Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:15:58 -0500
Reply-To: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Subject: Shaken and CARB CA legal LS3 engine kit was: Subie engine prices
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
It's called the shaken(sha-ken), there are loads of official reasons
for it's exstience, wikip has a pretty acceptable write up:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor-vehicle_inspection_(Japan)#Reason_for_existence
But it's the first line of defense in the battle to maintain high
fleet overturn in Japan. Slowly but surely you can see it begining in
CA now, it will be interesting to see how quickly/slowly they will be
allowed to proceed. Legislation like this directly affects vanagon
owners.
I thought it interesting BTW that SEMA, GM, and the CARB teamed up to
offer the very first totally legit fuel injected corporate engine
conversion "kit"(engine itself, cat forward exh, and engine
management, no adapter, cooling, or mounting etc) in CA. It is for the
largest conversion market(v8 hot rods, drag cars, street/strip
applications) and uses a GM LS3.. it costs $9400. Remarkable how much
it costs... and should help those that wonder why nobody else has a
CARB approved late model conversion in CA for anything else... SEMA
the largest aftermarket industry org, GM, and the CARB teamed up to
provide a portion of a conversion kit, for just under $10k, and it's
in a market that is very conservatively 10x the size of vanagonland.
I'd say we're doing pretty well for ourselves with all the options we
have at the various pricepoints.
Jim Akiba
On Sun, Dec 27, 2009 at 11:11 PM, Jeff <vw.doka@gmail.com> wrote:
> I don't doubt that Japanese emissions testing is stringent. It would have to be with that many vehicles in such a small area. However, I do know that they increase the registration fees as the vehicle ages as a method to reduce the number of older vehicles on the road.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mcneely4@cox.net [mailto:mcneely4@cox.net]
> Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 7:09 PM
> To: Jeff
> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: [VANAGON] Subie engine prices
>
> My understanding from what I read is that it is the very demanding
> environmental regulations that force them off the road. The vehicles
> are inspected for emissions, and those that don't pass must be either
> repaired -- very expensive, or retired. DMc
>
>
> On Sun, Dec 27, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Jeff wrote:
>
>> The Japanese raise the registration fees for older cars to "force"
>> them off the road. Every year, the fees go up until it's just not
>> economical to keep the vehicle.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Jeff
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>> Behalf Of Dave Mcneely
>> Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 3:22 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Subie engine prices
>>
>> Here's what I found when I googled for information on this so-called
>> law:
>>
>> http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/35468
>>
>> DMc
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Dec 27, 2009 at 5:02 PM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
>>
>>> On Sun, Dec 27, 2009 at 3:19 PM, Rob wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Most of the JDM engines I've seen for sale come tested and
>>>> guaranteed. There is some sort of Japanese law to require new cars
>>>> every 30k-50k miles, you can look it up and read about it on line.
>>>>
>>>> Rob
>>>
>>> I've been told that such a law exists, supposedly as an environmental
>>> protection device. However, it was not told to me that it was a new
>>> car
>>> (certainly not), but that the engine had to be replaced. At any
>>> rate,
>>> that is supposed to be why so many Japanese engines are available for
>>> import. However, my son-in-law bought one of these imported engines,
>>> and found to his dismay that the engine had been used hard, and
>>> further
>>> investigation led him to the conclusion that, yes the engines are
>>> available, and mileage is low. However, since the users know that
>>> they
>>> will have to replace the engine anyway, they don't particularly take
>>> care of them.
>>>
>>> None of this should be taken as gospel, since I am only reported
>>> second
>>> hand experience, and third or further removed information.
>>>
>>> David Mc
>
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