and regulations to support the Woke bureaucracy.
So, play the game. When you get your inspection, tell the technician that your internal combustion engine Corvette now identifies as a Tesla. When they begin to argue using logic, accuse them of vehicular discrimination and with strong emotion declare your pronoun usage and the way you feel today surpasses any construct of the ruling class patriarchy.
Find a tech under 25 who has colored hair. They will let you pass.
So, play the game. When you get your inspection, tell the technician that your internal combustion engine Corvette now identifies as a Tesla. When they begin to argue using logic, accuse them of vehicular discrimination and with strong emotion declare your pronoun usage and the way you feel today surpasses any construct of the ruling class patriarchy.
Find a tech under 25 who has colored hair. They will let you pass.
