I need to know is there is anyone out there who is from california and has to deal with the stupid emissions laws that might know how easy it is to pass smog with a 350w/ vortec heads on it.... Cuz i found a lot of engines, and I actually have the money to get one now, but the one I REALLY want has vortec heads on it and i have heard from others that the engine will not pass smog... soo, i dunno, just wondering if anyone could clarify for me ;-) thx!!

 

Check this out:
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Che..._V-8_Smog.html

I've read that through a couple of times, and nothing I've seen tells me you can get a Vortec-headed 3rd gen through the process. Main reason is this statement: "... you can't put a heavy-duty truck engine (over 6000 lb GVW) into an S-10 Truck because heavy-duty truck engines have less stringent emissions limits than light duty trucks." Put "automobile" in place of "S-10 Truck" for our application, same story. And, guess what: Vortec heads come from (drum roll, please..............) TRUCK ENGINES.

Somebody made a claim that they know "a bunch of people" who've gotten Vortec heads through Kalifornia emissions. They provided no objective evidence, however.

I have no doubt the SDPC Vortec TPI engine would pass the sniffer. The rub comes in the part where they open the hood.

 

Might want to check the definition of "heavy duty" emissions. 8600# and up is what the EPA classifies as heavy duty.
Tim sends

 

Vortec motors are also from light duty gm pickups too.
I'd just make sure all the emissions stuff is there and functional. If there are calif. emissions legal headers for the GM trucks with Vortec heads ('96-99 L-31) have a look at them and see how the EGR plumbing looks and functions. Make yours the same.

 

I may be wrong here, but aren't the newer (OBD2) LIGHT trucks (Under 8600 GVW) held to the same emissions standars as passenger cars? Even if they're not, I can't imagine a head as good as vortecs causing problems with emissions testing, as long as you get the EGR plumbed in to the intake...

 

worse comes to worse you just swap the heads at time of checking. then you could get rid of all your emmisions crap till next year or two i dont know but i could be wrong never had to deal with emmissions
:lala: :lala: :lala: :lala:

 

I have all the stock emissions stuff already, i dont need to get her smogged for another year and a half or so, but as of now i still run exhaust manifolds, not headers, and even so, i have found some headers that come equpped with the A.I.R. system. I just heard that there is a problem with testing vortec heads because they are missing some part or something that is used to test other heads.. but very true, i could find a set of non-vortec heads in a year and a half

 

Dyno Don is running a set on his Camaro and has passed the California smog test. He can be found on the Southern California portion of this web site if you want to contact him. Allen

 

The only thing that difference between vortec heands and most any other chevy head is that it doesn't have exhaust cross over. the passage that runs through the intake manifold under the carb, on a standard head there is a little passage between combustion chamber of cylinders 3 & 5 and cylinders 4 & 6. That passage feeds little bit of exhaust gasses straight under the carburator for cold weather. I dont know how easy can you drill that out. I really don't think EGR does that much for emission control, just make it look like it's there. Most people have hard time passing smog test not because of the head swap, but because they also change CAM and also after all this trouble they usually don't keep the Q-jet.

 

well, as of right now, I have a 100% stock engine, with all emissions in tact, the smog was done a week before i bought it and it passed easily... soo I have everything it needs to pass smog.. i just wasnt sure if the engine itself would pass the sniffer

 

I dont think the problem is the heads themselfs or EGR crossover that would tip them off. The aftermarket manifold would probably be the biggest hint. I guess if you could manage to use an extrenal EGR they probably would still fuss about it. This is where a direct replacment has the advantage, stealth and fast is better then fast and not being able to liscence your car.

 

I haven't spent time on that forum, and haven't heard him speak up.

Did he go through the "engine change" referee process, get it by a normal inspection without them noticing, or some under-the-table thing?

 

I was over at his shop and Don mentioned that he was running the Vortex heads on his Camaro. I will follow up on it. Allen