1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

CA SMOG Fuel Cell

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by 2004Taco, Jul 12, 2021.

  1. Jul 14, 2021 at 6:33 AM
    #21
    2004Taco

    2004Taco [OP] Financially Irresponsible

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2008
    Member:
    #9556
    Messages:
    1,207
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lou
    California
    Vehicle:
    04 Double Cab PreRunner SR5 TRD
    US Marine likes this.
  2. Jul 14, 2021 at 6:50 AM
    #22
    US Marine

    US Marine Semper Fi

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2016
    Member:
    #182227
    Messages:
    14,746
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chuck
    Gallatin Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    02 Pre Runner supercharged 4cyl
    TRD supercharger , Doug Thorley header , K&N CAI 265/75-16 Toyo open country mud terrain , 15x8 Method Racing wheels , Rancho 3" lift , 4.88 gears , Detroit Locker

    Yep that's it the 2021 RPM act ....

    Take a few minutes to sign the petition to save the car hobby !!!:thumbsup:
     
  3. Jul 14, 2021 at 6:59 AM
    #23
    12TRDTacoma

    12TRDTacoma Powered by Ford, GM, VW, and Mercedes

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2012
    Member:
    #85133
    Messages:
    16,671
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rob
    Concordia
    Vehicle:
    12 TRD Sport DCLB 4x4 Supercharged
    Boosted
    A fuel cell has always been considered an aftermarket item which is considered "for off road and racing use only." Even if it is hooked up properly, without an EO, it would be failed under EVAP 9/10 times. That one time being the moron who can't tell the difference between OE and aftermarket.
     
    jbrandt likes this.
  4. Jul 14, 2021 at 6:59 AM
    #24
    US Marine

    US Marine Semper Fi

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2016
    Member:
    #182227
    Messages:
    14,746
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chuck
    Gallatin Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    02 Pre Runner supercharged 4cyl
    TRD supercharger , Doug Thorley header , K&N CAI 265/75-16 Toyo open country mud terrain , 15x8 Method Racing wheels , Rancho 3" lift , 4.88 gears , Detroit Locker
    The RPM act is really hurting anyone in the aftermarket performance industry and could possibly put hundreds of thousands of people out of work


    This is my 600hp engine in my 1972 Camaro and is now considered illegal by the EPA


    20200413_172220.jpg
     
  5. Jul 14, 2021 at 7:05 AM
    #25
    US Marine

    US Marine Semper Fi

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2016
    Member:
    #182227
    Messages:
    14,746
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chuck
    Gallatin Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    02 Pre Runner supercharged 4cyl
    TRD supercharger , Doug Thorley header , K&N CAI 265/75-16 Toyo open country mud terrain , 15x8 Method Racing wheels , Rancho 3" lift , 4.88 gears , Detroit Locker
    What gets me with this RPM act / EPA is newer more modern EFI High performance race engines are so much more efficient . They omit less emissions than a stock engine yet they're deemed illegal by EPA
     
    Wulf likes this.
  6. Jul 14, 2021 at 7:21 AM
    #26
    2004Taco

    2004Taco [OP] Financially Irresponsible

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2008
    Member:
    #9556
    Messages:
    1,207
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lou
    California
    Vehicle:
    04 Double Cab PreRunner SR5 TRD
    I understand why we have the EPA. What I don't understand is if you're installing something that meets/exceeds OEM parts, why not use it. It's would be safer and more efficient. The EPA is going to kill the aftermarket industry.
     
    US Marine[QUOTED] likes this.
  7. Jul 14, 2021 at 7:32 AM
    #27
    Glamisman

    Glamisman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2016
    Member:
    #200436
    Messages:
    4,970
    Gender:
    Male

    govt will do what they always do... fines, fees and penalties. For a really scary story investigate asset forfiture occurances.
     
  8. Jul 14, 2021 at 8:32 AM
    #28
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2011
    Member:
    #51038
    Messages:
    17,612
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Justin
    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD Tacoma 4x4 DC
    Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod
    It'd be great if people actually read the laws before reacting to them.

    HR 3281 is a (proposed) law that expressly allows modifications for NON STREET LEGAL vehicles. This doesn't change ANYTHING for the OP or anyone else wanting to drive their linked prerunner or drag car to the grocery store.
    https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3281

    While it's generally a good thing to allow these provisions for dedicated race cars, it seems like people think this will be some huge paradigm shift. It won't. The EPA has never been, and won't be at the races checking VINs and part numbers. Their focus, as always, is street driven vehicles, and HR3281 doesn't do anything to change that.

