Smog for a 73 targa with 3.6?

[0cean]

Other recent posts have me wondering about a 73 targa build with a 1992 3.6 engine? Im smog exempt because of year correct?

[CBA]

Originally Posted by 0cean

Other recent posts have me wondering about a 73 targa build with a 1992 3.6 engine? Im smog exempt because of year correct?

Yes!

[dreichman]

Yes, it’s your 73 VIN that matters. Go nuts with you engine!

[RNajarian]

Originally Posted by 0cean

Other recent posts have me wondering about a 73 targa build with a 1992 3.6 engine? Im smog exempt because of year correct?

Technically this is not correct.

In CA if the vehicle is ‘76 or newer it needs smog, with the exemption of vehicles under 8 years old. If the vehicle is ‘75 or older with a ‘76 or newer engine it needs to be smogged to the guidelines/requirements of the year the engine was manufactured.

Naturally this is hard to for the DMV to identify so most people get away with it. I’ll look for the DMV code. . .


EDIT Additional information:

https://bar.ca.gov/pdf/Smog_Check_Reference_Guide.pdf

See page 46.

Smog Check Tests - The vehicle must pass ALL of the following Smog Check tests (regardless of model year) using the donor vehicle Smog Check test type requirements:

So in your case if you replaced your vehicle engine with a 1975 911 motor it is exempt because a 1975 motor is exempt, but you are required to smog your vehicle to the exhaust specifications of a 1992 motor.

As stated earlier the DMV would have a hard time finding this out unless you were somehow reported. A highly modified exhaust may get a law enforcement officer’s attention. It’s best to fly under the radar and not bring attention to yourself.

In fact, had you have installed a 1994 or later engine you would be required to have the ODB2 system operational.

OBD II System - Any vehicle with a replacement engine from a donor vehicle that was originally equipped with an OBD II system must support all OBD II functionality from the donor vehicle:

Those Chevy Hot Rodders who Drop 1990’s Corvette engines in their 1936 cars are also required to smog their vehicles, but it seems that they are getting away with it.

Don’t mean to be a kill joy, but this is the legal answer (In California) to your question.

[76dno]

Rnajarian - thank you for this clarification. Knew about the pre-76 chassis exemption but was not aware of having to smog if engine was newer than 76

[RNajarian]

If the car is already registered in CA you will just need to pay the registration fees and you will be able to get the tags.

If it is an out of state car you want to register in CA then you will need a VIN check at a DMV office. The inspector will look for the emissions sticker to try and verify if your car is compliant. At that point the inspector may notice it is not a period correct motor and then may require the smog.

My 1975 was a CA car that had not been registered for a few years. I had paperwork showing it was a CA car previously registered, all I had to do was pay registration fees, no VIN check was required.

Hope this helps.

Again don’t want to be a kill joy. Hopefully all you need to do is pay the registration fees?

[911obgyn]

It is the transfer of title that initiates an inspection.

[RNajarian]

Oh, That was not the case for me when I did it in 2005. Of course that was nearly 17 years ago.

In that case, I bet the inspector is going to look at the emissions sticker and verify the equipment is there. Unfortunately the emission stickers have the model year of the engine, so a sticker on a ‘72 will show equipment different than his ‘92 engine.

EDIT: I found this form from the DMV (REG31). It is the verification of vehicle form. I’m just not sure which cars need to be verified.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/uploads/2020/06/reg31.pdf

[dannobee]

He shouldn't need to do anything but go to DMV and fill out the paperwork. They'll see that it's a 75 or older vehicle and accept it at that (even though technically it *should* be smogged with the later engine). Practically speaking, I've never seen a smog check required for a 75 or older car. And I used to smog a lot of cars.

[dwelle]

in practice, CA DMV doesn't generally check. i've brought 2 cars in from out of state, a '76 911 with a 3.2 (titled as a '75 since new) and a '71 914 with a 3.6. a quick VIN verification at the DMV is all that was required to get the cars registered.

there is always risk, but from my experience and that of many others, you should be fine to register.

if you already have CA tags, it's a non-issue...