Smog question for CA

[eyuzon]

I pretty new here. Only 2nd post, first new thread. Anyway, I had a 80 911sc awhile back. I loved and miss it. I will be considering a 911sc in the future. I will also be moving to California. Now, based on the smog laws there, 76 and newer requires smog testing. I prefer to get a 78 or 83 sc, though. For those in CA, what is the preferred approach to the smog issue?

1. Get a 75 or older and not worry about the smog tests.

2. Get a 76 or 77 since they have no cats & backdate the exhaust. Will these cars pass smog tests?

3. Get a 78 or newer with backdated exhaust and aftermarket cats. I hate the idea of cats but they are required in CA. Are cats free flowing enough to take advantage of the better exhaust?

[5String43]

My '82 passed, barely, its smog test. This pleases me greatly, as it's a daily driver and I feel strongly about doing what I can to keep it running as cleanly as I can - I mean, I have to breath this air. So no cat bypasses, performance cams or anything else.

Judging from the responses I had when I queried the Pelican braintrust about this, if/when it fails a smog test, the first order of business will be to install a new catalytic converter. If that's all it takes to clean it up, I'll be in good shape. Further, I've noticed many more comments about Carreras failing the smog test than about SCs doing that.

[eyuzon]

That's a good point about having to breath the air. Trying to bypass it for the sake of a few HP would be akin to shooting your own foot.

Any CA owners with the 2.7 motors out there with any smog issues?

Are the cats these days free flowing enough? Back in the 70's, they were bad. At least, the US made car cats were.

[hcoles]

Originally Posted by eyuzon

I pretty new here. Only 2nd post, first new thread. Anyway, I had a 80 911sc awhile back. I loved and miss it. I will be considering a 911sc in the future. I will also be moving to California. Now, based on the smog laws there, 76 and newer requires smog testing. I prefer to get a 78 or 83 sc, though. For those in CA, what is the preferred approach to the smog issue?

1. Get a 75 or older and not worry about the smog tests.

2. Get a 76 or 77 since they have no cats & backdate the exhaust. Will these cars pass smog tests?

3. Get a 78 or newer with backdated exhaust and aftermarket cats. I hate the idea of cats but they are required in CA. Are cats free flowing enough to take advantage of the better exhaust?

I keep getting confused on this but check the year, could be 74 and lower. There could still be a visual check on change of ownership

[yelcab1]

1. up to and including 75, no smog tests. No visual checks unless you failed the very cursory visual check for VIN and plates at the DMV.
2. 76/77, if you even touch the exhaust and they know about it, you fail smog (the visual part)
3. 78-83 SC, these cars pass smog pretty easily

[eyuzon]

So, how in the land of all things Porsche aftermarket/performanc goodies, do P-car owners deal with exhausts? How can owners with 76+ cars all be running stock exhausts? No aftermarket exhausts are allowed or are street legal? Are the smog laws based on the body VIN and disregards the motor?

[djantlive]

Most smog shop never look under the car. They just look in the engine bay. Changing cat isn't an issue IMO. If you don't pass, there are people that will still pass you. Yes, it'll be a couple hundred bucks but that's the way around older cars or highly modded cars.

Get the car you want.

[Quicksilver]

There was talk earlier this year about an update to the smog laws that would exempt more years. Maybe it was up to the 82 model year?

Right now up to model year 75 is exempted.

[eyuzon]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

There was talk earlier this year about an update to the smog laws that would exempt more years. Maybe it was up to the 82 model year?

Right now up to model year 75 is exempted.

>> In my research, I read that proposal failed.

Originally Posted by djantlive

Get the car you want.

Ok, I will! I'll hunt for a 78 and deal with whatever I need to.

Thanks for all the responses! Awesome board!

[vash]

my 81 passes amazingly easy. i use the same tech every two years..warm the car up, get it hot..idle it until the tech guy gets to it.

we are both amazed with the results. get the car you want. the seller needs to prove it passes before you buy.

[yelcab1]

Originally Posted by vash

my 81 passes amazingly easy. i use the same tech every two years..warm the car up, get it hot..idle it until the tech guy gets to it.

we are both amazed with the results. get the car you want. the seller needs to prove it passes before you buy.

Cliff, he is moving to California so passing smog is his problem.

[eyuzon]

Nice to know, they are still clean. Now, what if I buy a car out of state? Considering the 9% or so sales tax there, getting one elsewhere where the tax is only 6% might be worth it. Also, here in Michigan, nice cars are only driven 5 or so months a year as opposed to Cali where you can drive every day.

[donagain1]

One thing worth considering is that California's pass/fail requirements aren't all based upon making certain numbers. The ARB instituted something called a "snap test" a couple of years ago, which requires the exhaust to be visibly clean when reved from idle to about 2500rpm and back down a couple of times. Anything (and I mean ANYthing) visible coming from the tailpipe, causes it to fail regardless of the emissions numbers. This includes the "Hey, they ALL do that to some extent" stuff that most any mechanic anticipates as normal from a 30+ year old car.

That is what happened to my stock '85 during it's most recent biennial certification. The service manager at the Porsche dealership called the smog shop tech who failed it, essentially saying what I quoted above. The smog dude was afraid of Cal. Air Resources Board sting operations and he would not budge, because it wasn't worth his license.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by eyuzon

Nice to know, they are still clean. Now, what if I buy a car out of state? Considering the 9% or so sales tax there, getting one elsewhere where the tax is only 6% might be worth it. Also, here in Michigan, nice cars are only driven 5 or so months a year as opposed to Cali where you can drive every day.

California will still get you. Any car brought into CA within one year of purchase is subject to the use tax, which varies according to the county in which it will be registered. At best, CA will allow a credit for the amount of the tax paid out of state for the purchase of the vehicle--in your example, 6%--but will still assess you an additional 3% to meet the use tax assessment in CA.

[H-viken]

Originally Posted by ossiblue

California will still get you. Any car brought into CA within one year of purchase is subject to the use tax, which varies according to the county in which it will be registered. At best, CA will allow a credit for the amount of the tax paid out of state for the purchase of the vehicle--in your example, 6%--but will still assess you an additional 3% to meet the use tax assessment in CA.

So, provided you have owned your car for more than 1 year, you do not have to pay any taxes when moving to Cali (even from overseas)?

/Johan

[eyuzon]

Well, on a $10k car, it's only about $300. It may cost that much or more just to transport it there. The difference is small enough not worry about. Now, a little off topic, I wonder if there is much difference in market prices between states. Either way, when I'm ready to start shopping, I'll just buy when the right car comes along.

About the "snap" test, that will be another battle when i get to it.

So, I'll probably look for a later sc (w cats & O2 & no pump) and not worry too much about the smog stuff. I think I can still use ssi headers with cats.

[Head416]

1.

I have my SC setup the way I like it. I'm sick of having to change that to appease CA.

[eyuzon]

Is removing the cats an option or even an advantage (w bypass pipes)? I realize you can't advise if it's illegal. I just wonder what the general consensus is.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by H-viken

So, provided you have owned your car for more than 1 year, you do not have to pay any taxes when moving to Cali (even from overseas)?

/Johan

Correct.

It was 3 months when the factory shipped our '86 into California. (1986).

[regency]

eyuzon, just move to Nevada and commute. Or, better yet, don't move to Calif, I wanna leave here.

Steve

73 911 T MFI Coupe, Aubergine