Just Leave It Stock

[wiscon_mark]

Actually, pretty much every ignition MSD markets for street cars has an executive order number from the California Air Resources Board. George Lane doesn't know what he's talking about. Comforting.

no kidding, MSD is good stuff, and it helps fuel burn.

Does anyone still know if that was an accessory pulley or if it was really the timing belt?

[evolutionmovement]

Cam sprockets.

[sammydafish]

Well, the video is down, so I can't comment on it at all. As far as mods go though, it IS a federal crime to tamper with any emission related equipment. The states have the responsability to enforce thease laws (most are part of the federal Clean Air Act) In California they have C.A.R.B. requirements. They have a pretty bad polution problem and are trying to do something about it. There are TONS of mods that you can do to your car that will not compromise the emissions system. Many many aftermarket parts come with 50 state leagal certification. This means that it's had approval from California's CARB to be emissions friendly. Almost every MSD part has this by the way, especialy the popular DIS2 and DIS4. Air filters like K&N drop ins have it as well as most of thier FIPKs. A regular old cone air filter won't though as it will most likely hurt emissions especialy if the other factory emmissions controls are not hooked up to it (PCV the most likely culprit). Adjustbale cam gears would definetly fail emissions testing as changes in cam timming could greatly hurt emissions performance.


For you kats that live in a state without emissions testing, don't get to happy about it, you'll have testing eventualy. Part of the federal laws already say that if states don't enforce the emissions control laws they can loost a large amount of federal funding. As of now, this has not been enforced, but there's a lot of talk about it hapening soon. Many many states have added emissions testing in the last few years and it will continue (at the least you'll have OBDII testing).

I for one think it's a good idea to have the emissions testing and enforcement. It's good for the enviornment and for most people it will be good in the long run on thier wallet too ad it will promote better preventative maintinance (something more and more people lack on these days). What there does need to be is an alternative way to pass emisions testing. A few states do this already and I hope it will one day become part of the federal standard. Lets say you modify a car greatly (change the engine, redesign the whole motor, build a custom car ect..) You may not pass emissions for the model the car originated as, but, you should be able to get an on load sniffer test to analize the emissions on your vehicle no matter the specific emisions equipment your vehicle is equiped with. If you pass a loaded and idle sniffer test, than you should be awared a certification for a certian amount of time (or an inspection sticker ect..) It wouldn't matter if there were only a few of these types of facilities in the whole state since you would only need to do it every few years. If you had to drive a few hours every few years to keep your performnce/enthusiast/custom car legal, I'm sure most any of us wouldn't complain. It would be the best of both world in my opinion. Currently as the law stands, if you swapped in the entire drivetrain (computer and everything) from a brand new STi into your Legacy and had no other mods, you car would be totaly illegal. Totaly illegal even dispite that the USDM STi drive train is compliant with MUCH stricter emissions regulations than your old EJ22 was. Your car will be cleaner, faster, more efficient, and still illegal. That simply doen;t make sence to me.

[jnorion]

Well, the video is down, so I can't comment on it at all. As far as mods go though, it IS a federal crime to tamper with any emission related equipment.

One of the things they said was illegal was lowering springs. Makes no sense that I can see.

[wiscon_mark]

for emissions? no, it doesn't. That's just arrogant bullshit.

[vrg3]

My understanding is that lowering springs aren't illegal unless they result in the lowering of your headlights below the minimum height requirement. It's a safety issue, not an emissions issue.

[entirelyturbo]

In regards to the lowering issue... I remember an article from Sport Compact Car a few years ago.

Some dipshit cop who had no idea what he was talking about said that the bottom of the chassis of the car can't be below the centerline of the wheel! So, if you drew a line horizontal to the ground that went through the center of the wheels, no part of the car could be below that line. Dave Coleman pointed out that most of the passenger cars for sale in America were legally "too low" from the factory.

[evolutionmovement]

MA has some of the strictest emissions laws and it's totally legal to swap a newer model year motor into a car as long as it meets the emissions of the year of mfg for the engine (registry has to be notified etc). It's not legal to swap in an older motor regardless of cleanliness. Custom cars (as in self-built) have to meet the emissions of the year of engine mfg as well. Then basic safety is met in regards to lighting, etc., and then the registry issues a VIN and the car can be registered legally. This will be especially easy on me since my custom car will technically be a motorcycle. It'll be strange having to wear a helmet while driving it (which is illegal while driving a car). I'm sure it'll cause problems with confused law enforcement.

Lowering can also be a safety issue since it changes stresses and geometry of the DOT approved and mfg tested suspension/chassis components. Also, those aftermarket components may be of extremely low quality. There's also the problem of people just cutting springs and we've all seen the idiots in Hondas bouncing all over the lane at the 65 mph the asshole can manage without completely bouncing off the road. He sure looks cool, though .

The biggest problem is that the cops have so little clue as to the rules themselves (partly because the rules are unclear as well, being written by clueless legislators) and even an unfair ticket requires you to go to court and present proof of legality. Even then, the Registry is not beholden to the courts' ruling.

[BAC5.2]

The Mclaren SLR couldn't legally be sold due to the exhaust exit. It was officially released, then it was officially released for sale when the Emissions certification waiver came through. At a benz dealer down the street, they had one in the showroom with a large "illegal" sign on the winshield.

[Tleg93]

In regards to the lowering issue... I remember an article from Sport Compact Car a few years ago.

Some dipshit cop who had no idea what he was talking about said that the bottom of the chassis of the car can't be below the centerline of the wheel! So, if you drew a line horizontal to the ground that went through the center of the wheels, no part of the car could be below that line. Dave Coleman pointed out that most of the passenger cars for sale in America were legally "too low" from the factory.

They don't choose to be cops because they're brilliant or gifted. They choose to become cops because they have small penises and controlling minds. But alas, they can't control their small penis to brain ratio.

[LegacyPunk]

[wiscon_mark]

I've found that most of the cops in our area where once in high school doing the stupidest, most unlawful things. Interesting that they would then want to become cops...assholes.