RANT: Electric Conversions, Not what you think...... Options

[KaptKaos]

There's a fellow selling a motor in the classifieds. Here's the link:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=92077

Seems normal enough. I assume, maybe wrongly, that this person is using the car for an electric conversion.

I have no issue with people converting their cars to electric motors. However, I am wondering if it is reasonable to ask or inform the people that are looking to do this to please try to use '76 cars? This is particularly important in California, as the smog checks in California aren't required on Pre-76 cars.

There are two counter arguments that I can think of and they are:

1) '76 cars are fairly rare, and therefore either more expensive and/or harder to find.
2) The point of an electric conversion is to reduce emissions, so using a car that has higher emissions makes more sense.

I am not sure if this is practical/possible/reasonable/feasible, so I figured that I'd ask.

Am I out of line here?

Please note that I mean no ill will to the seller above.

[So.Cal.914]

So the premise of using only pre-76 vehicles for electrical modification just doesn't hold water...

It does unless some idiot told them it's modified.

[ericread]

So the premise of using only pre-76 vehicles for electrical modification just doesn't hold water...

It does unless some idiot told them it's modified.

Sure, you can lie, cheat and steal. It still doesn't make it legal. You could re-badge a 76 as a 75 and get around the legal requirements too (We've all seen the thread where a certain Atlanta reseller offered to sell the required items to do just that). It doesn't make it right and I wouldn't want to have to explain to the police if I got caught...

Seemingly, if you were in an accident or some other type of event where a police officer inspected the vehicle and found a V8 where a four-cylinder 2.0L engine were expected, I would assume there would be some splaining to do...

I was only assuming that this question was being asked with integrity as to legal requirements. If this thread is based upon the premise that we all misrepresent our vehicles, then the 1976 issue still doesn't hold water.

Eric (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[So.Cal.914]

So the premise of using only pre-76 vehicles for electrical modification just doesn't hold water...

It does unless some idiot told them it's modified.

Sure, you can lie, cheat and steal. It still doesn't make it legal. You could re-badge a 76 as a 75 and get around the legal requirements too (We've all seen the thread where a certain Atlanta reseller offered to sell the required items to do just that). It doesn't make it right and I wouldn't want to have to explain to the police if I got caught...

Seemingly, if you were in an accident or some other type of event where a police officer inspected the vehicle and found a V8 where a four-cylinder 2.0L engine were expected, I would assume there would be some splaining to do...

I was only assuming that this question was being asked with integrity as to legal requirements. If this thread is based upon the premise that we all misrepresent our vehicles, then the 1976 issue still doesn't hold water.

Eric (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

Nothing illegal on your car? Never? No header? Never owned a modified car? Modifing an engine can hardly compare to rebadging a car illegally. Legally as I understand it you can not change any equipment on your street car. Done any of that? If not I am sorry for you, you have missed out on a lot of fun. If so quit acting so "Holier than thou".

[ericread]

Nothing illegal on your car? Never? No header? Never owned a modified car? Modifing an engine can hardly compair to rebadging a car illegally. Legally as I understand it you can not change any equipment on your street car. Done any of that? If not I am sorry for you, you have missed out on a lot of fun. If so quit acting so "Holier than thou".

"Holier than thou" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

This, from a guy who wants to ban any modifications to a pre-1976 914 unless it's his modifications!

I hope you see how ridiculous that is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol3.gif)

All I am trying to point out is that the premise of the 1976 914 being the only car that should be modified to be an electrical vehicle while any pre-1976 914 should be allowed to be modified with a V8 is a silly premise.

And using the California law which allows stock 1975 and older cars to be emission test exempt as a support to your premise is simply bogus.

Eric Read (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[So.Cal.914]

Nothing illegal on your car? Never? No header? Never owned a modified car? Modifing an engine can hardly compair to rebadging a car illegally. Legally as I understand it you can not change any equipment on your street car. Done any of that? If not I am sorry for you, you have missed out on a lot of fun. If so quit acting so "Holier than thou".

"Holier than thou" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

This, from a guy who wants to ban any modifications to a pre-1976 914 unless it's his modifications!

I hope you see how ridiculous that is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol3.gif)

All I am trying to point out is that the premise of the 1976 914 being the only car that should be modified to be an electrical vehicle while any pre-1976 914 should be allowed to be modified with a V8 is a silly premise.

And using the California law which allows stock 1975 and older cars to be emission test exempt as a support to your premise is simply bogus.

Eric Read (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Well genius those were not my comments, Kapt Kaos wrote this thread. I just thought you were being an asshole and you have yet to disappoint. There are a lot of people here that do not smog their 914's. And a fair chunk of those people have, in one way or another have modified their cars. The ones that do modify their cars wouldn't touch a 76, it has to be smogged. Which would make the 76 the perfect candidate for an electric conversion. No smog.

[ericread]

Well genius those were not my comments, Kapt Kaos wrote this thread. I just thought you were being an asshole and you have yet to disappoint. There are a lot of people here that do not smog their 914's. And a fair chunk of those people have, in one way or another have modified their cars. The ones that do modify their cars wouldn't touch a 76, it has to be smogged. Which would make the 76 the perfect candidate for an electric conversion. No smog.

I had to think about your reply for a few minutes...

I have no problem with people who modify their 914s, either to bigger engines or to electric cars.

The premise of this thread was to limit the type of conversion so that the bigger engine cars would have the 1975 and older bodies while the 1976 bodies could be used for electric conversions. The basis of this seperation was the California emission exemption rule.

My point of contention is as follows:
1. The California emission exemption does not support the transfer of bigger engines to the 1975 and older bodies.
2. The California emission exemption does apply to electric conversions.

So it becomes pretty clear that the initial premise of the argument is not valid.

There's no doubt someone can get away with DMV violations by ignoring the laws. But the premise was based upon using the California DMV law, not ignoring the DMV laws.

So a premise was presented, and I demonstrated that based on the premise, the argument was not valid.

You seem to be offering a different premise, based upon the idea that by ignoring DMV laws, it's easier to license modified pre-1976 914's. Therefore the pre-1976 914s should be left to the engine modification people. That's a premise which is much different than the original premise, and should stand or fail on it's own merit.

If this discussion makes me an Assho__, then so be it.

From now on you should address me by the following title: "Your Assholiness"

Eric (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol3.gif)

BTW: My car is stock with the following exception, I replaced the original air cleaner wth one from K&N, and I have the certification from K&N that demonstrates the State of California finds the replacement air filter setup acceptable in meeting emission requirements for the State of California. And just in case, I have kept the original air cleaner should I be mandated to replace it.