    EPA's priority has always been street vehicles, and by that, I mean vehicles driven on the street.

    https://www.motortrend.com/news/epa-proposes-to-ban-the-conversion-of-street-cars-to-racecars/

    tldr;
     
    2004Taco[OP] likes this.
  9. Jul 15, 2021 at 12:42 PM
    #29
    2004Taco

    2004Taco [OP] Financially Irresponsible

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2008
    Member:
    #9556
    Messages:
    1,207
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lou
    California
    Vehicle:
    04 Double Cab PreRunner SR5 TRD
    Going back to the SMOG question. I was talking to my co-worker and he made some sense out if this. Since a fuel cell's are made and design for racing, what if I had a fuel tank made? I spoke with Paul at Solo motorsports and he said they do it all the time and he can get one made....

    Do I need a vehicle specific fuel tank?

    After work, I'm going to talk to me regular SMOG guy and pick his brain.


    https://help.summitracing.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5240/~/what’s-the-difference-between-a-fuel-tank-and-a-fuel-cell?
     
  10. Jul 15, 2021 at 12:58 PM
    #30
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2011
    Member:
    #51038
    Messages:
    17,612
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Justin
    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD Tacoma 4x4 DC
    Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod
    You may have a better chance of that working vs. a full on fuel cell, however, as stated in my first post: "Replacement fuel tanks must be identical to the original part." There isn't a lot of room for interpretation there.

    SMOG guys are usually pretty hard ass about this stuff, at least in my experience. I failed smog once because I didn't have a *current* smog cert sticker for my K&N CAI. The guy was like "I know it's legit, and it'll pass just fine, you just need to call K&N and get the new sticker." Nothing about the law changed, but there was some weird thing where the reference number for the applicable regulation changed. The guy KNEW it was legit, but still failed me on the visual.

    If it gets back to the state that SMOG shops are improperly passing vehicles, that's really bad news for them.

    So it really depends on how much of a stickler your smog guy is if you'll get under the radar. And even if you do get it to pass, that doesn't mean it's actually legal... It's like guys with dirt bikes who go to "that certain DMV" to get it plated. If you have to go to a certain one and talk to a specific person, that's a good sign it's not legit.

    You're going about it the right way though. Talk to the guy and see what he does about that type of stuff.
     
    2004Taco[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  11. Jul 15, 2021 at 2:17 PM
    #31
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2011
    Member:
    #51038
    Messages:
    17,612
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Justin
    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD Tacoma 4x4 DC
    Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod
    While there's no policy, the law is the law, and if you happen to get lit up for an unrelated reason (speeding or whatever), you'll have some explaining to do. You can TRY to play dumb, but LEOs generally have a pretty good bullshit detector.

    It's one thing if you're just the type that is trying to get out of paying CA reg fees (as far as the sob story you tell the cop), but it gets a lot stickier when it's pretty clear that you have what is effectively a race vehicle that doesn't meet CA safety/emissions laws. There is a distinct possibility your shit is getting towed.

    Maybe it's because I live in the Sacramento area, but the biggest offender that I see are the Oregon plates.
     
  12. Jul 15, 2021 at 2:27 PM
    #32
    2004Taco

    2004Taco [OP] Financially Irresponsible

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2008
    Member:
    #9556
    Messages:
    1,207
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lou
    California
    Vehicle:
    04 Double Cab PreRunner SR5 TRD
    @jbrandt Let me ask you this, what if I relocated my stock gas tank to accommodate the 4 link? I can't find anywhere online that says I cant do that.
     
  13. Jul 15, 2021 at 2:50 PM
    #33
    Glamisman

    Glamisman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2016
    Member:
    #200436
    Messages:
    4,970
    Gender:
    Male
  14. Jul 15, 2021 at 3:07 PM
    #34
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2011
    Member:
    #51038
    Messages:
    17,612
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Justin
    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD Tacoma 4x4 DC
    Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod
    I must say I'm not lawyer or SMOG law expert (although I must sound like I *think* I am, lol). I just happen to know a few LEOs who deal with this type of stuff, and at least like to think I have decent general knowledge of the regulations, or know where to start looking...

