California ecs 1500 smog question
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Pro
Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Burbank California
California ecs 1500 smog question
I'm getting an ECS 1500 supercharger. I live in L.A. ecs systems aren't carb compliant the way AandA kits are but wouldnt all cars that have aftermarket superchargers fail the visual inspection anyway nevermind the sniffer test. Would changing the head unit to a carb compliant one make a smog check passable? I don't have to smog my car for another year so Im going to install this kit but I'll have the smog to deal with then, so what is the lesser of all evils to handle this impending b.s. I'm not in love with the idea of driving around to smog check places asking people to take a bribe to give me a smog certificate.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
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From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
Why would all supercharger systems fail? I thought that was the whole point of A&A going through the $50K+ inspection process of getting their kit carb certified.
You won't have any problems passing the "sniffer" test with cats still installed.
Visual with a kit that isn't CARB certified I can only assume won't go well
You won't have any problems passing the "sniffer" test with cats still installed.
Visual with a kit that isn't CARB certified I can only assume won't go well
Last edited by schpenxel; Mar 7, 2016 at 12:38 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 349
Likes: 6
ECS is a good kit, but dont install it if you are just doing S/C. Get an A&A kit. Kits go through a process to get CARB approved and get appointed an Executive Order number which creates a pdf for the smog inspector and tells it pretty much what is in it. In A&As case it states the blower, the pulley size, injectors and BAP and even mentions it has to retain stock balancer size. And all will be legal
Now if you plan on changing more like removing cats, different pulleys, etc then it wont matter which you use because even having a&as kit will not pass the visual part because you altered the original kit that was carb approved.
Now if you plan on changing more like removing cats, different pulleys, etc then it wont matter which you use because even having a&as kit will not pass the visual part because you altered the original kit that was carb approved.
Last edited by george536; Mar 7, 2016 at 12:08 AM.
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Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Burbank California
Thanks for the great info
I bought this kit for $3500 so I thought I would try a supercharger out could always sell it and break even not knowing anything about the carb legal thing (feeling stupid about that.) I think I might hook this up and see what all the fuss is about. I have a good tuner and maybe sell it in a year and get a carb legal kit. I'm going to install it myself so no $ out there, all in 4k this has not been my first mistake won't be my last....promise
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,435
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From: Bay Area CA
george536 is correct!
I have the A&A CARB certified S/C installed by A&A Corvettes. After the install, I had a smog inspection done. First they hook up to the OBD and check for readiness codes and any active codes. In CA you can have up to one readiness code incomplete. Next, he looked up the CARB # and checked for visual requirements. PCV routing, pulley size, HB diameter and exhaust system for cats. Some things they cannot see visually, i.e. the required oem 187* T-stat. Some inspectors may not be as thorough, but this one was. I passed with no issues, but just telling you what I experienced.
I have the A&A CARB certified S/C installed by A&A Corvettes. After the install, I had a smog inspection done. First they hook up to the OBD and check for readiness codes and any active codes. In CA you can have up to one readiness code incomplete. Next, he looked up the CARB # and checked for visual requirements. PCV routing, pulley size, HB diameter and exhaust system for cats. Some things they cannot see visually, i.e. the required oem 187* T-stat. Some inspectors may not be as thorough, but this one was. I passed with no issues, but just telling you what I experienced.
Last edited by Mike's LS3; Mar 7, 2016 at 03:58 AM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Burbank California
Best forum ever!
What a great resource. Bought the kit from Jacksonville Fl. Got advice and parts from New Jersey and all across the country. Schpenxel is sending me the charge pipe I need. Rubio the injectors, complete strangers with the same addiction. Vette97sc I cleared my inbox sorry about that. I won't get the kit till Wednesday and won't have the time to start wrenching till Sunday which is for the best because I might just put a feeler out in the for sale section. I'll check to see if A and A has a used kit. I like doing things right and only once but I can't spend 6k now on something I only want. So with a week to ponder and your good advice and information I'll get it.Thanks again
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 24,035
Likes: 2,342
From: Gilbert AZ
Plenty of people get around carb, and ECS makes a great kit. Just be aware of what you will need to do to get around carb.
