[Porsche-O-Phile]

I completely agree. The current system is a sham and (like everything else in Kalifornia) it's really ultimately all about the money...

The only way you can touch something - ANYTHING - on your own vehicle - upstream of the exhaust is if it has a C.A.R.B. Exemption Number (and certificate), or if it's a straight R&R (remove & replace) with an identical stock OE part. I looked into the process of getting a C.A.R.B. number and certificate for the Callaway turbo conversion I was going to do to my 944 a few years ago (I had managed to get my hands on one of Reeves Callaway's original 944 turbo conversion setups from the 1980s). It would've taken literally thousands of dollars for "engineering review". Gimmee a break - I could have furnished them with exact fuel maps, projected fuel consumption rates, etc. I guarantee it would have performed well and cleanly and could have complied easily with the emissions requirements for an '85 944. No dice. C.A.R.B. would not budge unless they got their money. So basically you have three choices:

1. Perform the conversion and make the car "track only" or more specifically "for off-road use only". You still need to pay CA DMV every single year though, even though you'll never be issued a registration certificate again though.

2. Perform the conversion and get it smogged "gray market". Obviously this means either paying off an inspection station (illegal for both parties) and you run the risk of having your car impounded if you're ever checked roadside by CHP on a visual inspection. And of course if you take it in for smog and they fail you, you'd then have to undo the conversion before bringing it back in for recheck (a humongous PITA).

3. Pay C.A.R.B. something like $5,000 to perform their "engineering review" of my turbocharger and off-the-shelf ECU combination. Stupid.

Ultimately C.A.R.B. only cares about the money. If someone has deep enough pockets, they can buy whatever exemptions and certificates they want. If not, you get no say.

Follow the money.