Did a 1600 16 Valve swap years ago and have had several biennial smog checks since. Now they are telling me the “Conical K&N Filter” is illegal for a street vehicle in California. I have confirmed this on K&N’s web site. In the past two different Smog Shops have passed this vehicle with the K&N.

I still have the stock Sidekick air box and did not put it into the vehicle at the time of the engine swap do to its size.

How have others made the Sidekick box fit, if it is at all possible? What other options?

Note: I have a Spidertrax power steering bracket and pump with integral reservoir getting in the way. I am considering converting to a divorced reservoir.

If you get a long enough snorkle you can run the thing just about anywhere you want. Just make sure that the snorkle you use looks like a stock part and they won't question it. i.e. no flashy chrome pipes or riged PVC pipe from home depot. Just a ribbed rubber snorkle. Then when you're done with the test, just swap the Cone filter back.

There is NOTHING in the smog regs that state the hood must be on and closed.

There is NOTHING in the smog regs that state the hood must be on and closed.

I like your thinking!!!:D

When I had the stock 16v air box in it goes all the way to the left front headlight and all the way to the side of the fender. No smog check here so I put the cone in to clean it up. Had the PS reservoir behind the air box a bit on the fender.

There is NOTHING in the smog regs that state the hood must be on and closed.

Nope none. Smog guy suggested bungy cords.

When I had the stock 16v air box in it goes all the way to the left front headlight and all the way to the side of the fender. No smog check here so I put the cone in to clean it up. Had the PS reservoir behind the air box a bit on the fender.

That's what I'm trying, but still very tight.

If you get a long enough snorkle you can run the thing just about anywhere you want. Just make sure that the snorkle you use looks like a stock part and they won't question it. i.e. no flashy chrome pipes or riged PVC pipe from home depot. Just a ribbed rubber snorkle. Then when you're done with the test, just swap the Cone filter back.

I'll be discontinuing the use of the K&N - never have liked it. Only put it in because it seemed like the simplest and smallest thing to do at the time.

bump
Any other ideas out there?

Yeah, Smog sucks but smogging your modified trucks is going to be really hard now. I just put a new cat on my ride and it was $300.00. That was his cost, my buddy owns the shop. The new cats are car specific. I also heard in a year or two, if you get pulled over they will use a mirror to check that you have a cat. Especially on diesels. The cops will be enforcing this also.

they'll check you for a CAT right now if they suspect you don't have one. I got pulled over for "no front license" I was running a 2.5" exhaust off my headder with nothing but a cherry bomb on it. I cut the engine before the cop got any where near my Samurai, but you can hear me from down the block so it didn't matter. He gave me a fixit ticket for the front plate and told me to put my CAT back on or he'd have me impounded next time he saw me. "Yessir, thank you sir!" I went home and dug it out of the shed and put it back on.


Hey Snow, what are you wanting to do? Are you still just trying to pass smog right now? or are you looking for a permanent place for your airbox?

Hey Snow, what are you wanting to do? Are you still just trying to pass smog right now? or are you looking for a permanent place for your airbox?

Yup, I want to make something permanent that has a very strong resemblance to stock. It turns out(I think) that any modification to the stock Air Handling will be closely looked at in the future here in California - no facts just suspicion. I base this statement from reviewing the CARB web site and looking at what they are giving exemptions and Executive Orders for.

For those interested see:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/amquery.php

and look at the drop down list of aftermarket items - clearly listed is "Air Filter/Intake Modification" and many more.