1978 L82 Smog help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 154
Likes: 7
From: L.A. area California
1978 L82 Smog help
Hey All!
I'm in California and looking to buy a 78 Silver Anniversary L-82 A/T from Maryland. 5,000 original miles!!! It has all original federal smog equipment installed. Will it be CA smog compliant? I thought I heard somewhere that all vettes were 50 state compliant but that doesn't sound right.
So I guess my question is will it pass smog in L.A. county and if not what do I need to make it pass...parts...cost...etc..??
thanks!
MLB
I'm in California and looking to buy a 78 Silver Anniversary L-82 A/T from Maryland. 5,000 original miles!!! It has all original federal smog equipment installed. Will it be CA smog compliant? I thought I heard somewhere that all vettes were 50 state compliant but that doesn't sound right.
So I guess my question is will it pass smog in L.A. county and if not what do I need to make it pass...parts...cost...etc..??
thanks!
MLB
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,225
Likes: 667
From: Northeast
I just looked at the specification guide and it states that
L82s were available to all states except California so would it even matter if it passed smog if there is some law against registering a L82 in California? Can't say it's a L48 because the 5th character in the vin would give it away.
You might have to contact the registry to see if you could even register the car to be on the road. Perhaps there has been a change in policy.
Good luck.
L82s were available to all states except California so would it even matter if it passed smog if there is some law against registering a L82 in California? Can't say it's a L48 because the 5th character in the vin would give it away.
You might have to contact the registry to see if you could even register the car to be on the road. Perhaps there has been a change in policy.
Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
I would think it would pass if everything is operating properly.
You could not buy a NEW 78 L82 in California and a few other regions such as Cook Co(Chicago).
But used was a different story. There's stories of L82s being delivered to Arizona new and being resold as used to people in California.
Funny about Chicago. L82s weren't allowed because of NOISE concerns, not emissions
You could not buy a NEW 78 L82 in California and a few other regions such as Cook Co(Chicago).
But used was a different story. There's stories of L82s being delivered to Arizona new and being resold as used to people in California.
Funny about Chicago. L82s weren't allowed because of NOISE concerns, not emissions
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 154
Likes: 7
From: L.A. area California
I'll call DMV and some local vette shops and try to get the scoop....
THANKS ALL!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,225
Likes: 667
From: Northeast
Notice the DW in the top left hand corner? that stands for L82. Can't get away with fooling them.
DU is L48, DY is Hi. Alt. and WA is for Calif. cars.
I think the emissions directions are all the same it's whether like Kaps said will it be treated differently because it is used and can be registered & smogged. Hope so.
Sure you will find out.
DU is L48, DY is Hi. Alt. and WA is for Calif. cars.
I think the emissions directions are all the same it's whether like Kaps said will it be treated differently because it is used and can be registered & smogged. Hope so.
Sure you will find out.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Hey All!
I'm in California and looking to buy a 78 Silver Anniversary L-82 A/T from Maryland. 5,000 original miles!!! It has all original federal smog equipment installed. Will it be CA smog compliant? I thought I heard somewhere that all vettes were 50 state compliant but that doesn't sound right.
So I guess my question is will it pass smog in L.A. county and if not what do I need to make it pass...parts...cost...etc..??
thanks!
MLB
I'm in California and looking to buy a 78 Silver Anniversary L-82 A/T from Maryland. 5,000 original miles!!! It has all original federal smog equipment installed. Will it be CA smog compliant? I thought I heard somewhere that all vettes were 50 state compliant but that doesn't sound right.
So I guess my question is will it pass smog in L.A. county and if not what do I need to make it pass...parts...cost...etc..??
thanks!
MLB
The Bottom Line
If you are a California resident and acquire a new car, truck or motorcycle from another state, it must be certified to meet California smog laws in order to be registered here. This includes certain diesel powered vehicles. DMV cannot accept an application to register a vehicle in California that does not qualify for registration (Health and Safety Codes [H&SC] §§43150 – 43156.)
What Is Considered a new Vehicle?
California considers any vehicle with less than 7,500 miles on the odometer at the time of purchase or trade by a California resident or business to be a new vehicle. This holds true whether or not the vehicle has been registered in another state.
If you are a California resident and acquire a new car, truck or motorcycle from another state, it must be certified to meet California smog laws in order to be registered here. This includes certain diesel powered vehicles. DMV cannot accept an application to register a vehicle in California that does not qualify for registration (Health and Safety Codes [H&SC] §§43150 – 43156.)
What Is Considered a new Vehicle?
California considers any vehicle with less than 7,500 miles on the odometer at the time of purchase or trade by a California resident or business to be a new vehicle. This holds true whether or not the vehicle has been registered in another state.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,451
Likes: 974
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
What happens if you just remove the emissions sticker or put a different one over the existing one? Would they seriously not allow you to register a 35 year old car that is possibly one of 100 on the road there? Give me a break!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 154
Likes: 7
From: L.A. area California
Well, actually the issue is not if I can buy it or not. I think its more if it will require smog certification or not. Under 7500 miles will definitely require certification...understood. Now, weather it passes or not, that's the issue. I could be wrong tho...
Hmmmm....
Last edited by Mbruno64; Dec 13, 2013 at 12:26 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 154
Likes: 7
From: L.A. area California
California sucks when it comes to this sh**t. But honestly, there are so many "modified" cars here I just cant imagine that I cant get this thing registered...ugh CA sucks! lol
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
Yes it will require a bi annual smog check. 1975 and older won't.
I have a 1984 Mustang and I noticed one year they cut the allowable amounts in half a few years ago. If they do it again I'm screwed.
I have a 1984 Mustang and I noticed one year they cut the allowable amounts in half a few years ago. If they do it again I'm screwed.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Well, actually the issue is not if I can buy it or not. I think its more if it will require smog certification or not. Under 7500 miles will definitely require certification...understood. Now, weather it passes or not, that's the issue. I could be wrong tho...
Hmmmm....
Hmmmm....
You can buy it. You will not be able to register it in CA if the bill of sale says it has less than 7500 miles on it.
Once it's past 7500 miles, it will require a smog for its first registration in CA, and a smog every two years thereafter.
Those who say to change the sticker - well, the L-82 has a custom VIN so you could get caught in that lie pretty quickly. 1978 L-48s, on the other hand, have the same engine code for all calibrations.
