Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
06-10-2015, 02:04 AM
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Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Chapter 7 - Digging yourself out
When i drop the parts to Jimmy, i give him print outs of everything he needs to put it all back together. I give him a 2000 page manual, camaro assembly line print outs. the works. Its basically as if he was back at a dealership in 1982. At first, he's like "Don't worry" and is fairly dismissive of the print outs.
After i drop the third bag of crap at his feet, he starts picking up and reading through the binder. "yeah, this stuff is good"
And so i wait 3 weeks.
During this time, i start losing sleep, i'm on TGO or GMPartsEast, or EBay or Amazon for 4-5 hours every night. I start turning up late for work, i miss deadlines, birthdays.
I'm trying to find the missing and broken hoses, and debug my Check Engine Light issues without the car. I spend about $200 on miscellaneous parts that i know Jimmy doesn't have.
Earlier in the week, Jimmy calls me to say some part are bad, i buy another smog pump, another air diverter, 2 more check valves, a plenum + ducting and an EGR from TGO member knightrider5000. I drive down to him after work one night when its pissing rain, and the place is closed, and hang the parts on the back of his garage lot gates, hoping they are not stolen.
Jimmy calls me to pick up the car on the 23rd of May.
Whatever i can do so that i don't have to drive it home with major work remaining. I do.
When i arrive, the car looks the exact same, except under the hood and underneath. He has done a huge amount of work. I chronicle it in my blog (which i also start to lose energy for).
I can't believe he's taken it this far, he has had to weld a bunch of stuff and everything i gave him is attached where possible.
He charges me $550 including the California Approved CAT. I'm pretty speechless, i though it was going to be much more, and honestly i would have had to give it to him in installments at this point.
He does not really do electrical work and so he's unable to fix the check engine light, but he allows me to change out my dash and do my own trouble shooting in his garage on a Saturday which is cool.
I debug the Check Engine light for 3 hours, and i can't fix it.
I tow her home, but we're back in the game.
Chapter 8 - Striving for new lows
At this point TGO has basically guided me through the majority of what i needed to do. I was 95% there, but man oh man, if that final 5% was not a pain in the ***.
I still had no CEL. I traced it to the Lamp Driver with help from TGOers and bought a new one. This required me to debug it on my street and take my dash apart to get at the Lamp Driver to test it and replace it.
It had a blown transistor, it was obvious, and i was hoping the new part would fix all of my problems. It was $20 on Amazon.
It did. As soon as the part was replaced, the whole diagnostic system seemed to come alive, although it was probably just the lamp!
I finally had check engine codes, i had 3 of them. 13, 15, and 24. I just had to clear them, fit the hoses, and i was ready for a smog test.
And then my neighbors called the cops.
Chapter 9 - Avoiding the law
This is where it just got insane.
Basically, you cannot leave a car for longer than 72 hours on a street in my town. And you can't work on cars. I didn't know that, someone else did.
And they didn't like my smelly trans am parked next to their new Mini. Even though MY new Mini is parked next to theirs! And i guess they didn't like a guy in cargo shorts with his legs sticking on to the pavement as he put back in the ECM. I mean i get it.. but.. yeah.
So i received a citation, for "abandoning or storing a vehicle" and my Trans Am was nicely nestled in the traffic system as being
a) In the state of CA
b) Abandoned in CA
c) Not registered in CA
I had 24 hours before it was impounded. My wife was so angry at me at this point that it was just super rough.
So i moved it. and i moved it again. I just kept moving it around the blocks every 24 hours hoping it wasn't going to get towed.
It was truly a new low.
Not only that but now i had a citation - the clock was ACTUALLY ticking.
Before, i was worried about the 20 day thing, but it didn't matter. No one knew the car was in CA. Now they did, and i had 20 days to register it.
This was 10 days ago.
Chapter 10 - Complying with the law-ish
At this point you are probably asking what is wrong with me? Just go to your "friendly" smog guy and get it passed.
