Passed CA smog again
03-13-13, 09:48 AM
#1
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Passed CA smog again
I received my DMV demand for more moolah and in return they'll give me a shiny sticker.
Well, guess what, right when I got the notice, the car started missing. Then, for some weird reason, several threads popped up here saying their cars were missing.
I figured it was a bad ignitor and since I carry several spares, I went to switch the leading one. You can imagine how stupid I felt when I noticed that the connector to the ignitor was hooked to only one blade. doh
Hooked it up, verified it ran well and set the timing since you will fail if your timing isn't on. At least they don't check the trailing timing.
The smog guy I use is pretty good but when he saw the distributor missing three wires (direct fire) he asked me what was going on. I brought an extra wire for just this purpose. I hooked the coil up to the dist and the plug wires to their connections. Smog guy was happy and it passed with really low numbers compared to the limit.
This two year smog B.S is B.S. They need to do what they originally said which was 25 years but instead they froze it at 1975.
That makes for over 30 years of cars I've owned ( a couple of SAs too) and worked on that passed smog first time and zero failures which if you think like me, it means I'm due for a failure.
Well, guess what, right when I got the notice, the car started missing. Then, for some weird reason, several threads popped up here saying their cars were missing.
I figured it was a bad ignitor and since I carry several spares, I went to switch the leading one. You can imagine how stupid I felt when I noticed that the connector to the ignitor was hooked to only one blade. doh
Hooked it up, verified it ran well and set the timing since you will fail if your timing isn't on. At least they don't check the trailing timing.
The smog guy I use is pretty good but when he saw the distributor missing three wires (direct fire) he asked me what was going on. I brought an extra wire for just this purpose. I hooked the coil up to the dist and the plug wires to their connections. Smog guy was happy and it passed with really low numbers compared to the limit.
This two year smog B.S is B.S. They need to do what they originally said which was 25 years but instead they froze it at 1975.
That makes for over 30 years of cars I've owned ( a couple of SAs too) and worked on that passed smog first time and zero failures which if you think like me, it means I'm due for a failure.
03-13-13, 10:05 AM
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congrats! i agree, the whole smog test program is a huge waste of time, everything passes
03-13-13, 12:05 PM
#3
People are trained to look only at the environmental cost of operation.
No one ever talks about how much more damaging to the environment it is to build a new car, even a Prius, and then scrap an old car which is already built.
Same is true for houses. The greenest building, is the one that's already standing.
These smog checks are fine for working vehicles and commuter cars. But to be so punitive on owners of older cars is akin to a regressive tax on people of lesser income and the auto enthusiast.
It's like saying only cars built Pre-1976 are considered classics.
If a car is still on the road after 30 years, the dammed thing should be given a medal of honor, not a ticket to a crusher.
If a car is that old, it is doubtful that it's seeing many miles each year. There aren't that many on the road to make a difference in emissions, and saving a few more would help the aftermarket industry.
Don't get me wrong, I grew up in the Los Angeles basin, and I remember the horrors of the pollution from the 70-80s. Every day the Summer sky looked like a forest fire was nearby from the hydrocarbons in the smog. I remember the 1st, 2nd and OMG 3rd stage smog alerts that would make us stay in-doors on sunny days. After baseball practice, I'd collapse on the couch gasping for air due to smog inhalation constricting my lungs.
Thankfully my kids don't have to grow up with that. It's not like I'm going to remove the cats from my other cars if there were no smog tests.
But the law won't change due to the fact that California still can't make the clean-air act pollution requirements.
Ironically it will be the electric car that will ultimately save the gas car. However, the pollution will only be generated somewhere else, not at the tailpipe.
Once all commuting and freight is done by electricity, no one will care if I run my car by burning coal.
No one ever talks about how much more damaging to the environment it is to build a new car, even a Prius, and then scrap an old car which is already built.
Same is true for houses. The greenest building, is the one that's already standing.
These smog checks are fine for working vehicles and commuter cars. But to be so punitive on owners of older cars is akin to a regressive tax on people of lesser income and the auto enthusiast.
