Hey guys! First time 7 owner here out of LA!

Had a quick question, I just just bought an Mazda RX-7 84 GSL-SE that unbeknownst to me had 3 failed smog attempts for previous years and is now flagged for state ref automatically..

Now I’m trying to smog/register and have to go to state ref.

I’ve researched about state refs and know the basics. Just wanted to reach out and see if yall got any knowledge on this?

Car is stock for the most part

Mods:
Rats nest delete.
New Koyo radiator/hoses
A/C disconnected
P/S disconnected
Racing beat Rotor Muffler
High flow cat with O2 sensors welded? Unk brand

I know I’ll have to get new cat & sensors maybe muffler because it’s a little loud and well it’s Cali, just at least for now then I’ll go back to modded. Just need to complete registration.

anyone with a loaner parts or selling to help me pass emissions! Lol

84 Gsl-se

 

For future reference:
The seller is responsible for smog inspection
Section 24007 (b)(2) of the California Vehicle Code states it’s the responsibility of the seller to provide a valid smog certificate before or during the sale of a vehicle.

The person who sold you this car (if they are in CA) is legally liable for this car not passing smog. I'd get my money back if I were you, if they refuse sue them for the money that it took to get this car on the road.

 

^^^

It's a huge hassle from what I've read, and if they withheld the information about auto-flag and failed smogs, it's likely they were trying to get rid of this headache and pass it onto you. Definitely try to get your money back, if at all possible.

 

And, if I'm not mistaken. 3 State Ref referrals an they smash your car. You have 1 on the books already.

 

I've been through the referee program for an engine swap. It was very very detailed, and took quite a while to finish. They check everything they can, and everything must be on the car as it was delivered. I'm very sorry to say it, but you should take the car back. It will cost much more to fix it than simply buying a car that is already compliant

 

I have never heard of that. Do you have a link?

 

yeah from what I’ve gathered so far, it’s a huge headache. I mean having source the parts is one thing, getting it to California Compliant with Smog is a whole other game, smh… Might have to try to sell it out of state and just register it PNO for now.

 

Have you tried contacting the seller?

 

No way to pass Ref unless you have 100% OEM emission equipment. Been through it with my EJ205 swapped GC8. It was a pain in the ***. They do really check everything. Being pre-OBDII might be a saving grace since you don't have to chase error codes.

 

For those of you guys that have been state refereed, any tips and advice on how to not get pulled over and reduce changes of being state ref'd? I don't drive like an a-hole, and definitely won't when my FD is finished either.

How did you guys end up getting ref'd?

 

Usually all it takes is for an officer to tell you to pop your hood. If they see anything they don't like its up to their discretion whether they want to give you a ticket for it. Unfortunately, enthusiasts get lumped in with all of the asshats doing takeovers so cops are being extra vigilant for anything to get offenders off the road.

I've never been sent to the state referee but I have been pulled over a few times over the course of my 23 years of ownership. Every time it was justified so it wasn't as if I was being targeted. There is no guarantee but the biggest advice is to be respectful and not have your car look like a racer boy owns it. So no gaudy body mods, huge wing, stanced car, big muffler, visible gauges, or loud car. In other words, something a doctor or lawyer would own.

To drive the point further. Which one of these two FDs do you think is most likely to have their hood popped during a traffic stop?

This:


Or:

^^ BTW the stock looking one is single turbo, Vmout, no airpump, ect but also has a tasteful muffler, no external body mods, and no tint on the windows.



https://petrolicious.com/articles/1-...-mazda-rx-7-r1

Two extreme examples but you get the point.

 

Thanks, that makes a lot of sense. The extent to my mods will be a 99 spec front bumper (rethinking the carbon front lip) and 99 spec rear wing with carbon plate, RPF1 wheels and a greddy exhaust. Will be installing a high flow cat to reduce smell and sound though.

Going to definitely keep gauges at a minimum and remove all tinting I have. Never was a fan of tints to begin with, especially for nighttime driving. So far I've only been pulled over once for a non-speed related thing in high school when I was 17, and I'm 30 now. I can't say I've never sped before, but definitely am a safe driver.

You're definitely right in being respectful and not looking like some racer will go a long way. Going to also have an extra stethoscope in the passenger seat at all times to hang in the rearview.

 

I went to the ref for an engine swap certification. Avoid that, don't look like an *** and you'll be fine. Cops popping hoods is very very rare. I'm fairly certain it's considered a vehicle search so they need just cause to begin with

 

Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better. Really hope the high flow cat from RX7.com brings down the sound from the Greddy catback, or I'll be forced to find a new catback lol.

