Ok, so there is a chance that some day I may return home to California. One thing there that I DREAD is emissions testing. How the heck do you guys get past smog testing? I've heard that there is a way to LEGALLY make your car smog/CARB/whatever exempt under some legal loop hole such as "alternative" fuel (ethanol, alky inject, propane???) or some other jazz. An acquaintance in college I knew has a turbo M3 that is legally exempt from having to do any smog checks for life, but he did have a motor swap. Anyone have any clues? Yes, Sav, I'm calling you out!

 

I've passed Cali smog twice now. I've never bought a turbo kit that didn't have a CARB certification. The CARB sticker is your ticket. How much modification to the original CARB specs you can get away with really depends on how ---- the smog check tech is. You don't really need a "loopehole" to pass smog in Cali. A well tuned aftermarket turbo kit won't cause you to fail the sniffer. If you're out of specs for your CARB sticker or don't have one, it's the visual and whether or not you have an OBDI or OBDII car.

Honestly, if you're really concerned about it, do a search on Craigslist. You can find guys who'll guarantee you'll pass without ever having to show up at the shop.

 

i am considering putting an FM2 i pieced together into my '92. hoq can i get the CARB sticker?

 

Call FM or Bell (who made the kits) and ask them. My guess would be that if you can prove ownership of all of the parts required for the EO, they can provide you with a sticker.

You can get the paperwork here: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/eo/D-349.pdf