Pelican Parts Forums

Pelican Parts Forums (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/)
-   Porsche 911 Technical Forum (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/)
-   -   1979 911SC smog certification question (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/1184568-1979-911sc-smog-certification-question.html)

thomkestly 10-06-2025 11:14 AM

1979 911SC smog certification question
 
Hello all: Im looking at a 1979 911 sc, with 89 K mikes second owner car is on the east coat and apparently its a 48 state smog category car. im in Ca. so i would appreciate any help if you have knowledge I can get this car to pass smog certification here in Ca.?
Thanks T K

thomkestly 10-06-2025 11:15 AM

Additionally, There is no smog pump on board but the Cat is there and looks original, Thanks TK

EC900 10-06-2025 01:11 PM

Besides air pump missing, the injection tubes are necessary too for the pump to function accordingly with a belt and the fan pulley unless it was swapped and also there’s an air pump check valve connection to pump and tubing.
So you’ll need to look underneath, often the injection tubing is a bit more difficult to remove and plug the openings, so usually it’s left on the engine.

Sourcing the parts might not be difficult but a shop that does these BAR inspections (and re-fittings) would be better to consult and what they look for to get it Passed.

Here’s a recent post - maybe that shop is near you for advice….
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/1184468-edge-case-re-importing-ca-car-into-ca-europe.html

Mark Salvetti 10-06-2025 05:53 PM

Can a 49-state SC be registered in California? It's not just the air pump, California cars also had EGR. Those parts are going to be much harder to find than the air injection parts.

Maybe you just need the car to be unmodified from the 49-state configuration, and EGR isn't necessary?

Mark

dannobee 10-07-2025 07:09 AM

The only time 49 state vs 50 state (or Cal) standards matter is when the car is under a year or two old and you're trying to register it in Cal. They want to be sure that you're not trying to circumvent Cal Smog laws. Obviously a '79 is a tad older than that.

At this point in time it just needs to have the equipment on it that it had from the factory; i.e., if it came with a smog pump and EGR, they need to be on the car and operable. The actual equipment necessary will be on the underhood emissions label.

porschedude996 10-07-2025 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomkestly (Post 12543068)
Hello all: Im looking at a 1979 911 sc, with 89 K mikes second owner car is on the east coat and apparently its a 48 state smog category car. im in Ca. so i would appreciate any help if you have knowledge I can get this car to pass smog certification here in Ca.?
Thanks T K

I think the term is a 49 state vehicle. I have an ‘83 (last if the CIS) and registered it in CA without much problem. If the engine has a good 49 state cat, and it doesn’t have any air leaks, then it stands a good chance it will pass. They can’t make you upgrade the cat to a CA cat. I easily passed after I got most of the air leaks fixed.

EC900 10-07-2025 01:45 PM

I guess a missing just an air pump would be ideal.
Two engines variants for 1979. The Non-CA was 930/04. CA was 930/06.
Both came with an air pump and a Cat which are EPA requirements.
Not sure what (else) makes a 930/06 California specific. Timing? Higher compression? CIS limits?
Tailpipe output numbers more important than certain obsolete parts?
Wonder if the emissions shop even check engine numbers on 911’s.

FWIW - This is an example of a 79 911 smog test. Probably the visual check list applies to all vehicles.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1759872789.jpg

porschedude996 10-07-2025 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannobee (Post 12543522)
The only time 49 state vs 50 state (or Cal) standards matter is when the car is under a year or two old and you're trying to register it in Cal. They want to be sure that you're not trying to circumvent Cal Smog laws. Obviously a '79 is a tad older than that.

At this point in time it just needs to have the equipment on it that it had from the factory; i.e., if it came with a smog pump and EGR, they need to be on the car and operable. The actual equipment necessary will be on the underhood emissions label.

I believe when there were 49 state cars, the car or motorcycle had to have 7,500 miles on it for entrance and registration in california. I had a 49 state HD that I bought at a dealership back east and had shipped. They were supposed to put 600 miles on it to make the 7,500, they didn’t. I ended up borrowing a dealer plate and rode it after work for a week until it had the minimum.

You only need what came on it and running ok.

Mark Salvetti 10-07-2025 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EC900 (Post 12543775)
I guess a missing just an air pump would be ideal.
Two engines variants for 1979. The Non-CA was 930/04. CA was 930/06.
Both came with an air pump and a Cat which are EPA requirements.
Not sure what (else) makes a 930/06 California specific. Timing? Higher compression? CIS limits?
Tailpipe output numbers more important than certain obsolete parts?
Wonder if the emissions shop even check engine numbers on 911’s.

It's the EGR. The California cars had a special muffler with a threaded fitting for filter and a pipe that went back to a valve to the right of the air box, and a connection from the valve to the air box. Missing EGR would be really obvious to a smog tech. See this thread: https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/458513-78-sc-egr-system.html

Mark

proporsche 10-07-2025 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomkestly (Post 12543068)
Hello all: Im looking at a 1979 911 sc, with 89 K mikes second owner car is on the east coat and apparently its a 48 state smog category car. im in Ca. so i would appreciate any help if you have knowledge I can get this car to pass smog certification here in Ca.?
Thanks T K

lets see what do you have on your engine - picture..I have some extra smog parts...

Ivan


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:04 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2025 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website


DTO Garage Plus vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.