TheSamba.com :: View topic - Subaru swap California referee inspection

Fri Mar 13, 2020 10:31 pm

Stock manifolds and a stock cat is a simple and cheap solution... The manifolds aren't any lower than the oil pan. You can have a muffler shop weld-on a "take-off" muffler for cheap, stick it anywhere and you're good to go.

(I'm in Arizona, we have smog checks but nothing like the issues in California--I feel for you!)

Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:01 pm

weswsimpson wrote: Stock manifolds and a stock cat is a simple and cheap solution...

Yikes! I have a year and a half to go before I have to consider that ugliness.

With my stock looking cat (correct part number on it with stock looking flanges) and stock muffler, all with 10 years of patina, my setup looks stock and untouched.

If they nit pick my Vanaru (expensive well made, trouble free) header,

I do not know hat I will do!

Sat Mar 14, 2020 3:24 pm

r39o wrote: weswsimpson wrote: Stock manifolds and a stock cat is a simple and cheap solution...
Yikes! I have a year and a half to go before I have to consider that ugliness.
Put it on for smog check, take it off and store it safely until you need it again in a couple of years. Buddy of mine and some friends of his had a communal "smog motor" for their trucks that was essentially used like that, back when pre-'75 vehicles were still tested in California. It took about a day, day and a half to swap motors, go to smog, then swap everything back .. depending how many beer, burger and parts runs had to be made.

Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:07 am

Maybe Rocky Mountain can make us a special California exhaust......

Cut off the cast headers and bolt on the rest of the exhaust. Maybe a kludge but could meet the letter of the CARB law.

Maybe?

Mon Mar 16, 2020 12:28 pm

90-94 legacy exhaust has a cast iron piece that attached to the engine. The rest is tubular steel. It is all one piece with the first CAT.

Aftermarket exhaust that is sold as CARB approved is all tubular steel.

I was at one point told that using the stock exhaust manifold would get the van passed. The referee at Evergreen (San Jose) told me to not do that as it would violate the EO. I would then have to follow the engine change guidelines and use the complete subaru exhaust, not be allowed CEL exemptions and likely change intake and vapor recovery items. Of course the van is classified as a truck which means a car engine cannot be installed.

Doing my best to be patient as it seems there is a resolution in the works.

Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:29 am

Earlier this week I was contacted by the branch chief of the Air Resources Board (CARB), the referee regional manager and the office of California State Senator Steven Glazer. (Yes, I went a little nuts and pestered as many people as I could.) CARB has informed the referees that they are allowing the exhaust previously sold by Kennedy even though it does not match the wording in the executive order. I believe this means that new kits sold under the current executive order are still valid, but please confirm with Kennedy before ordering. Kennedy will have to rewrite the executive order when it needs updating, which historically has been due to the CAT being discontinued.

I was able to get an appointment with the help of the referee regional manager before the full shelter in place and now have the BAR sticker. When the tags arrive from the DMV I will have the use of my van and can return the honda i borrowed.

I wish others in the same boat luck as they get their vans inspected.

Thanks,
Rich

Fri Mar 20, 2020 1:12 pm

AFZ272 wrote:
I was able to get an appointment with the help of the referee regional manager before the full shelter in place and now have the BAR sticker.
Excellent! 8)
Glad to hear it.

Fri Mar 20, 2020 4:17 pm

AFZ272 wrote: and now have the BAR sticker.
Good to hear that they listened to you and you got what you need. :D

Sat Apr 24, 2021 7:51 am

Great thread thanks for letting everyone know you experience!

Mon Feb 13, 2023 10:08 pm

To revive an old thread was the issue with the Kennedy kit/EO ultimately resolved?