re: Can someone in CA let me know how a turbo conversion is legal?

["Matt Rooke" <mrooke@fcpa.fujitsu.com>]

>I was just talking with my friend Chris who is becomign a smog tech in CA
>and he told me some interesting, and disconcerting news about my hoped
>for turbo conversion.  Apparently its completely illegal.

Well, yes and no, there are legal ways to do it.  This topic has been discussed at length on the 20V list, where many of
us lust for an "S2", and a couple are even doing the project.

Legal method #1:  transplant a turbo engine from another car.  Smog standard becomes same as the newer car- donor or
recipient.  Totally legal.

Legal method #2:  rebuild the engine using "CARB certified" components.  This one is to me at least, more ellusive as to
how to do this.

See http://smogcheck.ca.gov/000008.htm for the official poop.  CARB will inspect the finished car and issue a
certification sticker if it passes muster.

There are legal examples of this in CA.  European Car had an article about a 4kqt conversion done by 2Bennet, the car
has CA plates and current tags.  Also, Rui Brasil's 420hp rally car (CQ with completely rebuilt and turbo-ized 20V
engine) is tagged, how he got this approved I'm not sure.  But his brothers shop has offered to perform this surgery on
my CQ and assures me of a signed off smog certificate, details neither requested or offered.
And yes, the lawmaking and legal system in this state is completely f..'d up. All these regulations, and the streets are
still choked with old lunkers belching smoke.  I have no qualms at all about circumventing the system with a few $20's
or whatever.
Matt Rooke
'91CQ maybe add a "t" someday