Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 00:55:54 EST
Reply-To: BenTbtstr8@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Benjamin Tan <BenTbtstr8@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: C.A.R.B. Legalities. Was Re: VW Trends and Eurospec
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hi Sean,
What you need to do to legalize your engine swap is to install all the
emission equipment originally designed for your engine for the model year of
the donor vehicle, not the year of your Vanagon. In the case of a new engine,
you have to identify the engine as a replacement engine for a particular
model or they will expect your swap to comply with present year standards.
The California rule is simple if you pay attention. Year of engine is the
standard. It doesn't matter what car or model you are installing it in.
The only time that it would matter is when you have a vehicle which is
normally not required to be inspected (such as a diesel or vehicle older than
25 years old). In these situations, most people just don't tell DMV (Dept. of
Motor Vehicles) that they performed an engine swap. Not legal at all. But is
done all day long.
If you want to go the totally legal route, you will be expected to do as
follows:
1- Provide receipts for the engine serial numbers.
2- Identify the model year of the "donor vehicle" if you are fudging w/ a new
engine, make sure that you engine you are using was available for the "donor
vehicle" you are claiming.
3- Bring the vehicle to a C.A.R.B. (California Air resources Board) Referee
Station. they do not charge for this service. They will inspect that you have
all the proper equipment, perform a sniff test (tailpipe emission), then
issue and exemption tag if you pass.
4- If you fail the test, the referee will still issue you an exemption
sticker but would stipulate that you make the necessary corrections then get
reinspected by a commercial inspection station.
5- Once you've gone through this process, all you have to do during the
biennial smog inspection is to point out the sticker to the next inspector.
the tag will identify your swap along with required emissions equipment.
Tadahhh!!!
Don't try to put one over on the referees. Don't tell them that your 2.0
inline-4 came in your 1975 Rabbit. Most of the ones I've dealt with are
extremely knowledgeable. And when they don't know the particular motor, they
have an extensive research library at their finger tips I think you will find
that most of the time, they can give you tips on how to get away with certain
things. At least, I had this experience almost everytime I dealt with them.
I hope that helps.
BenT
San Francisco
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