Looking to sell my FD but don't want to put all the stock parts back in so I need to go through smog to transfer for the title in CA. Anyone familiar with CA smog laws?

Does it have to pass in the county it's registered in?

If not, can anyone help my car pass? I live in far northern California, in Redding.

Ugh, anyone know what I would get for it just as-is with no smog cert? or non-oping it allowing the new owner to deal with it. I just dont have time for it.

go here for pics, click on the file name sorry this isn't an official for sale post, just trying to get an idea...

http://tabrashow.com/shane/rx7/

-15k on a rebuilt by Ricks Rotary with brand new 99 spec turbo (turbo was replaced when engine rebuilt)
-120 on chassis
-montego blue w/ tan interior (no fin)
-very clean interior, minor dings/scratches
-new o2 sensor
-greddy front mount intercooler
-koyo all aluminum radiator
-pettit boost gauage and underdrive pulley
-new red top gel battery relocated to rear bin
-new high flow cat
-New clutch.
-Rebuilt gearbox.
-3 inch downpipe
-Racing Beat cat-back exaust.
-K&N high flow air filters.
-Short throw shifter.
-18 inch Enkei Racing Wheels (plus stock chrome rims in an extra set of tires)



Thanks
Shane
530-604-4094

 

With those modifications you have listed there, I dont see why you couldn't pass smog. You may fail the visual inspection however for having the intercooler and a downpipe. I passed smog with a high flow midcat, a bad precat, and a working air pump. Make sure all of your under the hood mods are CARB legal, make sure they cannot see the downpipe, and last make sure your air pump is working.
Before the test, make sure your car is fully warmed up, and you will pass.

 

I think you can pass, too. If you can, throw a standard cat on there... but, I have passed with a high flow cat, downpipe, exhaust, airpump, and stock ecu. Or $$$

 

You don't need to worry about the downpipe. I passed w/ my dp on my car, with main cat and working airpump. Fresh oil change/spark plugs is key.

Visual is all you need to pass, but I've heard that as long as the turbos are "stock" then anything between the turbo and intake manifold is totally legal (although law enforcement will slap a state ref on you for anything shiny)

 

I too have a mid pipe and no problems whatsoever. I've passed several checks by different stations. Keep in mind that most smog stations rarely if ever see a 3rd gen. As long as everything appears to be stock you won't have any problems (full warmup beforehand is always a good idea).

 

Just sell as is "Needs smog"...
Or you just under the table $$$ smog it when they buy it.

i know theres alot of people who will bitch about that and try to low ball on that, they should know what they are getting into when buying a custom sports car.

 

A shinny intercooler with big aluminum piping with blue silicone sleeves looks no where near stock, they will never pass it on the visual. I have no carb paperwork. Has anyone ever made up their carb paperwork? But yeah, no problems with the down pipe.

Not to mention the underdrive pulley slows down the air pump at idle, causing the HCs to rise at idle above the legal limit. For it to pass numbers I'd have to put the stock pulley back on, which involves tearing everything else.

Any chance I'd get 14k without a smog cert?

 

The lack of a smog cert will dramatically reduce your pool of prospective buyers and probably take thousands from your selling price. Sell the IC and pulleys and use the proceeds to pay a mechanic if you don't want to do the work yourself.

You also need to look at the current selling prices of high mile FDs. Even with a smog cert you are looking at $9k or so with those miles.

 

You can put that on the bill of sale, but if the buyer wanted to be a **** they could still take you to court and win. Only way to be safe when selling a car that doesn't pass is as a non-op.

 

$9k seems low.

Not that it makes a difference but the milage on the car is 110,000 (not 120)

 

The last six months have been a killer on many used cars. Remember, you can't get loans for these cars any more so are looking for a cash buyer. You can get a lot of FD for $14k these days, e.g., http://www.speedforsale.com/viewcar.php?vid=474

 

Wow. Things have changed a lot since I bought mine. I still think I'll get quite a bit more than $9,000. You are right, I wont get $14,000. But maybe 11 or 12? :-/ My FD is pretty well kept for having 110k miles, especially the interior. I have well over 15k in receipts from the rebuilds alone. I guess only time will tell...

This one sold for $7,000 with no engine, transmission, exhaust or radiator. http://www.speedforsale.com/viewcar.php?vid=475 I would like to think my motor, IC, radiator, exhaust, tranny, etc. are worth more than $2k... but maybe not.

 

No harm in trying for $14k. Apparently, things have picked up a little in the last month, but the financing thing is still a bit of a problem.

 

OP

FD Shells can be had for 3-4k if you know where to look. Honestly your car needs super minor things to make it pass smog. Leave your fmic on, but unhook the piping, hook up stock intercooler. Hide any boost controllers and such in your car. Replace that underdrive pulley if it really is causing high HC at idle. Done.

99% of smog techs in my area really don't care about the precats, so you're fine. Catbacks are legal. Techs don't check if your cat is high flow or not...and I really doubt they'd care. In fact there's a few techs in my area that would do your car just as it is if it was my car since I've brought my countless cars to them.

The way I see it is like this: Spend a whole 4 hours MAX on your car, smog it legally, sell it with the supporting mods or even reinstall them. Throw your car up for sale @ 14k.

Or try and find a smog tech that's really chill..selling cars unsmogged can come back to bite you in the ***.

EDIT: And you don't have to smog your car in your county I just think if you have to dyno smog your car in your county you have to find a station in any county with the dyno rollers.

 

SmogSUX: I think you are right about the county thing. My county doesn't have dyno rollers, they just use a sniffer on the exhaust. But I do know someone that will help it pass in Sacramento County and they have dynos. (the reason why I was interested) I've never had anyone say anything about my cats or downpipe either.

 

Then you're golden there. I had my car smogged in Sacramento and they just did sniffer (no dyno) due to my county only needing sniffer w/o dyno.

 

i failed smog last week in northern cali. eureka to be exact. i have a new main cat and a new primary cat i have installed an air pump for the test failed horribly they say im supposed to have a third cat and even with that he said i would prolly fail.seems i have wasted alot of time dicking around with these places and i need some tricks. the law is not on my side with this one!

 

and you are?

 

A main cat is the same as primary cat on an FD. There is no third cat, though I am assuming they are referring to the cat in the stock downpipe. However, you can easily pass the sniffer part of the test without this cat. Find another shop.

 

What shop did you go to? PM me and I'll recommend a shop.


OP sell your car to someone in a county that only does the sniffer. Smog is a bitch if you go to a place that really inspects it. IF you do try and smog it go to a small mom and pop place.