jimrankin

Wrong thread post!.

Start getting your tools out because just like everybody says, the more you look it at the more you will want to change. Got my S2K from someone who did a great job on the basic build but looks like he was getting tired/hurried near the end. Been pulling it apart and putting it back together one section at a time for most of the (California) winter and "making it mine". Part for changes and part for getting it by the CA. legal hoops for a real steel plate. Looks like from the list of your other cars your used to small cuts from wrenching and big lumps on your forehead from beating it against the walls already so your most of the way there! LOL

Thanks RNR, Hope you had some fun yesterday anyway. Based on your comments the Nitto's are looking pretty good right now. Really do want something as soft and grippy as possible because I sometimes tend to drive faster than I drive well, if you know what I mean. Going to dig up my sound meter and see what my S2K reads with the stock WCM exhaust with the cat. Don't know if the added cat or the slightly different muffler behind it does all that much different than your setup. I have been told that the lower back pressure of the WCM set up actually detracts from the power of the stock S2000 motor because the ECU is limited in what you can do with it and it thinks something is "wrong". Got that off a Honda site about what "not" to do without changing the ECU so take it with a grain of web-salt.

Hi RNR, Maybe if you stoped screaming with joy every time you stomp the skinny pedal the DB's would be lower.....LOL. Sorry about you not passing but it's good to know that the WCM setup is that loud before booking at that track. I happen to have a DB meter somewhere from when I wasn't deaf enough that tuning graphic equalizers mattered. There are so many ways to weight the DB scales that you would need to ask them just how they were set up. Might be a way to avoid having to go there to recheck you new system. OK, your disapointed in the DB department, but you got a great day for driving and, are those Nitto's making you smile???

Checked with Skyline College, our local smog referee station about appointments and no problem getting in, they didn't ask me if I had done light or break yet, just said I needed the actual hard copy of my SB100, not just the number, or they couldn't do it. I have the hard copy now, didn't have it when I first tried to set it up. I'll wait till I have the light inspection and just see if they ask for it when I'm there. All I'm finding out so far is that every step seems to be different for every person doing this. As you can see from previous post by others, some didn't get anything but an SB100 and got plates, others have had to jump through more hoops than a circus dog.

I'm hoping that getting by the light inspection is the last bump with the state and on to having some fun. I actually started looking at 7's just for the track and wasn't too worried about "getting it legal" but after hitting the streets in one you sort of don't want to leave yours sitting in a trailer between track dates. After looking at some of the photos posted here I'm starting to like the "retro" look of the big ( I know, 7" isn't "big" but the HID's were less than half that) headlights. Putting more stuff up in the wind, well heck, just a reason to tell yourself you need a set of cams, bigger injectors and a new ECU! LOL. Come to think about it there looks like enough room on the right side of the engine bay to shoehorn in a turbo.............

Wish I was getting to play with mine tomorrow instead of working. I'm making up some new headlight mounts for the 7" DOT units I got to replace the little HID's. Going to look a little "bug-eyed" to me with all that glass up front but it's part of making the light inspection. Should get to finish it up this weekend and then it's finding an inspection station that isn't computerized. Maybe if I tell them I'll bring my own pen.........LOL.

Obviously that was the wrong photo, I'll try this again. LOL

Hope this file attaches, and it's the right one. LOL. If it's not word or Excel I'm lost. How does your ECU work without the oxygen sensors? I'm sure my ECU is not working properly because it doesn't kick in the Vtech till about red line. No rain shown for tomorrow, tire testing day!!!!

