Speedventures.

Don't see many homeless people here in far South OC. I know they have to be out there though.

 

Howdy -
I'm moving with an NB1 turbo trailer queen from Midwest no inspection state to coastal CA. I'm considering options for temporary street legality as a weekend car because I won't initially have space for a trailer and garage space will be limited as well making dedicated track use a hassle. No interest in rental trailers but I am considering a dolly I could fit in the garage as an alternative. Secure trailer storage was my first choice but it is unavailable locally. Local roads are excellent for cruising so some appeal to street use as well.

I was thinking about grabbing a spare engine/trans and add FM CARB kit while leaving the rest of the car intact and set the big power package aside until I have space to store a trailer.
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My question is: even if the engine, trans, ECU, and emissions (fuel/exhaust) are 100% legal and oem, would I run into a whole bunch of headaches trying to register the car with all other systems (cooling, brakes, chassis, ac, power steering etc) extensively modified on the car? Does have stock lights and basically stock exterior and interior except vented hood. The stock trans and engine VIN wouldn't match chassis but the ECU would, not sure if that's an issue.

I think this is a long shot but if it's easy as swapping a powertrain out it might be worth it to me as I get utility from the car vs just sitting in the garage. A bunch of paperwork or any hassle at the DMV would not be worth it though.

Thanks

 

Before I attempt to answer this, you said NB1. Is this a "CA Emissions" NB1 chassis or a "49 State Emissions" NB1 chassis?

​​​​​​There are a whole bunch of layers and some nuance here in the answer, but let's start with the above.

 

Not at all. CA doesn't have safety inspections, and smog stations DGAF about anything outside the the powerplant. Source: I have smogged, registered, and street driven a caged racecar with stock drivetrain but no wipers, windows, or headlights. Note that this assumes you have a clean title and have previously registered the car in some other state. Salvage/rebuilt title cars require some level of inspection to title in CA.

CARB doesn't care about VIN if it's like-for-like replacement. It is important for getting an engine swap approved ("BAR-ing" a swap, which is possible though increasingly difficult). Like-for-like means it needs to have the same cat config it shows on the hood sticker (i.e. pre-cat if your car originally came with one).

Stock-identical powerplant (including wrong VIN on engine) = no paperwork or hassle other than just doing biannual smog. However, note that stock means stock, so you need every hose on the engine and every little detail stock to be guaranteed a hassle-free experience.

I think what he's getting at here is that a) you have to have the kit installed EXACTLY per the instructions with no extra mods and b) it's not actually CARB legal for cars originally solid as CA emissions.

 

49 State NB1.

 

I'm jealous.Anyway, what @afm said. Lol. Your plan sounds similar to what I'd do if I had an 49 State NB1.

 

Thanks afm and EO2K this is helpful as both inspection and smog are new to me. Maybe not as far fetched as I thought.

Yes, clean title and always registered/insured. Good to know they don't mind non-emissions related mods, trying to understand where the lines are drawn. I have the underhood vacuum routing sticker and most of the emissions sticker but a hood vent ate some of it - does that need to be complete?

Where does the "powerplant" end? Assuming anything air post MAF, fuel, EVAP, and exhaust up to the cat is strict. What about fluids? Oil, steering, water, and AC is modified with obviously not stock coolers, fans, and plumbing between engine and coolers.

I assume the transmission has to be plausibly from a Miata (ie not a sequential or DCT with separate controller)?

Wiring - would a custom engine harness matter or should it appear 100% stock? Instrument cluster (speedo, CEL)?

Does an installing an FM CARB kit on an otherwise stock "powerplant" activate the BAR referree process? Or does the EO preclude that entirely? Do I even have to go to DMV after the FM lot is installed or better to smog/register first then put the EO sticker on afterwards? I imagine I'd also be doing this once and the car would be dedicated off highway before the next biannual test. Would the bigger non-FM IC invalidate the EO? Probably questions for FM but don't want to bother them before at least understanding the basics.

Some insight to be found here https://www.smogtips.com/forum/

Thanks

 

49 state NB1 will pass and there is no need to go to the BAR. Register it at DMV and have it inspected at a regular shop. Not all shops will inspect cars manufactured before 01 and not all are created equal. Will still have to pass the sniffer so make sure your cat is in good working order and is warmed up. Good luck

 

Just so you know, the new rules for out of state plates, regardless of whether you're military or whatever, when you ship a car to California you have to register it for this dumbfuck state ASAP. They changed the rules about 2-3 years ago. Even military has to abide by that rule and they used to not have to register their car in state at all. Just thought I'd throw that at you.

 

I may drive it for a week or two on arrival while shopping for a new daily/tow vehicle. I've accepted the car won't be registered to run on the street and plan to use a tow dolly I can fit in the garage until I have space for a proper trailer. Looking forward to shedding some weight and getting a full cage in it now.

Thanks all,

 

FYI, if the wheels of the vehicle are touching the street then it needs to be registered. So for non-registered track cars you need a full trailer, not just a tow dolly.

--Ian

 

Looking into this a bit, it seems like there may a option to register as PNO and use VEH4003 moving permits, which can apparently be bought in bulk at once. May even allow driving directly to and from the track (but no detours, so a one day event thing).

-Chris