Over the course of the hassle that i went through to get this work legally done, i had 3 separate offers to get it passed under the table.
The first guy was from a friend of mine, he had his done. I met his guy, it was $150 bucks but he wanted to do it at some weird time. I passed.
The second guy was the 1982 trans am guy, he though i was insane. He was like, take the wheels, leave the parts here, and i'll bring you to my guy. It was $200. I didn't know him so i passed.
The third guy was just a customer at the smog station after my first failure. He had a friend. $150 bucks. I passed.
I was worried, what way was it done? was my car going to get flagged later? I just had no clue. And i was soooooo close.
There was one problem, the hose layout was so weird with tees that had 3 different sizes on them that i couldn't figure it out. There were just too many hose sizes and tees and not enough documentation.
I needed a reference car and gearhead141 had one. I reached out to him because he had replied on one of my threads. And so started a 50 email ping pong where he answered every single tiny question i had, and took detailed photos of everything i needed to do. If Jimmy was the first turning point, then Erich (gearhead) was the second.
By the time we were finished, i knew the emissions systems of an LG4 inside and out. I even helped him spot an issue with his, one of his hoses was in the wrong place, it was insane. I actually knew **** about my car.
Last weekend, i had absolutely every part i needed. So i went down to an auto parts store to get some hose clips, and then spent 5 hours outside the store putting my car back together, underneath a sign that said it was illegal to do so.
Everything was on, but clips and tees broke, i superglued them back together. I had cross threads on my coolant sensor. Both EGR's i had bought were bad. I had to buy an EGR on the spot and get it shipped from their warehouse to the parking lot in an hour. It was a mess.
But it was working.
I had no codes, and i had a hose layout that matched factory spec exactly.
Chapter 11 - The final count down
And then we come to last Sunday. I drive my car to the smog station and get ready to do the test.
I pass EVAP, but my timing is off... he can't go any further. He doesnt charge me and tells me to get a mechanic to look at it.
This morning i take my car to the ORIGINAL guy who looked at my motor, Dave. The guys who called me back after 5 minutes of looking at the car. They were super nice guys, but i think they were surprised to see my car not impounded.
I was like, "guys, this car is good to go, i just need you to set my timing and i'm going back to smog it". So they tried.
But it didn't work, my hamronic balancer was off, it would not set at base timing from the specs (UBF) and my specs were right. i knew this 100%.
So they had to find Top Dead Center manually, which they did and $99 later i was back at the Smog station.
I failed. I was running too rich.
I brought it right back to Dave. He tweaked it to make it leaner.
I tested again.
I passed. I registered. I drove away legally.
Epilogue
I really want to thank everyone who responded to a thread, commented or helped me in any way.
Every little thing helped and i never felt alone.
Thanks to everyone for being here and helping folks like me keep these cars on the road.
Also never give up. NEVER.
When i drop the parts to Jimmy, i give him print outs of everything he needs to put it all back together. I give him a 2000 page manual, camaro assembly line print outs. the works. Its basically as if he was back at a dealership in 1982. At first, he's like "Don't worry" and is fairly dismissive of the print outs.
After i drop the third bag of crap at his feet, he starts picking up and reading through the binder. "yeah, this stuff is good"
And so i wait 3 weeks.
During this time, i start losing sleep, i'm on TGO or GMPartsEast, or EBay or Amazon for 4-5 hours every night. I start turning up late for work, i miss deadlines, birthdays.
I'm trying to find the missing and broken hoses, and debug my Check Engine Light issues without the car. I spend about $200 on miscellaneous parts that i know Jimmy doesn't have.
Earlier in the week, Jimmy calls me to say some part are bad, i buy another smog pump, another air diverter, 2 more check valves, a plenum + ducting and an EGR from TGO member knightrider5000. I drive down to him after work one night when its pissing rain, and the place is closed, and hang the parts on the back of his garage lot gates, hoping they are not stolen.
Jimmy calls me to pick up the car on the 23rd of May.
