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It looks like I will be heading to California toward the end of this year. I have been planning to rebuild my IROC for street use, but now I am wondering about restrictions in California.

Does anybody know the dos and don'ts for modifying cars in California?

I am guessing that there are heavy restrictions from the intake manifold back to the tail pipe.

The car:
1989 IROC
L98 350cid (305 originally)
T5 Transmission
Holley Stealth Ram Intake
Hooker Super Comp Headers - full length
and other typical ESP modifications to the suspension and brakes

thanks for any advice-

It gets no tougher than here in California. I am pretty sure the full lengh headers are gone. Only smog legal/tagged headers shorty type are legal. Many chip/computer mods are not legal. All the original smog equipment needs to go back on. Timing specs must be stock. They wont check suspension/ brake mods.
Two sites to get you started (www.smogcheck.ca.gov) and (www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/smog) and call the California Bureau of Automotive Repair.
By law, I believe you need to register the car within 20 days of moving here. It may be even less to apply for you Ca. lic.
This could be a real uphill battle if you pulled a bunch of stuff off or have a bigger cam/etc.
Good luck,
ed

The HSR is gone too. You can look around for a SuperRam, those are CA legal.

hmm... none of that sounds good...

I wonder about motor/computer swaps...?..

Doesn't slow us down, the drag race set is quite happy out here and go fast mods are really important to them. If you go on TGO there are whole topics dedicated to this subject. Myself, I have a '91 Formula with a stroker, Super ram and SLP 3/4" headers, I think high 300hp and 400ft-lbs+ torque will keep me entertained! All legal.

What are you wondering about motor/computer swaps? As long as you use a motor that was used in that car or is newer, like an LSx, you are fine. If you are planning an LSx swap there is plenty of info on TGO, many have done it and passed smog with flying colors. Computer swap fine, as long as it passes smog. No-one is looking at your computer guts as long as the outside is correct, or your system has a 50 state EO., just visual and tail-pipe readings on the dyno. What area are you moving to? Some areas have "enhanced" smog inspection, not really any big deal for a legal car though.

Just sell your illegal stuff and buy some legal stuff to replace it with.

motor/computer swap.... i've had a LS6 swap in mind... but if i read california's web site correctly, that's not possible since all original emissions equipment must be retained... that doesn't make sense to me since a 20 year newer engine/emissions set up has to be more smog friendly...

Hunnington Beach is where I'll be located


thanks for the tips... i guess i'll have to dig in over at TGO...

I don't see why not, retaining the emissions for the new motor is smog friendly for sure. Should be doable. Just talk to other folks how have done it before you do anything at all.

Huntington Beach eh? Nice!

These guys will be glad to help you:

http://www.socal-fbodies.org/forums/

An LSx swap will require a trip to a referee, who will check that all smog equipment for the year of the engine is in place. Basic CA rule is smog equipment must be correct for engine or chassis, whichever is newer. They will be particular on the details, like the proper y-pipe and number of cats specified for the LS engine you install. Also, if you use any 50 state legal aftermarket parts, don't lose the CARB EO stickers that come with them. I have a couple buddies with completely legal setups, but they can't smog them because they didn't keep the stickers and the manufacturers won't provide them after purchase. And smog techs are paranoid because of random checks that will lose them their license.

There are a couple counties up here in Norcal that don't require the inspection, but no such luck in the LA area.

As Julie and John said, upgrading to a newer combo is fairly straight forward. The best/takes a lot of the quess work out of doing it right the first time, is to get a complete engine/trans/computer combo out of a known running vehicle that has passed smog recently (the smog thing is just a bonus.) keep all the facts/info on the car/engine and vehicle ID. Note the pipe set-up and cats in the exhaust system. Also grab or at least note the fuel and fuel return system setup. The more you have, the easier it will be for the computer to read correctly and give the green light to the testers. SpearTech is one company that you can send your computer to and they can rewire and tag where needed to mate with your existing electrical system. I did this with a 2000 Chevy motor/trans into a 84 jeep scrambler. When done, you will end up with a very clean setup.
Ed

Here are some useful links for you:

http://smogcheck.ca.gov/StdPage.asp?Body=/...es-Jan_1994.htm

and to search California EOS (Executive Orders)

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/amquery.php

I was able to find my Super Ram in there and also the aftermarket heads on my stroker motor in there, no sticker needed!

I'm curious ... for arguement's sake ...

Let's say I move to CA with my PSD I purchased and registered in Texas.

When I attempt to register the truck in CA, will have to meet CA emissions standards? Or is it grandfathered in because I migrated to the promised land?

PSD is what again? Diesels do not have any smog inspections right now in CA. If it is a non-diesel I think it is grandfathered in as a "Federal car/truck or 49 state vehicle," meaning a car purchased in the USA outside of California and there are separate emissions standards for those. IF I remember right. It has been a while since I have been around the smog biz that hubby did before he retired.

Here's the current status of smog inspections from the DMV website:



Here's a good link on registering an out of state vehicle:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/checklists/outofstate.htm

No issues with bringing a diesel truck here from TX.

There was some noise a dozen years ago or so to have diesels "inspected" here in CA. Seems folks were taking their smog-exempt mid 80's diesel pickups, yanking out the diesel engines, and dropping in monster gasoline big-blocks. Big brother threatened to inspect diesel vehicles, just to ensure they were still diesels ... but I don't think they ever followed through.