CA smog questions...

derek_sf · 10-18-2002, 06:03 PM

someone told me today that all cars 1974 or newer need the smog. for some reason I thought the cutoff was rolling, and that 74's would be ok now or at some point!

ahhhh, good thing I found this out now. so the question is, if I did a 3.2 with carbs, is there any chance of it "passing" the basic smog (two speed idle test for CO2 and hydrocarbons)?

anthony · 10-18-2002, 06:34 PM

There's no chance of passing smog unless the engine matches the smog sticker. Even on a '74 they check things other than smog levels. They checked my fuel cap, charcoal canister, timing, and probably a couple other things.

The exemption is rolling so a '74 will be exempt in 2004 or if you buy a stock '74 now and get it smogged it shouldn't need another smog check after that. That said, the legislature could cancel the rolling exemption at any time.

If you do a 3.2 with FI and a cat you can get it legally smogged to the year of the engine.

derek_sf · 10-18-2002, 06:40 PM

anthony, thanks, they check all that? I am in a basic smog zone, which says only a two speed idle check for CO2 and hydrocarbons. I can't remember what they did when I registered my '73 5 years ago. so it is rolling? are you sure? I see a nice '74 for sale, sounds like it would all work out if that's true.

Brad Roberts · 10-18-2002, 07:03 PM

Buy a 74 that is smogged now (the owner has to do this before the title transfer anyway) and you will have 2 years for them too decide what they are going to do (drop them or not)

Its not that big of a deal.

B

derek_sf · 07:13 PM

ok, maybe I will check this car out then. thanks.

but wait, what if I do a 3.2 and can't get it smogged in 2 years?

calbrat · 10-18-2002, 07:12 PM

I happen to register my car at my parent's house who live in a completely different county in CA and we do not have to smog it at all!!! So if you are lucky enough to have that situation DO IT!!!

I called the Bureau of Automotive Repair one time though and the lady said I did not need to smog my car, ever (until Davis get's his way). She did run the VIN Number as well. This was in case I wanted to move my car (when it was running, lol) to Sacramento county. I would be dead in the water try and get my car passed because of the racing muffler and the smell the car leaves. I have stock FI but I need a valve job! (getting that Monday Woo hoo!!!!)

Speedo959 · 10-18-2002, 08:32 PM

calbrat what year is your car and what county do you live in? Here in the central valley the air is the fourth worst in the nation!! No breaks here.

campbellcj · 10-18-2002, 08:43 PM

IIRC, if you do an engine swap on a non-exempt car (74-) then they will smog it to the later of the chassis year or the engine year. In other words you would have to pass smog for an 84-89 3.2 engine...which you wouldn't, if you were running carbs and headers instead of DME with cats & convoluted exhaust.

derek_sf · 10-18-2002, 08:54 PM

this could be a real hassle if they don't change it in 2 years, maybe I should look at another car.

calbrat · 10-19-2002, 06:28 PM

I live in Sacto but the car "is in" Calaveras County. Its a 74 2.0

mike95125 · 10-19-2002, 06:38 PM

If you upgrade (change to a newer year engine) then you must have all of the smog BS to smog to that year engine. Have proof of your engine and year as no one will know what the hell you have. If your car is of the 74 and newer crowd it is not leagle to change your engine to an older engine. However, in our case we can put all of the smog BS on our engines if they are older and therefore this is a mute point as they wouldnt look, and or know anyway what we would have. They would only know if your car passed that years smog. They will prolly look at your emissions set up, canister, etc. but they wont know how it was supposed to be. &4 will be leagle in 2004 for the exemption...for now. Bottom line is that if you wanted to do a 3.2 conversion, and if you are worried about smog, then you can still do the conversion, you just need the catalytic cnverter and any other smog BS that was orriginally with your "newer" engine. I hope this answers your question. I have had the same question befoer and this is all of the info to date.
Good luck,
Mike

anthony · 10-21-2002, 05:51 PM

What about using an early 914 VIN on an older car? I'm sure it's not 100% legal but of course putting a carbed 3.2 into a 914 isn't either (in CA). Derek, don't you still have the title on your '73?

derek_sf · 10-21-2002, 05:53 PM

yup...still have the title and VIN!

not bad thinking, this could work out. of course I think I still own back registration for 3 years! ahhhhh.

Speedo959 · 10-22-2002, 08:02 PM

I thought about doing that and mentioned it to my old dad. "THAT'S A FELONY!" Not sure if it is or not, but he got me thinkin.

calbrat · 10-22-2002, 08:40 PM

Speaking of Misdemeanors...

I heard if you "lose" your plates. They lose track of when you got smogged under registering your car to your plate. Also if you have a salvaged title it helps too (the only thing it could help). Which makes me wonder I never have to smog. (besides registering in Calaveras County) I am so dead when I ever have to do it with that muffler I got on there. Alas, 10hp is cool too.

Also I think the techies will tell you, the MSD ignition helps with the smog because it burns gas faster and less gas goes out the exhaust (which happens with a high flow muffler) Increasing economy and engine performance.