Whatever i can do so that i don't have to drive it home with major work remaining. I do.
When i arrive, the car looks the exact same, except under the hood and underneath. He has done a huge amount of work. I chronicle it in my blog (which i also start to lose energy for).
I can't believe he's taken it this far, he has had to weld a bunch of stuff and everything i gave him is attached where possible.
He charges me $550 including the California Approved CAT. I'm pretty speechless, i though it was going to be much more, and honestly i would have had to give it to him in installments at this point.
He does not really do electrical work and so he's unable to fix the check engine light, but he allows me to change out my dash and do my own trouble shooting in his garage on a Saturday which is cool.
I debug the Check Engine light for 3 hours, and i can't fix it.
I tow her home, but we're back in the game.
Chapter 8 - Striving for new lows
At this point TGO has basically guided me through the majority of what i needed to do. I was 95% there, but man oh man, if that final 5% was not a pain in the ***.
I still had no CEL. I traced it to the Lamp Driver with help from TGOers and bought a new one. This required me to debug it on my street and take my dash apart to get at the Lamp Driver to test it and replace it.
It had a blown transistor, it was obvious, and i was hoping the new part would fix all of my problems. It was $20 on Amazon.
It did. As soon as the part was replaced, the whole diagnostic system seemed to come alive, although it was probably just the lamp!
I finally had check engine codes, i had 3 of them. 13, 15, and 24. I just had to clear them, fit the hoses, and i was ready for a smog test.
And then my neighbors called the cops.
Chapter 9 - Avoiding the law
This is where it just got insane.
Basically, you cannot leave a car for longer than 72 hours on a street in my town. And you can't work on cars. I didn't know that, someone else did.
And they didn't like my smelly trans am parked next to their new Mini. Even though MY new Mini is parked next to theirs! And i guess they didn't like a guy in cargo shorts with his legs sticking on to the pavement as he put back in the ECM. I mean i get it.. but.. yeah.
So i received a citation, for "abandoning or storing a vehicle" and my Trans Am was nicely nestled in the traffic system as being
a) In the state of CA
b) Abandoned in CA
c) Not registered in CA
I had 24 hours before it was impounded. My wife was so angry at me at this point that it was just super rough.
So i moved it. and i moved it again. I just kept moving it around the blocks every 24 hours hoping it wasn't going to get towed.
It was truly a new low.
Not only that but now i had a citation - the clock was ACTUALLY ticking.
Before, i was worried about the 20 day thing, but it didn't matter. No one knew the car was in CA. Now they did, and i had 20 days to register it.
This was 10 days ago.
Chapter 10 - Complying with the law-ish
At this point you are probably asking what is wrong with me? Just go to your "friendly" smog guy and get it passed.
Over the course of the hassle that i went through to get this work legally done, i had 3 separate offers to get it passed under the table.
The first guy was from a friend of mine, he had his done. I met his guy, it was $150 bucks but he wanted to do it at some weird time. I passed.
The second guy was the 1982 trans am guy, he though i was insane. He was like, take the wheels, leave the parts here, and i'll bring you to my guy. It was $200. I didn't know him so i passed.
The third guy was just a customer at the smog station after my first failure. He had a friend. $150 bucks. I passed.
I was worried, what way was it done? was my car going to get flagged later? I just had no clue. And i was soooooo close.
There was one problem, the hose layout was so weird with tees that had 3 different sizes on them that i couldn't figure it out. There were just too many hose sizes and tees and not enough documentation.
I needed a reference car and gearhead141 had one. I reached out to him because he had replied on one of my threads. And so started a 50 email ping pong where he answered every single tiny question i had, and took detailed photos of everything i needed to do. If Jimmy was the first turning point, then Erich (gearhead) was the second.
By the time we were finished, i knew the emissions systems of an LG4 inside and out. I even helped him spot an issue with his, one of his hoses was in the wrong place, it was insane. I actually knew **** about my car.
