Hi all,

I am buying a 89 TA with 305 TPI and am going to swap in a modded 350 TPI shortly. However, I have no knowledge of smog testing since I am from a no-test state originally. I am going to build the 350 up with higher compression, ported heads, medium cam, headers, etc.

Do you think I will have much problems with the police if (when) I get pulled over with a CA drivers license and out of state plates, or can I just tell them I'm borrowing my dad's car while mine is in the shop for a few months?

Or will I be able to pass emissions somehow with the new 350?

Thanks for any input.

89******bird

 

I may have missed something, but why would you have a Cali driver's license with out of state plates. If you are not in the military, you will need to register your car in Cali if you live in Cali.
If your in the military, you don't need to get a cali license. I've been told by other guys in the service that by federal law you can continue to drive on your home state license and continue to register your car in your home state. It isn't that difficult to get a car past smog in Cali if you think about your mods before you build it. Don't put anything in sight that doesn't have a carb eo #.
Don't use a cam with too much overlap. Lift won't show up on a smog test, so you can use a high lift cam without problems. By the same token, discplacement won't show up on a smog test either. It isn't hard to make close to 400 hp at the flywheel on a smog legal 350 without using power adders.

 

I don't know where you are located, but get in touch with Dyno Don. DD is in SoCal and he can probably help you avoid a lot of unnecessary expense and effort. You may even be able to register that car in California!