Am i totally screwed? CA smog issue

[racerdoc911]

I recently acquired a 1980 911SC with a short stroke, twin plug 3.2 with Clewett EFI, 46mm ITBs and and Electromotive ECU. The exhaust is a Fabspeed Carrera RSR system. Needless to say, it didn't pass smog, and likely never will in its current state. any ideas on what options I may have would be greatly appreciated. I am open to any and all suggestions short of turning it into a track only car, and I would rather not sell it if I don't have to. Anyone have info on out of state registration?

[Noah930]

There are 6 counties in CA that do not smog. So rent a PO Box up in Bishop or Mammoth? (I don't know where the other 4 counties are located.)

"Know a guy" at a smog shop?

Register an LLC in Montana?

Get it successfully smogged once, then apply for "Historic Vehicle" plates?

[PFNog]

Look into registering it in Montana. I don't know the details, you may need to set up an LLC there or something, but I've heard that some do it that way.

[86 911 Targa]

Don't know about your new exhaust.

You might want to re-install the previous exhaust
as needed.....

I'm sure others will chime in

Show us your smog test results.

Gerry

[Evan Fullerton]

Depending on what Cams it has, putting a 3.2L intake manifold and exhaust on it and getting the car BAR refereed as a documented “stock” 3.2L swap would be the fully legit way of doing it.

[ClickClickBoom]

Originally Posted by PFNog

Look into registering it in Montana. I don't know the details, you may need to set up an LLC there or something, but I've heard that some do it that way.

CVC 4152.5
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=4152.5
Registration fraud is an easy one for the investigators, its paper and signed, almost no one reads the fine print.
Get caught lying and its a felony.....
The average smog tech doesn't know what is OEM and not. As long as your car meets the "checklist", "appears" stock and passes the sniffer test, it will pass. The key is "looks stock" hide the ecu and make sure all the other stuff works as intended.

[Marc Bixen]

Your 3.2 crank is the least of your worries! Out of state, track only in the sunshine state. Actually, to the letter of the law, federally, ALL 50 states, it is illegal to remove, or exchange manufacturer installed smog/emission parts on any vehicle that was sold new in the US with those parts on it. Exceptions would be certified replacement parts like aftermarket cats. To the letter of the law. What does that mean? Well, there isn't one legal Singer car on US roads, and, to the letter of the law, you cant even use a KN air filter. Don't upset your smog tech.

[mike sampsel]

Originally Posted by racerdoc911

I recently acquired a 1980 911SC with a short stroke, twin plug 3.2 with Clewett EFI, 46mm ITBs and and Electromotive ECU. The exhaust is a Fabspeed Carrera RSR system. Needless to say, it didn't pass smog, and likely never will in its current state. any ideas on what options I may have would be greatly appreciated. I am open to any and all suggestions short of turning it into a track only car, and I would rather not sell it if I don't have to. Anyone have info on out of state registration?

probably need a CAT to pass smog. Guessing there is not one with the Carrera RSR system.

[ClickClickBoom]

Originally Posted by Evan Fullerton

Depending on what Cams it has, putting a 3.2L intake manifold and exhaust on it and getting the car BAR refereed as a documented “stock” 3.2L swap would be the fully legit way of doing it.

The actual numbers for exhaust contents are pretty loose, a well running car will pass with a cat.

[adias]

What are the restrictions in CA for an Historical Vehicle plate? I checked the DMV site and there's not much information.

[PFNog]

Originally Posted by ClickClickBoom

CVC 4152.5
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=4152.5
Registration fraud is an easy one for the investigators, its paper and signed, almost no one reads the fine print.
Get caught lying and its a felony.....
The average smog tech doesn't know what is OEM and not. As long as your car meets the "checklist", "appears" stock and passes the sniffer test, it will pass. The key is "looks stock" hide the ecu and make sure all the other stuff works as intended.

Wow! You went straight to fraud. I wasn’t suggesting any such thing, just that there appears to be a loophole that some owners use to address the issue. Like I said, I don’t know details because I’ve not done it and only suggested the OP look into his options.

[rickinlodi]

Problem with the counties that don’t require smog is you need a physical address. Not P.O. Box!


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[rickinlodi]

Apparently you can become a resident of North Dakota by staying there one night. And it’s perfectly legal! My in-laws are North Dakota residence. Wink wink. You do have to show the dmv your receipt from your stay when renewing your license.

Sorry, not practical for your situation but funny.

I really wish I could help. Send me an IM so we can discuss my 1977 CA Porsche.


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[dannobee]

After having a CA smog license for 30+ years, I can offer a few suggestions.

The responsibility of having the right smog equipment is on the seller, not the buyer.

Any competent licensed smog tech knows the difference between CIS and EFI with ITB's.

Good luck driving it around with an out of state plate. You legally have 20 days to register in in CA. The CHP WILL harass you if they see you driving it. And if you're trying to slip through the cracks, you'd better have a driver license from the same state as your plates. And they're trained to look for tampered emissions equipment.

[Rodney Nelson]

Why did it not pass? Visual or the smog readings? I would get a factory cat system work with your mechanic to get it to read correctly. Find out what it needs to read. Then keep that exhaust and put it back on everytime you need to get it checked.

[fred cook]

The easiest thing might be to buy (or borrow/rent) a stock engine and get it smogged. Then, apply for antique status. Once it is under antique status, swap the engines back around. Lots of work, but I don't think you would ever get the ITB engine approved. Or, you could move here to Georgia, somewhere outside the Atlanta area. We don't have to go thru the smog crap here! Good luck.

[adias]

Originally Posted by fred cook

The easiest thing might be to buy (or borrow/rent) a stock engine and get it smogged. Then, apply for antique status. Once it is under antique status, swap the engines back around. Lots of work, but I don't think you would ever get the ITB engine approved. Or, you could move here to Georgia, somewhere outside the Atlanta area. We don't have to go thru the smog crap here! Good luck.

I do not think that a "Historical Vehicle" plate will dispense smog checks. I do not understand the advantage of that plate, unless someone educates me.

[Larmo63]

It really takes "knowing someone."

That, and ca$h.

[911obgyn]

Yep totally screwed
I moved to Oregon then when my registration was due the dmvs were closed so I spent as much for cal reg as for the transfer fees and 2 years registration.
I had a cracked and repaired air filter box that needed replaced because smog
1985 carrera

[Walt Fricke]

Marc Bixen
Do you, by chance, have the Federal Statute cite, or the implementing Federal Regulation promulgated under the authority given by a statute, for it being a Federal crime for a mere owner to mess with the smog stuff etc. My take (without reading an actual statute/reg) is that this can easily apply to a commercial entity, which would include any shop, or perhaps even individual being paid, doing this.

I'm not saying this is like those tags on bedding or whatnot, which say do not cut off under penalty of law or whatnot. Those are, indeed, applicable only to manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. I don't know. But as a practical matter no individual is going to be busted for that.

Fraud in licensing, that is another matter altogether. False statements in some circumstances can be big trouble. Ask Martha Stewart. And I don't know quite how the Montana LLC owing the vehicle (friends did that with their big RV) jibes with how California (or other states) deal with residents having to register in CA, or how long term non-residents can temporarily visit CA (I have a brother there - can I stay a couple of months and be OK with my otherwise fully legit car licensed, as I am, in my home state?).

Track only is your best bet. Get a pickup to drive get to work and groceries, and haul the open trailer you have to buy as well.