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hey guys im looking into buying a 78 C3 with a newish 350 3 spd (i think). it is a friend of mines sitting in his drive way for about 5 years or so. in high school he put a new 350 crate motor from chevy and didnt put the smog equipment back on there.
what would i need to get this thing back into "smog legal" condition?? he has shorty headers on it right now with no smog hooK ups or anything. It fires up and runs no problem. If some one can help me on this, i can get the car for about2000 or tade a bucket of mine for the 'vette.
You'll need the entire A.I.R system (air pump) which feeds air into the exhaust manifolds (headers may have to go). There is also numerous vacuum temp contols for EGR etc. Lots of parts.
Was it originally an L82 or L48 motor?
Only the L82 or California L48s had the smog pump and associated plumbing.
You might just need the exhaust manifolds back on with the preheat stove and pipe, egr valve and some vacuun hoses and fittings.
hey guys im looking into buying a 78 C3 with a newish 350 3 spd (i think). it is a friend of mines sitting in his drive way for about 5 years or so. in high school he put a new 350 crate motor from chevy and didnt put the smog equipment back on there.
what would i need to get this thing back into "smog legal" condition?? he has shorty headers on it right now with no smog hooK ups or anything. It fires up and runs no problem. If some one can help me on this, i can get the car for about2000 or tade a bucket of mine for the 'vette.
WHAT DO I NEED??? THANKS
First thing you want to do is look and see if the emissions label is still on the car. This label is located right above the Power brake booster on the firewall near the drivers side hood latch. On this label it will list all of the originally installed emissions equipment the car came with. It will for certain have
PCV - Positive Crankcase Ventilation
EFE - Early Fuel Evaporation
THERMAC - thermostatic controlled air cleaner
EGR - Exhaust Gas recirculation
EVAP - evaporative controls (charcoal cannister)
Catalytic Convertor
It may or may not have
AIR - Air Injection Reactor
Once youve identified what the car originally came equipped with you can then determine what it is you need. The EVAP and PCV system are likely still there as they are rarely removed. If the engine still has the original intake then EGR is as easy as buying the EGR valve and the temp controlled vacuum switches at the front of the intake.
The hardest stuff to replace is the AIR system if its all gone.
Thanks for all the replies guys! so i havent seen the car since the day i posted my first thread. and im goin to look at it today again. i do know the intake manifold is aftermarket (no EGR inlet), the headers have no outlets/inlets of any sort.
When you pop the hood, it just has the basics: engine, alternator, p/s pump, water pump. he has receipts for the whole thing and when i look at it today ill try and post a pic of it with the VIN/engine code/and other information.
Is it even worth it to make it smog legal? the body is super straight and interior doesnt have a rip inside.. pretty much needs paint and smog stuff. thanks again.
Thanks for all the replies guys! so i havent seen the car since the day i posted my first thread. and im goin to look at it today again. i do know the intake manifold is aftermarket (no EGR inlet), the headers have no outlets/inlets of any sort.
When you pop the hood, it just has the basics: engine, alternator, p/s pump, water pump. he has receipts for the whole thing and when i look at it today ill try and post a pic of it with the VIN/engine code/and other information.
Is it even worth it to make it smog legal? the body is super straight and interior doesnt have a rip inside.. pretty much needs paint and smog stuff. thanks again.
If it's going to be a driver, I would leave the headers on it and forget the smog stuff.....If you want a correct, NCRS show car, then obviously you'll need to do some work....Personally, I would let her breath the way she was intended to and leave it as it is.
hey guys im looking into buying a 78 C3 with a newish 350 3 spd (i think). it is a friend of mines sitting in his drive way for about 5 years or so. in high school he put a new 350 crate motor from chevy and didnt put the smog equipment back on there.
what would i need to get this thing back into "smog legal" condition?? he has shorty headers on it right now with no smog hooK ups or anything. It fires up and runs no problem. If some one can help me on this, i can get the car for about2000 or tade a bucket of mine for the 'vette. WHAT DO I NEED??? THANKS
If you're looking for a "smog legal" 78 C3...pass and look for one that has not been tinkered with. There are plenty out there and you won't have to
educate yourself re the emission systems detailed above.
Search and spend lots of dollars on many parts, most of which are no longer available.
Install, and tune the car for a comprehensive smog system.
Or as suggested, use as a driver with headers on it.
Ask if he has any parts taken off to go w/ it & check exhaust for cat.
A lot of that stuff is cheap, used on other Chevys & some have it & don't need/want it. You should at least list the your state in profile.