Family is all in Burbank. Was thinking of heading out there next month just to take some time off. If you kit isn't installed by then I would swing by to help.
Family is all in Burbank. Was thinking of heading out there next month just to take some time off. If you kit isn't installed by then I would swing by to help.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 719
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From: Burbank California
Unreal weather or not the kit is hooked up
Plenty of people get around carb, and ECS makes a great kit. Just be aware of what you will need to do to get around carb.
Family is all in Burbank. Was thinking of heading out there next month just to take some time off. If you kit isn't installed by then I would swing by to help.
Family is all in Burbank. Was thinking of heading out there next month just to take some time off. If you kit isn't installed by then I would swing by to help.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 13
From: Akron Ohio
Plenty of people get around carb, and ECS makes a great kit. Just be aware of what you will need to do to get around carb.
Family is all in Burbank. Was thinking of heading out there next month just to take some time off. If you kit isn't installed by then I would swing by to help.
Family is all in Burbank. Was thinking of heading out there next month just to take some time off. If you kit isn't installed by then I would swing by to help.
Platinum Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,730
Likes: 270
From: VENTURA Ca
[QUOTE=schpenxel;1591714008]Why would all supercharger systems fail? I thought that was the whole point of A&A going through the $50K+ inspection process of getting their kit carb certified.
You won't have any problems passing the "sniffer" test with cats still installed.
Visual with a kit that isn't CARB certified I can only assume won't go well[/QUOTE
Getting ANYTHING certified through CARB is very expensive and time consuming. To be quite honest though, it only cost me about $30,000 and a year and a half of my life.
It used to be easy to get by SMOG. If a guy just didn't notice that a car had a blower on it, who's to say that he just wasn't attentive or blind.
Nowadays there is an actual page that pops up and asks the technician "does the vehicle have a supercharger installed?" and if the guy answers "yes" , it will ask for the CARB EO number.
It will actually scan the database and check to see if the CARB# given is valid for that particular VIN number.
Just pretending not to notice is one thing. Swearing under penalty of pergery that there is no supercharger is quite another.
You won't have any problems passing the "sniffer" test with cats still installed.
Visual with a kit that isn't CARB certified I can only assume won't go well[/QUOTE
Getting ANYTHING certified through CARB is very expensive and time consuming. To be quite honest though, it only cost me about $30,000 and a year and a half of my life.
It used to be easy to get by SMOG. If a guy just didn't notice that a car had a blower on it, who's to say that he just wasn't attentive or blind.
Nowadays there is an actual page that pops up and asks the technician "does the vehicle have a supercharger installed?" and if the guy answers "yes" , it will ask for the CARB EO number.
It will actually scan the database and check to see if the CARB# given is valid for that particular VIN number.
Just pretending not to notice is one thing. Swearing under penalty of pergery that there is no supercharger is quite another.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 349
Likes: 6
[QUOTE=Andy@A&ACorvette;1591723013]
And we appreciate the work you've done to get it approved 
Why would all supercharger systems fail? I thought that was the whole point of A&A going through the $50K+ inspection process of getting their kit carb certified.
You won't have any problems passing the "sniffer" test with cats still installed.
Visual with a kit that isn't CARB certified I can only assume won't go well[/QUOTE
Getting ANYTHING certified through CARB is very expensive and time consuming. To be quite honest though, it only cost me about $30,000 and a year and a half of my life.
It used to be easy to get by SMOG. If a guy just didn't notice that a car had a blower on it, who's to say that he just wasn't attentive or blind.
Nowadays there is an actual page that pops up and asks the technician "does the vehicle have a supercharger installed?" and if the guy answers "yes" , it will ask for the CARB EO number.
It will actually scan the database and check to see if the CARB# given is valid for that particular VIN number.
Just pretending not to notice is one thing. Swearing under penalty of pergery that there is no supercharger is quite another.
You won't have any problems passing the "sniffer" test with cats still installed.
