Thinking of moving to California

[markmitchinnh]

My fiance is from the Bay area and other then desert training (Fort Irwin) I have never been there. And due to health issues the dryer air is suppose to be better for me. So what do I do with my V8 Safari? is there any way of making it legal other then go back to a V6? Or should I sell it and find an old car to restore when I get there?

[1Gary]

So Calli V8 is out there with his legal.Might want to consider the taxes out there and the cost of living...............

[markmitchinnh]

I am a disabled veteran and just sold my house in Maine, cost of living? can't be worse then NH/Maine area. If we buy a home my girlfriend already knows the taxes/cost of living. Basically I told her as long as its not in the city and we have a garage I am fine lol.

[astroturf]

Good Luck with the move Mark.

Keep us posted, Jim

[Herbie]

My fiance is from the Bay area and other then desert training (Fort Irwin) I have never been there. And due to health issues the dryer air is suppose to be better for me. So what do I do with my V8 Safari? is there any way of making it legal other then go back to a V6? Or should I sell it and find an old car to restore when I get there?

What year is the van and what year is the donor car the engine came from? If the donor is from the same year or newer as the van, you're in pretty good shape. You can go through the referee process to get the van stickered as legal. If not... you might need to sort something out.

Not sure how CA will treat an import of something you've owned before moving into the state. Might be worth some research or a call to the DMV of the area you'd move to. (We have different smog "zones" so some things are slightly different if you're in a more rural area vs. the big cities)

[markmitchinnh]

My Van is a 1989 the 350 is from a 1995 tahoe, mostly stock except for a 4 barrel intake with adapter for TBI and EGR delete. hedman hedders with Ypipe and dual mufflers.

[astrozam]

I am a disabled veteran and just sold my house in Maine, cost of living? can't be worse then NH/Maine area.

Wanna bet? lol...http://www.bestplaces.net/col/?salary=% ... 2=50667000

[6spd_monte]

My Van is a 1989 the 350 is from a 1995 tahoe, mostly stock except for a 4 barrel intake with adapter for TBI and EGR delete. hedman hedders with Ypipe and dual mufflers.

The engine being a '95 is good, but the EGR delete is bad. CA says for engine swaps that the replacement engine must be same year of newer, and retain all of the smog equipment for the vehicle that is was originally installed in. That means your intake and headers will need CARB certification stickers too. This is assuming that you are moving to a county that checks. Like Herbie says, some don't. But many do.

[markmitchinnh]

Yeah I figured the EGR delete but the intake and headers I didn't even think about. I can fix what ever I have to fix.

[2002Safari]

I moved from Washington State with a stock 2002 Safari US emissions with no problems. Not cheep living in California.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

I gotta say that if I was moving to anyplace that has clean, rust free vans available, I would sell the current project and start a new one when I got there.

[mdmead]

I don't think you will get away with running a carbed 95 engine in the 89 van. Both came with EFI and I suspect you'll need the 95 EFI system intact.

Moving stock vehicles to CA can be a real pain, (impossible?...), if they don't meet the CA requirement of the time. I think there might be some exemptions, but I've heard horror stories.

Honestly, and forgive me to those of you already living in CA, I can't see any draw to the state for gearheads and/or OHV enthusiasts. CA is probably the most difficult state in regards to both issues. Too strict swap standards, underfunded OHV programs, continually losing the OHV access available, etc.

But the final straw for me is traffic/congestion in the metro areas. I've spent some time in Santa Barbara, L.A., Palm Springs, Bay Area and up north in Arcata. With the exception of the Arcata area, everywhere else I've been has had way too many people. I know some don't mind this, but I surely do. (As for the Arcata area, too many long-hair enviro hippies. They need to grow up and get a job!)

There is some nice weather in CA, and lots to do. A great place to visit... knowing you can escape in a few days!

Just another opinion. And like they say, opinions are like _ss _oles and everyone has one.

[VanGoGo]

Ive spent a few years in northen California, (mostly the Arcata area, and I agree it is over-run by enviro hippies), the cost of living (and gas prices) in California is insane, the smog laws are often a nightmare...even for bone stock vehicles. I had a vanagon with a golf gti motor and discovered even if the emissions are within the limits, the bureaucracy will find other reasons to fail your vehicle, which proves to me, they are not concerned about the environment because they fail vehicles that run clean, they just want another excuse to 'tax' you. I wish you luck.

[markmitchinnh]

mdmead it has a 4 barrel intake with TBI on an adapter - no carb. this move may never happen as my fiance is from there but she is going through menopause and changes her mind way to often to make me worry. I have been all over while in the Army but I hate cities. I would much rather live off the beaten path so to speak. Life is full of change so I look at the alternatives. As for my van I have way to much time and money into this project to abandon it for a rust free van to start all over again. But thats just me. Thank you all for the reply's. If I do ever move there I will probably find an old Chevelle or something to build.

[mdmead]

mdmead it has a 4 barrel intake with TBI on an adapter - no carb.

Got ya! If the TBI was stock to the 350, then the only issue is the intake and adaptor for the Carb exemption. If it's grungy and stock looking, it may not be a factor. Worst case, swap these parts back to stock or exempt parts.

Yeah, I hate crowded areas too. I don't mind going to these places occassionally, but in the end, I like my three acres outside of a small town!