I have a slight smog problem. . .
 

I live in CA. I have a 78SC with a registration that expired last month, a notice to go to a test only station and a Governor who drives a Hummer but decided my car should be ruled by the smopg nazi's. The vote is around the corner so I got that covered (hopefully Arnie won't be back) but what to do about the car?

The motor is a non-stock '93 3.6 Euro motor (the heads have RS written all over them and wasownered by a P-car mechanic in Germany), B&B Headers, Centex chip. I was happy to let it sit for a couple years until it became exempt, but that ain't going to happen any more.

Is there arny way to get the emissions down to pass the sniff test? (I'll drive around until I find someone who doesn't care about the visual.) The Gunston gan analyzer shows readings of 1.85 at idle and it will not pass the sniffer. Is there anyway to get lower readings? Has anyone designed a chip that will give emission correct readings? (A lot of money in there.)

My alternatives are (1) sell the car as off road use, (2) by pre-75 car and transport everything (not very inviting) (3) register the car with a family member in Arizona, or (4) drive illegally and pay the fine when (not if) I get caught. I would rather do option #2 than go to a ref and install all the smog stuff. Any ideas?

you can probaby get away with the updated motor if you can clean it up. So your 5th option may be "borrow someones 3.6 muffler and cat for smog test"

I will swap you my 2.7 straight up, just to help a fellow pelicanite. :)

Paul, register it as a Historic vehicle. I did that with my 78 last January. The other thing you could do is register it in one of the 5 smog friendly counties left in California ( they don't require bi-annual testing). Those five are Modoc, Lassen, Humbolt, Del-Norte and Siskyou.

Wasn't there also a mention of several lax states in the Jay Leno thread?

I think MikeZ here on the board is involved with the "no bad days" chip. Also, you might want to contact Steve W. Between the two of them, hopefully they'll have some good advice. Hang in there, and good luck.

matt, part of the ab2683 is that the historical vehicle requirements now say 35+ years. the law does not take affect until april of 05 so maybe they grandfather those already designated as historical. if you are to attempt such a registration effort now you need to be prompt about it.

my answer to the smog nazi california program? moving to the PNW as soon as i can find employment up there. see you california, its been nice!

"The motor is a non-stock '93 3.6 Euro motor (the heads have RS written all over them and wasownered by a P-car mechanic in Germany), B&B Headers, Centex chip. I was happy to let it sit for a couple years until it became exempt, but that ain't going to happen any more."

The CO level is the LEAST of your problems.

1. Your car, as you must know, has to comply with the 1993 smog requirements. The year
of the body doesn't matter once the engine is changed.
2. With all the changes, e.g. B&B headers, you'll have a visual inspection problem.

At a test only station, those guys look closely at everything!
Besides, the car goes on a dyno which checks the CO/HC/NOX at 15 & 25 MPH
under load. It may pass CO if adjusted, but will probably fail the NOX because
of the chip & no CAT.

From the CA BAR web site:

"All exhaust emission controlled vehicles with engine changes must be inspected by an official referee station and must have a Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Vehicle Identification Label affixed to the doorpost."

Solution: Just make it a track car and take it to Willow Springs.

Remember: You voted for that party which "loves" the environment!

Talk to Thom, he got his 77 approved by the smog guys.

My guess is if you put a 3.2 Carrera exhaust on it, put a stock or NBDs chip in it and wired a check engine light, it would pass.

How "non-stock" is the 3.6? Would the smog guys have any way of knowing it is a euro engine?

The CA rules are here:
http://www.autorepair.ca.gov/StdPage.asp?Body=/geninfo/publications/Engine_Change_Guidelines-Jan_1994.htm

Tom

Paul, if you want to know how I registered mine as Historic, or need to borrow a 3.2 exhaust set-up and cat, just shoot me a PM.

At a test only station they will most likely run the serial numbers on the engine. Finding that it's a 3.6 and send you to the referee.....you will be required to have a check engine light and the exhaust that came with the motor.

As to chips...yep we have a dual chip stock/performance that can be actuated with the flip of a switch. Best to find what is needed BEFORE going to the referee....get it all on, put the motor on an engine analyzer and tune it from there....

On a non US spec motor...you may be in trouble at idle....disabling one of the injectors and runing on five cylinders with the dead one acting as a an air pump may be one way of passing.

Personally, you may be better off swapping in a compliant engine.....

Paul, you have too much in that car to get beat by this. Get a hold of a 3.2 exhaust w/ cat, hook up a CEL, some evap stuff (even if it’s fake), and go to the referee and talk to him about it.

A friend at work was a smog guy for a long time until recently (damn!) and dealt w/ referees a lot. He has a lot of good things to say about them mainly that they are there to help you get legal.

I would stick to the story that you bought the engine here locally from a wrecked 911 and don’t know the history other than the year (I doubt they will run numbers). They will tell you what else you need to do to get a new emissions sticker. Jump through the hoops, get the sticker, and then you can play w/ what can come off after that. The worse part should be the exhaust swap.

Good luck buddy!

BTW- I've only taken my car to TO stations and they wouldn't even know where to find a engine number. I have a stock chip if you want to borrow it.

E-mail sent.

JCM

I have a set of B&B cats you can borrow if you wish.

The smog shops are wary of sting ops, so they're very careful. You need to do some social engineering to find a shop that will let you slide on the visual, otherwise it's a trip to the referee - ask me how I know! "Ooh, I am not knowing why you are having 2 distributors! That eeees not stock, no!"