Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 00:34:50 -0500
Reply-To: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Subject: Re: Engine Conversions
In-Reply-To: <001001c87db3$3599a9a0$0401a8c0@DADSTOSHIBA>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
While you're right to some extent Dennis(although the impact is not as
significant as you think according to actual testing), this isn't at
all the reason it isn't legal. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it
has nothing to do with measured emissions at all. We can and do pass
CA emissions, and do so with our own vans here in Boston as do our
customers that live in other "CARB states" in the northeast. The CARB
immediately deferred to the BAR to "unload" us when I submitted our
CARB application over a year ago, saying simply that all emissions
gear must be moved over from the originating vehicle and no EO was
needed(which means actually via further prodding that they are not
taking applications from OBDII conversions for EO). The BAR has a
rather problematic stipulation as well. A case by case ref inspection
is possible, but to the letter of their own regulations, the
transmission of any OBDII engine must also go with it in a conversion,
regardless of whether the ecu actually controls or uses the
transmission in engine management. Guys have gotten them through via
nice refs that they know, but that certainly isn't good enough for me
to sell someone a conversion and say "well you might get through".
Like I said before, the reason they won't work with any of this, is it
doesn't serve the larger purpose of getting older vehicles off the
roads, therefore they will not expend resources to aid in it. I
understand their position, unfortunately there is not much that can be
done about it currently. We don't have the resources to even begin the
attempt to change or challenge it either.. yet. The workaround has
been the zone III loophole, and for 2wd vans, we've started looking at
a simple kit to swap the entire transverse drivetrain into the back of
a bus or van. It will actually fit, might actually be simpler than
doing an engine conversion, and you have the upshot of having your
choice of 4 speed auto, and 5 or 6 speed manual... but we won't be
seriously working on it until at least June or July.
Jim Akiba
On 3/3/08, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> The emissions characteristics of that engine pushing a Vanagon will be
> different than coasting with a Focus. Especially the production of NOx.
> Even changing tire sizes and gear ratios change the emissions profiles.
> True compliance is not as easy as it appears. When you do get emissions
> testing, keep in mind that all programs can only find gross failures.
> Except for CO2, the goal is near "0" of all the other pollutants. Being
> allowed some 200ppm of unburned hydrocarbons at idle is still a bad deal.
>
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>
> Allan Streib
> Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 10:38 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
> Subject: Re: Engine Conversions
>
> Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> writes:
>
> > That and the California smog legality thing.
>
> What is the deal with Zetec and California? Surely the Ford Focus is
> sold there? I'm completely ignorant of emissions laws and testing
> since we don't have any here in Indiana, but if the Zetec is OK in a
> Focus then why not a Vanagon? Is there some restriction on it not
> being an original factory configuration?
>
> Allan
>
> --
> 1991 Vanagon GL
>
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