So i have just been for my first SMOG test. Im not native to this country and this is the first american car I have owned so i may have a bit naive as to what was required, especially here in California

So the tester had a look around the car and said, "i cant test this, its needs an AIR pump" - and i have no idea what an AIR pump is but apparently i dont have one. He then told me to call BAR to get them to inspect it. So i called BAR (on hold for 30 minutes) and they said the car has not been smogged since 2003 (it was a bit of a barn find) - so I need to go and fail the SMOG test first, so they can then have a look at the results, and the best i cant hope for is that someone will look at it by the end of June

Having never owned a car here this all seems extremely long winded and complicated and probably something I should have read up on, but having spent all the time and effort restoring this thing this is the last road block to actually getting out and using it!

Does this all sound normal? Are there other options, is the AIR pump easy enough to find/fit? Does it matter that its not the original engine? (mine is a newer 350 engine in a 78 corvette)

 

When you say a newer 350, is it still a 1st generation small block or an LT/LS engine?

 

Its a "goodwrench" 350 - just trying to locate the block number now but its still hot from my run around....


Ok got the block number, struggling to get an actual date but have this

Details for 10066036 Manufacturer Chevrolet Category Engine Blocks Type Small Block V8 Date
Notes 350, 4 bolt, Goodwrench crate engine, 2-piece rear seal Added to DB 2010-12-20 21:51:45

 

Any and all original smog equipment will be required. They get a screen on what to look for.
You are in for a long and winding road.

 

Does the car qualify for a classic or antique tag? Does CA have such a thing?

 

Yes, but smog equipment is required and tested for anything 75 and newer.

 

Assuming I could lay my hands on a pump and the other bits I need, but not necessarily in working order, if it looked like it was hooked up and it passed the emissions test would that be OK or will they actually test that its doing somthing?

p.s.
I tried getting the classic/antique tag but as above, that just reduces it to a visual inspection which doesnt help me, the car seems to be a good runner so Im not too worried about the emissions, its getting over the hurdle of the visual inspection so I can have an emissions test that counts!

 

They do a visual inspection to insure it's all there, they test the gas cap and evaporative system, then the sniffer test at 15 and 25 MPH. They also check idle ignition advance.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1601680927

 

do you still have exhaust manifolds with the fittings for the air injectors? https://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-1980-C...wAAOSw6Vlebtd6

 

No doesnt look like it, thats part of the reason why I was wondering if I could fake it otherwise im gonna end up stripping most of the car apart just so some can look at it and say yup its there! Hours of my work for minutes of theres! - Youd of though the only thing that should matter is the emissions results, surely if you can achieve the desired result it should matter what equipment you do/dont have to get you there! - silly system!

 

First of all relax. It's not so hard to find the stuff nowadays. Your smog pump is an Air Injection Reaction Pump ..here, I picked a store in San Jose for you to eyeball it. You're going to need the proper exhaust manifolds, the hoses, and the AIR injection tubes.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b...mog+pump&pos=0

Last I looked the seller is "supposed" to do the smog on the vehicle..... so, you can either make him take it back, or deal with it yourself...as you can imagine, that will be a pain in the @zz also. Anyway, this is going to cost a little bit ---but at least the stuff is find-able and available and folks nowadays know what is needed. (it was terrible in 1983 when they implemented the law and nobody knew what the heck a 68 required and stuff was a bear to find--- now you can pick this smog pump up at O'reillys). For the Air Injection System you're going to need exhaust manifolds with AIR ports in them, the tubing, the hoses, the check valves, the pump pulley, the belt.....etc. You need to get an AIM if you're going to keep this car. You need to find out what else was on a 1978 corvette...the parts I mention are only the AIR system and not sure what else I may be forgetting. Also -- look around, you can probably find better prices than O'reillys...also, if you can a junkyard with 60s, 70s, 80s cars you can find AIR hoses and check valves and whatnot to put a system together.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Exhaust-Man...kAAOSw7Spb005M another. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Exhaust-Man...temCondition=4 these look to have the necessary plumbing and diverter valves, etc on them. so with this you have most of what you need. pump says with brackets, but doesn't have all of them. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-1980-C...wAAOSw6Vlebtd6 main bracket. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Corvette-Or...sAAOSwkvdabTO4

 

you Cali guys need to assemble a system with pump, manifolds, brackets, whole exhaust cat and all. then you just swap it into whichever car has to go to inspection next...

 

Yup the seller is responsible to smog period. If it cant he has to refund your $
Tell him to throw you a grand for the hassle

You can get replacement stuff on some at auto parts stores doesnt have to be original just the correct stuff they will check it so dont think you can fake it.
If you have to go see your smog ref he can look the stuff up online and give you a list, do it right.
Its not that big of a deal
Your catalytic converter will need a CARB # stamped into it, cant use a generic replacement.
Worth it in the long run then you dont have to worry.

 

so, even a private person can't sell a car that won't pass emissions in CA?

 

Correct. Seller is the responsible party.
You cannot sell a car non compliant.

 

Yeah I think the seller might have recognised that Im not a local and neglected to mention some of these important points, i bought the car over a year ago and have been restoring it ever since. It was "non-op" when I bought it (didnt start, everything leaked, paint had all fallen off). My own fault I should have done more research I was just excited to have a corvette and a project!

 

Non op might be a different story, since it was not registered. A grey area of which I am not familiar.

 

So price was reduced from retail. So that 400 in ebay stuff may be the best start on needed parts.

 

Hey everyone,

Thanks all for your great help and comments, i decided to go down the BAR route and try and get an exception as it seemed easier then trying to retrofit the new motor. So i took it to the tester again and ask them to test so I could get the fail sheet, came back a couple of hour later and had a full pass no issues.

Turns out the car had already had a exemption when the motor was changed at some point in 1996, for some reason the BAR folks opted not to enlighten me with this when I called them, but the tester found the sticker in the door jam saying it didnt need to be tested for AIR

So good times, im road legal and ready to roll, now please keep a close eye out for my new posts when I encouter a multitude of running issues as this car has not been driven for nearly 20 years!