Visual with a kit that isn't CARB certified I can only assume won't go well[/QUOTE
Getting ANYTHING certified through CARB is very expensive and time consuming. To be quite honest though, it only cost me about $30,000 and a year and a half of my life.
It used to be easy to get by SMOG. If a guy just didn't notice that a car had a blower on it, who's to say that he just wasn't attentive or blind.
Nowadays there is an actual page that pops up and asks the technician "does the vehicle have a supercharger installed?" and if the guy answers "yes" , it will ask for the CARB EO number.
It will actually scan the database and check to see if the CARB# given is valid for that particular VIN number.
Just pretending not to notice is one thing. Swearing under penalty of pergery that there is no supercharger is quite another.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 24,035
Likes: 2,342
From: Gilbert AZ
Will do when I'm out there. My Mom and Brother live in Burbank, along with all my extended family. I'm out there 2-3 times a year. Mom just moved from a place off Sunset Canyon across from the Gold course to a place off Glenoaks/Dartmouth. Cousins own "Its a wrap" on Magnolia.
Shooting for April time frame, maybe May. Kit is super easy to put on so I doubt it will still be laying around by then but if it is I've installed 3-4 of them, it isn't a hard job.
Shooting for April time frame, maybe May. Kit is super easy to put on so I doubt it will still be laying around by then but if it is I've installed 3-4 of them, it isn't a hard job.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
Getting ANYTHING certified through CARB is very expensive and time consuming. To be quite honest though, it only cost me about $30,000 and a year and a half of my life.
It used to be easy to get by SMOG. If a guy just didn't notice that a car had a blower on it, who's to say that he just wasn't attentive or blind.
Nowadays there is an actual page that pops up and asks the technician "does the vehicle have a supercharger installed?" and if the guy answers "yes" , it will ask for the CARB EO number.
It will actually scan the database and check to see if the CARB# given is valid for that particular VIN number.
Just pretending not to notice is one thing. Swearing under penalty of pergery that there is no supercharger is quite another.
Last edited by schpenxel; Mar 8, 2016 at 08:19 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,435
Likes: 874
From: Bay Area CA
[QUOTE=Andy@A&ACorvette;1591723013]
Didn't know that the CARB# database is validated with my Vin#. That eliminates the idea of putting a CARB sticker on a random car!
Thanks Andy, keep up the good work.
Why would all supercharger systems fail? I thought that was the whole point of A&A going through the $50K+ inspection process of getting their kit carb certified.
You won't have any problems passing the "sniffer" test with cats still installed.
Visual with a kit that isn't CARB certified I can only assume won't go well[/QUOTE
Getting ANYTHING certified through CARB is very expensive and time consuming. To be quite honest though, it only cost me about $30,000 and a year and a half of my life.
It used to be easy to get by SMOG. If a guy just didn't notice that a car had a blower on it, who's to say that he just wasn't attentive or blind.
Nowadays there is an actual page that pops up and asks the technician "does the vehicle have a supercharger installed?" and if the guy answers "yes" , it will ask for the CARB EO number.
It will actually scan the database and check to see if the CARB# given is valid for that particular VIN number.
Just pretending not to notice is one thing. Swearing under penalty of pergery that there is no supercharger is quite another.
You won't have any problems passing the "sniffer" test with cats still installed.
Visual with a kit that isn't CARB certified I can only assume won't go well[/QUOTE
Getting ANYTHING certified through CARB is very expensive and time consuming. To be quite honest though, it only cost me about $30,000 and a year and a half of my life.
It used to be easy to get by SMOG. If a guy just didn't notice that a car had a blower on it, who's to say that he just wasn't attentive or blind.
Nowadays there is an actual page that pops up and asks the technician "does the vehicle have a supercharger installed?" and if the guy answers "yes" , it will ask for the CARB EO number.
It will actually scan the database and check to see if the CARB# given is valid for that particular VIN number.
Just pretending not to notice is one thing. Swearing under penalty of pergery that there is no supercharger is quite another.
Thanks Andy, keep up the good work.
Last edited by Mike's LS3; Mar 8, 2016 at 11:42 AM.