    That's not a bad idea though. I didn't see anything saying it had to be in the stock *location*, lol.

    I like your idea of talking to your smog guy, and picking his brain. There's something to be said for going by the intent of the law, vs. the letter of the law, and I can appreciate that.

    Just like law enforcement have their priorities that choose to focus on, I'm sure the smog guys do too. My wife works for the County Planning Dept, and they deal with code enforcement stuff. There's plenty of stuff my wife effectively looks the other way that are technically against regs, but her thing is as long as it's not a health or safety issue, she really doesn't care. The problem is when you piss off your neighbor and they make a complaint.

    Life lesson: don't piss off your neighbors, lol
     
  15. Jul 15, 2021 at 3:15 PM
    #35
    El Taco Diablo

    El Taco Diablo Professional Pinstriper

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2017
    Member:
    #235223
    Messages:
    13,979
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt - KN6DZP
    Hughson, CA
    Vehicle:
    Impulse Red DC, 5vz-fe, 4wd swap, LT, dual case, F/R locked
    Just 3 tons of fun!!!


    LMFAO! "Paying for services?"

    You mean like keeping the roads repaired? :rofl:

    I'd rather OP register in ND... at least his money will be used for what it's supposed to be used for.


    And modifying a truck to the point of not being smog compliant isn't hard... because smog laws are stupid, arbitrary, and useless... it doesn't make it a race truck.
     
    2004Taco[OP] likes this.
  16. Jul 15, 2021 at 3:38 PM
    #36
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2011
    Member:
    #51038
    Messages:
    17,612
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Justin
    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD Tacoma 4x4 DC
    Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod
    No, but a 4 link and a fuel cell kinda does.

    There are half the number of people in the entire state of ND than Sacramento County alone, so the roads get used a LOT more. Almost every election there are bond measures or other taxes that get voted down. Hell, the feds haven't raised the gas tax since 1993. Accounting for inflation, $1 back then costs almost double that now.

    The people voting against gas taxes or other bond measures to fund roads are often the same people complaining about how bad the roads are. They want nicer roads, but don't want to pay for it.
     
    soggyBottom likes this.
  17. Jul 15, 2021 at 3:58 PM
    #37
    soggyBottom

    soggyBottom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2018
    Member:
    #266818
    Messages:
    1,999
    I blame people rolling coal for this. Especially the ones who do it in front of electric cars.
     
    otis24 likes this.
  18. Jul 15, 2021 at 4:05 PM
    #38
    soggyBottom

    soggyBottom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2018
    Member:
    #266818
    Messages:
    1,999
    Do you remember CA smog in the early 90s? Maybe the laws are too aggressive maybe they aren't but something had to be done. I can't imagine how much worse it would be today with an extra 10m people.
     
  19. Jul 15, 2021 at 4:20 PM
    #39
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2011
    Member:
    #51038
    Messages:
    17,612
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Justin
    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD Tacoma 4x4 DC
    Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod
    They always seem to have a pair of trucknutz too
     
    soggyBottom[QUOTED] and otis24 like this.
  20. Jul 15, 2021 at 6:34 PM
    #40
    El Taco Diablo

    El Taco Diablo Professional Pinstriper

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2017
    Member:
    #235223
    Messages:
    13,979
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt - KN6DZP
    Hughson, CA
    Vehicle:
    Impulse Red DC, 5vz-fe, 4wd swap, LT, dual case, F/R locked
    Just 3 tons of fun!!!

    Dude... you are completely lost. I mean totally 100% lost.

    The roads in CA may get used more, but the weather in ND is A LOT worse. Weather takes a much higher toll than traffic.

    People vote down the bond measures and tax increases because THEY NEVER, EVER, EVER go to what they say they are going to go to. They get diverted to unfunded pension liability and ridiculous fucking choo choo trains that makes certain people's husbands rich.

    The gas tax has gone up... in the sense that 15% of a 1 dollar gallon of gas is less than 15% of a 5 dollar gallon of gas... additionally, there are more people buying gas therefore more gas tax is getting paid.

    But...you're on a different subject. People who have ND registered cars, that live and drive in CA, are still paying road taxes in CA because they are buying gas in CA.


    People who accept higher gas taxes and bond measures are stupid fucking stooges that haven't been paying attention for the last 3 decades.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top