What is Legal / Allowed in CA?

[DanaT]

Hi All,

I have had my 2G GSX in Europe the last 3 years and due to work situation, I will likely be in CA a whole lot. Enough that the 2G will go to CA.

In Europe there was never any GSX's and at $9 a gallon for gas, not a lot of desire to mod the car. Also, the car had more power than stability. This means on an Autobahn, 120ish was all the more the car really felt stable for high speed driving around traffic. The body got lift above that. I had the GSX to 219 (136mph) measured on a GPS, but the car just didn't feel good at that speed.

Fast forward and going to CA. I know nothing is really allowed without CARB exemption, but what can be done to the GSX that I can realistically get away with in CA? I will run out of state plates for a while (until someone notices too much) but I must plan that the car will have to pass CA laws.

I only want 600-700 whp (just kidding). I would like the car to fast enough to taketo the strip and have fun with it. I really wont have a lot to do other than work so racing is something that I can do.

Thanks for any input what I can get away with.

-Dana

 

[josh408]

Hi All,

I have had my 2G GSX in Europe the last 3 years and due to work situation, I will likely be in CA a whole lot. Enough that the 2G will go to CA.

In Europe there was never any GSX's and at $9 a gallon for gas, not a lot of desire to mod the car. Also, the car had more power than stability. This means on an Autobahn, 120ish was all the more the car really felt stable for high speed driving around traffic. The body got lift above that. I had the GSX to 219 (136mph) measured on a GPS, but the car just didn't feel good at that speed.

Fast forward and going to CA. I know nothing is really allowed without CARB exemption, but what can be done to the GSX that I can realistically get away with in CA? I will run out of state plates for a while (until someone notices too much) but I must plan that the car will have to pass CA laws.

I only want 600-700 whp (just kidding). I would like the car to fast enough to taketo the strip and have fun with it. I really wont have a lot to do other than work so racing is something that I can do.

Thanks for any input what I can get away with.

-Dana

No doubt it's all about connections here. It's whom you know. Where in California will you be staying?

 

[DanaT]

No doubt it's all about connections here. It's whom you know. Where in California will you be staying?

Santa Clarita.

What do you mean its about connections? Is there not state emmisions centers? Do you take them somewhere private to get emmissions cert?

I am used to Colorado (and Swizterland) where only state (govt in Switzerland) emissions testing is done.

-Dana

 

[xXEclipse]

Basically, everything Illegal here, depending on your local law enforcement will depend on what you can get away with. All the sherifs in my area try and pull me over anytime they see me, they hate my car and I get hassled way too much.

 

[DanaT]

Basically, everything Illegal here, depending on your local law enforcement will depend on what you can get away with. All the sherifs in my area try and pull me over anytime they see me, they hate my car and I get hassled way too much.

Is the car too loud? Why exactly do they stop you? Realitically, I don't think a deputy could look and tell the difference between a T16 or a T25 turbo let alone know which was used which year.

I mean, in general, don't the police have to have a reason to stop you?

-Dana

 

[josh408]

Yup. If you know someone who does smogs they will help you out but it might cost some more cash if you catch my drift. But you may want to study up on your rights because the cops will harass you if they suspect something with your car they'll tell you to pop the hood for no reason. Just remember that your car is your property and if they pull you over and try popping your hood when they pulled you over for say...Tail light is out. popping your hood is not relevant to the reason they pulled you over. And if your car is really low your going to need a good argument. I always say "Corvettes and other sports cars are lowered theirs no reason mine shouldn't be." But if you can avoid the cops you should be fine.


Also they will stop you for ANY REASON! they will make a reason if you weren't doing anything like "your tail light is out" is a common one then they'll try and get you with something.

 

[4g63tc]

Since Santa Clarita is just 20 mins away, Yes there are plenty of things you can do to " mod" your GSX and not attract too much attention.

The SD guys, and SF guys have it much worse off than then the area you're going to.

You can easily throw on a turbocharger, so long as it fits under the heat shield, most techs don't even look too hard. FMIC's are allowed even without a CARB number, since the car originally came with a Sidemount intercooler.

Get an Intake with a CARB number. Period
Keep your stock exhaust, you'll need it when you re-smog.

Suspension, you can , lower the car they won't bother you.

SCV cops? want to be ignored? keep the exhaust quiet, don't drive like an A55, and turn the music down...oh yeah and if you're of the Caucasian persuasion, and not out cruising in a "wife-beater" with the Brim of your hat pointed any other direction but forwards, you should be ok.

My .02

 

[DanaT]

SCV cops? want to be ignored? keep the exhaust quiet, don't drive like an A55, and turn the music down...oh yeah and if you're of the Caucasian persuasion, and not out cruising in a "wife-beater" with the Brim of your hat pointed any other direction but forwards, you should be ok.

My .02

I am middle age white guy. Never really had any problems with police stopping me (and the GSX is by far my slowest ride). Last time I was stopped...15-16 years ago for street racing on a GSXR (luckily the cop didn't see that part..just saw me launch before right before the green light that I was trying to time...other two bikes didn't go at that point).

