Glenn, there are a few supercharger/engine combinations that have been
certified for use in CA, but I have no idea if your supercharger on
your engine is one of them. I'll assume not. The only way I know
that you could get the car to pass CA smog is to swap in a legal
engine and computer for the test. Despite the actual emissions coming
out of the exhaust (which should be all that matters, not that my
opinion counts), the referee station (or whatever they're calling
those places today) wants all smog equipment in place for the engine
or the car, whichever is newer.
The one thing I don't know is if CA has a program to exempt vehicles
that are used for limited miles on public roads, similar to what they
do with historic cars.
It is ironic that you're in the position of being either a legal
polluter or an illegal non-polluter.
Scott Miller
GGC BMW CCA
San Ramon
>Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 23:08:56 -0700
>From: Glenn Ellingson <geewiz@sonic.net>
>Subject: Creative smog ideas welcome :)
>
>Hi all.
>
>I just bought a race car that I know won't pass CA smog. This is OK
>and I bought it planning to trailer it.
>
>But it _is_ a little frustrating since the car would meet the
>tailpipe limits. Which makes it pretty darn counterproductive to tow
>it since my nose is sufficient to tell me the emissions-exempt
>carburated 500cu V-8 that will be pulling my 10,000 pound tow rig
>definitely pumps out a lot more pollutants than the race car :). But
>the race car will fail smog because a) it was sold as a federal car,
>not a CA car; b) it can't supply ODB-II diagnostic codes (wiring
>issues); and c) it definitely has changes to the emissions equipment
>(a honkin' big supercharger, among other things -- I don't think a
>smog technician is likely to miss that :). I think the smog laws are
>going to force me to do the wrong thing here, but I figure it's worth
>asking:
>
>Has anyone ever gone through the DMV's custom-arrangement-of-
>equipment special certification process and want to comment on that?
>Or know any other way around this problem?
>
>Thanks all,
>- -- Glenn
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