-----Original Message-----
From: chris quan <chrisquan@hotmail.com>
To: mgb-v8@Autox.Team.Net <mgb-v8@Autox.Team.Net>
Date: Saturday, August 29, 1998 12:08 PM
Subject: Re: SMOG was Let the mods begin
>
>Some time ago someone I knew was trying to use Rover 3500 manifolds in
>his conversion. Not the UK version but the US one. Has
>anyone used these or knows if indeed they can be used as this would
>comply with CA regs.
Chris,
My donor car was a 1980 Rover SD1 North American spec, with these manifolds.
The one that turns inward to hug the block looks very tempting until you get
the engine into the MGB engine bay and see just how tight that space really
is. The opening of the manifold ends up about 1" away from the chassis rail
and pointed directly into it. The manifold from the other side, the wide
one, could actually have potential if you were willing to do radical surgery
to your inner fenderwells-it exits just about where the front shock absorber
lives.
>
>>Also, according to my California Bureau of Automotive Repair engine
>change
>>guide, a small pamphlet published by the California guvmint, it is
>never
>>allowable to swap any engine into any car that was not originally
>available
>>and certified in that chassis, either by the CARB or the US EPA.
>This seems strange as there are plenty of Jags running around here with
>Chey V8's and Z cars also with the same. I have seen certification tags
>on many of these and in fact I know personally of an 84 Jag XJ6 with an
>88 Chevy 350 that was certified just last year. It looks perfectly stock
>except for the catalytic converters which are aftermarket. I wiil see if
>I can talk to the owner (a neighbor) and ask about the certification
>process.
I have also wondered how they get away with this. I suspect that once upon
a time, someone with a lot of money (or more likely a company planning to do
a lot of installations) went through the entire certification process as if
it were a new car model from the factory. Once this has been done, the
flood gates are open. This is why I would like to know more about Paul
Kile's factory MGB GT V8 with a California smog acceptance sticker... The
flood gates may be open already, and someone just needs to dig up the
documentation.
I will be very interested to hear what your neighbor has to say.
Scott Pontius
'78 MGB with 3/4 plumbed and wired SD1 V8
Los Angeles
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