Last weekend, i had absolutely every part i needed. So i went down to an auto parts store to get some hose clips, and then spent 5 hours outside the store putting my car back together, underneath a sign that said it was illegal to do so.
Everything was on, but clips and tees broke, i superglued them back together. I had cross threads on my coolant sensor. Both EGR's i had bought were bad. I had to buy an EGR on the spot and get it shipped from their warehouse to the parking lot in an hour. It was a mess.
But it was working.
I had no codes, and i had a hose layout that matched factory spec exactly.
Chapter 11 - The final count down
And then we come to last Sunday. I drive my car to the smog station and get ready to do the test.
I pass EVAP, but my timing is off... he can't go any further. He doesnt charge me and tells me to get a mechanic to look at it.
This morning i take my car to the ORIGINAL guy who looked at my motor, Dave. The guys who called me back after 5 minutes of looking at the car. They were super nice guys, but i think they were surprised to see my car not impounded.
I was like, "guys, this car is good to go, i just need you to set my timing and i'm going back to smog it". So they tried.
But it didn't work, my hamronic balancer was off, it would not set at base timing from the specs (UBF) and my specs were right. i knew this 100%.
So they had to find Top Dead Center manually, which they did and $99 later i was back at the Smog station.
I failed. I was running too rich.
I brought it right back to Dave. He tweaked it to make it leaner.
I tested again.
I passed. I registered. I drove away legally.
Epilogue
I really want to thank everyone who responded to a thread, commented or helped me in any way.
Every little thing helped and i never felt alone.
Thanks to everyone for being here and helping folks like me keep these cars on the road.
Also never give up. NEVER.
Last edited by KNIGHTE; 06-11-2015 at 10:15 PM.
06-10-2015, 07:16 AM
#2
Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Wow. Dude, what a write-up and what a crazy, nerve-racking story.
I'm happy you followed through with all of it and finally got your car on the road legally!
I'm just realizing that all the crap I had to deal with on my car is no comparison to the kind of stress and punishment you've received.
Enjoy the car
I'm happy you followed through with all of it and finally got your car on the road legally!
I'm just realizing that all the crap I had to deal with on my car is no comparison to the kind of stress and punishment you've received.
Enjoy the car
06-10-2015, 07:59 AM
#3
06-10-2015, 12:37 PM
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
You've been through hell to get to where you are now with the car Mick. Do something nice for the wife to let her know you still care about her. The journey with your car has really just begun. We will continue to help and give you our support here on the board. Many of these folks have helped me out, and that is what it is all about. I was given some advice after I bought my car, and that was "drive it". And that is what I have done. It still needs paint and upholstery but I drive it and enjoy every mile I spend in that car. I enjoy it for what it is. I don't try to blow by everybody on the freeway, but rather enjoy the drive and the smooth running engine. As you put some miles on it, you're going to find things that need to be taken care of. It's a machine and parts wear out; especially 30 year old parts! You'll get to learn about your car. Have fun with it.
06-10-2015, 02:13 PM
#6
Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Great story man, I'd put this right up there with harry potter. Can't wait for the sequel.
But congrats on getting her passed and the dedication of getting another thirdgen back on the road. Your story almost makes me feel guilty for ripping out my air diverter and smog pump last week lol.
But congrats on getting her passed and the dedication of getting another thirdgen back on the road. Your story almost makes me feel guilty for ripping out my air diverter and smog pump last week lol.
06-10-2015, 09:22 PM
#7
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Car: 1985 TA http://bit.ly/1EadkbO
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Transmission: 5 Speed Manual
Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Wow. Dude, what a write-up and what a crazy, nerve-racking story.
I'm happy you followed through with all of it and finally got your car on the road legally!
I'm just realizing that all the crap I had to deal with on my car is no comparison to the kind of stress and punishment you've received.
Enjoy the car
I'm happy you followed through with all of it and finally got your car on the road legally!
I'm just realizing that all the crap I had to deal with on my car is no comparison to the kind of stress and punishment you've received.
