Mike S

I already talked to John at Vitesse briefly, but I wanted to see if any of you had any personal experiences passing smog with your Vitesse kit. In california, the visual inspection doesn't require the stock airbox, but I fear most techs would see the MAF box and flag the car as a visual fail.

Has anyone passed a visual inspection? Does anyone have a pic of the engine bay after installation?

PCinDC

I'm unfamiliar with California laws, but why would the type of air metering device fail you for emissions?

fast951

Stage 2 installed...

dhallilama

in CA, my M3 failed visual because it had an aftermarket air intake... which was CARB (California Air Research Board) legal/certified, but didnt have the CARB decal on it. CA is pretty strict about the smog laws... anything other than factory parts is a big no-no, unless it is indeed CARB legal.

No experience with Vitesse stuff, just a general observation...

fast951

Just to be clear, even though the kits do run clean. All kits are sold for off-road/racing only! We make no claim whatsoever to be street/emission legal in ANY state.

Mike S

Yeah, I have no doubt that I could pass emissions with a MAF but the visual is what gets you. My intake manifold is stock, but polished and I get crap every time I go in...."oh no...that's not stock". Yes it is...just polished. "Oh no...we won't smog it..that's aftermarket".

John, can you rotate that MAF and connectors so that they are facing down (not seen as easily)?

fast951

You can rotate the MAF or you can order a black plastic one..

Crazy Eddie

Mike
Tom M'Guinn
Has a set up that he got from Danno that allows you to pass the Visual by
using the stock air box ....
I have not done this but Tom has and he passed (he's here in Los altos )
He has a Huntley stage II I believe
regards
Ed

Mike S

Yeah, I'm familiar with Danno's stealth kit. I have his basic MAP kit now and I can get by smog without his stealth box. What I'm really debating here is the move to MAF and to one of the Vitesse turbos. The question is....can I still get by smog? It's hard to say....I might be able to hide it.

DelMar951

I have stage 2 kit I'll be installing the in the next couple of weeks. I just got my registration renewal that says I have to take the car to a "smog only" (read smog police) place, which means NFW it will pass once they see the air box missing. My first course of action will be to try and find someone that, for a fee, will pass it regardless.

If not, I'll have to put on the stock AFM and airbox. John said he could supply me with some chips that will work with this set up and the 55# injectors. He says he has an adapter to connect the stock J-boot as well.

Crazy Eddie

Sorry Mike
What I meant was he Tom used the stock J boot with a adapter for the
J boot ....to the turbo
So he passed a visual ...
I thought that if you replace the air box you could fail ... but it seems from what others said I am wrong
At any rate you should email Tom M'Ginn and ask him how he just passed
He has a weath of knowledge in this area.
Also, you can do a search on Tom as he was asking the same questions a few months ago..
I am a dumb F$%# and can't figure out how to give you the thread address
Here is one of the listed questions he asked
J-boot to big turbo connection?
Has anyone successfully mounted the stock black rubber J-pipe to a big-inlet turbo (2.5 or 3.0 inch inlet)? Temporary sets up are ok. Details on how you did it would be helpful. Pictures would be great. Did you have to cut the stock J-pipe short?
Regards
Ed

Bill

Mike,

I have a MAF, passed the emissions but FAILED the visual.

I had to go through major work to adapt my MAF to the stock airbox. Danno only offers an adapter to connect the MAF to the air box. You will need to come up with piping to conect the turbo to the MAF. I spent a weekend fabricating this turbo to MAF pipe. Then had it powder coated fence black (looks stock). I even had a couple of custom stickers made that cover the MAF ID plate. It now says "BOSCH" with all the proper numbers for the stock AFM.

In the new configuration (all 3" pipe) with stock airbox, it finally passed visual. You are welcome to stop by and take a look at my setup.

turbinek

From my point of view is: The car migth no longer be street legal if power has more than 20% increased. The point is - it is not the same care that was built buy the manufacturer. So you migth get in trouble with insurance company.
Is insurance more expensive for a strong car or not?
kind regards

B951S

I made a 3" steel J pipe that can be seen in this thread. Its not that easy, takes a few odd angled welds. You could make it out of hose couplers but it would not look stock.

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ghlight=airbox

PS my car passed Texas emissons without a cat, but we don't have a visual (either that or the tester did not have a clue)

Crazy Eddie

B951S
I have to say that is amazying work done here. Are you interested in maketing this
I would be very interested in one .....
I am sure others would be as well
Any shot ?
regards
Ed