California sucks

[Nickatina7]

California DMV is saying my rx7 will never be able to be registered here because it isn't a 50 state vehicle. Isn't there some way around this? It has an ls1. I bought it from out of state. If I get all the emissions hooked up can't the ref pass it? They told me it can never be registered here. Cali just wants rx7's out of their state I guess.

[digitalsolo]

Find a ref who's not an idiot.   

[MPbdy]

Educate yourself on the engine change laws before calling people who are doing their job idiots.

-Nevermind whoever you dealt with does sound like an idiot.

[digitalsolo]

Educate yourself on the engine change laws before calling people who are doing their job idiots.

Really?   So no swapped RX7 can ever be registered by anyone in California?

I certainly don't want to talk down about people at the DMV.   I was just under the impression that there might be a few RX7s registered in California.

edit:   That came out more dickish than I intended.       There are ways around anything, the OP needs to do some research.

[largeorangefont]

Registering a car here has nothing to to with the ref necessarily. Try another DMV. You are allowed to bring in non 50 state cars as far as I am aware. You just cant bring them in new.

I'm not sure if an inspection will be needed or not. If not you just need to "pass" smog and pay the fee to get it registered. If an inspection is needed, you may have issues.

[FC3S Murray]

California just needs to fall off the edge of America. (yes that was intended to be dickish) 

[MPbdy]

Okay well shit, I misread your problem.  I thought you had gotten it in your name but were complaining about not being able to smog the car.

You ARE able to put the car in your name.  Upon doing so you need to get a smog within a certain number of days.  You may or may not be able to get yourself a temporary registration at the time.  When you go to put the car in your name they're going to do a VIN inspection.  This shouldn't have anything to do with smog.

This is how I brought my last car into the state that wasn't smog legal.  It also wasn't as extreme of a case as a swapped rx7 lol...it was a 78 4 door caprice with a 400 in it.

[Nickatina7]

Ok thanks. What would happen if I didn't get it smogged in that certian amount of time? And are they going to make me go to a test only station? I'm working on getting it totally smog legal but for the time being I need to do it the clean pipe way.

[Nickatina7]

And I'm not talking down on any ones job or calling them idiots. Im just frustrated on how strict cal is. They will only let me buy brand new cats which cost 2,000$. I guess there's a law I just found out about that won't let you buy used cat converters. Ive seen a legal LS rx7 here before so I know it's possible. But the DMV lady said it wasn't. Just thought it was kinda weird. Was gonna argue with her but I was on lunch and had to get back to work. Haha.

[MPbdy]

Ok thanks. What would happen if I didn't get it smogged in that certian amount of time? And are they going to make me go to a test only station? I'm working on getting it totally smog legal but for the time being I need to do it the clean pipe way.

Your temp reg runs out and you can't drive it any more.  They may give you single day extensions to get the car to the smog station.  Worst case is the car is in your name but not drivable.  You can't get tags and a cali plate until it passes smog.

I think I got an illegal smog for the caprice.

Its all good, sorry for the reaction I gave previously.  Its sounding rather justified.

Also give AAA a try.  They can do most of what the DMV does and they usually aren't dicks about it.

[Nickatina7]

Ok thanks for the advice

[rex7fd]

I remember reading a post here about "the shop" in San Bruno  They built a CA legal LS3 fd.  I would give them a ring and see which ref they used.  Each ref is allowed discretion which sucks because One guy will pass you and the other would fail you.  I do know that as of recently CA wants to have the Camaro Air box installed along with the Camaro fuel tank.  It sucks but it is possible.

[Nickatina7]

Does anyone know how the ref actually looks at the car. I was thinking of putting 4 aftermarket cats on the car in the same place as original ones instead of purchasing the Pontiac ones that are insanely expensive.

[Born-again 7]

What car and year did your engine come out of? I bought my cats used off of some guy from texas for $50.00 each, its not legal but they work fine. Ive been passing smog since 2004. The most difficult part of the swap will be the exhaust and evaportive emmisions. You might want to make sure the state referees are still around. A couple years ago the reff had closed because of budget restraints, im not sure if they ever reopened.

[frijolee]

Does anyone know how the ref actually looks at the car. I was thinking of putting 4 aftermarket cats on the car in the same place as original ones instead of purchasing the Pontiac ones that are insanely expensive.

Sounds like your DMV didn't know the rules.  +1 that you can't bring in a new 49 state vehicle. However, once it's over 7500 miles it's all fair game.  The rules:
http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr29.htm

Yes, refs do look in detail, the charts are straight out of the factory sevice manual.  Used cats bought private party are generally your best bet to save some scratch.  Of course it's realitively easy to find someone to make the problem go away for some extra $$$.