Thread: Does this qualify as a Hot Rod?

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Originally Posted by Fauxre

...I think California's process is at least reasonable. Basic safety checks, brakes and lights, and a way to maintain some air quality without overburdening the home builder.

Having said that, I am reminded of a story conveyed to me when I did an engine swap many years ago. It illustrates the incongruity between some of the California Smog requirements.

This guy did an engine swap into a late '60 something (smog controlled at the time of the swap) Ranchero. He used the entire 5.0 power train from a '90 something Mustang GT. Smog regulations require all the original smog equipment from the 'Stang be present on the Ranchero. So he ran dual exhaust with two catalytic converters, exactly like the 'Stang. When tested it's emissions levels were way under the limits for the strict '90 something year of the engine. However, it failed the visual inspection because of the catalytic converters. Seems, smog regulations will not allow retrofitting a car with catalytic converters. Why? No one at BAR could give an answer. So the cats were removed and the Ranchero retested. It now passed the visual inspection just fine, but it pumped out multiple times more emissions. Failed, right?? Wrong!! Turns out it only had to meet the standards of the year of the Ranchero. Which it just barely did.


Go figure...

Second trip to get the brakes inspected, ended like the first...failed. Too much travel in the brake pedal. A rebuilt vacuum booster was the remedy. Third time's the charm... she passed.
Back to DMV Thursday, then off to CHP for a vin verification.

YEP! Third times a charm! Glad to hear you're on your way! Congrats!!

Proof no job is complete till the PAPER work in done. Congrates

Way to go Wes.

Trip to CHP office was a breeze. All my paperwork was in order. The only snag occurred when I was told that the old vin plates had to come off and be surrendered. That meant a trip home to drill out the rivets. No big deal. With my old plates in hand, a new vin number was issued and a new plate affixed to the drivers door jam. The metallic tag has an adhesive backing, but two rivets are provided by CHP that must be installed by the owner. I was instructed to drill holes at the marked locations on the tag and tap the rivets into place with a hammer. The rivets act as anchors as well as anti-tamper devices.

newVin.jpg

One more hoop to jump through before DMV title and registration is complete... Smog referee inspection next week.

One more?? Well. Here's hopin' it continues to go along smooth.

A newly issued/installed VIN plate is a beautiful site! Congratulations!

Originally Posted by Fauxre

One more hoop to jump through before DMV title and registration is complete... Smog referee inspection next week.

By what standards will they smog test the car - year of donor car? year of engine? whatever they feel like at the moment?

One of the many reasons I enjoy driving vehicles more than 30 years old.....no smog tests!!

Made it over one more hurdle! Congrats Wes!

hang in there Wes, your almost thru the burocracy!

Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by randyr

By what standards will they smog test the car ...

Randy, here's my understanding of what the smog ref. will do.

First he'll compare all my paperwork with the car to confirm I brought to right one for testing. Then he'll confirm visually that the car is in fact a "specially constructed vehicle" (SPCNS) and not an existing make (Ford, VW,etc) that has been repaired, restored or simply had an engine swap. Once he determines the car qualifies as a SPCNS, he'll confirm my SPCNS Certificate of Sequence number (sometimes called a smog waiver), which permanently exempts the car from bi-annual smog checks. No need to test it.
The only thing left to do is determine the year of the car for title purposes. The waiver allows the builder to choose between two options... the year of the engine or, as I prefer, the year that the body most represents. The ref will compare the car to standard models in their database. If they don't find anything similar enough, the default year is 1960. The Velo Rossa is styled after the '62 Ferrari 250 GTO. But I don't know if that car will be in the database. Even if it is, the VR's dimensions are considerable different. I should end up with a title of either a 1960 or 1962 SPCNS.
The ref will then affix a BAR sticker in the engine compartment with all that info including the smog exempt status.

Clear as mud, right?

Well!
What a pleasant way to waste a wet Sunday...I went back to page 1 and re-read the lot.
Wes: I salute you!
You've done a magnificent job; that car is bloody gorgeous...be very very proud of yourself.

As to the original question of whether or not it's a hot-rod...that car, Sir, is a hot-rod.

End of story.

A lot of work but you made it to the end "Congratulations"

Looks like this last hoop jumping will take a little longer than expected. The smog check for specially constructed vehicles is now a two part process. On my monday visit, the ref copied all my paperwork and took a couple of pictures of the car. He then faxed it all to the main office in Sac. who does some kind of "investigation". In about a week, the office will contact the ref with an approval or denial...he'll call me...and then I go back to get the BAR sticker attached.