I have an '86 Z28 I just brought back from California. I know that the California cars are slightly different for emissions control and all. I was wondering what's different on the California cars, and what I can remove. I live in Minnesota and we don't have any emissions testing anymore so anything goes.

 

I also have a california made car. Well TBI was mainly for California so you can rip that off if you want..........But TBI is very easy to work with so I would stick with it unless you are a good mechanic. The rest is mainly small smog crap that can be ripped off. Have a buddy or someone point it out and get a hayes manual to make sure you do the right stuff.. But if you want great sound..........do what I did. Strait pipe it from the Cat. all the way back. It sounds so great................And you dont have to worry about emissions.

 

Thanks, I probably should have mentioned that I have a TPI system. I think I'm going to remove the catalytic converter and a free flowing exhaust.

I'm also wondering if anyone knows how else they're detuned.

 

I thought all the cars were made the same, but when someone refers to a car as a California Car, that it meant they haven't been in harsh climates and salt?

 

No california has the stupid emission regulations which call for extra smog crap on your car and strict emissions tests. So company's made cars specifically for california. Thats why, If you remember in the very early 80s the corvette actually used TBI which very few people knew.

 

Also CFI.

 

Forgot about that one.......

 

Well this one will knock your socks off, but there was also a 305 Vette with Kalifornia emmisions in the early eighties, or maybe it was late seventies ? Anywho it was a C-3.
Can you believe it ? 305 Vette --- Sick!!!
That was like when heard they were considering a front wheel drive Camaro.

I thought most cars where burning clean by that time that is was just a required label, not realy any extra hardware. Maybe earlier in the seventies the manufactorers were just passing in the rest of the country, and had to add extra things like cats or EGR in Kalifornia.

Ron

 

Actually yes I was referring to that one also.......Just not specifically. But it was obviously a car made for looks only!!!

 

Thirdgen California cars(and plenty other cars) got different PROM calibrations. If you ever look up a PROM, it might list a FEDERAL (49 state) and a CA PROM. I dunno what the different calibrations are though. *shrug*

 

The only differences on an 86 are the prom and theres a different vacuum valve for the charcoal canister. Other than that, it doesnt matter if the car is from Cali or not, you'd have the same stuff.