I've been sort of following this thread.  Since I don't actually live in
California, I probably shouldn't chime in, but I do spend winter months
there and I've been around the Calif. beaurocracy some.  It's scary that
other states justify stuff by pointing at California, also.

  I have some friends who have an engine conversion company for mostly
Porsches. They were forced out of California over to Las Vegas to do
business.  Renegade Products.  They supply conversions for putting Chev V8s
into 944s and 911s.  The owner even has an LT-1 Vette motor in his 914. (
~500hp in a 2000 lb roller skate!)
They got so frustrated with the CARB, the DMV and all,  that they just
packed up and moved to Nevada and now do just fine out there.  Even though
the conversions they sold tested much cleaner than the 80's-era turbo
Porsche motors they were replacing, they were not 'allowed' by Cali..  I
know many of their customers have their vehicles now registered in Nevada,
also.   I'm sure THAT could probably get you a life sentence in Cali...or
get you sent to Gitmo as a terrorist for not complying with Cali's weird
vehicle mandates, but it works for these guys.  So once a year you  have to
drive across the border and renew your plates in Nv or Or or Arizona..or
Montana or Utah..Who's gonna "catch you"?  Will they prosecute you
for...what, driving with invalid license plates...?  Prolly not likely..
  Also, here in the Northwest, we have emissions testing in the parts of the
state that have dirty air.  Other areas have no testing requirements.  When
a friend has a problem with a testing station..like them telling you.."Oh,
that won't pass because it isn't OEM" (sometimes they even flat refuse to
put the vehicle on the machines, just because they see a "Midas" cat or some
totally silly thing like that) I always advise just change counties.  When
the law get so stupid and restrictive..Avoid the law.  simple..Big
Corporations and even the Government does it all the time
..Last time I checked, we aren't 'tracked' to our actual homes yet, so you
can register wherever you want.  Yeah, you might be bending the law or even
breaking it...so what?
  If you are in the conversion business, you'll probably not be able to do
it in Cali.  Rent a PO box in Reno..Thousands of Washington state residents
"live" in Oregon in PO boxes..
  Sheesh!  Should save this for tomorrow..But it really jerks me around that
you can go daily to work in your Humvee or your Escalade and spew crap out
at great volume but the CARB won't pass a 2.5 liter Subaru conversion that
emits 1/10 the amount of poison...Or that they Killed the Electric Car and
now want to jam Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles down our throats at big profit..
  Don Hanson    rant off