Cars from 2002-newer don’t even do the sniffer or dyno test anymore. They just do an OBD scan while it’s running. No codes (or recent history of codes) and it’s a pass.
85' Monte Carlo CA smog SUCKS!
- Thread starter WhiteBread_NT
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Hedman makes a smog rail separate from the header, you may have to buy that and weld it in. They make a "D" port header that fits the LT1 in my 86, I had to weld the smog tube in because in Colorado like California my car still has to have a smog pump. I once bolted a realistic set of tubes to a header in a Toyota pickup so it would pass visual. Most of the people in the Emmisions place here don't know what to look for, so if the big chunks are there it flies. NY had private shops to do inspections when I lived there, which meant the monitor was hooked to your car and the sniffer head was in the exhaust of a Hyundai Excel. Even way back in the 80's older cars just had to pass the safety inspection.
For the Peoples Republic friendly intake Edelbrock does have the CARB legal intake with EGR, think they are the only ones who still makes one. Heddman does have headers with AIR tubes attached for our cars.
Start with a nice cat back exhaust for now. I assume most of those are smog legal even in Crapifornia.
I don`t know what budget is .But you could look at Chevrolet crate engine.There are smog legal "Shorty" headers by flow tech .available I would check with your local "speed shops" to see whats legal. maybe a high flow catalytic converters and what mufflers are legal as well,.
Sadly most of the direct fit, emission legal, performance parts are long discontinued. The aftermarket mostly pushes LS swaps these days since they can sell more parts they can charge more for. Only way to buy either Eddy TES or Hooker 2050 headers are either used or NOS. I have seen a few in F bodies in the junkyards.
If you swap the ecm out for a 87 ecm, you can install a ZZ4 prom from Bitflipper on the Montecarloss.com forums. A true roller timing chain helps, and I think Crane emission max cams, 2030, 2040, 2050 are still available. There is also the dual snorkel aircleaners the F body L69s use, and the D5 torque converter used in turbo Buicks.
If you swap the ecm out for a 87 ecm, you can install a ZZ4 prom from Bitflipper on the Montecarloss.com forums. A true roller timing chain helps, and I think Crane emission max cams, 2030, 2040, 2050 are still available. There is also the dual snorkel aircleaners the F body L69s use, and the D5 torque converter used in turbo Buicks.
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