Took my shiny new ZO-6 to the smog shop today in an attempt to get it registered in Cali....the guy who owns the shop is a huge Corvette fan and has the same year ZO-6 as well. This car has an aftermarket turbocharger and runs low 11's in the quarter! I asked him if he would like to drive it and he said he would since he wanted to see how it compared to his stock ZO-6. He was impressed to say the least. He began the smog check and asked if I had a CARB EO#; (Cali Air Research Board Exemption Order #) for the turbo. I told him no and he proceeded with the check. I figured that if I passed the sniffer he would look the other way. Well, the car failed the sniff check for HC's and then when he looked under the car and saw only one cat he stated that the car came with two cats and four O2 sensors and that there was no way it would pass. The paperwork I paid for stated in bold letters "ALTERED"!

This 02 ZO-6 is near showroom perfect and I would like to keep it. I will either pull off the system and run it stock or maybe take it to Andy at A&A corvettes and have him install his supercharger kit with the EO# for California. I personally like turbos better, but none have that stupid EO# approved for Cali.

What do you guys think I can get for the aftermarket turbo kit I will be pulling off. Car has 12,500 miles and this was installed about 5-8,000 miles ago by a previous owner. Everything works great and it has a boost controller in the ashtray. Only reason I would be pulling it is to pass smog!

 

STS turbo kits are 50 state legal and have the CA EO# you are looking for. Maybe you can get that number to use and hope it flies.

 

Yeah, they are the only ones that are smog leagal and unfortunately they have some drawbacks; long oil lines, must weld the exhaust to prevent leaking and if a Catalytic throws out any debris there goes your impellar...

I like the idea, but all the negatives seem high. Do you know what type of power you can get from this kit?

Thanks!

 

Register it in Vermont

 

Your car can pass smog at the tail pipe with that turbo kit and the right tune. I don't know what other mods you have but the car just can't pass visual. If you don't want to deal with smog issues sell the turbo kit and buy a supercharger. Goodluck on what ever you do .

 

You just got screwed as the "altered" information on the paperwork is already in the system electronically and you might be required to have it tested yearly now. He should have never hooked it up to the machine and run a pre test only on it first.

 

why dont you just pay some extra money to get it passed.....thats what i do pm me if you want some details.

 

exactly, that buddy of yours that has a Z06 is a MORON.... he could have hooked u up, but yet now u are screwed......

what a "nice guy", u should have charged his *** for the ride he had in your Z06, i bet u he will get a Turbo kit and pass his car at his shop....

 

...not many (legitimate) shops are willing to lose an EPA or state emissions battle to fraudulently pass a vehicle. Yeah, it may pass the sniffer, but visual is still part of the inspection. The after market has responded very well with legal CARB approved systems.
Ask any vendor that supports this site and see what they'd say. It looks like a very nice system, but if it doesn't have the CARB approval, then you've got no standing. Legally you couldn't modify that system w/o the CARB certification and pass.
Finding another system from A&A is probably a good idea. You can probably sell this system to someone who doesn't have the testing or is into racing only.
Where did this car come from originally? Did the state that it came from require an emissions test? If you purchased the vehicle from out of state, did you inquire about CARB legality of the turbo system?

 

Give Robert@advanced Dyno a call on monday, he may be able to help you out. We are over in Suisun his number is 707-425-3966 if there is no answer just leave a message.

 

I feel ya brother, mine barely passed the HCs... the CO and NoX were nowhere close to the limits I have a maggie which has an EO, but I also have a cam and long tube headers... the place I go to doesn't really care about visual... but if you have all the emission equipment hooked up, no codes, and it passes... then you're good.

What were your HCs at 15 and 25 mph? and what were the MAX levels? I'm curious.

Yeah, superchargers are easier to pass in cali at normal shops... Most of the vortech blowers carry EO numbers. All the maggies do. Kenne bell is working on one. The Paxton is a sweet blower, but I'm unsure of the EO number....

 

I know very little about late model Corvette supercharging or turbocharging...I know the differences in how each works.
Can someone explain why one is approved and one is not?
Thanks...

 

Because one company goes through the long, expensive testing procedure, paperwork and red tape required by the People's Republik of Kalifornia to get an EO number, and the other doesn't

 

So...supercharger companies are more willing to do whatever it takes to sell their products (legal in 50 states with CARB certification) than turbocharger companies are?

 

Register it in South Carolina! We do not have car inspections at all!!!!

 

STS was willing to go through all the BS. I'd just be willing say since turbos require exhaust modifications and modifications to the catalytic converter system this is a big no-no for the CARB cert. (even Federally). That's how STS got their system through because it doesn't touch the exhaust pre-cat. All other system have custom manifolds and either move or eliminate cats, so that throws them out right there for modifying the catalytic system. Superchargers don't mess with the any of the emission devices.

 

As a person who used to make their living selling go fast parts and building street rods i know a little about the problem your going to be facing.
First the guy who ran your car did you no favors by running it on line the first time, usualy a competent smog place would give you an off line test especialy if they knew it had a turbo on it and the kit wasnt one that was CARB approved. You car is now tagged as an altered vehicle and most likely you will be asked to take it to a test only center.
Since the car was smog legal in the state you came from (im assuming it was) you maybe able to have a ref give you a waiver, this will eliminate the need for a smog test, this is not very likely. More likely they will tell you since you removed the smog equipment you have to put it back to stock condtion.
I hate to be the one to tell you but its very very unlikely you will be able to register that car in this state and if you try to sneak it through you will most likely get caught, so get in touch with a ref see what your options are, maybe register it in Arizona instead, or return it to a smog legal condition.
Good luck, I hope everything works out for ya please let us know what happens.

 

Nope the CARB number has to be on the part it covers from the factory, they wont accept a piece of paper.




The biggest difference between a turbo and a supercharger is the turbo is usualy put before the cat, California Air Rescource Board (carb) dosent like anything between the engine and the cats, and those kits have a very hard time passing the cold start test to get certified, while a supergharger has nothing to do with the exhaust so its easier to get it through the test part of CARB certifications.
There are alot of other reasons most turbos arent CARB eo but money is the biggest one of them, it costs a ton of money to get the testing done, and like I said turbos usualy fail.

 

110%
Sorry to hear of your problems. I have posted numerous time that here in good old Cali, do a "pre-smog" first on a modded car. A good smog tech will let you do a pre-smog first to see if you will pass or not.
Robert at Advanced Dyno can give you sound advice on what to do...if you want to go with another turbo or super charger he can do that also....
Best of luck

 

I can help you out for sure! It is all in the tune. In the past few months we have probably had 10+ cars with this type of situation. Your car will pass with a few adjustments. Give me a call monday or shoot me a pm and we will get you rolling!!!

Robert
707 425 3966
707 419 9045 cell