Date: Wed, 7 Dec 2005 18:59:43 -0800
Reply-To: Jon Brown <jbrown510@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jon Brown <jbrown510@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon Zetec Conversion update
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>Zetec in California
If it's a motor configuration sold in California, which I assume it is, then
it's legal in California provided you carry over all the emissions equipment
from the California emissions equipment vehicle it was (or would have been)
installed in. ie. if the motor could/would have been in a 2005 Ford Focus
then all you have to do is make sure you install every bit of emissions
equipment in your vanagon that was (would have been) in the 2005 Ford Focus.
ALL the emissions equipment means you need to use the SAME catalytic
converter or two as the case may be... multiple o2 sensors are also now
popular... check engine light... charcoal canisters... etc... etc...
If you do all that and take it to a California BAR (Bureau of Automotive
Repair) referee they can verify everything and issue you a "green sticker"
and viola your legal in California and for ever one you'll be considered a
2005 ford focus as far as smog stations are concerned. This is what is
"normal" for engine conversions in California... but each individual
converetee has to go through a referee to get a green sticker, after which
they can go to a regular smog station. Obviously this is much easier when
you are for example replacing the motor in a 1976 car with a 1980 motor.
Side note, you always have to put a newer "model year" motor in, can't go
backwards. This also means that once your certified as a 2005 Ford Focus
you can't go back and put a 2004 Ford Focus motor in it, nor can you go back
and put a stock WBX back in. At least as I understand it.
What Kennedy did and TiiCo (sort of) did was to get a CARB (California Air
Resource Board) Executive Order (EO). This requires some extensive and
"somewhat" expensive emissions testing of a "prototype". It was probably
easier when Kennedy did it than it is now. Regardless, getting the CARB EO
does two important things. 1) it gives a blanket approval to everyone that
installs the conversion as it was tested and approved, a major bonus over
putting everything in the sometimes subjective hands of a BAR Referee; and
2) it allows converetees to go directly to a regular SMOG station rather
than to the dreaded BAR Referee.
I know nothing about the Zetec, but I'm sure the Bostig guys could chime in
to whether they are carrying over 100% of the California emissions equipment
on the conversion. Note, 100% of the CALIFORNIA equipment which often is
more then the EPA 49 State equipment.
California Offical, but sparse, info:
http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/StdPage.asp?Body=/Geninfo/Publications/Engine_Ch
ange_Guidelines-Jan_1994.htm
better info is available at referee stations in the form a pamphlet, I can't
find a online version of it
Non-state sponsored info
http://www.smogtips.com/frequentlyaskedquestions.cfm#SmogCheckFail1
Unfortunately the page is missing the proper header to go directly to
"SmogCheckFail1" so you need to scroll down manually to the FAQ answer to
"What if I change my engine"
An old bus:
http://www.rennlight.com/howto/smog/
This was a good site, but it's down, here's a cached version
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:KXjWSru8bkYJ:www.smogcentral.com/HTML/ans
wer_desk_1.htm+california+%22engine+change+guidelines%22&hl=en
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey Schwaia" <jeff@VANAGONPARTS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 5:40 PM
Subject: Re: [VANAGON] Vanagon Zetec Conversion update
> Too bad. It really does look like a nice alternative. That's okay
though,
> there's hardly any Vanagons out here in California...
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Mike Collum
> Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 5:04 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Vanagon Zetec Conversion update
>
>
> I read all the info on their site. It hasn't been approved for
> California. The cost for CARB certification is the current problem. If
> enough California residents show interest and maybe ban together for a
> group purchase, that could change.
>
> Mike
>
>
> Sudhir Desai wrote:
> > The engine should be if it uses the same setup as the ford focus cali
> edition.
> > sudhir
> >
> > On 12/7/05, Jeffrey Schwaia <jeff@vanagonparts.com> wrote:
> >
> >>I like it. Very clean install, nice...
> >>
> >>One question: is it certified for California like the Kennedy Subaru
> >>conversion setup?
> >>
> >>Cheers,
> >>
> >>Jeff
> >>www.vanagonparts.com
> >>
> >>
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> >>Of Bostig Eng.
> >>Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 1:46 PM
> >>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >>Subject: Vanagon Zetec Conversion update
> >>
> >>
> >>Just wanted to give folks a quick heads up that we just updated the
> Vanagon
> >>Zetec site with some brand new info/photos.
> >>
> >>http://www.bostig.com/
> >>
> >>We're doing 2wd manual & syncros now, and are looking for a local
> automatic
> >>to be the first recipient!
> >>
> >>Thanks,
> >>
> >>Jim Akiba
> >>
> >>
> >>________________________________________
> >>Bostig Engineering
> >>Engine Systems Voodoo
> >>http://www.bostig.com/
> >>978.772.3274
> >>----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >
> >