It's like saying only cars built Pre-1976 are considered classics.
If a car is still on the road after 30 years, the dammed thing should be given a medal of honor, not a ticket to a crusher.
If a car is that old, it is doubtful that it's seeing many miles each year. There aren't that many on the road to make a difference in emissions, and saving a few more would help the aftermarket industry.
Don't get me wrong, I grew up in the Los Angeles basin, and I remember the horrors of the pollution from the 70-80s. Every day the Summer sky looked like a forest fire was nearby from the hydrocarbons in the smog. I remember the 1st, 2nd and OMG 3rd stage smog alerts that would make us stay in-doors on sunny days. After baseball practice, I'd collapse on the couch gasping for air due to smog inhalation constricting my lungs.
Thankfully my kids don't have to grow up with that. It's not like I'm going to remove the cats from my other cars if there were no smog tests.
But the law won't change due to the fact that California still can't make the clean-air act pollution requirements.
Ironically it will be the electric car that will ultimately save the gas car. However, the pollution will only be generated somewhere else, not at the tailpipe.
Once all commuting and freight is done by electricity, no one will care if I run my car by burning coal.
03-13-13, 12:19 PM
#4
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I remember when the 30 year exemption was thirty years
People are trained to look only at the environmental cost of operation.
If a car is that old, it is doubtful that it's seeing many miles each year. There aren't that many on the road to make a difference in emissions, and saving a few more would help the aftermarket industry.
Ironically it will be the electric car that will ultimately save the gas car. However, the pollution will only be generated somewhere else, not at the tailpipe.
Once all commuting and freight is done by electricity, no one will care if I run my car by burning coal.
If a car is that old, it is doubtful that it's seeing many miles each year. There aren't that many on the road to make a difference in emissions, and saving a few more would help the aftermarket industry.
Ironically it will be the electric car that will ultimately save the gas car. However, the pollution will only be generated somewhere else, not at the tailpipe.
Once all commuting and freight is done by electricity, no one will care if I run my car by burning coal.
Pretty stupid, how many cars are still on the road from 1984? Is there so many that the skies will turn black if they aren't tested? I wish I could put on a header and eliminate the smog pump but no, they don't care if your car emits unicorn farts, if it fails the physical inspection, you don't even get to the tailpipe test.
I have MSD and the tech wondered if that was allowed in CA?
03-13-13, 02:05 PM
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it is true the air is cleaner than it used to be, i recently watched an A team episode, and it started with a long shot of downtown LA, which is covered in this brown cloud, you can see how bad it really was. although i kind of doubt its because of the biannual smog inspections.
the MSD should have a CARB number.
the MSD should have a CARB number.
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03-13-13, 06:47 PM
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03-13-13, 07:44 PM
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Yea Illinois has been doing away with smog testing.... The only places that still do it are around Chicago area, Springfield, and the St. Louis area. I think after so many years you should need a visual inspection. AIR pump is on and operating, cats are in place. If you meet those requirements then you pass.
03-14-13, 10:52 AM
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03-14-13, 02:49 PM
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Oh no...
Oh no, that makes you an enemy of the state! Forget armed robbery, breaking and entering, domestic violence and pedophiles, you are the worst threat to humanity since Hitler!
Do I really need a sarcasm tag?
03-14-13, 03:39 PM
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it fails the visual. why would you think a government run emissions test would have anything to do with emissions?
03-14-13, 04:21 PM
#16
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No, there are different tests.
No, there are different tests. When smogII was announced, it was only implemented in some counties. Of course, by now, they might be in every county in CA. The costs to the testing stations are enormous. They need a road dyno along with the regular test equipment. In Ca, RX-7s are classified as 'gross polluters' which means you can only go to a test only station but if there are problems, you have to take it somewhere else, then bring it back to where you tested originally if they allow free retests.
