So, the car is an 87 Formula, had a 305 and I replaced it with a 350 crate engine with a big cam and 2.02 heads. It has the Edelbrock Performer EPS intake and a 600cfm carb, headers and no cat. All emissions equipment is gone. No pump, air tubes, egr, nothing. The computer has also been removed since there was nothing left to control :-) In Georgia the DMV-like place (not really DMV, more like a title place) made the mileage exempt because no one really knew the exact mileage.

Anyway, there is the possibility that I will be moving to California soon. Question is, what the hell would I need to do about the car? With a car rebuilt like that, what are the parts that are required to be there? What can be done? Does anyone know for sure?

 

Are you sure there was nothing left for the computer to control?
In my car the ECM locks and unlocks the torque converter.

 

Had that taken care of when I had the new TC put in.

 

Option 1) Don't move to Cali.
Option 2) Sell car before move to Cali

Cali is going to require all OEM factory equipment back on the car in Cali - that means going back to the original setup.

 

In California, they'll pop the hood, see what appears to be TBI is a carb, close the hood......"You fail." They won't even bother running the test, since you fail on visual basis, regardless of what comes out the end.

You'll hafta either.....
A: convert back to EFI
B: pay extra for an illegal sticker
C: don't move to California, but even other states would fail you on the same thing.

 

It's quite simple - it has to have what the factory put in/on it, or certified replacements.

Take that car to California, plan on it being on a trailer any time it's on the streets.

You could try to make it look like an '87 Caprice 350. That carb will have to go, along with the distributor - computer controlled carb and distributor are the only things you can use. It'll need a cat, A.I.R., and EGR. I don't know exactly what a "big cam" is, but if overlap is excessive, it'll cause you to fail the sniffer.

 

RE: Stephen

Actually from the factory it was carb. the 87 Formula with a 305 was the last Firebird to be offered with a computer controlled carb. You could get it with TBI but this one wasn't.

 

Well this car was mainly just a hobby, something to keep me busy. I love it but I'm not going to let it keep me from moving. From what you guys say and from what I've read today I would definitely have a ton of work to do. So, if I do end up moving this summer then I guess I'll sell my car.

Thanks for the info.

 

Hey buddy I live in Bakersfield, California and I work at a smog test station. You are better off selling the car or find a friend or family member that will let you register the car in another state. You will have to hook all of the smog equipment up and all of the vacuum lines up. It is a big pain in the *** Plus you will have to put a 305 back in it. You might be able to find a dumb smog tech that wont check the casting numbers on the block but that is a big risk. The only thing you can do is call the Department of Motor Vehicles and ask them for some info. January, 1st of every year the state isuses 500 special vehicle registrations. It is a hassle but this is the only way you will get registration here...

 

Thanks for all the help guys

 

your not passing in cali that car probly couldnt pass stock

 

OR ... keep it and make it into a dragstrip monster!

 

I was serious about the trailer comment. If it's just a hobby, make the track your hobby.