Enjoy the car
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06-10-2015, 09:23 PM
#8
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
06-10-2015, 09:26 PM
#9
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
You've been through hell to get to where you are now with the car Mick. Do something nice for the wife to let her know you still care about her. The journey with your car has really just begun. We will continue to help and give you our support here on the board. Many of these folks have helped me out, and that is what it is all about. I was given some advice after I bought my car, and that was "drive it". And that is what I have done. It still needs paint and upholstery but I drive it and enjoy every mile I spend in that car. I enjoy it for what it is. I don't try to blow by everybody on the freeway, but rather enjoy the drive and the smooth running engine. As you put some miles on it, you're going to find things that need to be taken care of. It's a machine and parts wear out; especially 30 year old parts! You'll get to learn about your car. Have fun with it.
Thanks again dude, I'm so glad you responded to my email, or this would have turned out very differently...
The car looks and runs great - now on to installing my cream interior
06-10-2015, 09:31 PM
#10
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
I would move out of that stupid state so fast it's not funny. What a joke but I'm glad you have your dream car together.
06-10-2015, 10:01 PM
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Awesome story! It must feel good to drive it after all that hard work! Especially since it was your dream car.
Glad you kept it alive and you had good people to help you along the way! Hopefully marital issues have been sorted lol
Glad you kept it alive and you had good people to help you along the way! Hopefully marital issues have been sorted lol
06-10-2015, 11:06 PM
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
I honestly think it's a matter of time before the larger cities with smog issues follow suit.
It doesn't make sense for say rural Vermont, (or rural Washington where the seller was from).
They don't have the critical mass that makes smog a problem.
In LA however it's a goddam disaster, the traffic is.... Insane. I have to believe that somehow - this made sense.
(Hey - Or whatever I have to tell myself to feel better right :-) )
06-10-2015, 11:08 PM
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Oh dude.. The feeling of being able to drive without fear of being pulled over? It's like I got out of jail or something.
06-11-2015, 10:11 AM
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Congrats on finally achieving your goal. I commend you on sticking with it and getting your car to run legally instead of taking the easy way out with phony smog certs.
06-11-2015, 10:13 AM
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Are you talking about the state where we can drive our cars all year long? I'm glad I don't have to worry about winterizing my car or dealing with road salt rusting my floorpans and wheel wells. People blow the smog rules out of proportion. They aren't that hard to comply with if you maintain your car.
06-11-2015, 10:19 AM
#16
Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Are you talking about the state where we can drive our cars all year long? I'm glad I don't have to worry about winterizing my car or dealing with road salt rusting my floorpans and wheel wells. People blow the smog rules out of proportion. They aren't that hard to comply with if you maintain your car.
06-11-2015, 11:04 AM
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
06-11-2015, 05:53 PM
#19
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Are you talking about the state where we can drive our cars all year long? I'm glad I don't have to worry about winterizing my car or dealing with road salt rusting my floorpans and wheel wells. People blow the smog rules out of proportion. They aren't that hard to comply with if you maintain your car.
I have never winterized my car, unless you call washing it and putting it in the garage for 3maybe4 months winterizing it. (normally gets upgrades then)
I used to daily it all through winter, no rust, if you know how to maintain your car.
Around here they have actually shut down quite a few smog stations. 97% of the issues found were loose gas caps and it wasn't cost effective to keep them open 4 that.
Want to get rid of the smog in LA? Its easy to do, level the mountains and it will blow away instead of being trapped. (think of air movement in the bed of a pickup truck going down the road)
May not be the easiest way to fix things but it would work like a champ.
06-11-2015, 06:21 PM
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
I'm with you on getting rid of LA. Lucky for me I live on the beach near Ventura. Much cleaner air up here.
06-11-2015, 07:11 PM
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Congrats on getting it done.
I took a new job that moved me out there in 2000. Of course I brought along my 83 L69 car, among others. Little did I know then...
