I am looking at a 1981 Corvette I plan on buying.

The car is located in Washington state and I am in California. This presents the obvious issue of smog. I have avoided cars that were obviously modified where they would not smog without lots of money being spent by me.

In speaking with the owner he has told me that the Converter has been removed. Also the smog pump belt has been cut.

The car still has the rochester carb.

In looking at the engine picture it looks like the smog lines are still present but what do I know.

I am guessing that since the car has the rochester carb the intake is still stock too because it seems that when owners change the intake they do the both the carb and intake.

Here are my questions.

With the car being an out of state car will they smog it as a federal car in CA or will I have to have full CA emissions?

Is there a sensor that goes on the converter and attaches to something on the car? If so how difficult is that?

The smog pump is without a belt but still turns, will that have to be replaced? Is there anything else that the car may need to smog?

Here is a picture of the engine. I hope that will help. Please let me know if you see anything missing. It looks stock to me but what do I know. To me it seems that the previous owner just wanted to find a cheap way to get 15 more horses out of the car.

Any smog insights would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

 

The engine looks stock to me. There is an oxygen sensor in the exhaust but its before the converter. You'll need all emission components to pass smog. Also has a check engine light that cant be lit. I see the smog pump which is good, just get a belt. I put a free flow converter on mine and it passes just fine.

 

On the sticker it will state CA or Federal. The Smog guy will follow what the car was built with using the sticker.

You will need a CARB approved cat. It does look stock though.

 

Thanks for the responses!! Many thanks!

If the smog sticker is missing will that present a problem? Would it have to go to a referee or is there a way around that? The seller is going to look for it tomorrow for me.

I asked him if the check engine light was staying on and he said no. He said it comes on before he turns on the key but then goes off.

If the sensor is not part of the converter that helps. It must be functioning properly of the check engine light would stay on correct

I guess. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks,

Mike

 

No, Very common with cars that have had front end collisions. You will need to re install a catalytic converter(the car has no way of knowing whether its there or not so a missing one will not illuminate the check engine light) and you will need to re install the belt on the AIR pump. You will also need to make sure ALL of the emissions equipment is present and hooked up.
Also, keep in mind that just because the check engine light isn't on doesn't mean everything is working right, that car has a very simple engine control computer and can really only sense opens and shorts in wiring/sensors unlike a modern car that can use "logic" to determine whether or not a component is working properly.

 

If the sticker is missing order a new one. Not sure if the VIN would tell you more.

Auto may have been the only option for CA, someone else will have to answer that.

81 wasn't ODB yet so the Check engine light is not the same. Good that it's not on though.
The sensor would be up stream of the cat so it's doesn't know it's missing.

 

81 was the first year in a while you could get an auto or a manual in CA. There was only 1 vin code in 81, so the VIN would not tell you if it was a CA or a Fed car.

I'm not sure if there were any significant differences between CA and Fed in 81, possibly just different limits for emissions readings (looser in the federal case).

 

It also appears to have a non-factory exhaust in the back, if it is cat-back capable no issue.

 

According to the MOTOR manual, no difference emissions equipment wise between CA and FED cars in 81.

 

x2 on the carb approved or "Ca" stamped cat
Youll have to take the car to DMV they will verify #s on it and tell you what you need for smog . Bought a truck from washington many yrs ago it needed nothing but a normal smog the euqipt wasnt the same.
Other than it taking a little time out of a day not a big deal.

 

I've purchased many cars from out of state. DMV only cared about the VIN number.

I've even used a mobile service that can perform this without waiting in line.
http://www.asapliensales.com/VV-Vehi...FYNAaQod-XwANg

Again he is only verifying the VIN.

The SMOG tech handles all the smog stuff. He will tell you if anything is missing or it won't pass the tail pipe emissions.

 

The '81 engine has a hybrid engine management control system. The carb and distributor are unique to that year and must be working in conjunction with an ECM, catalytic converter and an O2 sensor for the system to work and be able to pass CA emissions testing.

Unless you are very familiar with that '81-only ECM system OR the car you are buying has all of the '81 equipment in place and working, I suggest that you avoid purchasing an '81 car.

 

Any E4ME (80-87) will work on this car. I know 80s have a square pigtail whereas later E4MEs have a more rounded one, but that can be fixed by picking up a correct pigtail if you don't have the correct one.

Not sure about distributors, but I'd imagine any 81-87 distributor would work. Camaros may have used small cap distributors though, not sure on this one.

Overall, though, I'm with Solid: If the car isn't complete, it could be a fair bit of effort to get it ready for CA smog.

 

One-year only distributor that communicated with the ECM for timing settings. Gotta have the right hardware and it's gotta work...or it won't pass CA smog requirements.

Nice looking '81. Too bad you live in CA....

 

Looks like the 81 shares distributors with the CFI cars:
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1981-1984.html

 

Good to know for the '81 owners. Better chance of finding a decent salvage unit....

 

Check engine light is supposed to come on when the key is turned to show thars its working.

 

AND it should go off when the engine is started. If it comes on at all during running, there's some problem in the system....could be as simple as a bad sensor.

In 'days gone by', '81 owners who were pulling out their hair with that early ECM system sometimes just removed the "Check Engine Light" bulb so it wouldn't show when they went to dump...er....sell it. If the CEL doesn't come on when the ignition key is turned to "ON", check to see that the bulb is there and that it is a good bulb.