I'm assuming you were trying out the grip on your new Nitto's on your S2K. Did you get a chance to scuff off the release agents and find some actual "real" rubber to play with? Got word that I should see my new wheels by early April so still have a bit of time to sort out tires. Which supplier did you buy them through and were they good to work with? I've had really good luck with both tiires and wheels purchased on the net over the last several years, really don't like not supporting local merchants but the price difference on high end wheels and tires is really an eye opener, or more to the point, a wallet opener. LOL. I'm praying for a dry day or two so you can get out and do some testing for me!! On another point, I think you mentioned a sound check to see if you were under th DB limit. Are you running the "stock" WCM 4 into1 with cat and muffler? Interesting to see where that stands if you are still using it. Thanks, JR

Hi RNR, Really interested in what you think of the Nittos. They look like they should be pretty good, lots of contact patch. The big question will be if you can get them hot enough to work on a cool track/cool day situation like you will probably have this entire week. Are you getting on track with HOD, the GG Lotus club or somebody else? I have been avoiding teasing myself by checking what events are happening now.

Hi Mondo, All the CHP wanted was to drool over the car, they were really cool and I had hoped it was a good sign. Been slowly working out a few things I found needed attention and if nothing else pops up I should get the last few items out of the way and get a REAL plate soon. Going to try to hit a few different tracks this year so if Buttonwillow makes the schedule I'll look forward to seeing you there. LOL.

I got the list of inspection stations off the CA-DMV web site. I went through quite a few before I even found one who had a clue of how to inspect it if they couldn't put the car into the computer as an S2000 Honda for specifications. The really helpful guy here locally said try to find someone "old school" enough to not just sign on digitally. Friend of mine is checking to see if the one he used is still licensed since it was really a "good old boy" shop up in the Delta. Worth the drive. I just got through rewiring the front of the car for a set of added turn signals, high/low beams and replaced the light switch with one that has an extra position for high beams since I really couldn't find anywhere to put the foot switch I bought. I'm hopeing I can get by without reverse lights as it will mean running another circuit to the back. :chillpill: Lucky for me I'm still waiting on the wheel delivery and deciding which tires I plan to run on the car so I'm not stressing about it sitting in the garage. Been staying off the tires on it because I plan to resell them and want to keep them "new". LOL

Chaits, The SS, XK and the trailer reside in my Milpitas warehouse at the moment but the S2K is at my house in SM so I can play/work with it when I get the chance. Your more than welcome to come see what I'm doing most any time.

Just about every aftermarket headlight, side marker and front turn signal supplier seems to be Non-DOT labeled. Easy to find taillights as the trailer parts suppliers seem to be almost all DOT products only. Found some "cab clearance markers" with a DOT that are good for side markers. Bought a set of headlights with-out fancy Tri-Bar or HID/Halogens, just says "sealed beam". Even the company selling them didn't know if it was DOT but it says the replacement is a standard item so it probably is, or easy to replace with one that is. Don't be surprised if what you need to pass changes when you go in again, mine has and that's just over the phone going over what I'm doing before bringing it back in. Is this part of the "fun" of kit cars, I'm about laughed out! LOL

Hi Chaits, There seem to be quite a few 7's, of several different makes, in the Bay Area. No matter which kit your putting together looking at as many of them as you can will give you a lot of ideas and more importantly keep you from doing something you thought was a good idea and found out later had been tried and was not. Also some strange "California DMV" requirements that you may want to plan for in your build. Getting a WCM S2K "California Legal" in San Mateo at the moment.

Probably going to end up modiifying a DOT motorcycle turn siignal like you did. Seems like the sealed beam swap idea is going to be the best thing for the headlights. Guess I should stop messing up this thread since it's not about lights.

Got a reply back from Speedway. None of their headlights are DOT approved but said I might be able to buy a sealed beam unit from them and change out the "light" in it to a stock sealed beam replacement light with a DOT on the lens. No DOT on the turn signals either. Going to have to go a little deeper in my web search I guess. Thanks for the link anyway.

I'm having to get a Calif. light inspection as part of my registration process and the HID lights I have won't meet DOT regulations so these my be the "go to" item. Thanks, Jim R.

Do you have a manufacturers name for the headlights and turn signals? They look good but also functional enough to have a DOT rating. Anybody else have a manufacturer's site for something like these that has a DOT stamp. Thanks.

