Can this car pass emission in CA?

[Elombard]

I was looking at buying fixing and selling a hot rod 911. Biggest market is cali so I was wondering if this would fly there. Please point me to a good search word if there is an applicable thread.

75 Chassis

3.2 High compression pistons w/crank trigger ignition. PMO carbs.

I am thinking even a Kindergarden educated emissions guy would not be able to pass it. Its not exempt right?

Thanks

[Steve87-911]

I knew a guy with a '38 Pontiac hot rod with a fully blown early 80s monte carlo engine/drivetrain. Totally smog exempt due to the chassis year. Now ain't that funny that these smog laws are based on the part of the car (chassis) that doesn't create exhaust?

[Elombard]

Great news Thanks guys

[SandyI]

Be careful about the amount of money you put into the car if your plan is to sell it, not drive it.

'73 and earlier RS and RSR clones seem to sell although I've never heard of anyone making dime on their investment.

But a '75 hot rod? That's not going to be so easy to sell.

[Elombard]

Thanks Sandy, I would not bother but its a turbo look and I am going to convert it to an 3.0 RS look and a few other tweaks. It has some really nice extras on it that should make it very desirable. I plan to enjoy it for a while and just break even on the car and parts investment. I enjoy doing the work, heck I would probably pay to do it :-))

[tiorio]

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
'75 chassis - it would be exempt in Cal. Last year of the exemption.

But keep in mind it's not a total exemption to do anything you want...

[tiorio]

Originally posted by Steve87-911
I knew a guy with a '38 Pontiac hot rod with a fully blown early 80s monte carlo engine/drivetrain. Totally smog exempt due to the chassis year. Now ain't that funny that these smog laws are based on the part of the car (chassis) that doesn't create exhaust?

This is incorrect. If you put a late-model engine into an early car, the NEWER of the two components is what the smog-check will be based on. This includes all dash warning lights and sensors for the newer motor (if the motor is newer than the chassis).

The car in the above example SHOULD have had to meet 1980's standards for smog emissions and equipment.

[930addict]

Originally posted by tiorio
This is incorrect. If you put a late-model engine into an early car, the NEWER of the two components is what the smog-check will be based on. This includes all dash warning lights and sensors for the newer motor (if the motor is newer than the chassis).

The car in the above example SHOULD have had to meet 1980's standards for smog emissions and equipment.

This is correct - I've looked into this before.

[Joe Bob]

Originally posted by tiorio
This is incorrect. If you put a late-model engine into an early car, the NEWER of the two components is what the smog-check will be based on. This includes all dash warning lights and sensors for the newer motor (if the motor is newer than the chassis).

The car in the above example SHOULD have had to meet 1980's standards for smog emissions and equipment.

Not unless you are dumb enuf to mention it....

[CarreraS2]

Originally posted by tiorio
But keep in mind it's not a total exemption to do anything you want...

As a practical matter, it is.

[Jim Sims]

"As a practical matter, it is." Heard of photo radar; here comes photo smog test:

What is a gross polluter?
Vehicles that fail by a wide margin are considered "gross polluters." (10 percent of vehicles produce about half the auto-related emissions — or 12 percent of emissions from all sources.) A gross polluter can be any age or type of vehicle that has been tampered with, poorly maintained or in need of repair. It is illegal to drive or sell a gross polluting vehicle in California, and it cannot be registered with the DMV.

There is no cost limit on repairs to these vehicles. If they are repaired to below gross polluter threshold, they are eligible for a one-time waiver or "economic hardship extension." After the waiver period, the car must be brought in to compliance or disposed of in a proper manner. Gross-polluting vehicles are not subject to confiscation by the state.

Why am I seeing roadside emission sensors?
The state will use roadside sensors to help in the identification of gross polluters. The program is not yet fully operational. The equipment motorists are now seeing in Southern California is gathering information on locations and set up. When the plan is implemented, owners of vehicles identified as gross polluters by a roadside sensor will be mailed a notice and must have the car tested at a designated test-only station. If it passes, the owner will not need to take any further action. If the car fails, the procedures are the same as those described above, depending on how badly the vehicle fails. Failure to respond to the notice will result in fines.

Additional changes compared to the old smog check program:

Pre-1976 vehicles have been exempted from biennial smog checks as well as smog checks upon transfer of title. The 1966 to 1975 vehicles are still subject to smog checks if they are identified as "dirty" by a roadside sensor or audit.
New cars under five years old receive the same exemptions as pre-1976 cars. Gross polluters must go to a designated station for a retest after repairs have been made.
Smog check test information is electronically transmitted by the technician directly to the state. Vehicle owners will no longer submit certificates to the DMV at vehicle registration time. Motorists should take their registration renewal form to the test site to assure the accuracy of the information transmitted.
Smog check technicians and mechanics are subject to improved training, testing and monitoring by the state.
Where can I get more information?
The Bureau of Automotive Repair has an information line — (800) 952-5210.

[CarreraS2]

Of course, the present is the present.

In the future, there can be any number of ways that non-compliant cars are going to get busted. From drive-by smog tests becoming routine, to the exemption simply being repealed, or any other number of scenarios.

But as a practical matter, a private party building up a hotrod 911, and selling it in California, as the poster suggested, puts no limits on that party. I don't believe that the out-of-state private seller has to make any reps about the car being Cal smog legal - although presumably the California buyer of a hot rodded 30 year old 911 would know that it is not. But, the important thing is that the car doesn't need to be smogged to transfer title and issue the title to the new owner in California. He's going to just buy the car, and it doesn't matter what engine is in there, he'll be able to register it.

(BTW, I remember seeing some of these roadside smog sniffers being used at least 8 years ago in So. Cal.)

[Zeke]

Originally posted by Jim Sims
"As a practical matter, it is." Heard of photo radar; here comes photo smog test:

All true, but there is no data base on the '38 Chevy, so it would be somewhat improper to pull the car over or issue a mailed out ticket. I doubt anyway if the blown motor puts out any more pollutants than the old six in the Chevy did.

Edit: Jeez, my spelling is getting bad.

[Jim Sims]

I would not throw away the removed emissions hardware; you or future owners may need it to keep driving the car. For example, parts of the '75 911 emissions system are NLA from Porsche. That discarded EGR system or thermal reactor set may turn out to be essential. Cheers, Jim

[Elombard]

Jim you are bringing me down. :-)) theoretically speaking could you ever get a carbed 911 motor to not be a gross polluter? Seems like they spew pretty bad. I guess you could bolt the thermal reactor, EGR and air pump??? back on a motor like this for the test? Any way I think it will be OK.