Howdy all,

Don't post too often in the last couple of years because I've been working and in school 3-4 days a week, so I really don't have time to do anything to my car....SO, ofcourse the car still needs TLC so I trusted in a mechanic next door to my wife's workplace, let's call him Eric (that is his name), I wish I knew a last name, so I could put out a nationwide search for his sorry butt....

I actually got good references for him, so he must have been good at SOME time in his life. Well, about 3 months ago, he dropped of the face of the planet and the business closed, my guess is that he is in jail somewhere, anyway, let me tell you about getting my car smogged....

I take it to Ace Fuel systems, good bunch of guys, recommended by Steve (PACIN CA). They called me up yesterday to tell me all the bad news.....

My Carburetor is non-stock.....it WAS the normal Q-jet before Eric. So he stole my carburetor and put some other one on (not a computer controlled one mind you..)

He spliced, diced, and taped up all the leads and connectors going to my former controlled computer carburetor.

My check engine light would have warned me about this switch, so he decided to disconnect it, and reconnect it to some other circuit with the same operation(ie, comes on when you start the car, then goes off.) They aren't sure which system it is hooked up to.

He put the wrong type of spark plugs in my car.

He painted my sparkplug wires black, Can anyone tell me what this does? Cause I DON'T know! Who knows why he did that. They also ended up to be the cheapest Kragen wires you can get.

He didn't crimp my valve cover gaskets (actually I don't know what that means yet), so my valve covers are leaking.

They said it sounds like my lifters are out of adjustment.

As a result of bypassing and re-enginnering all the vacuum hoses and electrical connections, I will have to redo all that.

AND last but by no means least, there is no EGR valve installed.


These types of situations really inhibit my attempt at NOT being a control freak.....

I suppose I will have to make time, and put a non-op on the car, until I get it fixed.

So don't be suprised if I start hitting the forum with some questions....

Thanks you all for letting me vent.

(I have to laugh, I'll cry if I don't)

 

How about Historic Vehicle plates? Or are they extremely hard to get in Kalifornia?

 

I could only drive the car on Sunday's....but it does qualify now that it's 25 years old...

 

Not sure with the strict CA regulations, but maybe it's time
to change to an aftermarket intake and square-bore carb.
Assuming, of course, that you are not trying to preserve an
intact original to NCRS standards. It will get very expensive
to repair all the wiring and replace the CC Q-jet.

Can you legally run a non-EGR manifold on an old car in CA ?

In NH, they are starting to actually test for emissions again.
For many years, there was no testing. Now, they want to test
all vehicles from 1995-on. Hah - even my DD escapes that one.

Good luck.

 

Unless you can get a smog guy to look the other way, you are going to have to go back to a computer controlled carb. You should be able to get a rebuilt one and trae yours in (Try Recarbo in Emeryville)
Ignition wire replacement is relatively easy, just knuckle busting. I don't think the check engine light is necessary for smog so I would ignore it.

(I see the myth of historic vehicle plates persists, but they do not exempt a 76 or newer from smog.)

 

I have a q-jet off of a 81 firebird (305) if you are in a interested. Numbers probably don't match but I'm pretty sure it would work. The only thing wrong with it is I took the top off and didn't put it back on right and it leaked. Probably an easy fix for someone who knows more about carbs than I do. Not trying to make a buck off your misfortune, just trying to help out. Nice lookin car too.

 

You may be right about the check engine light,BUT if it comes on during the test,you fail.Went through that dog and pony show in San Diego.

 

why bubba your car yourself when you can pay good money to have it bubba'ed.

 

Those seem like fairly common mods.........

The real question is, "Did we gain any HP?"

 

You'd better talk to Kalway about this one. He is modding his engine based on what you're calling a "myth." I started a thread, but got no meaningful responses on the subject...

 

Ah, this is a good point. I have gone through my own smog hell.

 

thats why if i can't fix it myself, i take mine to a corvette specialist... may cost a lil more but i know its done right and with pride...

 

I think that all of us can relate.

