Originally Posted by Tobra
First you need to understand what the emmissions laws are for. The smog laws are to generate revenue, not control emmissions. Otherwise, commercial vehicles would not be exempt. Lack of a CARB EO # indicates that the manufacturer was unwilling to pay the freight to get one. All cars pre-1976 have no restrictions at all. If your car is a classic or collector car, whatever that means, after it is 35 years old it has to pass tailpipe test, but no visual. All this means is I need to trade my 1979 VW for a 1975, if I can find one even close to as clean as mine. Then I can do whatever. The bug did not have to pass any emmissions test in 1979, they did not start that nonsense until the 80's. They just sort of decided on a standard it would have to pass. Most of the vehicle laws in CA are to generate revenue. All us car guys in California need to get off our collective asses and bitch to our representatives, or more accurately, more of the rest of you guys need to do it too.
I don't know where you get the idea that the smog laws are just there to generate revenue. Although I'm sure it does bring in money. But it really is to reduce emissions. California's smog is pretty bad. LA's ambient air is considerered to be the worst in the nation. Pollution affects your health remember?
In order for a part to have a CARB EO#, the developer needs to have the California Air Resource Board's engineers test it out and see if the product produces more smog, or less or if it develops the same amount of smog the engine was already producing. Of course, if it less or the same amount, the part gets passed.They just don't pay a fee and then the part gets passed.