California SB100 Title and Registration

[boat737]

My SB100, California Title and Registration Process Part 3B -- The BAR inspection

The closest BAR to my house did not have any appointment times for a week, but the one in Huntington Beach had an opening in 3 hours. So a leisurely 40 mile drive later I was waiting for my BAR inspection.

From the start, I got the impression that, again, I was screwed. Not that the referee was grumpy or surly, but he certainly was not happy or jovial. A permanent semi-scowl on his face, not mean or nasty, just quiet and hard to read. First thing he asked was if I had my Brake and Light inspections done yet, and I did not. He then hem's and haw's and tells me the BAR inspection is generally done AFTER the VIN, light, and brake inspections. I thought at that point he was going just walk away and not do it, but he stood there a bit longer, in silence. Since I trailer-ed it to the referee station, he asked me if I could get it off the trailer. Being as low as it is, I barely got it on in the first place, and wasn't looking forward to trying to get it off without tearing something up. I told him I could, but it's going to be a pain. Again, a non committal groan (or was it a grunt) and then he disappeared back to his office. Oh, he did comment about something on the paperwork, "in case it doesn't pass." In case it doesn't pass? Now I'm getting worried.

About now another fellow drives up with a question on a CHP noise citation that he got, and my inspector told him to come back after he gets an appointment, because he is all backed up today, and quote, "this one is going to take some time", meaning my inspection. OK, now I'm definitely worried.

Without any fanfare, he had me sign a couple of forms (authorization to work on my car.) He disappeared for another 10 or 15 minutes, in which case I still wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. He came back and told me to take the air cleaner off. He looked at the fitting that connects to the PS breather to the air cleaner, then he looked at the PVC valve in the DS valve cover. Next he told me to start it. After 2 or 3 seconds, he said to shut it off. That was it for the inspection part.

He went back to his office for another 15 or 20 minutes before finally coming out and have me sign two more of the same forms I'd already signed. At some point, he came out and asked if I wanted to smog it by "Body style", and I said yes. (the other alternative is to do it by "engine block year", which is another whole ball of worms. Doing the BAR smog by body style is the best way to go for these SB-100 SPCNS, but it's your choice. See the links in post #1.) Another 10 minutes or so, (to my great relief) he showed me two completed forms that I was to take back to the DMV. I passed. Up until that moment, I wasn't sure I was going to.

Lastly, he had to put a smog exempt sticker someplace on that car that was not removable. About the only place away from the heat, fluids, and fumes is the firewall. I wanted to put it in the footbox someplace, but there was no place where there is no insulation. He didn't really like that idea anyway. So the firewall it is. Two things when he put it on: 1-he didn't clean the area off, and 2-he put it on crooked. Crooked, as in not level. There goes my OCD going off, and I can't even see it while I'm driving. But I know it's there, crooked.

Before I left, he warned me in no uncertain terms to not clean the sticker with ANY fluids. No cleaners, solvents, or even moisture of any kind. The sticker is not real permanent, and can be easily destroyed with chemicals. He suggested to get a plastic cover and mount over the sticker to keep it clean. I think I will go one step further and make an aluminum plate to cover up that gawd-awful crooked sticker completely. A few nutcerts and 6-32 screws and it will be easily removable in case some official actually wants to see the ridiculously skewed and not level sticker. Did I mention the sticker is not straight?

Bottom line, I got my BAR inspection completed, but it took an agonizing 1 hour and 45 minutes. Next up is the brake and light inspection. That is tomorrow's project.

[Jdav]

Did I mention the sticker is not straight?

You could always take the car apart and rebuild it all askew

[boat737]

You could always take the car apart and rebuild it all askew

It was all I could do, and it took all my skills, to not do that the first time. But I like the way you think. BTW, the sign in my garage says, "We do precision guesswork".