Do not despair, my friend! Just so happens, they encourage the type of thing your planning. Upgrades (EFI, late engines, etc.) are fine, as long as they are consistent with the engine or spec year model you are using. For instance, you want to put that ZR-1 engine in your '78? No problem! As long as you bring along the required electronics and parts (OEM not required), the state referee will issue a tag certifying the ENGINE as compliant to the later spec, as long as it passes the test. So put on the CARB certified EFI and your set.

The guys at the state centers are pretty cool. Very professional, and typically car guys. Go talk to them about your plans and see what they suggest. Worth a shot and costs nothing.

Hans

 

Not in Calif! FLA has all-carry CCW's, California does not (FLA also has no smog testing). Actually, in FLA you can carry a weapon in your car without a CCW.

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

 

They don't. Some of the add-on parts are CARB certified, but not everything. When they really want to crack down on the ricer's for illegal street racing, sometimes the police will have a CAL-DOT(?) inspector along who looks under the hood and issues a "fix-it" ticket for smog equip. I imagine the ricer's change-out their illegal parts before going to smog. (Can you imagine? Having an automotive part deemed "illegal"?...CA sux).

Change your engine for a smog test? Right. I've been carrying around 8 new sparkplugs for the past year waiting for time to change 'em.

There will be loopholes and workarounds, but what a kick in the nutz to everyone who thought their car was about to be exempt. The price of vintage/stock emissions equipment just went through the roof in Calif.!

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

 

Nope.
When I get the renewal notice in the mail, when it says 'SMOG REQUIRED' there's no choice. If I wanna drive the '76 then I smog it. Period.

 

I guess you don't want to P off anyone with FL plates

A few years ago we had a free smog test for anyone wanting to know how their car did in that respect. I didn't have my vette then but I took my 442. It passed the emissions for the year it was manufactured. You have a 1976 car, then it should meet 1976 emissions. They didn't expect the car to pass modern emissions test. There is no emission tests in Alberta anymore. California emissions are very strict, however you have to take into account that California has about a million more people than all of Canada in an area about one tenth the size.

 

Well, lets hope that is the case, but I don't think it is.
A: No aftermarket fuel injection is CARB certified.
B: In most states, installing a 1999 Corvette motor in 1978 car means it has to pass all the standards of a 1999 Corvette, including the OBDII and all that it entails.

I live in Arizona, which has much more strict laws than those of California. For instance, they test all vehicles from 1967 to present. We don't have any rolling exemptions at all. Also, removal of a carburetor to install fuel injection is removal of an emissions device and therefore is reason not to get past the visual inspection. My 1980 Corvette has to have all the original emissions devices with no modifications, even though it is insured as a classic car with mileage restrictions.

However, I have installed a ZZ4 engine, headers, dual exhaust and a throttle body fuel injection system. The car is still Arizona emissions compliant and passes the tests with no problems. I also get around 22 - 25 MPG and has a whole lot more performance than with the stock motor which polluted much more and got about 10 MPG.

There are legal ways to make HP and it just takes creativity in finding them.

Besides, all you guys with the 1975 and earlier cars should be o.k. I understand that the rolling exemptions were stopped, but that anything 1975 and before is safe. In Arizona, they nail us all the way back to 1967.

 

Dang! LOL. I was waiting for my 77 to be exempt! HAHAHA. Anyone know of a company who make smog legal headers? Seriously.

 

Hedman #68301 headers are legal as are certain Doug Thorleys.

 

I walked away from 2 beautiful 76's because I saw this one coming.
Bought a 75.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the law does not take affect until April 2005. Doesn't that mean 76's will be exempt next year? According to DMV it's calendar year minus 29.

This state sucks as far as smog goes...and as far as the gun laws...I feel like I live in a Soviet Bloc country durring the Cold War. I'm stuck here because of my wife. Her family is all here. I think I'm the only one at my job that prays for a transfer to Texas!

Although, I must admit...driving the 75 with the T-Tops off for the past 4 weeks has made me finally appreciate the weather out here.

