CARB knowledge needed – MikeZ, this means you too

[surflvr911sc]

In the never ending quest for knowledge about my up and coming 3.6 conversion, I have been trying to decide the best way to go to make sure it’s CA smog legal and I only have to see the referee once. I was planning on going w/ the GHL Headers/Heat exchangers w/ CATs. On the Pelican site, it says that the system is “CARB approved fifty states” but on the GHL site it says CARB approval “pending”. I contacted them and they said that they weren’t CARB approved and didn’t make any suggestion that it was going to happen. They said it had to do w/ the fact that putting two CATs on a single CAT car was technically illegal and that it may or may not be a problem when smog time came.

The CARB considers the CATs part of the car and not part of engine. That may be true on a lot of cars but our cars are definitely different when it comes to the exhaust system. So, where does that leave me? I thought MikeZ had two CATs and that he was good to go except for the Check Engine light. Does this mean that the referees will make logical exceptions when it comes to different year engine changes? Thom (widebody911) has some great info on his site but his car didn’t require CATs.

I would really appreciate input from anyone that has refereed a CAT car after a conversion or has insight to the CARB or referee process. TIA

[tiorio]

Going out on a CARB limb here. Haven't done the 3.6 but have had to deal with this on the Land Cruiser of all things and the 912 back when it was a runner (irrelevant mostly as it was 10 years ago now)...

What you say is true, regardless of how different our cars are cats are car, not engine. The referees can make descisions on acceptable solutions (they hate the word 'exception') but they are rarely logical.

A quick quote from the GHL system pretty well sums it up:

"This system is not intended as and cannot be used as a replacement for a functional catalytic converter. In order for the installation of this exhaust system not to be considered a violation of section 203(a) (3) of the Clean Air Act the factory catalytic converter must be missing or documented unusable."

Case in point: 97 LC had 2 cats. from factory. Aftermarket exhaust installed by PO, single cat. Passed emission tests for years, flying colors. (cheap) aftermarket exhaust need replaced, I have custom fabricated also single cat, higher efficiency 'CARB approved' unit. Next smog check visual inspection fails for single cat (Jimmy-Minimum-Wage noticed the pretty, shiny tubes and was blinded). Visited referee. Request for exception denied! See, the car was supposed to fail with the original cats BEFORE the single was installed. I appealed, and was granted the exception.

Stupid! Silly! More efficient system, easily passes rolling sniffer, product approved for use in state, + idiots in charge = too much of my time wasted on their stupid series of paperwork, phone calls, missed work for referee apts. and frustration.

HOWEVER, although both cars were a royal pain in the a$$, both are currently legally CARB legal. Persistence and patience pay in this game.

Good luck!

P.S. - I thought CARB was California Air Resources Board, how can all 50 states have one?

[ischmitz]

Thom (widebody) should have some insight into this topic.

ingo

[Jack Olsen]

Carrera exhaust would have a single cat. Swap it for the inspection.

[john70t]

Run three circles to the left, then three to the right. Stand on one leg like a yogi, and hop a single step forward every five minutes. The rest of the procedures can be found in the "CARB Book of Magics" scroll collection. There's a waiting list to access the collection. Repeat the sacred chant and you may enter.
Don't know it? Start over from the beginning (and pay the administration fee).

[Joe Bob]

P.S. - I thought CARB was California Air Resources Board, how can all 50 states have one?


__________________

The Clean Air Act allows pollution control devices to comply with the local State or CARB requirements. CARB is the most stringent. Other States save money by just accepting CARBs opinion and certifications.

As to MY swap, it is more complicated as it was a euro car to begin with. It ALREADY has a CARB sticker in the door from a referee when it came in the country back in 84. I going for the next one soon....will update ya.

[tiorio]

Originally posted by mikez
The Clean Air Act allows pollution control devices to comply with the local State or CARB requirements. CARB is the most stringent. Other States save money by just accepting CARBs opinion and certifications.

Well, there you go! All of a sudden the lightbulb goes on!

Thanks!

[surflvr911sc]

Originally posted by JackOlsen
Carrera exhaust would have a single cat. Swap it for the inspection.

That's my back up plan. But I would hate to drop the money on the GHL and then have to swap my CAT system for another CAT system come smog. If it won't work w/ the GHL, I'll probably go with a B&B setup and a Carrera exhaust for smog but I was hoping that I found the solution for smog/performance without having to swap.

I think I should go talk to the referee and get a feel for what they think. I can say the original CAT is missing and no long useable after the swap.

Mike, Hurry up already! Are you going to milk that all of this year too?
I look forward to hearing how it goes, good luck!