G-body survived Carr Fire

[jiho]

That crazy fire jumped the river in the Keswick area, and a lot of old school (pre-smog) hot rods got torched. Meanwhile, the flames never got closer than what, 5 or 6 miles away from my stupid Malibu, which is under smog forever. Now if I could ever figure out what to do with it ....

 

[TURNA]

Insur the hell out of it and let it burn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Michael Watts]

Take it out and enjoy it .And make any modifications that are within your smog laws. Brakes suspension ,body.etc I have a 1981 El Camino SS with a 290 HP 350 crate engine ,FlowTech "shorty" headers True dual 2 1/4 exhaust.with Flowmaster mufflers. And it still passed emissions in Washington State at the time I had too..We no longer have to do so anymore.

 

[jiho]

I have a 1981 El Camino SS with a 290 HP 350 crate engine ,FlowTech "shorty" headers True dual 2 1/4 exhaust.with Flowmaster mufflers. And it still passed emissions in Washington State at the time I had too.

You know Zspoiler? Sounds like the same car. That setup wouldn't be anywhere near legal here anyway. Nothing that's really worth the cost and trouble would be, except maybe the millionth LS swap (the state did recently clarify how you can legally do one).

 

[Michael Watts]

I was just telling how it worked in my state .It may very by state to state .Maybe put high flow cats in it as well.

 

[jiho]

I have a 1981 El Camino SS with a 290 HP 350 crate engine ,FlowTech "shorty" headers True dual 2 1/4 exhaust.with Flowmaster mufflers. And it still passed emissions in Washington State at the time I had too.

You know Zspoiler? Sounds like the same car.

 

[jiho]

I was just telling how it worked in my state .It may very by state to state .Maybe put high flow cats in it as well.

Here we have under-hood inspection, not just tailpipe. That crate motor is only legal here with the VIN 6 police motor setup with the feedback QJet, and everything completely stock for the police motor. Has to get a sticker from a Referee first, and they check everything. A good example of how legal swaps typically aren't worth the trouble and expense. And if you have smog here, you won't get away with anything else.

 

[jiho]

But hey, my original post was just to note the irony of it. Yesterday I drove the car to buy food, and it was fun. It's a different way to buy groceries, at least, and I do have some plans for it. My original goal was just to get it running right and then get rid of it. I got it running right a few years ago. and then got a letter from the state that would have paid me to junk it, but in the end I couldn't go through with it.

 

[Michael Watts]

Thats a real shame that your state laws are that restrictive, You will just have to work with what you have then.

 

[565bbchevy]

If I was stuck somewhere that had strict emissions and wanted to drive a Gbody I would probably go the E-rod crate engine route even though not cost effective for many a legal 430 horse with efficiency would be a nice upgrade.