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New CA smog laws[ALL/1988] posted by Topi on
Monday, 9 February 1998, at 11:12 a.m.
Good news for Hot Rodders in California! All cars, older than 1974, don't need bi-annual smog check. If you like wild, racy cars, get an old Volvo and build a rocket. Many of us are already doing so....Bad news: If/when you sell it, it still must comply to old smog rules if newer than 1966 model. We must thank SEMA and Pete Wilson for this new, sensible law. The best law would be, ofcourse, tail pipe emission test ONLY! If exhaust is clean, what the hell they care what's under the hood. This is too logigal to the bureaucrats, though....To drive around on bold tires, no fender, no brakes, no wipers and so on is still legal and daily business in LA. As long as exhaust's clean - anything goes !
Re: New CA smog laws[ALL/1988] posted by Steve LeFever on
Monday, 9 February 1998, at 1:32 p.m.
Topi, I am confused. Smog check II consists of three requirements: Biennial
smog checks, smog check on transfer, and smog impact fee for vehicles not originally registered in California. But, the California Smog Home Page
(http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/000197.htm) says that "All 1973 and older model year vehicles are exempt from all aspects of the Smog Check Program." Doesn't this mean that there is no smog check on transfer?
I am looking to buy a 1973 142 or 164 so this is important to me!
Thanks, Topi.
Steve in Orange
three 1965 PV 544's
Re: New CA smog laws[ALL/1988] posted by Steve LeFever on
Monday, 9 February 1998, at 1:34 p.m.
Let's try again! The Link didn't work.
California Smog Check II
Re: New CA smog laws[ALL/1988] posted by Topi on
Monday, 9 February 1998, at 2:26 p.m.
You need a smog smog at your area. Read gov rules. Totally exempt are only remote areas. All cities are still required a check when you buy a car, unless it's '66 or older.
Re: New CA smog laws[ALL/1988] posted by Brian T. on
Monday, 9 February 1998, at 8:40 p.m.
I think you better call the DMV and ask them about it. At the beginning of this year when the new laws went into effect, I read an article in a clari newsgroup that the cars would be exempt from all smog checks, including change of ownership. ---Brian
Re: New CA smog laws/You guys in CA have it too easy![ALL/1988] posted by Stoney on
Monday, 9 February 1998, at 8:51 p.m.
Here in Big Badd NY State we have to meet CA Emissions as well, but we have to pass annual safety, smog and such or no reg, no insurance, no s&*t!
You get 14 days to fix it or dump it and extensions are a rarity!
Private shops do the inspection but State will take it over next year. The fine to the shop for playing games is loss of busines license, impound of $30,000 machine and lots of paper to be read by a lawyer!
In CA. I see 1964 VW's being dirven by 60 year old hippies who make as much smoke inside the car as their exhaust does outside!
And we can't even carry our guns in our cars!
Re: New CA smog laws/You guys in CA have it too easy![ALL/1988] posted by Topi on
Tuesday, 10 February 1998, at 10:01 a.m.
Stoney - State taking over ? U R in BIG trouble !! I remember our circus.... $ 4/h unskilled state testers did SO much damage CA had to go back to private inspections. I saw a picture of '69 Caddy Eldorado at the Test station, nose halfway through the wall ! Well meaning inspector had put REAR wheels on the rolls and NAILED THE GAS ! Well, it went through the wall, ofcourse....Daily arguments everywere. Ferrari, Jaguar, MB and other car owners had nightmares for years. Volvos, Bimmers and MBs with ZF auto trans blew up every day and State paid some $ 3 000 000 to the owners...(no oil circulation)
Re: New CA smog laws/You guys in CA have it too easy![ALL/1988] posted by Stoney on
Tuesday, 10 February 1998, at 12:11 p.m.
Well fighting NY State is a no win situation...Remember ATTICA?
I'll just wait for a few BMW trsannys to blow and an Eldo or 2 to be totalled and then we will go back to old way!
But I still cannot believe that CA has refused to institute annual safety inspection for 20 years! Considering some of the s*&t boxes I've seen on the streets of LA...I'm not surprised ya'll folks carry guns! Ya need 'em to perform the last rites on the Studie Larks and Chevvy II's when they need to be put out of their misery! REF: Bill Maulin's Famous Cartoon of a Cavalry Officer exicuting his Jeep w/ busted axle thru use of a .45 Colt
Re: CA smog laws?[ALL/1988] posted by Dave Stevens on
Monday, 9 February 1998, at 1:58 p.m.
