Passing smog with new engine
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 126
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From: Concord, CA
Car: 91 Z28
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: ProBuilt 700-R4 & Vigilante Torque Converter
Passing smog with new engine
I have a 91 5.7 Z28. I really need to replace my engine or get it bored out. I would like to put in something with more power, like the RamJet 350 or maybe an LT1. I know the RamJet is made for cars that don't need to be smogged (according to GM dealerships)
What engines can I put into my car and still be able to pass California smog?
What about registering as a special interest vehicle?
Any help would be great.
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Dave
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91 5.7 Z28
What engines can I put into my car and still be able to pass California smog?
What about registering as a special interest vehicle?
Any help would be great.
------------------
Dave
------
91 5.7 Z28
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 42
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
I've been away from California for awhile now, but I doubt the "special interest vehicle" could be applied to a daily driver. As I recall, that was for kit cars, show cars, and the like.
You can put in later model year drivetrains as long as you set it up exactly as it would have been by the factory for that later year, and smog it as such. So, an LT1 is a possibility. I've heard stories of trips to the referee as a given in those situations, though.
An easier route would be to rebuild your 350 with CARB certified replacement parts (or those that can't be seen but don't kill the sniffer test), like ZZ9 cam, Sportsman II heads, Bigmouth intake, shorter runners, larger TB, AFPR, headers & high flow exhaust, and such. You'll get the power, remain smog legal, and probably spend less money than you would on any swap.
Certainly the RamJet is out of the question. Simply not intended for strict emissions enforcement applications.
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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, ZZ3 intake, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam, ported World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat & 3" cat-back, Spohn SFCs).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet (Holley 3310 on the way), GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 600 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).
[This message has been edited by five7kid (edited August 29, 2001).]
You can put in later model year drivetrains as long as you set it up exactly as it would have been by the factory for that later year, and smog it as such. So, an LT1 is a possibility. I've heard stories of trips to the referee as a given in those situations, though.
An easier route would be to rebuild your 350 with CARB certified replacement parts (or those that can't be seen but don't kill the sniffer test), like ZZ9 cam, Sportsman II heads, Bigmouth intake, shorter runners, larger TB, AFPR, headers & high flow exhaust, and such. You'll get the power, remain smog legal, and probably spend less money than you would on any swap.
Certainly the RamJet is out of the question. Simply not intended for strict emissions enforcement applications.
------------------
82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, ZZ3 intake, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam, ported World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat & 3" cat-back, Spohn SFCs).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet (Holley 3310 on the way), GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 600 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).
[This message has been edited by five7kid (edited August 29, 2001).]
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