Legal Power?

[amgiles]

many of the threads have jumbled around this topic but i still havent found an exact answer. i have a stock KA engine and i want to get 250 - 300 hp out if it. obviously i need to turbo it, what can i do to achieve this and pass all emmisions tests. i live in California, and i think the emissions are about as tough as you can get. i was thinking about getting my heads ported, turbo, injectors, exhaust etc. what will make it fail the visual and the emissions tests

[TheOne]

do they do carb sticker checks? if so there's no turbo kit that has a carb exempt sticker on it, so you pretty much wont pass inspection, that is unless either the guy doing the inspection doesn't know how to check for stuff, or you bribed him.

[jkerr240]

is bribing a common thing while getting emmissions tested in the states that require it. cause in ohio we dont have to get tested so im not too worried about the things i do to my car unless i get pulled over for a loud exhaust or being too low

[j-z]

arent the greddy kits carb legal?

[JesusLikesKFC]

inspect it now, bolt everything on. next year or 2 just take it all out putting the stock parts back in.... if you wanna save some cash and have the time.

[steve s14]

arent the greddy kits carb legal?

that's what i thought but i guess it's just carb pending.

[KATwo40]

Ya' know, you CAN apply for a CARB approval to your setup. You'll have to write some letters and all that stuff, but it can be done.

Applications can be found here:

http://www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm

[C-Kwik]

that's what i thought but i guess it's just carb pending.

It never did get approved. My understanding is that CARB wouldn't approve it because the E-Manage can be reprogrammed with relative ease.

So the answer to the original question is no. The only legal major power upgrade would be to use a different engine that legal in the car. Basically any non-truck engine in RWD layout, with all OE smog equipment and from a CA smog car if you have a CA smog car and from the same model year or newer.SO basically, if you could get a Z06 Corvett motor and transmission to fit(however diffidult it would be to get the transmission to fit in the back), you could 'easily' have a legal 400+ HP car. A VQ could be a great motor for this, but may have to ditch the OE cats for clearance issues and may not be able to pass through a referee. A 2JZ-GTE would be fun and could be legal if you choose carefully.