Just curious, apart from meeting maximum tail pipe emission levels, just how sticky is California? Will they flunk you if they find any uncertified non-OEM powertrain mod or part even if it actually reduced emissions? I'm all for clean air, but I'm down on bureaucrats enforcing arbitrary rules.
BTW, I'm proud that a local company, Ballard Power Systems, has developed a zero emissions hydrogen fuel cell. When run on pure hydrogen, the only byproduct is pure water. When run on cheaper hydrocarbons (in theory even methanol) there would be other emissions, like CO2. Co-operatively with a large investment by Daimler-Benz and Ford these are being developed for production use in the automotive industry, initially in heavy transport vehicles and ultimately in cars. These powerplants are currently being put into buses in Chicago and elsewhere for testing. I know Volvo is watching this project closely. Maybe someday a Volvo H2O AWD XC and we'll all be discussing mods from IPD to run on re-fried beans!
Just wish I'd bought stock in the company when I first knew of them 15 years ago.
Re: CA smog laws?[ALL/1988] posted by Topi on
Monday, 9 February 1998, at 2:52 p.m.
They're still crazy! If you change the engine to past '66 car it must meet smog requirements for the year of new engine or the car, which ever is cleaner !! For instance, put in a '90 B230 into a '67 P1800, it must meet '90 requirements. However, if your '67 won't pass a test, you're required to TRY to fix the problem for a max $ 85 ( Or something close). Even if you can't get it fixed, you're OK ! You can go and keep polluting the air...
So you think we can get "clean" motors soon?? I don't think so. LA Times had a story about our MTA (bus system). These "Al Core" conversions has cost us MILLIONS, and now they're going back to diesels... MTA bus engine life: Etanol 200 000 mls, Metanol 400 000 mls, Diesel 800 000 mls. Diesel is the cheapest motor, too !!
Electric cars: Have you seen any crach test? What happens when you're taking an accid bath? Two years ago there was an electric car race at Phoenix race track. ONE car crashed, and they evacuated everyone within 5 MILES !! What happens if an electric GM or Toyota crashes? They're out there, be careful to choise your crash partner...
I'm for clean air but make it sensible and start to enforce tailpipe reading only. This is the only thing that matters, anyway.
Penalties? They're STIFF in California ! $ 10 000 fine and/or 1 year in jail. However - if you kill the inspector you get $ 750 fine and 6 months probation....And if you get lucky beeing different race, hire Johnie Cochran, you walk...
Re: CA smog laws? - cut the crap[ALL/1988] posted by Mickey on
Monday, 9 February 1998, at 3:25 p.m.
Topi,
Based on your recent "contributions" to this list, you seem to be hankering for those lost wonderful days of yore. I get the impression your local smog inspector had really better watch his back when you pull in, especially if he is "lucky beeing [sic] different race" as you so courageously put it. Perhaps its time to give the rest of us a break from your "philosophical" rantings and stick to discussions of relevance to the list, which you otherwise seem quite capable of.
Mickey '95 855T
Toronto
Re: CA smog laws?[ALL/1988] posted by Jon on
Tuesday, 10 February 1998, at 9:31 p.m.
> Electric cars: Have you seen any crach test? What happens when you're taking an accid bath?
Yes, electric cars have been crash tested.
And you overestimate the danger of battery acid.
First, while acid is dangerous to the eyes and will burn the skin if left on for long, it is hardly the flesh-eating stuff of horror movies. The sulfuric acid in batteries is relatively weak.
Second, production vehicles use the absorbed glass matt battery technology in which the acid is absorbed in a glass-fiber matrix. Even if you puncture the battery case, the acid doesn't drip out.
Third, and most important, gasoline is more dangerous. The problems of sulfuric cid must not be ignored, but batteries are actually safer than ordinary vehicles.
Also, the accident at Phoenix involved an exotic battery formula. Emergency crews over-reacted to the situation because they were unfamiliar with the particular material.
Relevance to Volvos: watch this board for progress reports as I embark on converting a P1800 to electric power. It will become my everyday commuter vehicle.