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Another desperate attempt by the state of CA to keep their heads above water...
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The GreenRod Project
SEMA and California Agencies Solve Titling Dilemma For Hobbyist Vehicles
Under a looming threat of prosecution faced by thousands of California specialty-vehicle owners, SEMA, working on behalf of California enthusiasts and in cooperation with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Bureau of Automotive Repair, Air Resources Board and Attorney General’s office, has resolved a complex and threatening issue to this market segment and the industry it serves. “This breakthrough procedure allows owners of certain illegally titled specially constructed vehicles (SCVs) to avoid a situation that could have led to confiscated cars and law enforcement action against vehicle builders and owners. Further, the program now permits these vehicles to demonstrate state emissions-compliance requirements,” said Steve McDonald, SEMA vice president of government affairs. Specially constructed vehicles in California include certain street rods, custom vehicles, kit cars and replicas.
Last year, a law was enacted requiring the DMV to develop and administer a vehicle registration amnesty program. The amnesty program will be in effect from January 1, 2010–December 31, 2010 and will apply to vehicles that were previously registered or classified under erroneous or illegal circumstances.
Under the program, vehicle owners that have knowingly made any false statement or knowingly concealed any material fact in any document filed with the DMV or the California Highway Patrol will need to apply for amnesty. Examples of this would be failing to report the actual value of the vehicle; failure to pay the correct sales tax when the vehicle was first titled/registered in California; or incorrectly stating the actual age of the vehicle.
The consequences of not applying for amnesty and paying back taxes and penalties could be severe. If an owner understated the value of the vehicle to the extent that the state lost more than $1,000 in revenue, the owner could be charged with a felony. If the amount is less or the owner incorrectly stated the age of the vehicle, the owner could be charged with a variety of misdemeanors. Recent prosecutions for this type of offense required owners to pay back-taxes and fees averaging $4,000 per vehicle. In some cases, owners will be forced to surrender the title to their car. To receive amnesty from future prosecution, any and all back-taxes must be paid in full and the vehicle’s title must be factually corrected.
Recently a process was established to allow specially constructed vehicle owners that have been granted amnesty to avail themselves of emissions requirements that recognize the unique nature of these vehicles. While there are still details to be concluded, SEMA has reached a tentative agreement with the state to provide for three methods to achieve compliance.
• The owner can pay all back taxes and penalties and apply for one of 500 (per year) smog-check exemptions. Under California law, these 500 exemptions for specially constructed vehicles are available each year on a first-come, first-served basis. For vehicles with an exemption, a smog-test referee compares the vehicle to production cars of the era that the specially constructed vehicle most closely resembles to determine the model year. The vehicle owner can then choose whether the inspector will certify the vehicle model year by body type or by the engine model year. Only those emissions controls applicable to the chosen model year are required.
• The owner can pay all back taxes and penalties and then choose to install one of several OEM engines and related powertrain components (including specifications for the construction of a fuel tank and delivery system) that are intended to meet California emissions compliance requirements.
• The owner can pay all back taxes and penalties and a SEMA-engineered “retrofit kit” of parts can be installed. Major components in the kit include an aftermarket electronic fuel injection (EFI) system, an EFI controller, exhaust headers, a camshaft, mufflers and catalytic converters.
While the engine SEMA used to develop the retrofit kit was considered a worst-case configuration, it still passed smog-check requirements. Variables, such as engine condition, accumulated mileage, and related factors affecting emissions from these parts, may, in some cases, cause similar engines not to meet acceptable emissions levels. Nonetheless, transitioning from a carbureted environment to a fuel-injected environment while utilizing the latest controller technology and emissions parts upgrades available from the specialty-equipment industry resulted in dramatic and unprecedented reductions in tailpipe and evaporative emissions on the test vehicle. The retrofit kit actually improved performance and efficiency while not limiting power in a full acceleration mode, compared to a carbureted engine.
GreenRod Frequently Asked Questions
What documentation should I take to the DMV office when applying for amnesty?
Applying for amnesty will re-start the titling and registration process for your specially constructed vehicle. You will need to submit a new DMV 343 Application for Title and Registration form. You will also be required to file a DMV 5063 Statement of Construction form, listing the origin of the vehicle’s parts and their purchase price. It would be helpful to have a bill of sale for the vehicle or any appropriate receipts for parts/labor that can be used to establish the actual value of the vehicle. If it is likely that your car had a fraudulent title and will need to pass a smog check, it is advisable to apply for one of the 500 smog-check exemptions granted per year by the DMV.
How much should I expect to pay for the “retrofit” kit? How much should I expect to pay for the GM engine and powertrain?
The retrofit kit is a collection of emissions-related parts with specifications developed by SEMA for which a variety of aftermarket manufacturers will be able to supply components. On average, the kit should cost approximately $6,000. The labor to install the package will likely cost an additional $5,000. If you choose to use a new engine and powertrain package from GM, the current LS3 package will retail at an estimated $7,900. GM will also offer a number of other emissions-approved engine packages with a variety of performance options and price levels. Estimated installation cost for the GM system is approximately $6,000.
