Some enthusiasts bemoan any...
Some enthusiasts bemoan any attempts to "clean up" personal transportation. To them, the likes of PCV systems, catalytic converters, and EGR are all vestiges of government oppression to be cut out and discarded at the earliest opportunity.
Others justify similar actions not by disagreeing with their premise, but by arguing the contribution of the individual hot rodder (or the sum total of all in the enthusiast community) who eliminates emissions control devices is too small to make any significant difference.
As this is surely a touchy subject among GMHTP readers, we have always left-and will continue to leave-individual choices about your vehicle up to you. But there are facts to be faced. While it's true that today's cars emit far less pollution than those of decades past, there are so many on the roads of the world that the problem isn't going away. And as if traditional pollutants like hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen weren't enough, the world has finally begun to wake up to the scientific realities of carbon dioxide, a gas for which laws and regulations are clearly coming down the line at full tilt. Exactly how we'll get to the next stage of motor vehicle emission control in the United States is only starting to be seriously worked out, but the inevitable scenario that's headed down the pipe is this: emissions laws, and the enforcement thereof, will only get stricter.
This translates to additional concerns for aftermarket high-performance parts manufacturers and the consumers who install these parts on street-driven vehicles. (Even now, getting caught driving a car with compromised or eliminated emissions systems on public roads can often get you in some serious trouble with the law). But it's not all gloom and doom, because some of us have already had to operate under such a more-stringent scheme for quite some time.
Light Pewter Metallic isn't...
Light Pewter Metallic isn't the color for everyone, but honestly, you'd have to paint a Camaro SS hot pink to make it ugly. We found this 61,000-mile example in excellent overall condition, with only minor flaws on the exterior (for example, the previous owner started pressure washing the driver-side front fender before realizing it was a bad idea-goodbye, clear coat).
California, Here We Come!
For decades, enthusiasts in California have had to deal with that state's Vehicle Code Section 27156, which is summed up by the California Air Resources Board website (www.arb.ca.gov) as follows: "To ensure that [automotive emission control] systems operate as designed ...Section 27156 and the Federal Clean Air Act prohibit modifications that increase motor vehicle emissions. Since if properly designed, most performance modifications do not increase vehicle emissions, these same laws also allow the installation of parts or modifications proven by their manufacturers and the ARB not to increase vehicle emissions." If a part or modification is shown to not increase emissions, it is granted an exemption (called an Executive Order) allowing it to be installed on specific vehicles. This is where the "CARB E.O. #" advertised for many aftermarket parts comes from, and without it, a component can't be sold or used on a California vehicle. It's easily the strictest structure currently in existence for aftermarket parts in this country.
While what is to come in the future (both to California and the nation as a whole) will no doubt vary from this system as it currently exists, we at GMHTP have decided a project build in conformance with the CARB-mandated system is a great way to show that increased horsepower and emissions legality are not mutually exclusive, and that the joys of modifying and driving a personalized vehicle will continue to subsist no matter what challenges come next. That's right, a "modded muscle car for the new millennium" that can prove our hobby is here to stay. As an added bonus, we will not be sacrificing fuel economy in this build, and many of the parts we install will actually cut fuel consumption-assuming we can subdue the urge to use the extra power too often. (We should point out that some of the upgrades we'll be performing have nothing whatsoever to do with emissions laws, as is the case with the installs in this particular story. And as a final note, we're going to take one or two minor liberties by using some "factory performance" parts in future stories, components that we're certain would meet the criteria of the CARB E.O. system if tested-further explanation to come later).
 This SS's interior was discovered...  This SS's interior was discovered pretty much in factory condition as well, though it did require a thorough cleaning. Minor fixes: the seatbelt guide had to be glued together on the driver side, and the shift knob's leather wrap had separated from the rest of it (we'd already installed our new shifter and knob by the time this photo was taken). CT's cockpit does include one pet peeve of this author-an aftermarket radio. The option codes show this bad boy originally came with the RPO UN0 Monsoon system, so why it was changed is beyond me. |  Here's a trip down memory...  Here's a trip down memory lane: a showroom-stock LS1 engine compartment! Everything here is vintage 1999, though we did find and remove an aftermarket air filter (and its accompanying decal), substituting a paper one back in to give the best possible baseline for the car. The results were 305 horses and 324 lb-ft to the wheels on TTP's DynoJet, a healthy starting point. |  The goods for this installment....  The goods for this installment. Top: SDPC's LS7 Clutch Kit and (dead center) new pilot bearing. Bottom right: new GM master and slave cylinders, also provided by SDPC. Bottom left: B&M's Precision Sport Shifter. Bottom center: Speed Inc.'s Classic Shift Knob and slave cylinder shim. |