Hello all, I just need a little bit of friendly advice and help on what I shall do in my current situation. Just need some opinions.

I want to go FI on the 8 more than getting rid of it since I do owe money on her and I love the way she looks and Rotary Love! I have been educating myself on FI for a while now, I use to have a WRX so I know stuff from there as well as reading everything on here. Only thing stopping me is living in CA

Do you think if I made the setup as stealth as possible (Kane's Greddy setup or maybe Pettit S/C) and not drive crazy I shouldnt get caught with FI right? (theoretically speaking) Anyone know consequences of getting caught with FI? Is it a impound?

Or last resort option which is selling it and my only choices is another WRX (hate the handling compared to the 8) or a e36 m3 which is what ive also been wanting. Opinions please. Thanks guys.

 

Its not illegal to have a turbo in California is it? You just need to have all carb certified parts and be sure you can pass emissions and your good to go. Thats what I got from a brief google search, maybe someone has more hands on info.

 

I'm pretty sure that there isn't a CARB certified turbo anywhere. The supercharger would be easiest to hide, since you could keep the stock exhaust in place. It would probably be easiest to do and undo for emissions time. Also, if you had the engine cover on (not sure if you could with the SC in place), cops would probably have a harder time finding it.

 

Yeah the CARB is whats making it hard. I was thinking about doing a Greddy setup with a hi-flow cat to pass emissions, I think I know a place that wont care about visual on smog. I know Kane has all of his Engine covers in place and it looks stock. Then again theres the S/C, if only it didnt say Pettit Racing on it, I can probably pass it along as the manifold lol.

 

since most FI cars are as quiet if not quieter then stock I'd be surprised if you got pulled over by a cop thinking "OMG he's breaking CARB laws!".
You can always paint the FMC black to hide it. The 8 is such a low production vehicle i'd be shocked if the average police office would even know that there wasnt a FI option. If you use the AEM intake you can always keep the part with the CARB sticker to prove it's legal.. LOL

 

My other suggestion would be finding a good smog testing place that is willing to overlook the visual inspection and just do the regular smog check. There is also the option of paying them off to give you a good visual check.

Don't just go into a random one and try and bribe them, but look around the different forums and see if anyone is willing to tell you where to go.


If its such a big deal there why can they sell stock cars with turbos? I assume California has not just plain banned subaru or any others from selling them there, so whats the problem with aftermarket?

 

Well what I was reading somewhere on a thread on here, someone mentioned its money? Charging aftermarket companies loads of money to have their products in California.

@Laythor Very true, the aem carb sticker can fool them unless they want to run the carb number. 8's are very very rare here (two other in my whole county that ive seen, and none of them modded) I doubt a cop would know what to look for. When I had my Subaru and had no cats I was always followed waiting for me to make a wrong move.

I have a lot of friends in the auto industry im sure I can find a shop that will let visual slide. I guess it helps being in a car crew.

And I guess some cops dont care because my friends 911 is literally louder than a harley and he lives next to a police station and never gets pulled over. Its surprising. No cats, No mufflers.

 

Good luck hiding a supercharger.
The noise is pretty distinctive.

 

True the noise is loud, Louder than the exhaust note im assuming.

 

Yes FI for a RX8 in California is Illegal because there is no carb legal kit. If caught the fine is around $500 plus you have to make it smog legal and have it inspected by the BAR Referee.

Cops dont care about the emissions laws, they use the law to combat street racing. Drive and act like a responsible motorist and they should leave you alone.

If you install a cat and have a near stock sounding car without any large noticible guages you will most likely never have your hood popped. And even if someone does inspect the car, chances are they wont be able to regognize the mods if it is a stealth install.

However, I know for a fact that there is atleast one Bar Area Cop that probably could spot any mod you put on your car even if it is a stealth install.

Sooooo, be responsible and if you choose to install an illegal mod, you have to be willing to accept the punishment if caught.

 

Thanks Highway for the info. You live really close by, I would like to check out your Procharger someday. I actually live in Antioch. Do you drive your 8 on the street often? Kind of hard to stealth install a Procharger.

 

I am in the fairfield area. I drive it on the street once in a while but not usually in the rainy season or around track days. I have had the car for over 4 years and it only has 20K miles so, yeah.

I will be up at thunderhill the 5th and 6th. If you make the 2 hour drive you can go for a ride.

 

lol!!

 

Awesome, I do have a couple of friends from when I had my subie that go on Thunderhill quite frequently.

 

If they go with NCRC or the GGLC I have probably passed them. HAHA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GP6J...V01sTw&index=4

 

Damn im going to have to look at that video later after class lol.

 

Thats some good track driving, and you were NA lol.

 

Jeff beat me to the LOL

 

LOL maybe im a little slow but I cant find anything funny about that comment?

 

LOL, dont worry about it, Its an inside joke that I would rather not broadcast on the forum.

 

you had to be at the last nor cal dyno day to get it

 

Haha alright. Back on topic looks like I will be doing a Greddy build eventually.

 

when you say greddy i'm guessing you dont mean the stock kit.

 

Put the cash in the bank and keep your eyes open for a good used kit. There have been some good deals out there.

Like this one. And its local.

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-parts-sale-wanted-44/new-greddy-turbo-kit-bnr-upgrade-211503/

 

Yeah im planning on a used kit, buying everything new would cost way too much. Im thinking about just piecing it all together little by little over time. The only thing really needed from Greddy is the manifold? And maybe the Turbo and do a BNR upgrade to it. The rest I can just source.