basically im trying to get the low-down on what you could change and still pass a visual smog check. i know its supposed to be all emissions related equipment(anything that interferes with combustion, right?), but what are the specifics of that, and even more specifically(and hard to answer im sure), what of that could one possibly get away with.

an example of something that to me shouldnt matter is transmission type. but i think the underhood label specifies the tranny, and i know the emissions equipement differed between t-5 and 700r4 during 89 at least. since i just swapped a t-5 in, should i now have to swap to all the factory equiped t-5 equipment? i can see why they could say i have to, but really, if i put T/A GFX on my firebird, i dont have to swap in a v-8 to pass smog, so why wouldnt i be able to change my tranmission(i can change mufflers without CARB #s).

secondly , what about changing ignition components? you can change iginition coils and stuff, so would i be able to switch from dizzy to DIS(yah i know there are other complexities, but based purely on the presence of the distributor and/or coil packs) and still pass a visual?

and this is for someone like 2.8boy who is a smog technician, do they check all the sensors(little things like iat, etc) and wire routing and stuff, or do they just give it a once or twice over and make sure the ses light isnt on?

 

I don't understand why a car would have to pass a visual if the emissions from the tail pipe are within specs.

 

neither does anyone else really. i can understand checking for cold start emissions equipment, because supposedly thats where the majority of emisions comes from, but there are a lot of things you can change that have absolutely no impace on cold start, and they are **** about those too.

 

You can change basically anything they cant see by popping the hood (pistons, cam, etc)... and things that have a CARB number if you can see them (headers, intake, etc).

 

Last time my car was inspected, the visual was just to see that everything was there and hooked up. The didn't test anything under the hood individually. After they saw it all was there and connected, it was on to the tailpipe sniffer. So, you'll need to have all the factory smog hardware there and connected up. Charcoal cannister, EGR, PCV, cat and all the hoses going to the valve covers.

Oh, I forgot, they do check base timing with the strobe. It has to be within 1 degree of what's on the hood sticker.

 

Here in Colorado, they opened the hood and looked at the machine. That was it.

I thought to myself... I could probably put a carburator on there with the same air cleaner and they could not tell.


Fock those guys.

They should get the big companies for their trucks and smog, not the little guy.
I was reading that 82% of smog comes from factories and big vehicles such as 18wheelers and such.

THe rest of it was from cars...

I am thinking that someone here is ****ing with us.

 

your trans swap is fine because the t5/2.8 was sold in CA. but if it was a federal only option then it wouldn't be smog legal but no one cares about a trans.

you can't change to DIS and be legal unless you change the motor to one with DIS and all emissions hardware that came with the motor. then you would have to go to a ref for the first inspection and if you pass he'll issue you a bar label

oh and bar say's timing can be +/- 3* of the timing spec given

you can get away with a lot if you know the rules

BAR