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So I need a new cat on my 1985 and i live in California unfortunately. So far I have found very few cats that are manufactured for the California emissions requirements and when I do find one, they are around $320 which is significantly more than non California cats. Does anyone know of a cheaper California cat? Is there any way around having to throw down $320 and have the car pass smog? Thanks
I live in CA too. I had to get my 95 smogged. But, it didn't pass. I figured out that I needed new cats. After searching around, I found two places that would do it, that was open. One wanted too much, $1200. The next was one that wanted $600 for two cats. It would have been only $500 though. If you are near Sacramento, I will recommend that place and I can get the address for it as well.
Any aftermarket cat sold in CA is going to require a CARB sticker on it to pass the smog laws. No CARB sticker and it won't pass the visual inspection. As you have probably seen, there aren't too many cats that will even have that sticker. And if you can't do the install yourself, then figure on paying for the install work in addition to the cost of the part.
Just curious about CA but do I need the sticker to pass? What if he took an old Junkyard one to pass and toss it after? Would that work or does it have an "age limit"?
The shop I went to didn't seem to care about a sticker for my cats. But, then again he didn't even say anything about it to me. But, yes I would verify the CARB number just to cover yourself. I have seen someone not pass because of the smog place he went to didn't think the cat was CA legal, even though the exhaust shop knew that it was legal.
You are correct you have to have the Ca EO # stamped on the cat
It sucks but no way of getting around it. They are the same thing as the on eo compliant ones.
Just curious about CA but do I need the sticker to pass? What if he took an old Junkyard one to pass and toss it after? Would that work or does it have an "age limit"?
I caveat this answer on what the rules were when I was stationed there some years ago.
I had a 69 Camaro that initially required a visual only so as long as the right parts were there it passed. It aged out and no longer needed an inspection. Of course there was no cat but not having the proper passengers exhaust and heat riser duct would fail you. As would an air cleaner without the Thermo valve or PCV system. Carb had to be OEM and distributor. But no sniff test
The problem would be using a junk part on a car that needs to pass a sniff test. On those a junk part would be risky.
Again, when I was there a car moved from visual/sniff, to visual, to exempt. The process may have changed. As 30 year old cars used to become exempt. But since there are issues with an 85, I'm guessing that is no longer true.
What always bugged me was I had to have OEM carb and Dist. which created a certain amount of emissions (lots on a 69 SBC). If I were to put a Holley pro-jection system on, the emissions would drop, fuel economy and performance would improve, and I would FAIL the emissions test.
SO, that kind of told me what the whole system was about.
The law for smogging is for 1976 or newer needs an inspection.
But, yes I wouldn't use a junk part, most likely it will not pass. Plus, it's worth it to get it changed, if your cats are clogged. Mine were, I noticed a huge difference overall afterwards.
California JY's, by law, cannot sell cats. I put a Magnaflow 332016 on my '84, and passed smog with flying colors! $314 installed, in Laguna Hills. I've had smog guys crawl under my car to inspect the cat.
I replaced my front Y-pipe with a MagnaFlow unit because it was the only one that was CA certified. When I had my car smogged, the tech spent a LOT of time with a flashlight looking at the front converter. The stamped number is on the bottom, so there's no way he could have seen it, but he finally gave up and passed me.
Was your car originally purchased out of ca? If so you can get away with non ca cats. You would have to have it smogged by a ca smog ref. If you call the ca smog bar and tell them you have an out of state car that the local station won't pass they'll schedule you an appointment for the smog ref. They do them at the community colleges. They only charge 8.25 for the smog cert fee IF you pass. No test fee. Your non ca cats have to be installed out of ca, though.
I found out about this after buying my 93 jeep. It was an AZ car. It failed ca smog. I had the original owner install a new cat, which is a magnaflow high flow cat. Strictly banned in ca, but legal in AZ. The local smog guy wouldn't touch it. I called the bar and they scheduled the appointment at Pierce Community college. The ref asked if I had proof the cat was installed in AZ. I said no. The original owner took care of it. The ref was actually very cool and said no problem.
Now, I only pay 8.25 for my smogs.
If you have either the window sticker or the build sheet, the name and address of the ordering dealer will be on either document. While that should be proof of where the car was sold, it's possible that the car could have been involved in a dealer trade that took the car out of state.
The two docs are available from the National Corvette Museum. Go to the NCM website and become an NCM member. Then you can get the member prices for the window sticker and build sheet. These are great documents to have and will show what options were ordered on the car, what the price was for the options and the MSRP of the car.
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
These CARB guys are real sticklers for details.
Thankfully My county is a CARB1 zone so we only cert when bought or sold.
I use Magnaflo "49 state" cats that are 100 bucks cheaper and have passed everytime.
Its all about money into the state's accounts.
Funny that vehicle inspections are not required in kali. So unless a cop gives you a fix-it ticket......
Bill youre right the laws here make no sense at all they keep tightening up emissions requirements to the point the state knows they will never pass. Even pre 76 cars although they dont get inspected (yet) still have to have all the stuff on them.
Get pulled over and asked to pop the hood if its not on there they can cite you or impound the car now. Refuse, they take it anyways and lock you up
Thing is it doesnt have to be functional. If I dug up any smog pump out of the dirt from a junkyard and attached it with one bolt and no belt its legal.
Matter of time and Im outta here, its a paradise if you can afford it and live in some high end area... or are a gang banger there is no way a working class guy can really exist anymore
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Matter of time and Im outta here, its a paradise if you can afford it and live in some high end area... or are a gang banger there is no way a working class guy can really exist anymore
I feel for you guys living in the dense population centers.
You guys ever see the Moon or Milky Way?
Or do you pretend that aircraft lights are stars?
Kali is a model were the rest of this country is going.
So don't hate, y'all are going to hell sooner or later too.
I feel for you guys living in the dense population centers.
You guys ever see the Moon or Milky Way?
Or do you pretend that aircraft lights are stars?
Kali is a model were the rest of this country is going.
So don't hate, y'all are going to hell sooner or later too.
True but I'm not in that crazy place now and I'm 50. I probably will be dead by the time everywhere is. Not into living for forever. 65 would be a good point to croak so, it's still good.
11-09-2017, 05:36 AM
California catalytic converter