 

This sucks.

But, this probably won't be "good enough" for the whining environmentalists in a couple years. They will continue to introduce bills to even further put a stranglehold on smog checks and more restrictions.

I suggest that if you have a '76 and newer C3, set the car up so that you have 2 motors- one for the smog test and one for FUN. That would be my plan....... Every two years, swap in the smog motor for a week, get the test done, and then reinstall the other motor.......

The system CAN BE BEAT. You can win.

Bob

 

BSeery, I was under the impression that the car's year determined the emission's standard and not the year of the vehicle the engine came from. Otherwise I could drop a 67 L88 clone into a 2002 whatever and that 2002 vehicle would only need to meet 1967 standards.

For what it is worth, the ctas will be the biggest issue. Most inspectors don't know to look for A.I.R. Pumps, and other assorted stuff under the hood. Mine passes the visual year after year without it. Cats they know to look for which makes true duals and issue.

As for other underhood mods, simply make sure all parts are CARB certified and keep documentation on hand when getting smog tested.

While the law is not great, AZ has more than it's share of collector cars on the roads and with only 67 and older exempt, it hasn't been an issue.

 

I disagree, other states know better then to follow Calif..

 

I dont get what you said? You say "I live in Arizona, which has much more strict laws than those of California." How can you add a crate engine, add dual exhuast, pass smog and say Arizona is much more strict?

Ca is hopeless...

 

Sorry, you can only "forward date" an engine. You can't put an older engine in, unless maybe you keep all the smog stuff from the original removed engine (e.g., dropping in a 1969 dated short block 350 to replace a 1976 short block 350).

Also, when you do swap to a new engine, you are supposed to replace the ENTIRE package as equipped on the vehicle that the newer engine was intended. This includes the transmission and rear end gearing. Remember that some of the emissions savings for the newer engines are a direct result of overdrive transmissions and whimpy rear-end ratios.

 

I guess I'm the only here that is pleased this bill passed... I'm sorry you all feel victimized, but if it makes you all feel any better, we're being martyred for an important cause:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/351/11/1057.pdf

Remember, it's the whining environmental wackos' failures to cut air pollution by other sources that put us in the pinch on this one. If you want your minimally-polluting cars back in exemption, start helping to fund the crackdown on the maximally-polluting sources. If you think this is unreasonable legislation, then fight the problem by supporting reasonable legislation! We've got a problem, and we need rationale solutions from rationale people. Don't drag your feet at every attempt to move an issue left or right - this country has enough fanatics. Think and act!

Just a suggestion Have a nice day.

Dave

 

Ever notice all the "Environmentalist" live in the city? Go live in the woods with a lumberjack for a year and see how many "environmentalists" you find. Bottom line is they are misinformed liberals who try to blame their poor choice in living location on the rest of the world and try to make everyone suffer so their little bubble is a little nicer to live in. If you have an environmental problem come move here to south central PA... the grass is green the sky is blue.....better yet don't....We would all have to quit eating corn cause the smell of "natural fertalizer" would make your little bubble uncomfortable.

 

Sorry Dave but the URL you posted:

The New England Journal of Medicine

Says I have register in order to read that article.

 

Your dead on target...It's also a control issue. They have a pompous attitude that your too stupid to know what’s good for you. They need to step in and legislate your life according to what they think is right. That way they can control what happens in their little bubble. They got the cigarette smokers out first, now the got the classic cars out, they can now move on to eradicating anything else with an internal combustion engine. look at it as just another of your freedoms stolen away by the liberals. Just remember this crap come November and clean house.

 

Y'all are welcome to come & plant some roots in the Carolinas too.

 

Sorry - I should have remembered that... journal articles aren't always available to unregistered computers. Here's the press release based on that article (and thanks for your interest!):

http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/story.php?id=10495

In case you're still curious to see all the data, the reference is W. Gauderman et al., The Effect of Air Pollution on Lung Development from 10 to 18 Years of Age. NEJM 351:1057, 2004.