Date:         Wed, 9 May 2012 21:48:01 -0400
Reply-To:     Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Subject:      Re: Failed Ca Smog due to Evaporative leak
In-Reply-To:  <CAFaJG5rZL7Nig25dQkZ=2gq6N9vW6fUgRPsXLTrPZgO_puh4Nw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hi All,

Figured I'd comment and add some correct information.

On Sat, Apr 7, 2012 at 1:48 AM, Aristotle Sagan
<killer.jupiter@gmail.com> wrote:
> To accuse BenT or SAH of doing something illegal wouldn't be right
> either. It is someone doing their homework, something Bostic
> apparently didn't do.

This is quite the stinging accusation, I feel bad for those Bostic
guys whoever they are. At Bostig we've done, and continue to do more
homework than anybody (we are the only ones that have literally
written a book about our conversion). We chose not to allow owners to
go the BAR route like everyone else does, because it would require the
addition of systems that cause trouble in the focus (EGR, EVAP, to
name two), and remove value to customers/owners. We're not going to
change our design philosophy at the expense of reliability or bang for
the buck to satisfy a bureaucrat or make additional sales. It is not
in our customers best interest, and the fact that people can depend on
our judgement for that is the sole reason we are in business and is
non-negotiable.  Also since we are the only ones that guarantee a
conversion will be successful, if someone made a run at a BAR ref and
the ref has an off day there can be no guarantee they will get a
sticker allowing them to be legal in CA. Technically by the BAR's own
rules, refs aren't allowed to pass OBDII engine swaps if they don't
also bring the donor transmission with them, but luckily enough of the
refs (like the guy Stephan uses) are more reasonable than the letter
of their regulation. This however makes it impossible for us to truly
guarantee a successful conversion, so we won't do it since that
assurance is a big part of the value we offer.  The only way we'd
release a CA model is via an EO obtained on a design of ours, but by
mandate or satisfying others. Also be careful when you assume that
just because you've never heard about something, that it doesn't
exist. We're in more ways than one sort of the Apple of vanagonland,
and we keep dev close to the chest (to a fault sometimes).

>>  You can't use a Bostig, 'cause they didn't pay off the CARB.  You think a
>> 2.5 liter Subaru motor is a dirty one while the 2.2 is OK?...You think a
>> modern Focus motor is a polluter, worse than the WBX motor it replaces (in
>> other states)?  No, they just didn't Pay.

It has nothing to do with payment at all. Not sure where that guess
would come from, but it has nothing to do with it. Only one OBDII
engine swap in the world has a CARB EO, and it was a struggle for GM
to get it, they can't get their second attempt through currently.

In addition, last I heard the CARB EO for the Kennedy 2.2 is now
invalid, as the catalytic converter used in the EO is NLA.  If we had
an old pre OBDII engine (which is somewhat silly to do in 2012) we
could get an EO without much trouble, at least compared to the OBDII
process.

If you guys are really interested in what goes on, I suggest becoming
a member of the SAE and you'll get the SAE rag, a couple years of
reading them and you'll have a much deeper understanding of how things
tend to work in the automotive engineering/manufacturing industry.

Hope this helps,

Jim Akiba