Date:         Mon, 19 Mar 2001 23:16:24 -0800
Reply-To:     T Berk <tberk@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         T Berk <tberk@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: SMOG CHECK WARNING IN CALIFORNIA FOR VANAGONS! (2)
Comments: To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Jeffrey R wrote:
>
> I don;t have a conversion in my bus (just the stock 1.9 waterboxer) but I did
> just go through the CA smog exam at a "Test Only" station--and passed by a
> hair. My bus has always run clean since I've owned it and I was a little
> cocky (actually broke) so I took it in fo r the test without tuning it up
> jsut before.
>
> So I don't know about conversions but I've heard the engine has to meet the
> specs for the year car that it is in--meaning if the vehicke is an 83 it has
> to meet that standard regardless of the engine that has been put in it. I'm
> not posative that's fact, but if it is I'll send the tolerances allowable on
> my 1983 watercooled Vanagon.  <snip>


The law in CA as I understand it means that whichever of the chassis or
the engine is later rules - It has to meet the specs for smog equipment
(and output of course) of the later of the two.

Most people mean this to = you cant use an earlier engine but this is
not it, what's important is that that earlier engine be equipped with
the smog equipment of the later chassis (as in the original equipment of
that vehicle).

If you have a hybrid using different manufacturers' parts then you will
need to definitely get a referee to generate a sticker so you can get
smogged.

It's possible to get an 'interesting' car (van) hooked up to a smog
machine and if it runs clean you are done. Anybody remember don't ask,
don't tell?   :)

hth but If I'm off base let me know.
TBerk
aka Dr. FrankenBerk