Hey folks,

For my next mod (I have had my car for 6 weeks now after all), I was looking to go with a Crawford Plenum--which definitely receives a lot of praise on this site. Today, I emailed the folks there, and I learned that the Crawford Plenum is not CARB approved (AKA, smog legal in the People's Republic of California).

Do the folks in Cali have an issue in passing smog with a Crawford Plenum? Getting that nice bump in horsepower would be nice, but I'm not sure it would be worth the hassle of having to replace the plenum with the stock unit every time I needed to get it smogged.

Thoughts and feedback are appreciated!

 

I don't think many, if any, have smogged a G35 in CA since the first one isn't due until the 6th year. The only exception is if there was a change in ownership. Given that, and assuming you plan to keep your car, you won't have to worry about it until 2009. By then, maybe they'll have CARB approval.

 

considering how u smog once every 6 years.. putting the stock back on for that 1 incident is not that bad..

 

yeah.. don't worry about it.. just put it on and enjoy.. definitely one of the better mods out there..

 

On new cars in CA, the first is at 6 years and every 2 years thereafter.

 

Thanks, vjquan and everyone else.

Since my car is a 2003 and I just bought it, it sounds like the clock started ticking a couple of years ago. Still, that gives me four years with it! Now, just where am I going to put all of my stock goodies in the garage until 2009?

Also, I found this info at http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/StdPage....k/doineed.htm:

"Beginning January 1, 2005, vehicles 6 or less model-years old will be exempt from the biennial Smog Check inspection requirement. For vehicles with registration renewals due in the 2005 calendar year, this exemption includes model-years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Beginning January 1, 2005, vehicles 4 or less model-years old will be exempt from the Smog Check inspection requirement upon change of ownership and transfer of title transactions with DMV. In 2005, this exemption includes model-years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005."

Again, thanks everybody. This site and the people on it are great!

 

Link doesn't work, but good find on the change of ownership rule of 4 years. Didn't know that.

 

the plenum would probably only be an issue on the visual inspection. If you are concerned consider a spacer instead - you will get comparable gains and will more than likely go un-noticed on visual inspection.

Like previously mentioned, it’s easy to re-install the oem plenum if needed.

 

How much time are we talking about taking the plenum off, putting the stock one back on, and then putting the Crawford plenum back on? An hour at the most to do all that?

 

In 4 years as you start to mod your car you'll probably come across one or two friends or shops that know a "smog guy" and you should be fine.

Installing back the OEM plenum is probably a 30-45 minute job or so, depending on how comfortable you are doing that type of work.

 

It will take longer than an hour to take it off and then re-install.

 

Even though it's not CARB approved, you'll still pass smog. You'll even pass the visual. Do you think a smog jocky is going to notice a different plenum? I think not


Lou

 

Just a guess here. But do they even open the hood to look in Ca? And would they even be able to tell the difference? Reason why I state this as newer obdII equipped cars don't even go thought the smog sniffer anymore. The inspection place just places an OBDII scanner and reads if the ecu is "ready" ie.. not been reset for xxx miles and sees if there are any codes.

 

Go for it, the plenum rocks, but be sure you have the k&n or pop charger or Injen CAI installed with a Z tube. Your engine it going to sound mean and the push that plenum gives is awesome well worth taking the plenum off going to the smog shop and puttin it back on once every 6 years. Your gunna do it twice and then your car will be like 12 years old and you might end up cruisin in a G65 thats right 6.5 liter coupe lol

 

I live in California and I'm going to buy the Crawford Plenum, Injen intake, and the crawford high flow cats.

Before I actually get the smog test done, I'll probably stop by some smog shop and ask them their smog procedure. More than likely I can get away with lying about replacing the plenum by saying I only polished it and ask him how much it would be just to have a sniffer test done. This way, I can see if I need to put the stock CATS back on to get my emission levels down.

After all this is done, I'll get the actual smog test done. Sounds like a lot of stuff, but it will save you time and you wont have to worry about passing smog. I'm also planning on getting the ECU reflashed and that's why I'm worried the car wont pass the sniffer test.