But I know more now. For one thing, I verified pretty thoroughly, by direct A/B comparison. that most of the "devices" that were on the car, had NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER on performance. And that in fact, a rigorous inspection to make sure that everything was installed, leak-free, RIGHT, and at least intact, made my car run AHELLUVALOT better than just half-assing whatever was in my way ATM.
But just the same, it was a humiliating experience: other people told me how my car HAD TO be, and it didn't matter in the slightest what I thought. I had to "submit". (my favorite Internet form word)
Again, congrats; what you've accomplished isn't "easy", given that your car was probably MUCH worse then mine, in terms of having to restore it. Mine, when I moved out there, had a 400 with a big solid cam and a Holley carb on top; BUT, I had been logical enough that EVERY SINGLE PIECE I had ever removed from the car that was related to emissions - wiring, vacuum stuff, whatever - I had thrown in a box and KEPT. So I only had to come up with a few things that were broken or whatever, as opposed to dealing with a complete hack job and basically needing a whole car to scavenge all that stuff off of.
So yeah, I've been where you were, where you are, and maybe even a little of where you WILL BE, with your car. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes with bringing your car up to compliance with the toughest regulations there are. There's been LOTS of cars junked for less than what you had to do, and you NOT ONLY preserved your car, BUT ALSO, now you get to enjoy using it any time you want, without fear of lavishing in "enforcement".
Good job!! Glad we out here could help.
I took a new job that moved me out there in 2000. Of course I brought along my 83 L69 car, among others. Little did I know then...
But I know more now. For one thing, I verified pretty thoroughly, by direct A/B comparison. that most of the "devices" that were on the car, had NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER on performance. And that in fact, a rigorous inspection to make sure that everything was installed, leak-free, RIGHT, and at least intact, made my car run AHELLUVALOT better than just half-assing whatever was in my way ATM.
But just the same, it was a humiliating experience: other people told me how my car HAD TO be, and it didn't matter in the slightest what I thought. I had to "submit". (my favorite Internet form word)
Again, congrats; what you've accomplished isn't "easy", given that your car was probably MUCH worse then mine, in terms of having to restore it. Mine, when I moved out there, had a 400 with a big solid cam and a Holley carb on top; BUT, I had been logical enough that EVERY SINGLE PIECE I had ever removed from the car that was related to emissions - wiring, vacuum stuff, whatever - I had thrown in a box and KEPT. So I only had to come up with a few things that were broken or whatever, as opposed to dealing with a complete hack job and basically needing a whole car to scavenge all that stuff off of.
So yeah, I've been where you were, where you are, and maybe even a little of where you WILL BE, with your car. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes with bringing your car up to compliance with the toughest regulations there are. There's been LOTS of cars junked for less than what you had to do, and you NOT ONLY preserved your car, BUT ALSO, now you get to enjoy using it any time you want, without fear of lavishing in "enforcement".
Good job!! Glad we out here could help.
06-11-2015, 10:22 PM
#22
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Congrats on getting it done.
I took a new job that moved me out there in 2000. Of course I brought along my 83 L69 car, among others. Little did I know then...
But I know more now. For one thing, I verified pretty thoroughly, by direct A/B comparison. that most of the "devices" that were on the car, had NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER on performance. And that in fact, a rigorous inspection to make sure that everything was installed, leak-free, RIGHT, and at least intact, made my car run AHELLUVALOT better than just half-assing whatever was in my way ATM.
But just the same, it was a humiliating experience: other people told me how my car HAD TO be, and it didn't matter in the slightest what I thought. I had to "submit". (my favorite Internet form word)
Again, congrats; what you've accomplished isn't "easy", given that your car was probably MUCH worse then mine, in terms of having to restore it. Mine, when I moved out there, had a 400 with a big solid cam and a Holley carb on top; BUT, I had been logical enough that EVERY SINGLE PIECE I had ever removed from the car that was related to emissions - wiring, vacuum stuff, whatever - I had thrown in a box and KEPT. So I only had to come up with a few things that were broken or whatever, as opposed to dealing with a complete hack job and basically needing a whole car to scavenge all that stuff off of.
