Hey all. I live in Kansas where there are NO emissions tests at all, but I plan to move to CA in the next few years. According to the smog laws I've read for your kick-*** state, I don't see any way in the world to get my very radical Camaro licensed. Is that the sad truth or is there something else I can do? Is there some loop hole you guys use to get highly modified cars on the street such as getting a 'vintage' or 'antique' car license? Or can I just add cats? Or what if I do a modern engine swap compete with computer and exhaust? I think that requires 'certification' that costs thousands, right? What about rigging up a stock engine/exhaust just for my yearly inspection, then swapping it right back afterward? Are there any surprise smog tests/inspections by cops on the road? The car has no cats, no computer, no smog equipment of any kinds, and anything stock is nowhere in sight. I'll be sad if I have to make this a track only car, but it would be worth it to live out there. Let me know what you all do. thanks.

Unfortunately there is no way to register a car in that condition in this state. You could leave your Kansas plates on (as long as you have access to a Kansas address) it for as long as you dare, especially if it's not daily driven. I know a guy with a badass Mustang who did this with Florida plates. You can also test the "underground" waters, sometimes you can find somebody who knows somebody who is a smog tech who will take $200 - $300 for a "smog". Our smog checks are every 2 years and there are no safety checks.

Modern motor is a legitimate option. As long as it's some the same chassis style (no truck motors in cars, etc) and assuming you retain all the smog equipment from the donor car, and as long as the engine from the donor car is of equal or later model year than that of the recipient car, you can get it inspected by a "referee" who will give you a big sticker for under the hood that allows you to get your car smog checked as whatever car you got the engine from.

If you play your cards right you can legitimately have a pretty hot street car. There are plenty of 50-state legal upgrade options (Lots of shorty header options, nice aluminum heads, etc) and although not technically legal you can sneak a pretty decent cam through the regular smog checks. A member here passes with flying colors with Trick Flow aluminum heads and LT4 hotcam. You just have to leave your smog stuff (I just throw my smog stuff on for the test, it's not functional it just has to "be there") and you cannot run any sort of carb unless the car came with a carb from the factory, in which case you have to stick with the factory carb because there are no 50 state legal carbs. There are even 50 state legal superchargers.

It's not as bad as everybody makes it out to be, you just have to mod smart. There are plenty of legit ways to make power and there are plenty of ways to pull a fast one on the smog nazi's which most of us do every 2 years with pleasure.

I am curious how fast your car is?

your car can barely just make it aslong as it passes somewhat of a visual. like if your car had a 305 and you put in a 350 with aluminum heads and a nice intake, it may pass if you take it to a place that bends the rules alittle bit. but if you ditched Fuel injection for carb, and went with a large cam or a supercharger or something crazy powerful like that, then thats where we have to get alittle shady about how we get a smog check. if your moving to the SF bay area, or even the south bay, let me know when you need a smog check, im not a smog tech, but i know a friend of a friend that can give you a smog *cough* check *cough*

Wow, thanks for the inside scoop. But that confirms my fears. I've been working on this car for 14 years, and soon I won't be able to drive it! Ha ha, such is hot rodding.

Unfortunately it is an LG4 car which has no hope at all. I did have a ZZ3 350 HO with Trick Flow heads and SLP exhaust in there at one time with all the smog stuff intact, and it was pretty awesome. But that was a long time ago, and I've gone way to far to get back to that point.

I guess I'll have to keep toying with the idea of an LS7 swap, but that'll probably take another 14 years to complete. Knowing my luck, gasoline burning engines will probably be totally illegal by then.

I'm not sure how fast my car is, because I have not got a few final details sorted out yet. It's supposed to run 10s, but we'll see.

So, is it correct that anything goes on pre '74 cars?

Going the legal route u have NO way off passing with your current setup.

I know plenty of guys who have cars like yours who just pay the right person to pass their smog every 2 years and get away with it.

An LS7 swap could be passed if you retained all of the smog equipment and went to a referee for certification

If a car is 1975 or older its considered smog exempt here in California.

Good Luck

not so, but yes. techinically pre 75 is just no longer smogging required but your still supposed to maintain any smog components it may have had and must still only be equipped with carb certified (50 state legal) parts. but in reality, if its pre smog, no one ever gets bothered.

What if I put a stock smogger 305 in for my inspection, then swap it out as soon as I get home? If I get pulled over with the big engine installed a week later, will the cops say I have an illegal car and impound it or give me a big ticket? Do they check stuff like having no cats on the road?

Depends on what city you're in or how good the cop is feeling that day. They were cracking down a bit with modified cars recently near here and last year a bit north of me. Where I am, the local police seem to target the imports more. I've actually gotten a couple of complements on my car lol, there's a lot of people here with hot rods and classics.

youll have no problem with that, aslong as you dont get pulled over and they look under your hood and you have everything chromed out and braided stainless steel everywhere. also you should keep a cat on the car, thats one thing they do check for.

The answer to your first question is yes (I've seen it done many times)

Usually if you get pulled over with anything aftermarket under the hood they will give you a Modified Emissions ticket (CA Vehicle Code 27156) which you have to get cleared by a State Smog Referee. To get the ticket cleared they just do a smog test so you could put the "smogger 305" back in and get it cleared then swap it right back out.

They don't usually impound cars unless they catch you "street racing"

You can do this but you'll have to do it every 2 years. Perhaps this isn't an issue for you, perhaps it is but it's pretty ambitious as far as I'm concerned because you'd need to replace all smog equipment and it would have to be in tip top shape. Might be worth grabbing a clean running LG4 car for cheap just so you know it passes and use it's engine every 2 years. Might get old! (Law in CA: Seller must smog vehicle prior to sale unless buyer specifically waives that right in writing.)

