Hello, I know this is a Camaro forum but y'all will tell me what to do or where to go if there's a better forum (I bet there ain't).

My truck is a 95 7.4 2500 Suburban. It was registered fine in Rhode Island, but upon coming to Cali, the official smog place said I needed a cat installed. The muffler place (they must install the cat legally) said $300 for a cat and a pipe hanger, using my existing pipe. That seemed like a good idea.

The problem is that the official testing center, said about 400 bucks for silly repairs like rotted evaporation can hoses and some electrical tape on my on other hoses. I feel like I can replace all that myself.

Well anyway, the mechanic gave me this kinda "Oh no, she's a mess" act, when I know this truck to be solid and just towed my TT across the whole USA, no problem. It's a Cali thing, you gotta pay the tribute, to the air gods.

So, I need to do the repairs all on my own, no prob, mostly cosmetic, get the exhaust guys to do their thing, pay them, then bring it up to the testing place, and have them test it again. Here the thing, the guy said she needs a timing adjust. Now, this truck may lope one or two times for every minute she sits at idle, but that's it. She will idle until the cows come home. I always put mobil 1 in and monitor my fluids, I know she was cared for before me.

So, I have the checklist on engine timing setting, from this thread: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tbi/...ce-retard.html

haven't done it before but I watched a lot of guys do it when I was a kid growing up. I have an ancient snap on timing light I got second hand. I am first going to detail/clean my neglected engine compartment so I can work.

So, I guess my questions are these:

1: Can I set the timing myself so as to expect to pass smog, at this time in Cali? I would like to use the cable and software for this motor, but I am not sure which software that would be. I am an IT guy and I do have an old Win XP laptop lying here perfect for just tuning my truck, but what's the cost for buy-in, so that I can tune it myself, and out fox the emissions place that wants to charge me 10x what it would cost me to do it myself?

2: Does my Suburban have an "air pump" like some of these other TBI smog restricted cars with cats? The exhaust guys said that on my truck, the cat can go mid-tailpipe, so I guess maybe they run a hose or something to the engine compartment? What other questions can I ask the players in this process?

Well anyway, I know you guys are experts and your cars have the TBI as does my truck, and I know there are some sweet Camaros in California. ...How long until 1995 is considered a classic year and I don't have to smog my truck? Hehe, thanks for any help as I try to keep my baby rolling inside the USA, not surrender her to cash 4 clunkers destruction matrix for all these great vehicles!

 

Put the cat close to the manifolds as you can
It will probably always need to be smogged, 75 and older dont but still supposed to have the smog in place even if it doesnt work
Belive theres a pipe or hose that comes off the cat and goes to the smog pump
You can get the pump etc stuff at most auto parts stores fortunately.
Set timing to factory specs