The big problem is you can't trust any politician from either side of the spectrum. Sacramento county installed water meters but they said it was just to track water usage and they would never, ever use the readings to charge people per gallon as well as charging more if you pass some arbitrary limit. I know this will shock many but guess what? Now they charge by the gallon and raise your rates if you pass the baselines. Corrupt bastages!
They need to go back to the 35 year limit. Once your car is 35 years or older, it shouldn't need to be tested for smog compliance and that was how it was originally sold by the DMV. Now they freeze it at 1975. Great, I can get a Vega that doesn't require a smog test but that '76 vette you were looking at, better pray it passes smog and if people remember what engine compartments looked like in the late '70s and 80s, they were a nightmare of vacuum hoses, EGR valves, smog pumps, sealed idle mixture screws on carbs and on and on. They usually included a map of the vacuum hoses on a sticker somewhere but it was never very accurate.
Now with injection, feedback via the O2 sensor and three way cats, engine compartments are a lot less cluttered except for those funky plastic covers that are supposed to lower the sounds the engine makes and the smog emitted is a mere fraction of what even the best tuned car of the 70s had.
I never noticed before but they test for CO2. Great, now the environazis will use the global warming B.S. to regulate everything they can get their mitts on as well as trade carbon credits (Al Gore made serious money selling his snake oil). Too bad none of those folks never took a science class; maybe they might learn what chlorophyll does.
The big problem is you can't trust any politician from either side of the spectrum. Sacramento county installed water meters but they said it was just to track water usage and they would never, ever use the readings to charge people per gallon as well as charging more if you pass some arbitrary limit. I know this will shock many but guess what? Now they charge by the gallon and raise your rates if you pass the baselines. Corrupt bastages!
They need to go back to the 35 year limit. Once your car is 35 years or older, it shouldn't need to be tested for smog compliance and that was how it was originally sold by the DMV. Now they freeze it at 1975. Great, I can get a Vega that doesn't require a smog test but that '76 vette you were looking at, better pray it passes smog and if people remember what engine compartments looked like in the late '70s and 80s, they were a nightmare of vacuum hoses, EGR valves, smog pumps, sealed idle mixture screws on carbs and on and on. They usually included a map of the vacuum hoses on a sticker somewhere but it was never very accurate.
Now with injection, feedback via the O2 sensor and three way cats, engine compartments are a lot less cluttered except for those funky plastic covers that are supposed to lower the sounds the engine makes and the smog emitted is a mere fraction of what even the best tuned car of the 70s had.
I never noticed before but they test for CO2. Great, now the environazis will use the global warming B.S. to regulate everything they can get their mitts on as well as trade carbon credits (Al Gore made serious money selling his snake oil). Too bad none of those folks never took a science class; maybe they might learn what chlorophyll does.
03-14-13, 11:12 PM
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I guess CARB is the price to pay to live in beautiful, sunny, California.
Fwiw, in Ontario we recently have done away with dyno based emissions testing. We now have a check engine light inspection (if OBD II) followed by a "2 step idle" test (idle, then 2500 rpm). They have however implemented a huge number of tactics to prevent people from scamming the system (camera built into the test unit, a VIN scanner for the ECU). So for now, there's no way to "buy" your way out of being tested.
Regardless though, in Ontario, any car 1987 or older is emission exempt. SA22 ftw?
Fwiw, in Ontario we recently have done away with dyno based emissions testing. We now have a check engine light inspection (if OBD II) followed by a "2 step idle" test (idle, then 2500 rpm). They have however implemented a huge number of tactics to prevent people from scamming the system (camera built into the test unit, a VIN scanner for the ECU). So for now, there's no way to "buy" your way out of being tested.
Regardless though, in Ontario, any car 1987 or older is emission exempt. SA22 ftw?
03-15-13, 10:13 AM
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I'd like to see that
It must move. Any problems with the rear end? I guess you could use the rear end from the V8 MG or maybe you already did.
I'd like to see you next to a muscle car, boy would they be surprised. I don't advocate street racing, you don't want to kill anyone but around here, Wednesday nights at the strip, you run what you brung and I'd like to see the numbers for that car.
Did you use a carb or injection?
