Date:         Thu, 7 Mar 2002 12:17:30 EST
Reply-To:     FrankGRUN@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Grunthaner <FrankGRUN@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: CA Smog Legal Conversions/Facts
Comments: To: napszeerf@yahoo.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

But, as I indicated in my discussion, this engine has not been certified in
the US (and therefore in California). Unless the importer arranges for a CARB
exemption you will not be able to register or operate the vehicle (with the
SA engine therein) legally in CA. The operate proviso only applied to
vehicles owned by CA residents or vehicles operated in the state for more
than x months, where x is more than 2 and less than 12. Should you persist in
operating a non-conforming vehicle, the CARB legislation provides for heavy
fines and confiscation.

There are several cases (no vanagons so far as I know) in which owners of
post '90 cars have replaced the original engine with modified crate engines
(listed by GM and Ford as "for racing and off-road use only"). CARB has cited
them for "modifying the state and federally approved emissions systems" and
confiscated the vehicles together with $25K level fines and court costs. This
can get very serious if you run into a hardcase.

The answer is importer funded CARB low unit (less than 100 units per year or
whatever) certification. This in turn requires money and potential support
from VWOA or Bosch or both (documentation).

It also is probably true that several TIICO installers have made it through
the emissions testing with incompetent SMOG test stations. This will not help
in a future inspection, particularly if a compliance alert is issued by CARB
on these vehicles.

So, the original thread asked CA legal, and I tried to address that. I am not
privy to the latest CARB /TIICO situation, so this information is clearly
incorrect if they have achieved certification. Remember, the Kennedy CARB
exemption for the Subaru 2.2L was required just for the installation of a
certified engine in an alternative vehicle.

Frank Grunthaner