Hi LoCo50, Other than every DMV in California being wierd in it's own way, how did you slip by without a dreak and light inspection? When I talked with the CA. light inspection area managed he was dead on suprised I wasn't required to do the whole brake inspection also. His claim was that the SB100 only "smog" exempted the cars with the BAR, every other inspection for "rebuilt, retitled, salvaged or special construction" inspection was mandatory. The "0000" year does give us the chance of pretending to be a '59 Lotus as far as meeting original equipment but anything you can't prove is "original" has to have a DOT mark. I'm behind on calling around to different licensed shops because I'm still looking for DOT certified head lights and turn signals. All the little "mini bullets" I have found on the web are just like the ones I have, don't have a DOT stamp. Between work and lifes usual duties I'm havibg a hard time getting much done on the car. PS. To keep their license current shops are now being required to have the certified person attend regular classroom instruction on the codes. I guess it was just a test form before. His comment is it will be getting harder to find just light inspection, only the "Gold" smog stations will bother with it. Meanwhile, I was in Oakland yesterday at a job walk and the street parked vehicles I drove through looked like the average plate's year sticker was about two years behind. If they were serious about global warming they could cut a few degrees off the problem with one sweep through that town. Probably the same in a few spots down south of here too. Got to go laugh before I start to cry. LOL

That may be doable. I'll have to join the GGLC so I can stay on top of local events. I'm going to be expecting my wheels to arrive from England about that time ( I hope) so if I have them I can actually put some rubber under the S2K. I have a set of 6.5" X 16" wheels and Dunlop Star Spec 205 width street tires on it now and it's like having roller bearings under the back end under any serious power. Really wanting to see if it stays this loose when there are some sticky 275's under the back. I'd be afraid to do any more than drive a conservative line and pratice getting smooth with these tires. This thread was about tires, and I'm still up in the air about them. Sure wish it weas easier to find wheels to fit the S2K since I really want to go with something really soft but there are a lot of mixed feelings about just how safe tires like R888's or the Goodyear DOT slicks are for the street. A local tire dealer had this comment. "Race" tires are designed to take enough sidewall loading and flex that contact with berms at high speed won't usually cause a failure. Car weight and sidewall height has a lot to do with failure from pinching (which according to him is the foremost failure problem). If your car is light enough, sprung within reason, your not running super low profile tires and you keep the air pressure up over what you would race with they should be OK. (No, this doesn't mean "OK" for rain or pot-holed farm roads) So many opinions!!!!! The more I learn the stupider I feel. LOL

I'm planning on giving that track a try sometime this summer. Got to check what HOD has on the schedule for there or check the BW events listing. Now that is a track where getting your tires up to temp is no problem, just sit the car in the sun on the paddock and your about there. LOL.

I talked with a State offical in San Jose who's name I got from a helpful local shop. He was pretty helpful about what to do. Said that about all I needed to do was take off the HID headlights because they are a big red flag to any shop, put in dual level DOT headlamps, make sure that the parking/turn/tail/brake lights are over 12" above ground level and DOT labeled and then start calling from the list of shops till I find one that will agree to do a "Kit Car" type inspection based on pre-'68 specs. The car year on SB100 registrations is given as "0000" so it confuses most shops who haven't had any experience with it. He gave me the name of an understanding shop in Santa Cruz that a previous "kit" owner who was having the same problems had found. P.S. to Mondo. If you promise to show me that twisty canyon road I may just drive down and use the shop you did. LOL.

Any California registrations done in the last year have any info to share? I'm working on getting a "lamp" inspection so I can get the S2K registered and running into a problem, again. Since there is no "year" on the SB100 registration the official stations seem to be at a loss. I'm trying to claim I only need what was on a '59 Lotus since it's a replica but so far the three I've talked with have all wanted it to meet CA. DMV criteria for a reconstructed/salvage or special construction vehicle. This means 2010 specifications and a DOT# on every light as well as a host of other items. Automatic back-up lights, dash mounted warning light for emergency brake "on", low brake fluid warning light, dual level headlamps with dash high beam indicator, side markers and reflectors and the list just goes on. LOL. Somebody know of a Bay Area light inspection shop that understands the "kit car" SB100 registration?