If I use a GM engine, how will I know if I’ve used the correct parts and properly installed them?
GM will include comprehensive instructions that leave little room for error. If you feel that you do not have the mechanical experience to install the package, there are local hot-rod shops, independent repair facilities and dealerships capable of installing the parts. Even when parts are correctly installed, there are variables involved when attempting to meet certain compliance requirements, such as engine condition, other modifications and related factors that can affect emissions.
If I choose to retrofit my current engine, how will I know that the parts kit will actually enable my car to pass the smog test?
The retrofit kit that SEMA developed consists of emissions-related parts intended for a range of engine displacements. It was designed to work with engines typically used in specially constructed vehicles. In general, these would be carbureted V8 engines manufactured by GM, Ford and Chrysler. Although these parts enabled SEMA’s project engine to meet emissions requirements, there is no guarantee that they will allow any engine to meet smog-check requirements, depending on variables that include, but are not limited to the following: mechanical compression ratio limits, improperly installed catalytic converters, excessive wear (valve guides, piston rings and cylinder bores), piston displacement limits and a malfunctioning exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system.
Is there a way I can get a pre-certification test check to see if my vehicle will pass the smog test?
Yes. California law allows any licensed smog-check station to conduct a pre-test on your vehicle to determine whether it can pass a loaded-mode smog test before you submit the car for inspection at a BAR Referee station. The average price for a pre-certification smog test in California is approximately $49. If your vehicle fails the pre-certification smog check, it may be possible to make adjustments that will bring it into compliance. As with any vehicle maintenance, it’s best to use a mechanic you know and trust.
What if I have questions about the technical aspects of this program?
SEMA and GM will be available to provide some immediate technical assistance for enthusiasts who apply for amnesty to help them navigate through the process. SEMA has begun communicating with builders of SCVs and engines, enabling them to respond to the most common questions from enthusiasts. Additional guidance information is also available at www.sema.org/greenrod. Information at this site includes a summary of who should participate in the amnesty program, retrofit kit components and specifications, a current OEM crate engine, test procedures, a photo gallery and background information on this project and actions SEMA has taken to create a path for registering improper or illegally titled SCVs.
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OK, I get it. All you have to do is replace the entire power train, and you have a Greenrod. I'd rather have a Goth Rod.
-denise
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The GreenRod Project
SEMA and California Agencies Solve Titling Dilemma For Hobbyist Vehicles
Under a looming threat of prosecution faced by thousands of California specialty-vehicle owners, SEMA, working on behalf of California enthusiasts and in cooperation with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Bureau of Automotive Repair, Air Resources Board and Attorney General’s office, has resolved a complex and threatening issue to this market segment and the industry it serves. “This breakthrough procedure allows owners of certain illegally titled specially constructed vehicles (SCVs) to avoid a situation that could have led to confiscated cars and law enforcement action against vehicle builders and owners. Further, the program now permits these vehicles to demonstrate state emissions-compliance requirements,” said Steve McDonald, SEMA vice president of government affairs. Specially constructed vehicles in California include certain street rods, custom vehicles, kit cars and replicas.
Last year, a law was enacted requiring the DMV to develop and administer a vehicle registration amnesty program. The amnesty program will be in effect from January 1, 2010–December 31, 2010 and will apply to vehicles that were previously registered or classified under erroneous or illegal circumstances.
Under the program, vehicle owners that have knowingly made any false statement or knowingly concealed any material fact in any document filed with the DMV or the California Highway Patrol will need to apply for amnesty. Examples of this would be failing to report the actual value of the vehicle; failure to pay the correct sales tax when the vehicle was first titled/registered in California; or incorrectly stating the actual age of the vehicle.
The consequences of not applying for amnesty and paying back taxes and penalties could be severe. If an owner understated the value of the vehicle to the extent that the state lost more than $1,000 in revenue, the owner could be charged with a felony. If the amount is less or the owner incorrectly stated the age of the vehicle, the owner could be charged with a variety of misdemeanors. Recent prosecutions for this type of offense required owners to pay back-taxes and fees averaging $4,000 per vehicle. In some cases, owners will be forced to surrender the title to their car. To receive amnesty from future prosecution, any and all back-taxes must be paid in full and the vehicle’s title must be factually corrected.
Recently a process was established to allow specially constructed vehicle owners that have been granted amnesty to avail themselves of emissions requirements that recognize the unique nature of these vehicles. While there are still details to be concluded, SEMA has reached a tentative agreement with the state to provide for three methods to achieve compliance.
