California Smog exempt question

[nine11speedster]

Hi, i have a 72 914 2.0 engine. I understand this car should be exempted from Smog?
What if I put a 6 cylinder motor in it? Say..... a 3.2 from 1985? Would that affect the exemption? Do i need to smog it because its got a 85 motor in it?
Please shine some lights into this.
Thanks
Carson

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

If your 72 914 has a 2.0 in it, that would be because someone swapped one in place of the origina 1.7 motor. (Cool!)

Since the 74 model year no longer has to go through smog checks, you can swap anything in that you want. That does not affect the status of the chassis.

Remember, however, that our lawmakers can reinstate the inspection process at any time. It seems like they would have a hard time doing so at this point, but in the future??? Still, a 914-6 3.2 seems well worth the risk!

--DD

[Tobra]

technically, in a car with a 1972 body and a 1985 motor, you would have to pass 1985 smog rules, with ALL the factory smog equipment in place that came with the motor.

That said, it is highly unlikely anyone would check, and even if they did, they won't know a 1985 3.2 from a 1975 2.4(or whatever)

[jjflash]

I was JUST posting this at Rennlist:

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/showthread.php?t=412010

and I saw the question here. In a nutshell, I found this on the web:

"Cars older than 1975 are exempt from the california smog laws. Cars older than 1975 but newer than 1966 require smog to transfer ownership and registration to new person but not biannually. Cars older than 1966 never need to be smogged."

If this is true, then all 914's would need to be smogged before they could be registered in CA. Any Cali guys comment on how difficult this might be?

I think the interpretation/translation is that if you own a car between '66 and '75 you don't have to get a smog check every other year (like all other cars), but you DO have to get one before you can register it as a new owner.

For many years we had a rolling smog-exemption--every year another model year was added to the exempt list. In 1997, the rule was changed and the exempt year was frozen at 1974. Much gnashing of teeth amongst owners of '75's and later cars. I had been assuming that a '73 was home free, until I found this additional bit of data.

I KNOW there are a lot of P-cars between '66 and '75 on the road here.

I'm very interested in an out-of-state '73 2.0, and this might really throw a monkey wrench into those plans.

Any experience with this?

[bowlsby]

JJflash,

That quote is from a wiki...I found it thru google...a wiki is not an authoritative source...its bogus info.

Go to the CA smog website, notice there is no mention of 1966 and later vehicles. 1975 and older vehicle are exempt from all smog check requirements.

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/StdPage.asp?Body=/Smogcheck/doineed.htm

"Beginning April 1, 2005, the 30-year rolling exemption has been repealed. Instead, vehicles 1975 model-year and older will be exempt. Therefore, 1976 model-year and newer vehicles will continue to be subject to biennial inspection indefinitely.

Beginning April 1, 2005, vehicles being initially registered in California that were previously registered in another state are exempt if the vehicle is a 1975 and older model-year vehicle. Newer vehicles, the first 6 model years, are not exempted upon initial registration in California. These vehicles are required to undergo a Smog Check Inspection. "

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

And, as I mentioned earlier--the exemption is from testing, not from having to meet the requirements. A subtle difference, but a difference...

--DD

[Tobra]

buy your '73, no worries about smog

[Joe Bob]

Not enforced.....ever see a 1920 something Ford with a big block blown Chevy for God and every cop to see? NO ONE is gonna look inside the engine bay of a 914......

Now if it was a riced out Honda...they have special training for cops to look for aftermarket go fast stuff that doesn't have CARB executive orders stamped on them....

[John Rogers]

When I bought our 1973 and also 1974 914s the smog exemption was in effect andneither was required to have a smog check at title change. That is usually where they catch you for sure. Neither has had to have a smog check done since. Now our 1987 Turbo gets to go to a "test only" station every two years!

[jurhip]

I moved to CA a little more than a year ago. The DMV gave my '74 914 exempt status and no smog inspection was required when I changed the registration to California. It only received a VIN inspection to make sure the car was the one on the title.

BTW, the inspector did look in the engine compartment. I asked what for, and he said he just needed to get numbers to make sure everything checked out. Once I popped the engine lid and he saw what contortionist movements would be needed to get the engine number, he laughed and made a comment about servicing the thing. I wouldn't worry about smog requirements.