I think they usually target the r1cers more than us about the "road side inspections" which I have never seen or even heard of anybody I know having to deal with. I've been pulled over 3 times and have NEVER had a cop tell me to pop my hood or look under the car. I can't speak for small town cops though. Where do you plan on moving?

The cops mostly go after the Rice Rockets more because they usually stand out more because they're painted bright colors and have loud annoying exhausts.

But they will go after muscle cars if there super loud or the driver is doing something stupid like a burn out.

It definitely depends on the city your in and the cop you get. A guy I know got pulled over in his mustang and the cop told him he used to have one like it and just wanted to take a look under the hood. The cop just looked at it and complimented him on a nice car and let him go.

This is really good info, guys. It sounds like I've got some serious automotive decisions to make. We're planning to move to Marin, Sonoma, or Napa county in 2012 or so depending on how the market goes.

My car is thunderously loud with dual 3 inch exhaust and the underhood is all polished aluminum. And yep, there's big ole -10 steel braided fuel lines. I bet I would get hassled a lot. Check it out: Camaro Teaser

Can you all imagine what it's like in Kansas with no laws like this whatsoever? We have guys with 2,000 hp on the street! Still doesn't make up for living in such a sucky city though.

Well if you move to the upper part of Sonoma county that's what called a change of ownership area. In change of ownership areas you only have to smog your car when you bring it into the state and for any change of ownership. But if your exhaust is "thunderously loud" like you say you would probably still have problems with the police giving you tickets.

If i were you, i would stay in Kansas as long as you can. You dont want to come to cali right now. Pretty soon Cali is going to fall of the map due to poor spending and lack of knoweldge in the politcal area.

i have my lifevest on at all times for the day the ocean swallows us.

Hahah I wasn't talking about water lol

I checked it out speed and you do have a nice ride. Unfortunately, your car will attract the cops...local and CHP. The fines can get pretty hefty with all the court imposed ad ons. Especially now, since California's economy is in the holly shite.

It sure is a nice Camaro. The mods are pretty kick arse as well. If I were you, I'd keep the Kansas plate as long as possible and have another daily driver car. You wouldn't wanna drive that thing everyday anyways. Too many variables out in the street. And also, gas is not cheap and I am sure your car is not fuel efficient.

If you wanna move in Cali, try Elk Grove and you can be my new 3rd gen Camaro buddy...... You'll be the second fastest Camaro in town. Sacramento Raceway is 12 miles away and I can hear dragster in my backyard. Houses under foreclosure/bank owned everywhere. Perfect time to buy or even rent to own.

***, thats a nice camaro, id trade my Iroc any day for that kind of body style. not to mention it looks like a beast under the hood aswell.

you wont have too much trouble here in california if you tone it back a bit, like a quieter muffler and some regular street tires for everyday driving.

hey Speed Racer, you wanna be my friend too? I am living proof you can have a bad *** (ie, emissions Illegal) thirdgen in the capital of california

My Camaro Teaser

I just uploaded it, may not be finished being processed by youtube yet. just wait

Ha ha, you guys can't keep me away with just the fear of earthquakes and political chaos. And thanks for the compliments.

TraviZ's car is pretty wild, so I guess it can be done. I was thinking about getting the single 3.5 or 4 inch exhaust (it looks like you have the Mac system on there) because the dual exhaust is such a pain. And I do want it to be quieter, but can't find any that will fit. Quiet mufflers are big.

One final question: how do the powers that be feel about alternative fuel conversions? What if I ran E85? Or propane? Would that make it all better? Or would that be an even bigger mess to deal with?

e85 out here is only for government cars right now.. dont ask why.. I dont know.. I dont kow anything about propane conversions.

and its mufflex 3.5" exhaust

Nice video, and sexy car. She'll make a fine addition to Cali's kulture. A few things though.

1. How you drive will dictate(sp?) how much attention you bring yourself from Jon Law. Don't drive like an idiot in populated areas (or heavy trafic), and they will pretty much leave you alone. That's been my experience. My neighbors tell me they hear me coming blocks away in my Camaro, and I'm pretty much ignored by the law. On top of that, you really have to work at pissing off the cops to get them to make you pop your hood.

2. Find someone to do a "smog" for a couple hundred and call it good. It's a lot cheaper and easier than buying another engine and swapping it out at least every other year. There are always people willing to do this, it just takes a little talking and looking.

3. As some others said, stay out as long as you can. There is a whole lot more wrong here than just the politicians. I for one will be leaving as soon as I am able to. Those counties your talking about are pretty much the most expensive places to try and live, hope you've got a great job lined up.

Don't get me wrong friend, this is one of the most beautiful states and I'm not trying to keep you out. Just giving you a heads up is all.

Hey bud...you forgot to include all those houses used for pot growing operations. There were maybe 25-30 shut down in Elk Grove alone

I moved here like two months ago. I want to go back to florida where there are no emissions checks. Even in Connecticut the checks aren't that bad, you just get a paper plate you have to renew every so often. Unless I get a '75 or older car I won't be happy here.

my question is why do you want to move to california? ahhhhh.

Is that thing tuned yet? Will it see the track this year. Okay Jesse, get off the floor and stop laughing...

You can go to
any station that has "Propel" and buy E85 and Biodiesel. You have to use credit card at the pump. You can't go inside the gas station and pay for it because the Gas Station is like subleasing the spot to "Propel". And yes I have bought biodiesel for my rig. We had an older man came to the shop to have us pump out the "moonshine"(that's what he called it) out of his Ford Powersjoke diesel. He told me it would not run. I told him I ran Biodiesel in my Powerstroke with no problem. I then realized he must have put the E85 in it. He end up doing it himself.

I want to be able to say, "my governor can beat up your governor."