Hello all =]. New to the forums here and possibly* a new owner of a FC3S as well.

Basically.. I'm buying a 88' FC3S (Bone Stock 10th anniversary edition w/ low mileage) and was wondering if it is going to have issues being registered here in California. The car is currently registered in Montana and when I called the CA DMV to check on a few other questions about registering, the lady mentioned that most cars in the 80s were manufactured as either a 49 or 50 state emission-legal vehicle. I don't want to purchase the FC and find out that it isn't able to be registered here in California due to failing emissions / smog.

If anyone has some insight on this it would help me out a TON.

 

unless the laws changed(again) then there should be no reason why it can't be transferred. as long as it has the emissions equipment and can actually pass the test.

 

This, theres a couple people on here in cali that have t2s and get them to pass smog. You just have to have practically EVERYTHING stock emissions on it to pass

 

The car is completely stock iirc. But I should still look to replace the plugs and probably go to a more lenient ref right?

 

plugs are the minorest part of the whole system. Make sure the original or CALI approved cat is on it, air pump and ALL emissions are on it. Being its low mileage, chances of it being totally stock are very good

 

there is no such thing as a more lenient referee. there is such a thing as more lenient emissions counties though.

i personally had less of an issue doing the unloaded non enhanced emissions tests in the rural areas, some people prefer the loaded dyno enhanced test which is in the heavily populated cities. both tests have some pros and cons, depending if your car and emissions equipment is at 100%.

 

No idea about the pros and cons of either. This is going to be my first ever "project" car and one that I plan on working a lot on / learning a lot about. Thanks for the help guys <3. Was asking primarily just in case it was absolutely not possible to register the car here in CA. But the minor modifications / tune-ups you guys mentioned can't be more than a few hundred bucks. Worth it to me.