State REF (California BS)

AFLOCOBRA

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Hey I purchased a built 03 cobra from somebody without knowing it was state reffed and now I can't even get the car registered. The state ref is from two owners ago in 2018 so obviously the last owner was able to make it work. I would pm you but I don't have privileges yet. Can you help?
Well my car was needed for state ref due to the previous owner going into a smog shop with a full blown dyno tune which now a days obviously means the PCM has been hooked up a tuner and tampered with, they now have the technology to pick that up not exactly sure how but there's ways around it but its not fun, They way I passed the state ref was I went completely oem stock everything but had to purchase a new PCM that was coded or programmed for my car from the vendor.
Now when you say built what do you mean like it has cams and a stoker or a whipple?
 

P49Y-CY

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Well my car was needed for state ref due to the previous owner going into a smog shop with a full blown dyno tune which now a days obviously means the PCM has been hooked up a tuner and tampered with, they now have the technology to pick that up not exactly sure how but there's ways around it but its not fun, They way I passed the state ref was I went completely oem stock everything but had to purchase a new PCM that was coded or programmed for my car from the vendor.
Now when you say built what do you mean like it has cams and a stoker or a whipple?

dude this guy's one and only post is a response (over a year later) to someone who implied that he can circumvent the system - a foolish thing to do over a public forum.

smells like bacon.
 

AFLOCOBRA

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dude this guy's one and only post is a response (over a year later) to someone who implied that he can circumvent the system - a foolish thing to do over a public forum.

smells like bacon.
There is nothing to hide the car went back to stock to pass a state ref is that not the right legal thing to do? Nothing foolish.
 

claybeatz

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Currently dealing with in the Shelby. No way around it. All stock to a T, no games you will lose. Only way to have a modded car in CA is to have easily reversible mods and get good at your system because you WILL need it only a matter of time before you get popped.
 

Blkkbgt

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The land of commies and socialists!
Currently dealing with in the Shelby. No way around it. All stock to a T, no games you will lose. Only way to have a modded car in CA is to have easily reversible mods and get good at your system because you WILL need it only a matter of time before you get popped.
This is incorrect. You can have LEGAL parts I.E. CARB approved with E.O. numbers.
 

2003RedfireVert

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Why does anyone live in CA. This being one of the many reasons (and frankly not one of the main reasons). CA sucks. At this point, it’s your fault if you live there.
 

Santiago

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Why does anyone live in CA. This being one of the many reasons (and frankly not one of the main reasons). CA sucks. At this point, it’s your fault if you live there.
It sucks for our cars but unfortunately some of us have jobs here & make the big bucks here in California but there’s always a way around it
 

wckdvnm

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It sucks for our cars but unfortunately some of us have jobs here & make the big bucks here in California but there’s always a way around it

And that amount of money goes half as far as everyone else… had to go back this weekend; god the weather sucks, people suck, air quality sucks, the list goes on. Hell most of the jobs that pay “big bucks” pay the same wage in AZ… hell it’s $250 for 5 years of registration for the cobra here with no smog. It was $450 a year last registration I received before I told them to suck it…
 

2003RedfireVert

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Kalifornia is long gone. The country is half way to being Kalifornia. I’m glad it will get to my state much later than most. I’ll enjoy it for as long as I can. Good luck with your referees.
 

FriscoCobra

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Currently dealing with in the Shelby. No way around it. All stock to a T, no games you will lose. Only way to have a modded car in CA is to have easily reversible mods and get good at your system because you WILL need it only a matter of time before you get popped.
Why does anyone live in CA. This being one of the many reasons (and frankly not one of the main reasons).
Currently dealing with in the Shelby. No way around it. All stock to a T, no games you will lose. Only way to have a modded car in CA is to have easily reversible mods and get good at your system because you WILL need it only a matter of time before you get popped.
you should do more research - you can modify your car 2 ways. For the track you can do pretty much whatever you want. For the streets you have to have carb approved power adders like whipple and kenne bell
 

OSU34

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And that amount of money goes half as far as everyone else… had to go back this weekend; god the weather sucks, people suck, air quality sucks, the list goes on. Hell most of the jobs that pay “big bucks” pay the same wage in AZ… hell it’s $250 for 5 years of registration for the cobra here with no smog. It was $450 a year last registration I received before I told them to suck it…
Weather sucks in California? Wow first time I’ve ever heard of that lol
 

01yellercobra

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Why does anyone live in CA. This being one of the many reasons (and frankly not one of the main reasons). CA sucks. At this point, it’s your fault if you live there.
I don't make "big bucks", but I am federal. And with my current skillset I could transfer to 2 other places (if there are positions open which last I checked there weren't).... Japan or Jacksonville. The wife is extremely against Florida as she didn't enjoy it last time we lived there. And I have no interest in living in Japan. So there are reasons to stay.

And as I always say, we figure things out. We just don't post it on open forums generally.
 
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mytjojo

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Just to add to the thread, I am currently going through the process of returning my 03 cobra back to stock because I have also ben sent to the ref. I changed out my mid pipes to have 4 cats, changed my upper and lower pullies back to their stock sizes, removed my KB BAP, have a CARB approved CAI and had Ford reset my ECU back to stock. Next up is changing out my fuel injectors back to the stock 39lbs.
Do I really need to remove my Temp and boost gauges from the car? sounds a bit excessive to me
 

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