sseymour18

just bought a 383 stroker crate motor for my 1979 C3. i was wandering what componets should i have in it so that if i get pulled over one day the cops wont think nothing of it. i just want to put the minimum stuff (smog componets) on it so that it will pass a visable inspection.also i live in CA so the smog is perty strict. have papers that say i passed smog so im good for 2 yrs. thanks for the help.

BKbroiler

Are you saying the cops, on the side of the highway, will have you open your hood and they will know what pollution devices a 79 Corvette is supposed to have? If you don't know, how would they?

wan2run

If anything they may look under for cats, but even then I doubt it.

7T1vette

I was going to say "A ten-dollar bill in the plam of your hand," before I read that you are in Cal-ee-forn-ee-ah. Make that a "fifty"...

jordan89

If you have headers they're going to instantly know that's not legal. I live in Oakland, Ca. and have the same issue with my 78 Camaro, that's why I got the 74 Vette. Just put the cats on, if you don't already have them.

chvet73

Here in CA you will need the cats an EGR valve and the smog pump setup.
I doubt that anyone will know anything about the other odd items you might have on your year. But they will definetly look for those items.
That's why I have a '73 no more smog here for that year.

7T1vette

To my knowledge, only the catalytic converter, EGR valve, PCV valve and the fuel vapor cannister (and related plumbing) are required for emissions control in '79. But I don't have a '79 AIM to know for sure...

fauxrs

+ thermac air cleaner and EFE

Or you could look at the emissions sticker on the firewall just above your brake booster, this sticker lists all the emissions gear that came equipped on your car.

Those are the parts you will need to be legal in CA. Unless you register the car in a CA zip code that doesnt smog test.

At the very least EGR, PCV, EFE, Thermac, Evap & the catalytic convertor. There is a odds on chance you will need the Air pump as well.

As regards getting pulled over for smog gear? has this ever happened to anybody? I keep hearing about how the police do this but I have never actually met a person to whom this has happened. I've also heard of roadside remote sniffers but in my 35 years of driving in CA I have seen only one.

SSG26K

sseymour18 I was thinking about putting a stroker in my '79. Where did you get the crate motor from?

NHRalph

I am a retired Police Officer and I never heard of any Officer pulling over a car and telling the operator to open the hood so he could check to see everything was smog legal. Is this a California deal?? Did he have a warrant? I would think the only thing you need to worry about is passing a smog test. btw, move to NH, we aren't a socialist state..YET!

johnmb

...and that's going to be tough enough to see under a C3. Even harder to see if they're gutted. :-)

Ben Taylor

Here's some videos about cops searching your car for pot, but the same laws apply.
http://www.flexyourrights.org/faq/wh...wed_search_car

And I have only heard of Ricers getting their engines inspected.

NHRalph

When a person gets stopped by the Police, there are two main reasons for a legal search, one is based on a court decision, Terry vs. Ohio in which the officer can search for weapons within the passenger compartment. The other is if you open the door or he looks into the vehicle, (Apartment is also included) and he has a legal right to be there, then there is the 'Plain View Doctrine'. There are also 'special circumstances' such as entering a high priority installation with signs clearly warning you that a complete search is possible. As for a police officer telling you to open your hood so he can see if it is smog legal, NEVER heard of it being done. (Rumors don't count)

jordan89

Police officers will make you pop the hood if he suspects there is any "illegal" parts installed. I actually saw this happen with a Honda on the freeway shoulder, the police officer was looking under the hood of that car.

RunningMan373

No cops are going to pull you over, and make you pop your hood, or roll out a portable smog test machine! LoL. For those of you that don't like Cali,, it hit 65 today,, took the '73 out for a spin last night,, was great! looks like sun all week long...
I would just be concerned about passing smog, that's were there gonna get a '76 and up vehicle. It has go to have all the equipment, and pass the tests.. i would give it up and get a '75 or earlier. Just not worth it.

7t5

This happened to Miss Colleen and there is a thread in OT about it.http://forums.corvetteforum.com/off-...went-down.html

fauxrs

Oh yes the PD in Ca will pull over little japanese cars outfitted as racers all the time, since they tend to be the biggest scourge on our roads right now. However there are vast quantities of loud exhaust american cars out there that arent even remotely targetted like the import crowd is.

As a side note I have noticed a rather significant decrease in the classic "ricer" vehicles on the road (note the OP in the thread I would NOT classify as ricer) recently, I dont know if kids have moved on to other vehicles or perhaps just moved on to greener pastures.

Either way, its been months since I've been buzz-bombed by a pair of ricers screaming up the freeway racing each other weaving in and out of traffic or just bonzai-ing up the shoulder. Which used to happen fairly frequently.

randyredleg

I have a 383 with all the smog equipment on it and it passes smog. Why not make it right and not have to worry about it?