Passing Cali smog with deck plate mod?

I want to do the deck plate mod and am ready to go except for one thing: I am worried about failing the California smog check visual inspection (obviously, could just close it up to pass the emissions test in "stock" configuration, but even a black deck plate is still a visually obvious mod to the induction system).

A guy at one of the nearby truck accessory stores said it wouldn't pass, but he was also trying to sell K&Ns, so I don't believe him.

Have any of you California folks had any issues with this when getting your truck smogged?

I'd like to know before I carve up a $200 airbox...

I am sure a few other folks may be wondering too.

 

I Have done the mod and I would like to know also

 

Bump...

OK, all you California types are off work now...kind of...anyone care to share some experience with this?

 

Just put the cap back on, not sure why it wouldn't pass like that.

 

bump.
im kinda interested even tho i live in washington.

 

Some shops might, others won't.
I have a friend that owns a "test only" and he said he would fail it during the visual inspection with or with out the cover.

 

Because, as I tried to emphasize in my original post, part of the inspection is visual, and it would seem to me that to a competent, experienced, and diligent inspector, the deck plate mod is a pretty obvious visual mod to the induction system, and therefore a potential reason to fail the vehicle.

Have you had any experience with this yourself? Because I am interested in facts based on experience—not opinion—on this issue.

 

OK, now this is helpful. Thanks, fletch. I kind of had a feeling that this may be the case.

Still interested in folks' experience with this issue.

Has anyone with the deck plate mod in California actually failed inspection?

 

Take it to an asian shop wink wink

 

Hmmmm, I kind of had a feeling that this may be the case, too...I like the way you think, raskal. I can see how you got your name!

 

My people are still around after hundreds of years of war, we know how to work the system

 

I have had experience with my deckplate mod and it passed the visual. I always took it to a "friendly" shop. If you don't pass it in one place take it to another.

 

Thanks for clarifying, humanoid. Not thrilled with the prospect of having to go to more than one place (and pay more than once). My old stock 93 smogged fine all the time at the Smog Wizard down the street, which is run by an older East Indian (I think) guy. Maybe he would be clueless, maybe not. But I just bought this 2001 truck in October, so it is good until Oct. 2011.

So based on your responses of the randomness on this issue, I'll narrow my question:

Anyone know of a deckplate-mod-friendly smog shop in the Sacramento area!?!?!? Maybe I'll have to go down Stockton Boulevard to Little Hanoi.