A post mostly for my own info, since I just can't seem to get to sleep...

[wolfwings]

License plate placement.
The rules are actually quite simple. The 'numbers' must be exposed to the air (so not behind the windshield) and be at least 12 inches off the ground, and not more than 60 inches off the ground. Other than that, any placement on the front or back license plate appears to be legal. So my intended plan of replacing the 'C I V I C' emblem-plate on the back with my new rear license plate is legal, as is my plan to replace the front 'H' emblem on the hood-latch bar with my front license plate.

Obstructions of view in the windows.
These rules are, also, quite straightforward. Section 26708(b)(8) expempts all the glass rear of the front seats once I get both side rear-view mirrors installed. Once I do that, I can get the rear side-windows removed, welded over with sheet-metal, and fold-down shelves installed into the sheetmetal as planned. For the rear, I'm doing something a little more daring. The glass also goes away, and will be replaced with a sheet-metal panel with the fold-down shelf as well. The difference will be that the shelf will be have a section built from a very strong metal mesh, so I can see through it with a reduced-size rear-view mirror without incurring the wrath of having non-safety glazing material installed into the vehicle.

Odometer repair exemptions.
This section makes my life SO much easier. I can legally remove the existing odometer to replace it with another one, so long as I affix a plaque like the 'VIN' plaque reading the original milage, and date of milage originally taken, and can set the new odometer to 0. Why I want to do this is actually for a different reason than most think. It's the thing I want to do when the vehicle is done being modified, to signify the 'rebirth' of it fully into it's new life.

Just the first pass at researching the California Vehicle Code to look out for 'gotchas' in my plans for the Civic. So far, things look good. Now to try to see if there's a way to legally install something like polycarbonate AR sheet instead of tempered safety glass for the remaining windows, or a way to otherwise remove that one last 'weak point' of the entire vehicle...

Comments

[aerowolf.livejournal.com]

Remember that after 15 or so years, the vehicle becomes exempt from mileage disclosure. (My van, a 1985 model year, and manufactured in December of 1984, is thus exempted.)

That's for selling the vehicle or such, hon.

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

The vehicle code still requires an accurate (to the manufacturer's tolerances) odometer and accurate milage-count for the vehicle be kept. There are no exemptions for older vehicles that allow them to, for example, remove the odometer, and it is illegal to drive with a non-functional odometer, regardless of the age of the vehicle.

Also, mind that this is California Vehicle Code. Most other states are a fuck of a lot more sane for what you do with your own damn vehicle. :-)

[lionman.livejournal.com]

Will your metal mesh opening in the rear 'window' act as a hole and allow the vehicle to suction exhaust gasses back in it like driving down the road in a vehicle with just the rear glass down?

Fluid dynamics would seem to indicate no.

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

The 'hole' in question will be about 18"x6" or so, and located in the dead-middle, topmost edge of the back wall, with the mesh aligned to allow best visibility through the center rear-view mirror so I can look directly behind the car when driving. The exhaust pipe is located at the bottom-most edge of the car, in the rear, pointing down towards the asphalt, also located about 4-5" further behind the point where the opening would be due to the slope of the hatchback hatch.

Further, there's a small 'vent' in the hatchback hinge that lets air flow down under the hinge, mostly intended so rainwater doesn't 'pool' there but flows down over the glass, so there will be a direct airflow pushing 'down' mostly over the hole, further preventing any air intake when the vehicle is in motion except perhaps some 'fresh' air from off the roof of the car. I'm planning to add a small baffle to the opening to try to prevent that airflow as well.

To clarify 'that' airflow...

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

...I mean any of the air coming down off the roof that might enter the window, I'll be installing something to help prevent that.

Hey!

[zalysluggite.livejournal.com]

Psst-psssst!

What's the scoop on the commission fee? :) I don't know if you got that email or not, so please get back to me!

Re: Hey!

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

Gah... badly-trained GMail sent the e-mail to the
spam folder. =-.-=
Unfortunately, I'm now between jobs. Specifically, my new job starts approximately November 1st or so, while my current job gave me my last paycheck last week and I payed rent with it and bought food. =^.6= So my next paycheck, and being able to pay you, won't happen until the 15th of next month, give or take a day. I hope the delay's not a problem? If it is, I'll go try to do some odd jobs to scrape up the cash to pay you sooner. =^.^=

Re: Hey!

[zalysluggite.livejournal.com]

Ahhh.. I hate it when free email sends real email to the spam folder. I've had it happen to me on a number of occassions.
It's alright, though. I'm glad you got it at all since I wasn't sure if you had or not. As for the payment.. *nods* Understandable. Don't stress yourself about it until you can get it to me next month. Not a problem. I hope that you're new job will go well, though! From where to where are you working now?

Danke! Arigato! Thank you!

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

As for where I was working... wiring, telecomm/networking, network programming, etc.

As or where I AM working now... Securitas, security-guard firm. =^.^= Needed a change of pace. :-)