So yeah, I've been where you were, where you are, and maybe even a little of where you WILL BE, with your car. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes with bringing your car up to compliance with the toughest regulations there are. There's been LOTS of cars junked for less than what you had to do, and you NOT ONLY preserved your car, BUT ALSO, now you get to enjoy using it any time you want, without fear of lavishing in "enforcement".
Good job!! Glad we out here could help.
I took a new job that moved me out there in 2000. Of course I brought along my 83 L69 car, among others. Little did I know then...
But I know more now. For one thing, I verified pretty thoroughly, by direct A/B comparison. that most of the "devices" that were on the car, had NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER on performance. And that in fact, a rigorous inspection to make sure that everything was installed, leak-free, RIGHT, and at least intact, made my car run AHELLUVALOT better than just half-assing whatever was in my way ATM.
But just the same, it was a humiliating experience: other people told me how my car HAD TO be, and it didn't matter in the slightest what I thought. I had to "submit". (my favorite Internet form word)
Again, congrats; what you've accomplished isn't "easy", given that your car was probably MUCH worse then mine, in terms of having to restore it. Mine, when I moved out there, had a 400 with a big solid cam and a Holley carb on top; BUT, I had been logical enough that EVERY SINGLE PIECE I had ever removed from the car that was related to emissions - wiring, vacuum stuff, whatever - I had thrown in a box and KEPT. So I only had to come up with a few things that were broken or whatever, as opposed to dealing with a complete hack job and basically needing a whole car to scavenge all that stuff off of.
So yeah, I've been where you were, where you are, and maybe even a little of where you WILL BE, with your car. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes with bringing your car up to compliance with the toughest regulations there are. There's been LOTS of cars junked for less than what you had to do, and you NOT ONLY preserved your car, BUT ALSO, now you get to enjoy using it any time you want, without fear of lavishing in "enforcement".
Good job!! Glad we out here could help.
Hey, and guess where i parked my car today and yesterday?
Right smack bang on the public parking area outside the 'posh' house where it got the ticket. Suck it.
06-11-2015, 10:59 PM
#23
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
congrats that would make a good movie omg if you have vacuum advance you have to unplug the vacuum line and plug it to get to base timing drive the !!!! out of it
06-11-2015, 11:24 PM
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Congrats on getting it done.
I took a new job that moved me out there in 2000. Of course I brought along my 83 L69 car, among others. Little did I know then...
But I know more now. For one thing, I verified pretty thoroughly, by direct A/B comparison. that most of the "devices" that were on the car, had NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER on performance. And that in fact, a rigorous inspection to make sure that everything was installed, leak-free, RIGHT, and at least intact, made my car run AHELLUVALOT better than just half-assing whatever was in my way ATM.
But just the same, it was a humiliating experience: other people told me how my car HAD TO be, and it didn't matter in the slightest what I thought. I had to "submit". (my favorite Internet form word)
Again, congrats; what you've accomplished isn't "easy", given that your car was probably MUCH worse then mine, in terms of having to restore it. Mine, when I moved out there, had a 400 with a big solid cam and a Holley carb on top; BUT, I had been logical enough that EVERY SINGLE PIECE I had ever removed from the car that was related to emissions - wiring, vacuum stuff, whatever - I had thrown in a box and KEPT. So I only had to come up with a few things that were broken or whatever, as opposed to dealing with a complete hack job and basically needing a whole car to scavenge all that stuff off of.
So yeah, I've been where you were, where you are, and maybe even a little of where you WILL BE, with your car. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes with bringing your car up to compliance with the toughest regulations there are. There's been LOTS of cars junked for less than what you had to do, and you NOT ONLY preserved your car, BUT ALSO, now you get to enjoy using it any time you want, without fear of lavishing in "enforcement".
Good job!! Glad we out here could help.
