California smog laws

[DoubleV]

It seems there's a pretty big hotrod scene in California yet they have rediculously strict smog laws seemingly making it impossible to actual hotrod your hotrod. So how are people getting around all that legal BS in their 'smog era' yeared cars ( aka G-Bodys ) without installing complete late model 'smog legal' drive trains?

 

[tc1959]

From what I have seen on here most of the guys from Cali seem to have a "Buddy" with a shop that "Hooks them Up " If you know what I mean...Wink...Wink, Nudge...Nudge. 8)

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Also there are many smog legal ways to hotrod a car, such as using EPA and CARB approved performance parts. Work with the smog systems instead of just blindly ripping it out then complain about poor MPGs. No smog laws against better rear gear ratio, higher stall torque converters, exhaust headers as long as they have all emission provisions, etc. There are also no laws preventing you from installing better heads or camshafts either, you just have to be smarter about it.

 

[clean8485]

X2. Its a bit more of a challenge, but it can be done and the parts are out there. The results can be pretty satisfying.

 

[amadorbarajas]

From what I have seen on here most of the guys from Cali seem to have a "Buddy" with a shop that "Hooks them Up " If you know what I mean...Wink...Wink, Nudge...Nudge. 8)

+1 on this one. It is true, you be surprised how easy it is to "pass" smog when money does the talking. But now with Star Stations, it is going to be tough.
I myself am just keeping the car stock. Passing smog is what is keeping me from doing some crazy engine swap (and money, of course). Buying CARB legal stuff is expensive though. It is the visual part they want to see too. So cams, head work, higher compression pistons, etc., can go by unoticed if you make your engine work effeciently. That is all smog laws want, clean, effecient, engines.

 

[DoubleV]

I was really more wanting to know about how people were getting around doing the big obvious modifications like complete engine swaps ( 455 into a Cutlass for example ), high rise intakes, headers ( there are very few CARB legal headers and I'm sure the ones they have are Chubby only anyway...), removing the CCC system or other emissions equipment etc. I mean damn, it's not even supposed to be legal to change your exhaust from the cat forward so you can't even run true duals even if you added a cat so I'm assuming the Cali smog police wouldn't give you a pass on something so minor like that would they?

 

[clean8485]

Obviously, I don't know the system in California, but here in Ontario, the provincial government is starting to enforce existing laws regarding emissions equipment compliance much more strictly than they used to. A local enthusiast was pulled over by the provincial Ministry of Environment enforcement people in his 1932 Ford street rod and they inspected the small block Chev engine in it. They were able to decode the engine using the casting and stamping numbers, and determined that the engine was originally installed in a mid '80s Chev truck. The owner was cited for no EGR, no evaporative canister, no thermostatic air cleaner, and one or two other offences, and he ended up retrofitting the emission controls to the car. Here in Ontario, the rule is that the vehicle must have the proper emission controls for either the vehicle, or the engine, WHICHEVER IS NEWER. The Ministry people have access to manufacturers records, so they can determine the original use of most engines. If you want to drive a vehicle with few or no emission controls here, you have to have an older vehicle (pre 1970) with an older engine (pre 1970).
I've modified the engine in my 1984 Monte SS (yes, I know its a Chubby), but I've used CARB certified parts wherever necessary, and its made quite an improvement. I'm not afraid to drive or show my car, because I've kept all of the original emission controls intact and functional. Like I said before, I don't know exactly what the regulations are in California, but if you swap engines within the same engine family, and make it work efficiently (as stated above), then I can't see why you can'y have your cake and eat it too. Just my $0.02.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Obviously, I don't know the system in California, but here in Ontario, the provincial government is starting to enforce existing laws regarding emissions equipment compliance much more strictly than they used to. A local enthusiast was pulled over by the provincial Ministry of Environment enforcement people in his 1932 Ford street rod and they inspected the small block Chev engine in it. They were able to decode the engine using the casting and stamping numbers, and determined that the engine was originally installed in a mid '80s Chev truck. The owner was cited for no EGR, no evaporative canister, no thermostatic air cleaner, and one or two other offences, and he ended up retrofitting the emission controls to the car. Here in Ontario, the rule is that the vehicle must have the proper emission controls for either the vehicle, or the engine, WHICHEVER IS NEWER. The Ministry people have access to manufacturers records, so they can determine the original use of most engines. If you want to drive a vehicle with few or no emission controls here, you have to have an older vehicle (pre 1970) with an older engine (pre 1970).
I've modified the engine in my 1984 Monte SS (yes, I know its a Chubby), but I've used CARB certified parts wherever necessary, and its made quite an improvement. I'm not afraid to drive or show my car, because I've kept all of the original emission controls intact and functional. Like I said before, I don't know exactly what the regulations are in California, but if you swap engines within the same engine family, and make it work efficiently (as stated above), then I can't see why you can'y have your cake and eat it too. Just my $0.02.

The laws are pretty much that here in the states too, just many states poorly enforce them. Here we can swap in any motor the same year or newer than the car and you you must retain all the low emission systems from either the car or swap engine depending which is newer. CA is the state that enforces the smog laws the most, NJ is pretty strict too, also heard HI is just as bad, and recently CO has cracked down on emissions. FL seems to be the most laxed state with emissions enforcement. NY has strict laws but almost 0 enforcement for them so it's mostly Dr feelgood for votes in that state. Most states are about in the middle like PA.

 

[amadorbarajas]

Here in Cali, where a lot of guys fail the smog, is the visual part of the test. You can be pumping out unicorns and rainbows out of the tail pipe, clean *ss exhaust, and still fail because you have “modified” the emission part of your vehicle. I know guys in the Honda scene who can pass the sniffer, but just because they have a swapped engine, fail! With the G Body guys, removing the CCC would be a auto fail. Removing your EGR, fail. Also the PCV system. Not having the correct cat could be a fail too. It is tough trying to do mods to your vehicle. I tend to only do things I can go later and put stock stuff back on, so only bolt on for me. Hence, cat back exhaust are a common now a days. To find CARB legal stuff, it isn’t easy and you will pay the price for the items too. CARB legal stuff isn't’ cheap at all, you are paying for the R&D and that little stupid sticker that exempts it.

 

[85GPLef41]

hey double V how is your olds 350 swap legal? I wanted to do a Pontiac 455 swap initially but it wouldn't fly so i did the 350 "chubby" engine swap instead seeing as my 85 GP came with the 305. i took in a failed twice for to high hc.. the race edelbrock carb didn't help .. :lol: and i had the 305's original smog equipment....Now that i'm doing my ls swap i need to comply with it's specs.. I wished Denver was lax on it's smog laws.. :|