California brake and light inspection.

[jimrankin]

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?

[Mondo]

Wow,

I just went to some authorized shop and they basically checked to make sure the lights worked. That was it... 10 minutes.

[dickalow]

I live in the north bay, if you want you can contact me off line. I did my car last year in santa rosa 707 953 0711 bill

[jimrankin]

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.

[Mondo]

Yeah, it was just some good ol boy shop... but I don't have them high-fulluzen HID headlights;)

 

If you ever come down to do a day at Buttonwillow, stay another day and I'll gladly show you some fun roads..

[jimrankin]

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.

[rnr]

I'm planning on giving that track a try sometime this summer.

 

Are you going to be making the GGLC Laguna day (Mar 23)? I will hopefully be in the Ultralite (need to sort out seat and exhaust).

[jimrankin]

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

[rnr]

there are a lot of mixed feelings about just how safe tires like R888's or the Goodyear DOT slicks are for the street.

 

 

R888s are perfectly safe on the street. I have used RA1 (R888s predecessor) for the last 10k miles on the Elise and I personally know at least 10 ppl that use R888s as their combo stree/track/autocross tire on Elise/Exiges with no issues. With the Ultralite being at least 600 lbs lighter you need have no safety concerns about the R888.

 

I plan on getting a set of Nitto NT01s (same compound as RA1/R888) as my street/track tire from the Ultralite. But if I cant get that sorted in time I will be sticking with my current 235 width Falken Azenis all around.

 

P.S: You should also check into your sound levels since Laguna has a strict 92db limit. I'm talking with the Hushpower folks to see if I can get a custom exhaust made to quiet the car down.

Edited January 29, 2010 by rnr

[Locost 5.0]

I didn't have to do one, that sucks!

 

Rod

[jimrankin]

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

[MoPho]

I didn't have to do it either, but my car was previously registered out of state, so perhaps they assumed it was already done

 

 

I think its a bit of a stretch saying that an WCM S2k is a replica of a 59 Lotus though. http://www.websmileys.com/sm/sad/533.gif

 

 

.

[johnh]

It's been a few years since I registered under SB-100/1538 but as mentioned earlier, the SB-100 designation only applies (as far as I understand) to smog equipment. My car was still subject to brake/lamp inspection and I was failed the first time around for not having my brake fluid level warning light functional. Unfortuantely the understanding Shell station where I had my inspections done is no longer in business.

[BMW RACER]

I'm getting my brake and light certificate. They can't sign me off because:

 

1/ My lights (except head lights) don't say DOT or SAE.

2/ My light switches need labels.

3/ My parking brake needs to have a warning light so that I know it's on.

 

Is this normal? Are SAE lenses available for Caterhams?

[jimrankin]

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

[Mondo]

Jim,

Did the DMV give you a list of inspection shops? I think you went to someone who is really a stickler... perhaps you ought to try a few shopes before going thru all this hassle.

Looking to see if it has marked switches seems a bit over the top. The idea of replica cars is to copy them; if they didn't come that way... That being said, I think someone one here found this website; it has tiny stickers for dash switches.

 

http://augerresources.com/

[jimrankin]

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

[Mondo]

Computer? First it's them fancy headlights of yours and now your talking inspection shops with computers;)

 

Actually, mine just filled out some half sheet form ... part of the package of forms like the one the CHP has to sign off on to make sure your engine isn't stolen (the officer I had really liked my car and after looking around basically took my word for it that the numbers on the form were the same as on the motor).

 

Guess it's the ying/yang part of life.... I didn't get the SB100 cert first time around but the paperwork/certifications went smoothly the next year when I finally got it.

Edited February 21, 2010 by Mondo

[jimrankin]

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.

[rnr]

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.

 

 

BTW Jim I just put a set of Nitto NT01s on my car last week. So far things seem good but I hope to be doing a few laps of Laguna this week (if the weather clears) and should have a better idea then.