Date: Sat, 11 May 2013 06:14:09 -0700
Reply-To: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Catalytic conveters
In-Reply-To: <BAY152-ds19C57C097652FAE226B972A0A60@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
In California, the current CARB requirements require a converter which must
be approved for the VEHICLE make and model, not just for a group of similar
vehicles since January 2011. Essentially, it there's now a "California"
converter and a "49 State" Federal Converter (like the BOSAL) which was
legal to install on California vehicles until January 2011. The smog guys
out here know which is which. I had to install one of these "California"
specific converters on my 84 GL a year ago, costing a few hundred dollars
more than the previously approved converters. I will say they work - when
I went to have it smogged it passed with readings lower than my newer 2004
KIA Spectra EX!
The hitch in the "get-along" is that most of the converter manufacturers
did not want to spend the thousands of dollars to re-tool and get CARB
approval, so it appears that only one or two manufacturers have stepped up
to the plate and do it, making these cost two to three times more than what
has been made by others. Maybe more will come on board as states adopt
CARB standards and the obscene price may come down, but I'm not holding my
breath. Most of the other manufacturers requested an extension of
compliance, but California told them to go pound sand.
As a result, none of the California based suppliers of the previous
converters who still carry them will ship the Non-Carb Approved converters
to a California address, I can only get CARB approved converters from them
at this time, regardless where the converter is being shipped to from a
California based warehouse. Right now, the CARB approved converter
averages between $370 to $475 for the Wasserboxer, verses on $120 for BOSAL
http://www.busdepot.com/071131701
http://www.busdepot.com/22918
Sales of used converters have been "officially" prohibited in California
for at least two decades now, but there's an underground market here for
quite some time now, but many are getting caught by the CARB enforcement
guys at shops and even patrolling swap meets, automotive or otherwise.
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
75 914 1.8 "Nancy"
Full Timing From March 1999 To January 2012
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
Find me on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Thompson/100000710343835
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On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 9:23 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:
> Many of should take note if we live in states that are or have adopted CARB
> emissions requirements. All of our Vanagons with water boxer engines are
> "50
> state" vehicles. The air cooled ones where either a "49 state" or
> California
> version. I am a bit confused if we have some leeway being older than 1993
> but it appears that in New York we will be required to use OEM or CARB
> approved converters for replacements. Also note the restrictions for used
> converters are for "any" model year vehicle.
>
>
>
> http://longislandcatalytic.com/carb-news/
>
>
>
> Dennis
>