Laserjohn,

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. I had an LG4 before and can only tell you that the 81's are more evil. Similar set up but even more hoses.

I just redid my hoses (also Bubba'd by the previous owners) and it wasn't that big a deal. Bought my set from Dr. Rebuild rather than following the AIM or repair manuals. Slightly time consuming and not cheap, but not that bad.

Your computer issues are a bigger pain. I agree with the posts above. Check engine light comes on during testing, you fail. Having said that, your incarcerated mechanic did you a bit of a favor by wiring it the way he did. Sounds like it looks like it works which may get you through a smog test. The key is finding a place that doesn't look too closely. If you are Test Only now, I think you're hosed.

These electronic controlled carbs are certainly harder to set up, but once done, they work fairly well. There are enough of them around that you shouldn't have too hard a time finding one. The pain will be hooking it all up properly again.

I think that it all comes down to what you're trying to accomplish. If you just want it to pass smog, you may be able to get it done as is. You certainly won't pass with hoses capped off, but the expertice to notice a non standard carb and faulty computer wiring are beyond the majority of smog centers.

 

Yes you DO need the check engine light. The first thing a smog tech does is verify operation of the emissions system with the light. And the car cannot be smogged if the check engine light is on by the way.

But he must verify that it works.

 

i took my pld explorer in and the check engine light was always on. I disocnnected the bulb, but no pass as it needs too come on at the ignition start up, then go off. It is for emmissions. Even if your car passes the sniffer and dyno...a check engine light fails it, as well as any "visual" changes. they do a visual here in CA as well (Easier to look the other way on some things, but any real a***** will fail you.

No single planes allowed, no aftermarket carbs unless CARB approved, for that matter any afternmarket stuff needs a CARB approval (California Air Resource Board).

I had headers on y 79 WITH airrails to the smog pump. I had one jerk tell me they needed a CARB approval. This would be true if they were installed after 1986. I had him pull his manual down and sure enough pointed this out to him. He then asked me for the reciept showing I had bought them prior to 86 (pre CARB) What a jerk.. took it elswhere and no problem.

I cannot believe that guy doid all of that.. reengineering t he vacuum lines, spark plug stuff, swapping carbs, taking off EGR... really strange.

 

Yes, I remember this thread. Check this site:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/03-04/..._chaptered.pdf

This is the applicable law. A collector vehicle is exempt from visual inspection BUT in addition to being registered as a collector, it must be 35 years old. His car is not 35 years old , or it would be exempt anyway under the current law. I am not saying he did not get the advice he claims at the DMV, but he only got half the story from that clerk.

 

This is the applicable law. A collector vehicle is exempt from visual inspection BUT in addition to being registered as a collector, it must be 35 years old. His car is not 35 years old , or it would be exempt anyway under the current law. I am not saying he did not get the advice he claims at the DMV, but he only got half the story from that clerk.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, brain aint what it used to be, yes it was 35, not 25.....the only problem now is what do I remember the "25" for???? hehe.

 

Anyone care to guess as to why he painted my spark plug wires black??

I'm lost on that one...only maybe when he was painting something else, the paint splattered onto the wires...and he thought he had better finish the job right?

 

The pre-1976 year rule applies only if you're registering it as a normally registered car. If you register it as a "Vehicle of Historic Value" it's only to be driven for exhibitions, club events, to the shop, etc. The point of the historic plates is that you're not driving it all the time so it isn't a smog hazard. That's an option for cars 25+ years old. The up-side is not having to smog it. The down-side is you're not supposed to drive it to work or the store, no big deal for most of you.

The other smog loophole is if you live 50+ miles from the nearest DMV. If I lived in Julian I'd never have to smog my car, if I lived in Ramona, I'd only have to do a basic smog test (no visual). If you sell the car you have to have it smogged regardless of where you live.

Hope that clears up any "myths."

 

My head hurts ......

just move to Texas and don't (..cough .... cough..) worry about all that clean air (..cough ... wheez..) CRAP

Robert