Smog legal...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 13,356
Likes: 0
From: tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '04 & '05
Smog legal...
So what can I do to my vette that's smog legal...in Southern CA.???
Not much.....but maybe I'm missing something?????
Please let me know....
thanks
tony
:confused: :eek: :eek: :confused:
Not much.....but maybe I'm missing something?????
Please let me know....
thanks
tony
:confused: :eek: :eek: :confused:
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
From: Socorro New Mexico
Re: Smog legal... (oldace84)
1. cat back exhaust is legal
2. shortening the AIR tubes in the exhaust headers can not be detected visually
3. 1.6 roller rockers and hotter cam should sneak by the visual
4. head work will help everything and get past the visual
5. lots of smog legal computer chips are out there, as if they could tell
6. better air cleaner and cold air package
7. colder thermostat
8. smaller crank pully
9. reworked intake manifold (cleaned up)
10. reworked MAF sensor (for flow)
read read read read
2. shortening the AIR tubes in the exhaust headers can not be detected visually
3. 1.6 roller rockers and hotter cam should sneak by the visual
4. head work will help everything and get past the visual
5. lots of smog legal computer chips are out there, as if they could tell
6. better air cleaner and cold air package
7. colder thermostat
8. smaller crank pully
9. reworked intake manifold (cleaned up)
10. reworked MAF sensor (for flow)
read read read read
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
Re: Smog legal... (Rynda)
1. cat back exhaust is legal
2. shortening the AIR tubes in the exhaust headers can not be detected visually
3. 1.6 roller rockers and hotter cam should sneak by the visual
4. head work will help everything and get past the visual
5. lots of smog legal computer chips are out there, as if they could tell
6. better air cleaner and cold air package
7. colder thermostat
8. smaller crank pully
9. reworked intake manifold (cleaned up)
10. reworked MAF sensor (for flow)
read read read read
11. register it out of state and mod the hell out of it
2. shortening the AIR tubes in the exhaust headers can not be detected visually
3. 1.6 roller rockers and hotter cam should sneak by the visual
4. head work will help everything and get past the visual
5. lots of smog legal computer chips are out there, as if they could tell
6. better air cleaner and cold air package
7. colder thermostat
8. smaller crank pully
9. reworked intake manifold (cleaned up)
10. reworked MAF sensor (for flow)
read read read read
11. register it out of state and mod the hell out of it
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 0
From: Manhattan
Re: Smog legal... (oldace84)
you should be able to do shorty headers, super ram, cat back, D-port aluminum heads, cam
Not sure on this for CA, but if your cats are damaged you can change out the pre-cats and main cat to a single high flow, 3-way random tech cat
you'd need to get it tuned (new chip) and I'm not sure what cam you can use. I'd ask Lingenfelter, he's your best bet for 50 state legal accesories
Not sure on this for CA, but if your cats are damaged you can change out the pre-cats and main cat to a single high flow, 3-way random tech cat
you'd need to get it tuned (new chip) and I'm not sure what cam you can use. I'd ask Lingenfelter, he's your best bet for 50 state legal accesories
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Smog legal... (Raistlin)
I'v pretty sure elimination of the pre-cats with a 3-stage main cat is "49 state legal".
You could have a 2 1/2" mandrel bent front Y installed and have the pre-cat shells welded over the pipe for the visual. The 3-stage Random Tech cat will then easily pass the sniffer.
Anyway on an '84 you may not have the pre-cats, in which case just do the upgraded front Y, main cat and a good cat-back.
If you have an A4 you performance will benefit from a TransGo shift kit; an upgrade to a 2,000rpm TC will help too if you don't have one stock.
You might check with the X-fire guys for some real help with your L83.
[Modified by 65Z01, 12:03 AM 4/20/2003]
You could have a 2 1/2" mandrel bent front Y installed and have the pre-cat shells welded over the pipe for the visual. The 3-stage Random Tech cat will then easily pass the sniffer.
Anyway on an '84 you may not have the pre-cats, in which case just do the upgraded front Y, main cat and a good cat-back.
If you have an A4 you performance will benefit from a TransGo shift kit; an upgrade to a 2,000rpm TC will help too if you don't have one stock.
You might check with the X-fire guys for some real help with your L83.
[Modified by 65Z01, 12:03 AM 4/20/2003]
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: Smog legal... (65Z01)
I ported the crap out of my intake manifold, and bored the throttle bodies to 2". The '84's do not have pre-cats. Just one behind the trans. My car passed the sniffer test (visual, too) with a hollowed out cat. I run high 13's, in your neighborhood, and the long block hasn't been touched since "The General" first tightened the bolts on it 19 years ago. Good luck, and...
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19
Likes: 2
From: Concord California
Re: Smog legal... (oldace84)
Well, "smog legal" is a bit more restrictive in California than what you can probably get away with, if you try. As I recall, "legal" restricts you to CARB approved replacements, which usually is ignition, plugs, intake. If you subscribe to the "what they don't see won't hurt anything as long as it passes the test" theory - then you can be a bit more adventurous.
My '86 is nothing like what GM shoved in there originally - but it is still a Chevy small block on the outside and internal engine parts aren't visible, and the only external illegal item is the missing pre-cats, which no one has ever mentioned so far.
My stroker seems to pass fine at operating rpm's - hydrocarbon levels during the idling rpm test is the challenge. The key for my '86 is to retard the timing, push the idle as high as legally permissable and find a way to heat it up way past the 160 degree thermostat/180 degree fan switch settings for the test.
If you want places to start - I'd suggest the airfilter/intake and exhaust system to move more air through the engine. Then maybe some ignition upgrades. You can accomplish most of this in a CARB legal fashion. I swear my smog tests actually improved after installing the MSD ignition.
[Modified by Rich86, 4:09 PM 4/21/2003]
My '86 is nothing like what GM shoved in there originally - but it is still a Chevy small block on the outside and internal engine parts aren't visible, and the only external illegal item is the missing pre-cats, which no one has ever mentioned so far.
My stroker seems to pass fine at operating rpm's - hydrocarbon levels during the idling rpm test is the challenge. The key for my '86 is to retard the timing, push the idle as high as legally permissable and find a way to heat it up way past the 160 degree thermostat/180 degree fan switch settings for the test.
If you want places to start - I'd suggest the airfilter/intake and exhaust system to move more air through the engine. Then maybe some ignition upgrades. You can accomplish most of this in a CARB legal fashion. I swear my smog tests actually improved after installing the MSD ignition.
[Modified by Rich86, 4:09 PM 4/21/2003]
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,464
Likes: 1
From: Modesto CA
Re: Smog legal... (65Z01)
You could have a 2 1/2" mandrel bent front Y installed and have the pre-cat shells welded over the pipe for the visual.
