General Chat
Q:
I went to the DMV to try and get a SPCNS, Specialy Constructed Vehicle Number Sequence for my Ferrarz. The state of Caif issues 500 of them a year for cars that are home built or highly modified. I went on Tuesday morning and to my shock all 500 of them had been issued before noon that day. Needless to say, I did not get one.
My engine is highly modified with a 6 butterfly intake manifold, 6 into 1 equal length tuned exhause and a Ford EDIS-6 ignition system. The body started out as a 77 280Z.
Does anybody have any suggestions for getting this thing legaly registered in the state of Calif without restoring the engine to stock?
(2) 280Zs, one getting changed a bit, one for parts.
A:
wait till next year
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'74 2+2 -- MSA sway bars, Illuminas, Eibach Progressive, Energy Suspension
L28 with MN47, 240Z rods, milled down dished pistons (11.6:1 CR) and 240sx tranny
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committing suicide in small managable payments
A:
Cant you just register as 77 280Z? Don't mention the "M' word (modified) within 1 mile of any DMV office.
'76 280Z driver, '75 parts car
A:
In California, a 77 car has to pass a smog inspection. Nothing will pass if it is not stock. My engine is not stock.
(2) 280Zs, one getting changed a bit, one for parts.
A:
Hot rodders used to get special treatment in California by running their cars on LPG only. Sure you may lose a bit of your performance... Is this option still available?
A:
Register it in another state.
A:
Move to another state and register it there. Here in TN, they don't give a sh!t what you put under the hood, or even if you have an exhaust. Legislation-wise, Cali is the worst state in which to own a souped up car.
I quess if you want nice weather year 'round, you pay the price.
God must love stupid people, he made SOOOOO many of them!
A:
registering in another state is illegal.
not a good idea (especially if your licence and registration do not match up when stopped by an officer).
if you decide to be a scofflaw, go all the way and get mexican plates, no license and no insurance. that seems to be an accepted alternative in california...
A:
If you have a valid address in another state,nothing they can do.
THose 500 numbers are gone untill next Jan.1.
Know anyone in Az. or Nevada?Have them put their electric or gas bill in your name.That proves residency.Tell the Republik Of Kalifornia to go F^%k themselves.
Or move.
Faster than a Motorola
A:
Slightly off topic, but I knew a guy that has the SPCNS reg on a 78 Camaro with a blown 427 crate and Nitros. I used to laugh at the fact that it had a license and registration. He used to get noise pollution tickets all the time so he didn't like taking it out because the local police would wait for him. That car was insanely fast. Thanks for the memory.
1972 240Z always in progress
***WARNING*** MY POSTS MAY CONTAIN SARCASM
A:
Hopes this all works out, Id really like to see my head and Intake combo go on this car! BTW, I hope you have GOOD rear tires :)
Lots of Z cars, 1970's-1983's.
1977, Megasquirt, 12.8@ 105, 1.70 60 Foot, 2940 LBS. Blake Machine Co, Phx, AZ http://bandmzcars.com http://blakemachineprojects.com http://www.zselect.com
A:
Talk to Tony D. He seems to know a lot about this kind of stuff.
1977 280z: Intake, exhaust, high flow cat, header, euro damper, cam, MSD, adj. FPR, 3.7 lsd, F+R sway+strut bars, 2580lbs
1984 300zx: intake, exhuast, high flow cat, headers, JWT ECU, F+R sway bars, F strut bar
06 WRX TR
A:
Wonder why they limit it to only 500 cars?
Nevermind, its california...
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1982 280zx
A:
The Cobra guys are having fits over this.
Faster than a Motorola
A:
The Cobra Kit-Car guys are in line and suck 'em up the first business day after the new years.
Early Bird gets the worm on SCVs...
You say 280Z, what year? 75 has no Smog Check...
What about collector insurance? Vehicles 30 years an older holding collector insurance need only pass a tailpipe test, with no visual (it's in there guys, READ!). If you have even halfa$$ed tuning you should be able to pipe clean to any of the standards required to 78.
As for a 77, how they determine the "years" would mean a 77 is eligible this year for that particular portion of the CVC.
People Are Idiots, Just look around here and you will see!
Tony D: "Knowledgeable but Caustic"... rationull
My brother from another mother calls himself "Willie D"
Post Edited (Jan 6, 10:51pm)
A:
Your statement is not correct regarding Smog Testing Requirements.
No visual in some instances. See my post below.
People Are Idiots, Just look around here and you will see!
Tony D: "Knowledgeable but Caustic"... rationull
My brother from another mother calls himself "Willie D"
A:
Tony, Please run that part past me one more time... the part about the 30 years and collector car insurance and how the year is determined.
(2) 280Zs, one getting changed a bit, one for parts.
A:
During the last rewrite of the SMOG legislation, spart of the SEMA Lobbying efforts concentrated on (and it's in the legislation currently) collector vehicles.
Basically, vehicles that are more than 30 years old, and are classified "collector vehicles" (This means anything newer than 76, as 75 and before are now not required to test biannually.) only have to pass a TAILPIPE ONLY EMISIONS TEST.
There is NO visual component! THIS IS THE LAW!
Now, what classifies a "collector vehicle"?
Not a "Historic Vehicle" plate, as the legislation doesn't say anything about that AT ALL. Historic Vehicles are in a different classification altogether---and your car may qualify for that classification, also. You may want to look into that, also. BUT, what the legislation says is about how the vehicle is INSURED. If it is INSURED as a "collector car"---basically something like the specialty insurances offered by Haggerty or the like---then it qualifies as a "collector vehicle".