03-15-13, 10:42 AM
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I guess CARB is the price to pay to live in beautiful, sunny, California.
Fwiw, in Ontario we recently have done away with dyno based emissions testing. We now have a check engine light inspection (if OBD II) followed by a "2 step idle" test (idle, then 2500 rpm). They have however implemented a huge number of tactics to prevent people from scamming the system (camera built into the test unit, a VIN scanner for the ECU). So for now, there's no way to "buy" your way out of being tested.
Regardless though, in Ontario, any car 1987 or older is emission exempt. SA22 ftw?
Fwiw, in Ontario we recently have done away with dyno based emissions testing. We now have a check engine light inspection (if OBD II) followed by a "2 step idle" test (idle, then 2500 rpm). They have however implemented a huge number of tactics to prevent people from scamming the system (camera built into the test unit, a VIN scanner for the ECU). So for now, there's no way to "buy" your way out of being tested.
Regardless though, in Ontario, any car 1987 or older is emission exempt. SA22 ftw?
for the OBD2 cars we're supposed to switch to just an ECU plug in test, that was the whole point of OBD2, was that the car could smog itself, of course we run it thru the sniffer anyways...
yes! i was thinking about an MGB, actually
(I kid...)
03-15-13, 01:26 PM
#23
Indeed. One thing about MN, we will likely survive even the most catastrophic events.
As far as possible from any coastline.
More fresh water than anywhere in the world.
iron, natural gas, agricultural and technological resources.
top medical centers of the world
excellent education
etc. etc.
Global warming, famin, natural disasters, North Korea... Bring it on, MN will survive anything, so im not going anywhere.
As far as possible from any coastline.
More fresh water than anywhere in the world.
iron, natural gas, agricultural and technological resources.
top medical centers of the world
excellent education
etc. etc.
Global warming, famin, natural disasters, North Korea... Bring it on, MN will survive anything, so im not going anywhere.
03-15-13, 07:13 PM
#24
Indeed. One thing about MN, we will likely survive even the most catastrophic events.
As far as possible from any coastline.
More fresh water than anywhere in the world.
iron, natural gas, agricultural and technological resources.
top medical centers of the world
excellent education
etc. etc.
Global warming, famin, natural disasters, North Korea... Bring it on, MN will survive anything, so im not going anywhere.
As far as possible from any coastline.
More fresh water than anywhere in the world.
iron, natural gas, agricultural and technological resources.
top medical centers of the world
excellent education
etc. etc.
Global warming, famin, natural disasters, North Korea... Bring it on, MN will survive anything, so im not going anywhere.
I could hardly stand my Missouri State University schooling. My equalibrium was off without any bridges.
03-15-13, 10:47 PM
#25
I'd like to see that! I had a '72 Spitfire and it was so light, you could pick up the rear by yourself and I can't imagine an MGB being too different.
It must move. Any problems with the rear end? I guess you could use the rear end from the V8 MG or maybe you already did.
I'd like to see you next to a muscle car, boy would they be surprised. I don't advocate street racing, you don't want to kill anyone but around here, Wednesday nights at the strip, you run what you brung and I'd like to see the numbers for that car.
Did you use a carb or injection?
It must move. Any problems with the rear end? I guess you could use the rear end from the V8 MG or maybe you already did.
I'd like to see you next to a muscle car, boy would they be surprised. I don't advocate street racing, you don't want to kill anyone but around here, Wednesday nights at the strip, you run what you brung and I'd like to see the numbers for that car.
Did you use a carb or injection?
-It's a Midget, so it's smaller and lighter than the Spitfire and MGB.
-I'm going to be using a narrowed rear from and -SE, shortened, and convertible to wire wheel hubs for street, and 15x7 Panasports for track on 225 Hoosier R1s.
-Yes, it will be set up for road racing, but is going to look somewhat stock, excluding the roll-cage. My goal is to embarrass everyone on open track days.
-I recently took off the injection in favor of a DCOE Weber.
Power to weight should be much better than most supercars.