I took a new job that moved me out there in 2000. Of course I brought along my 83 L69 car, among others. Little did I know then...
But I know more now. For one thing, I verified pretty thoroughly, by direct A/B comparison. that most of the "devices" that were on the car, had NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER on performance. And that in fact, a rigorous inspection to make sure that everything was installed, leak-free, RIGHT, and at least intact, made my car run AHELLUVALOT better than just half-assing whatever was in my way ATM.
But just the same, it was a humiliating experience: other people told me how my car HAD TO be, and it didn't matter in the slightest what I thought. I had to "submit". (my favorite Internet form word)
Again, congrats; what you've accomplished isn't "easy", given that your car was probably MUCH worse then mine, in terms of having to restore it. Mine, when I moved out there, had a 400 with a big solid cam and a Holley carb on top; BUT, I had been logical enough that EVERY SINGLE PIECE I had ever removed from the car that was related to emissions - wiring, vacuum stuff, whatever - I had thrown in a box and KEPT. So I only had to come up with a few things that were broken or whatever, as opposed to dealing with a complete hack job and basically needing a whole car to scavenge all that stuff off of.
So yeah, I've been where you were, where you are, and maybe even a little of where you WILL BE, with your car. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes with bringing your car up to compliance with the toughest regulations there are. There's been LOTS of cars junked for less than what you had to do, and you NOT ONLY preserved your car, BUT ALSO, now you get to enjoy using it any time you want, without fear of lavishing in "enforcement".
Good job!! Glad we out here could help.
If you have to move state after doing a smog delete, you may have to sell the car altogether, so, as you did, better to keep all of that stuff.
06-12-2015, 05:53 PM
#25
Supreme Member
Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Wow, I just finished Part 1. Didn't know Part 2 was up already.
"and then spent 5 hours outside the store putting my car back together, underneath a sign that said it was illegal to do so."
I've been there and done that so many times when I was younger I knew the guys at the local Pep Boys on a first name basis. They knew the term "hours of operation" didn't apply to me. I could do anything I wanted on their lot, so long as I cleaned up the mess afterwards. I once did a cylinder head swap in their parking lot. They were open until 9 PM. I finished around 1am. But I DROVE that damned car home, by God.
Great story. I've never seen anybody that determined to put their car back to smog-legal the right way. Like me, it sounds like you do your best work with a gun to your head.
"and then spent 5 hours outside the store putting my car back together, underneath a sign that said it was illegal to do so."
I've been there and done that so many times when I was younger I knew the guys at the local Pep Boys on a first name basis. They knew the term "hours of operation" didn't apply to me. I could do anything I wanted on their lot, so long as I cleaned up the mess afterwards. I once did a cylinder head swap in their parking lot. They were open until 9 PM. I finished around 1am. But I DROVE that damned car home, by God.
Great story. I've never seen anybody that determined to put their car back to smog-legal the right way. Like me, it sounds like you do your best work with a gun to your head.
Last edited by Damon; 06-12-2015 at 05:59 PM.
06-12-2015, 09:02 PM
#26
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Wow, I am currently in that same boat... only difference my neighbors don't/haven't called the cops on me and I got it smogged through a guy so that I had my registration and tags... until I get her to pass on her own like yours. I'm happy to hear there is light at the end of the tunnel, gives me hope that Its actually possible and that ill get her done and wave to all my nay sayers with the Ttops down like i was cruising in the 80s.. well maybe not the 80s but you get the drift.
09-12-2015, 04:25 PM
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Re: Thank you members of TGO - My Smog Hell Story - Part 2
Wow, I am currently in that same boat... only difference my neighbors don't/haven't called the cops on me and I got it smogged through a guy so that I had my registration and tags... until I get her to pass on her own like yours. I'm happy to hear there is light at the end of the tunnel, gives me hope that Its actually possible and that ill get her done and wave to all my nay sayers with the Ttops down like i was cruising in the 80s.. well maybe not the 80s but you get the drift.
Did you get it to pass smog?
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