Basically, this was done through SEMA Lobbying, and was the ONLY way they could insure that aftermarket parts would be allowable (um, be able to sell them and make money for their members in perpetuity) was if they would not increase pollution. So this was the compromise. Basically you will be the first person I know that will try to utilize this quirk in the law. The way the vehicles were classified before was (even though it said 30 years old) to subtract 29 from the current year, and that year was the year that dropped off the smog roles.
1974 vehicles dropped in January 2003, 75 in 2004, 76 in 2005, and 77 in 2006. NOW THEY MAY MAKE YOU WAIT TILL THE MANUFACTURING MONTH OF YOUR VEHICLE (this was the case with some people I know who had 75's, and they didn't want to drop them off the Smog Roles when they applied.
But your car should be eligible to simply slap some collector insurance on it, and then go fail your Smog Visual. You whould then be able to go to the Referee and get passed----I'M NOT SURE HOW IT WORKS! YOU NEED TO CHECK INTO IT ON YOUR OWN BEFORE INITIATING ANY PAPERWORK.
But the legislation IS IN THE BOOKS, and it specifically stated collector vehicles over 30 years old that had catalysts on them are ONLY required to pass a TAILPIPE TEST.
If you can pass a tailpipe test (and you should!) then you should be able to register it under these conditions.
Good Luck, and keep at least me informed on what you run into when you push the new law in their faces. It should be quite satisfying to reveal it to all after you successfully do it that any catalyzed car only requires a TAILPIPE test in CA. NO MORE VISUAL B.S.!
It will raise the prices of those 76-78 Tanks! LOL
People Are Idiots, Just look around here and you will see!
Tony D: "Knowledgeable but Caustic"... rationull
My brother from another mother calls himself "Willie D"
A:
I have been all over the DMV web site section 5004, 5051, 259, 4000.1 and VIN 2004-13.
section 4000.1 says:
(g) For purposes of subdivision (a), any collector motor vehicle, as defined in Section 259, is exempt from those portions of the test required by subdivision (f) of Section 44012 of the Health and Safety Code, if the collector motor vehicle meets all of the following criteria:
(1) Submission of proof that the motor vehicle is insured as a collector motor vehicle, as shall be required by regulation of the bureau.
(2) The motor vehicle is at least 35 model-years old.
(3) The motor vehicle complies with the exhaust emissions standards for that motor vehicle’s class and model year as prescribed by the department, and the motor vehicle passes a functional inspection of the fuel cap and a visual inspection for liquid fuel leaks.
I am confused. Is there another statute I have not found? Where does it show how to calculate the model year?
(2) 280Zs, one getting changed a bit, one for parts.
Post Edited (Jan 8, 8:59am)
A:
That section was changed form the legislation as I last rad it amended before passage.
Apparently it's 35 years now, instead of the 30 as originally printed.
I am going to have to go back and read my legislative alerts, because I was unaware of that change.
The CVC and the SMOG legislation sometimes don't jibe---is that the 2006 statutes you are reading from? That is saying EXACTLY what I am, other than the 35 year versus 30.
A visual inspection for FUEL LEAKS and a CAP TEST is FAR REMOVED from what the current visual test entails!
FYI, 44012(F) is the Visual Inspection reading as follows:
(f) A visual or functional check is made of emission control
devices specified by the department, including the catalytic
converter in those instances in which the department determines it to
be necessary to meet the findings of Section 44001. The visual or
functional check shall be performed in accordance with procedures
prescribed by the department.
So by MY reading it looks like if you pass the tailpipe test you don't even need a CATALYST! But I wouldn't try pushing it that far!
There is no reason a car can not pass a pressure test of 3"H2O on the fuel cap, and not have visible fuel leaks, and pass a sniffer test up the pipe.
So, other than the 35 year number, it's as I said. And If that's the 2006 Regulations, then I stand corrected: it's 35 years and not 30. Given the past DMV determinations (check the DMV Website---that is where they showed how to determine the model year that became eligible for this or that) that would mean subtract 34 from the current year, and that is the year that is eligible for this section. So sadly, that would mean these cars are now only up to 1972 this year.
And that sucks, because the original and last amendment (and I thought, the passed legislation) had a 30 year limit on that section.
People Are Idiots, Just look around here and you will see!
Tony D: "Knowledgeable but Caustic"... rationull
My brother from another mother calls himself "Willie D"
A:
If you check VIN 2004-13, on page 3, it says 30 years. This is confusing. It does reference 4000.1 & 4000.2
How do I tell the 2005 statutes from 2006?
(2) 280Zs, one getting changed a bit, one for parts.
A:
This is curious...
The stuff online is usually a bit behind. Usually by March of any year they have been updated to reflect the most current standards.
This may be something you need to talk with the DMV and maybe a SMOG Referee, or someone at the BAR in Sacramento.
At this point, I may even consider a call to someone in the legislature of the state to have them clarify it for you.
I like to use Rep. Mountjoy (R) Arcadia, for information. He is at the forefront of a lot of this type of legislation, and his staff usually is pretty up to date on the current rules. You may even be able to request them e-mailing you or faxing you the required portions of legislation from the current year to read it firsthand.
Let us know what you find out. They are your reps, make em work for ya!
When this kind of discrepancy shows up, someone needs to ask the question to be able to clarify it...
People Are Idiots, Just look around here and you will see!
Tony D: "Knowledgeable but Caustic"... rationull
My brother from another mother calls himself "Willie D"
A:
I will contact the honorable Rep. Mountjoy in the morning.
I also have an appt with the CHP in the morning to try and get an idea as to what my current alternatives are.
I will let you know what I find out.
(2) 280Zs, one getting changed a bit, one for parts.
A:
Let me I'll try e-mailing you with another alternative off board.
People Are Idiots, Just look around here and you will see!
Tony D: "Knowledgeable but Caustic"... rationull
My brother from another mother calls himself "Willie D"