• The owner can pay all back taxes and penalties and apply for one of 500 (per year) smog-check exemptions. Under California law, these 500 exemptions for specially constructed vehicles are available each year on a first-come, first-served basis. For vehicles with an exemption, a smog-test referee compares the vehicle to production cars of the era that the specially constructed vehicle most closely resembles to determine the model year. The vehicle owner can then choose whether the inspector will certify the vehicle model year by body type or by the engine model year. Only those emissions controls applicable to the chosen model year are required.
• The owner can pay all back taxes and penalties and then choose to install one of several OEM engines and related powertrain components (including specifications for the construction of a fuel tank and delivery system) that are intended to meet California emissions compliance requirements.
• The owner can pay all back taxes and penalties and a SEMA-engineered “retrofit kit” of parts can be installed. Major components in the kit include an aftermarket electronic fuel injection (EFI) system, an EFI controller, exhaust headers, a camshaft, mufflers and catalytic converters.
While the engine SEMA used to develop the retrofit kit was considered a worst-case configuration, it still passed smog-check requirements. Variables, such as engine condition, accumulated mileage, and related factors affecting emissions from these parts, may, in some cases, cause similar engines not to meet acceptable emissions levels. Nonetheless, transitioning from a carbureted environment to a fuel-injected environment while utilizing the latest controller technology and emissions parts upgrades available from the specialty-equipment industry resulted in dramatic and unprecedented reductions in tailpipe and evaporative emissions on the test vehicle. The retrofit kit actually improved performance and efficiency while not limiting power in a full acceleration mode, compared to a carbureted engine.
GreenRod Frequently Asked Questions
What documentation should I take to the DMV office when applying for amnesty?
Applying for amnesty will re-start the titling and registration process for your specially constructed vehicle. You will need to submit a new DMV 343 Application for Title and Registration form. You will also be required to file a DMV 5063 Statement of Construction form, listing the origin of the vehicle’s parts and their purchase price. It would be helpful to have a bill of sale for the vehicle or any appropriate receipts for parts/labor that can be used to establish the actual value of the vehicle. If it is likely that your car had a fraudulent title and will need to pass a smog check, it is advisable to apply for one of the 500 smog-check exemptions granted per year by the DMV.
How much should I expect to pay for the “retrofit” kit? How much should I expect to pay for the GM engine and powertrain?
The retrofit kit is a collection of emissions-related parts with specifications developed by SEMA for which a variety of aftermarket manufacturers will be able to supply components. On average, the kit should cost approximately $6,000. The labor to install the package will likely cost an additional $5,000. If you choose to use a new engine and powertrain package from GM, the current LS3 package will retail at an estimated $7,900. GM will also offer a number of other emissions-approved engine packages with a variety of performance options and price levels. Estimated installation cost for the GM system is approximately $6,000.
If I use a GM engine, how will I know if I’ve used the correct parts and properly installed them?
GM will include comprehensive instructions that leave little room for error. If you feel that you do not have the mechanical experience to install the package, there are local hot-rod shops, independent repair facilities and dealerships capable of installing the parts. Even when parts are correctly installed, there are variables involved when attempting to meet certain compliance requirements, such as engine condition, other modifications and related factors that can affect emissions.
If I choose to retrofit my current engine, how will I know that the parts kit will actually enable my car to pass the smog test?
The retrofit kit that SEMA developed consists of emissions-related parts intended for a range of engine displacements. It was designed to work with engines typically used in specially constructed vehicles. In general, these would be carbureted V8 engines manufactured by GM, Ford and Chrysler. Although these parts enabled SEMA’s project engine to meet emissions requirements, there is no guarantee that they will allow any engine to meet smog-check requirements, depending on variables that include, but are not limited to the following: mechanical compression ratio limits, improperly installed catalytic converters, excessive wear (valve guides, piston rings and cylinder bores), piston displacement limits and a malfunctioning exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system.
Is there a way I can get a pre-certification test check to see if my vehicle will pass the smog test?
Yes. California law allows any licensed smog-check station to conduct a pre-test on your vehicle to determine whether it can pass a loaded-mode smog test before you submit the car for inspection at a BAR Referee station. The average price for a pre-certification smog test in California is approximately $49. If your vehicle fails the pre-certification smog check, it may be possible to make adjustments that will bring it into compliance. As with any vehicle maintenance, it’s best to use a mechanic you know and trust.
What if I have questions about the technical aspects of this program?
SEMA and GM will be available to provide some immediate technical assistance for enthusiasts who apply for amnesty to help them navigate through the process. SEMA has begun communicating with builders of SCVs and engines, enabling them to respond to the most common questions from enthusiasts. Additional guidance information is also available at www.sema.org/greenrod. Information at this site includes a summary of who should participate in the amnesty program, retrofit kit components and specifications, a current OEM crate engine, test procedures, a photo gallery and background information on this project and actions SEMA has taken to create a path for registering improper or illegally titled SCVs.
---------------------------------------------------------
OK, I get it. All you have to do is replace the entire power train, and you have a Greenrod. I'd rather have a Goth Rod.
-denise