so i got notification that my car must be smogged in the next month....you know, in all i've been doing to the car i haven't thought of getting this done, so.......i have no idea what this process involves. what do they do at a smog check? what do i have to do? what can i look for in advance to know whether or not i'll pass?

i have a 76, non-numbers matching, and am in the chicago area.

this must be a basic question, but i've really never thought about it.

 

Better get yourself some antique plates!!!
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/de...s/antique.html
(This isn't a daily driver...is it?)

 

The test is really not difficult to pass. They check your gas filler cap to make sure it's not vented, and then do an idle test with a sampler tube in each pipe. They don't do a dyno test like the later year cars. Mine passed with flying colors, I really think your motor would have to be really tired or extremely modded to fail. Should be a gimme if you still have the catalytic converter. Mine has a new high perfomance one, but I don't think they looked underneath to see if it was there. If you want to buy some time, just return the form and tell them the car is in storage until May, worked for me last year (well, it was put away for the winter).

I see you are from Frankfort. Hope to see you at the cruise for cancer kids next year. Don't forget to attend the Starved Rock Cruise II on Sunday, October 24th, it will be starting in Channahon, not far from you. We need to see more C3'rs on these Chicago Crew events!

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=921657

EDIT: Here are the standards and in ( ) are my actual results. Mine is a 75 but I would guess the standards for 76 should not be much different.

Hydocarbons: 700 (358)
Carbon Monoxide: 7.0 (0)
Carbon Dioxide: (12.0) standards were not available for this year
NOx: no standards for this year

Any good service shop would have an analyzer and could sample your emissions for a small fee. My certificate was issued on 6/19/04 and will not expire until March of 2006.

 

Check into antique plates. I qualified with my '72 here in Illinois and am exempt from the testing. There are restrictions, mileage etc. But it meets my needs as mine is not a daily driver.

 

I'm thinking of doing this next year. I've heard that some people register their car at another address that doesn't have the smog testing!

 

I agree with Big Fish. Never had a problem passing the smog test.

 

This link covers the IL smog test stuff ... Big Fish was correct in that your '76 has to pass the same limits as his '75 did. My '74 initially failed so I had my mechanic scope the exhaust and make a few adjustments (was running pretty rich) ... I like having the "normal" plates because the antique ones are supposed to be limited use (although I don't know of anyone getting a ticket for taking their "antique" car to work for instance). It's fairly painless, as people have said they check your gas cap and then put an exhaust probe (no rollers) when its idling. Doing this every two years is fine with me, doesn't cost you anything other than your time and if the car is tuned up you should be fine.

http://www.epa.state.il.us/air/vim/g..._elements.html

Here were my results on the 2nd try (again allowed versus actual, '72 to '74 were lumped together, last year before cat's required):

Hydocarbons: 800 (64)
Carbon Monoxide: 8.0 (1.4%)
Carbon Dioxide: (12.4%) standards were not available for this year

Had this done over the summer so I'm good to '06 as well ...