A question for No. CA. 911 owners please.

[bludrgntatoo]

My daughter is leaving for college and taking my car, so I get a new car. I’d had few 914. 2.0 in a previous life (BF = Before Family) and even a 71 911T and I'm now looking at either an older 911 -78 to mid to late 80's, or a newer 350Z. If I get the Z I'm going to be spending $$ to get it how I want it, wheels tire's suspension etc. but if I take my time I can get the 911 leave it semi as is and have $ left over should it need anything down the road. It would be a semi-daily driver as I take the light-rail to work. The long drives would be to the see our kid in San Luis Obispo, (straight shot on hwy 101.)
My concern is the CA smog test year over year, as what ever I get will be keeping the car for a while. What as been the experience of any SF bay area 911 owner been with the smog check issue? Has anyone has problem getting your older 911 to pass, and do you for-see issues in the future?
Sorry for the long winded post, I probably shouldn’t have had that second cup of coffee!!!

[ianc]

Should not be an issue as long as the engine is in good shape initially and you've taken the time to do basic tuneup items on it. Remember the PPI, and good luck!

ianc

[rlh930]

Of course, if you get a 1975 or older car, you are exempt from smog check. This does not mean you have to run the OE engine, either. For instance, you could swap in a 3.6 with SSI headerss and have a modern, reliable engine in a lightweight hotrod.

That being said, you should have no trouble passing smog check even with a CIS car if you are prepared to make the necessary investments in parts. For example, two years ago, with the orignal catalytic converter, my '87 930 was right at the edge of failing with NO too high. After replacing the cat with a new one from Porsche ($1800, ouch!), the car passed easily - way under the limits. This was at a test-only station, since the 930 has a "high emitter profile".

[2ndTARGA]

I got caught out buying a '77 from out of state that was missing all the CA smog equipment. It passed CO and HC levels easily, but I had to add the air pump and EGR plumbing since CA requires cars to be exactly as certified regardless of smog levels. It was a huge pain. Bottom line, either buy a CA car (and don't waiver on having the seller provide a new certificate as required) or if you buy out of state, have it inspected to see if ALL the factory parts are there and in working order. You won't be able to get a CA title until you get the smog cert. Test are only required every two years, so some are able to change and restore their set-ups between tests, but that's another story.

As noted, a '75 or older will let you avoid all of this. There is some talk in the collector car ranks that CA will go back to a rolling exemption - it used to be 25 years or older until they pegged it at pre-'76. But there's no guarantee.

Also, you may not have an option, but there's a big difference in the address you use to register the car. Most densely populated counties require the new generation tests with rolling dyno requirements that measure NO and other emissions under load. Much harder to fudge with temporary timing, mixture changes, etc. I live in Sonoma county and we still can get by with the old test -for now. But you can't go to another county for the test - it has to be the same as your title says.

Hope this helps, just don't take any seller's word that it will pass tests - get the cert before handing over the money.

Ron

[bludrgntatoo]

I'm in the 95008 area code. which is Santa Clara county I think we have the rolling dyno test for some but I'm not positive. In any case I would definetly get a CA car with a current smog check and a pass at the station would be a condition of sale.

[Nine9six]

Per my smog test guy...My 87 runs cleaner than most 3 yr old cars. And he has the data to back up his statement.
Ask me how I know :-)