-Dana

 

[gt35rx]

Most importantly, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. After you understand them, be ready to use them and make it apparent to the officers that you know what they are. The officers in Ca like to harass and threaten you just to scare you.
Make sure you don't stand out. This means don't drive like you don't give a f***, don't allow your Eclipse to be loud or flashy, and make sure everything is in working order. Also, black out anything in your engine bay that is shiny, like an intake, UICP, BOV. If all of this is taken care of correctly you will be fine.

 

[josh408]

Most importantly, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. After you understand them, be ready to use them and make it apparent to the officers that you know what they are. The officers in Ca like to harass and threaten you just to scare you.
Make sure you don't stand out. This means don't drive like you don't give a f***, don't allow your Eclipse to be loud or flashy, and make sure everything is in working order. If all of this is taken care of correctly you will be fine.

Also keep in mind that once they recognize you they most likely will follow and try and get you again. Like he said KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.

 

[98GSXin]

If you don't drive like an idiot and give them a reason to pull you over, you should be fine. Be respectful and cautious of the drivers around here because they don't know how to drive to save their lives. You won't get the courtesy of slower traffic keeping to one side like you do on the autobahn. You get Prius drivers pegged at 65mph in the fast lane all for that extra 1.4 mpg. The occasional cop will be having a bad day and go after an "import" car for all the tinting and exhaust non sense they have made illegal around here, but don't do anything too overstated and you should fly under their radar.

 

[josh408]

If you don't drive like an idiot and give them a reason to pull you over, you should be fine. Be respectful and cautious of the drivers around here because they don't know how to drive to save their lives. You won't get the courtesy of slower traffic keeping to one side like you do on the autobahn. You get Prius drivers pegged at 65mph in the fast lane all for that extra 1.4 mpg. The occasional cop will be having a bad day and go after an "import" car for all the tinting and exhaust non sense they have made illegal around here, but don't do anything too overstated and you should fly under their radar.

Really about 85% of the time i see prius drivers they are driving really fast and crazy.

 

[91stocker]

Really about 85% of the time i see prius drivers they are driving really fast and crazy.

They must have the prius "sport"

 

[josh408]

They must have the prius "sport"

Dude I'm not even joking. they bob n weave in and out of traffic like they are street bikes

 

[DanaT]

They must have the prius "sport"

They come with 3 D-cell batteries instead of the standard 3 C-cell batteries. Font=sarcasm.

-Dana

 

[91stocker]

They come with 3 D-cell batteries instead of the standard 3 C-cell batteries. Font=sarcasm.

-Dana

more power ftw

up the top speed from 40 to 45

 

[1990AWD]

(and the GSX is by far my slowest ride).

-Dana

What else do you drive?

 

[DanaT]

What else do you drive?

My daily family car is a CTT. The fun car is a heavily modified 951. And then a GSX1300R.

-Dana

 

[-red97rum-]

You can get away with quite a bit here. If you mod the car just try not to drive it like a jack ass on the street. Most of the time a heavily modded dsm isn't louder than your run of the mill jdm civic with a rattling fart can. You just really need a smog hook up to keep your registration and everything legit.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

K&N FIPK. Massive filter element, replaceable for $50 and comes with a CARB sticker.

The heartbreaker of CA cops. "AWWWW fricken kid's got a CARB cert. intake, move along boys.."

You'll have to be visually stock(within reason) to be trouble free.

 

[my dreamt dsm]

Keep it as stock as possible. Get your plates change cause they were cracking down a few months ago.
ca smog laws - Google Search

 

[DanaT]

Keep it as stock as possible. Get your plates change cause they were cracking down a few months ago.
ca smog laws - Google Search

What do you mean they were cracking down? It may actually be hard to get CA plates. I will probably live in a hotel but car will be left LAX when I fly home for weekends. I am not sure how I would register a car without a real address.

Thanks for the smog laws link!

-Dana

 

[my dreamt dsm]

What do you mean they were cracking down? It may actually be hard to get CA plates. I will probably live in a hotel but car will be left LAX when I fly home for weekends. I am not sure how I would register a car without a real address.

Thanks for the smog laws link!

-Dana

Oh no prob. If your gonna park it you'll be alright. It's just that since ca has expensive registration or something along that line a lot of people register out of state to avoid the fees. So cops pull over to check.

 

[DanaT]

Oh no prob. If your gonna park it you'll be alright. It's just that since ca has expensive registration or something along that line a lot of people register out of state to avoid the fees. So cops pull over to check.

I suspect a plane ticket showing I was in my home state within the last 7 days and an out of state drivers license would keep me out of trouble (I hope).

This CA thing is almost as difficult as dealing with the Swiss.

-Dana

 

[98GSXin]

This CA thing is almost as difficult as dealing with the Swiss.

-Dana

At least we can take a side in things. Even if the side decides to try and keep modified vehicles off the road.