Only thing I'll have to do is remove my tinting for my side windows at the very least, and maybe use a front license plate just so they don't have an excuse to pull me over.

 

+1 to Montego

My car is very stock in appearance but very attention-grabbing in sound and smell. I've been pulled over for unrelated things in the car about twice now, the general things you do to not grief a cop goes a long way. Turning off the car and making it apparent that the key is out of ignition, keeping hands on the wheel and visible, everything to make their job easier. If they're not having a bad day usually they'll reciprocate.

When I just got the car, too, I might've actually showed off to one that pulled me over how cool the PFC commander was. He just thought it was cool and I somehow got away with being a massive idiot.

 

So are your only mods a hiflow catback and a catback? IMO a muffler won't likely get you to the ref, especially if they look under the hood.

But if you are concerned over the greddy unit get yourself a racing beat dual tip. I have one, most people think its stock and it sounds great IMO.

https://www.racingbeat.com/RX7-1993-...sts/16427.html

^wow they have gotten pricey... I paid $450 for mine back in the day

go to 0:19 for the sound:

 

Stock twins for now with a haltec 2500 until my twins die and I can upgrade to an 8374 EFR single. Once I get the high flow cat on I’ll definitely see if it’s still “too loud”.

This is my part list below, my vmount is last thing I’m on waiting on right now. Will have 99 spec front bumper, wing and CF front lip and wing plate. May use the RX7 Japan front plate only occasionally to avoid getting pulled over. Other than the v mount that should be here in a few weeks I got rest of the parts:

 

Ah ok. Now I get why you have concerns.

 

The v-mount, the plan to go single or the exterior?

Pretty similar to what it'd look like, but would attach the front license plate instead of that plate, remove tints and stick to the OEM 99 spec front lip if that will help keep attention away. The Greddy exhaust is loud but I bought it already on the car and straight piped, have the Bonez HFC sitting just waiting to be installed, and hope that brings down the sound. If not will definitely buy the racing beat exhaust you linked.

When done, will look pretty similar to this with just a 99 spec wing. Will keep the OEM 99 spec front lip if that helps take away attention from the car. Starting the overall plan right now lol

 

I 2nd the RB Dual Tip. I had it on my old FD and bought one for my newest FD, the red one you saw Jatt. Wasn't on there when you saw it though.
With the Vmount, popping your hood will create an automatic ticket unless he is cool. Just the IC alone is illegal in CA. If you have open intakes, strike 2. With the Vmount, usually the airbox doesn't fit anymore.
If you have an FPR showing, strike 3.
​​​So basically, don't get pulled over with a Vmount. I have one as well now, figured it will set off red flags by itself, so why hide everything else. 🤷.

 

Looks a little different than when you saw it last Jatt.

 

The Vmount and plan to go single of course. Personally, I think your exterior is (or is going to be) rather tame so I don't think you'll be targeted based on looks. My car's exterior is not stock but from what non car people tell me, it doesn't look modified or at least not racer boy modified. My car has a painted (to match the car) CF hood, pre-auto sleek lights, plateless 99 bumper, apexi sides skirts, silver wheels, lowered (but not slammed), wingless, RB duals, 99 tails and no tint on the windows. As I mentioned earlier, I have never felt targeted.

 

Montego.
Quick question. Why would you feel the rear hatch being tinted would be an issue?
I'm similar to you, carbon hood painted except vents. Shine front fenders, RB duals, Shine bumper. Plan on tinting the hatch to hide my sub and whatever else I happen to have in there.
Will be a non racer pearl white when it's done.

 

Looks beautiful brother!

Glad you got it all setup, did you repaint the VR to Chaste white? May see you at Seven stock, but my FD won't be done by then lol

Good deal, I can live with that!

 

I don't feel it's an issue and I didn't mean to make it sound like that. I do however just want to say that I didn't build my car to look like anything. I just don't think unpainted CF hoods, tinted windows, colored wheels, nor big mufflers suit me. And given the conversation, I'm merely reporting what non-car people have told me about my car and how officers have never targeted me.



Remember we are talking about someone's perception so this is just an opinion. But if I were to assign a score from 0 to 10 on how likely someone is to have illegal mods by just looking at their car, I'd give a zero for looking 100% stock and a ten for anything that resembles an FnF movie car. Now IMO tinted windows would be a 1 just by the mere fact that it's a modification. Followed by aftermarket wheels, lowered, spoilers, fancy paint jobs, stance, big mufflers, wings, body kits, and last gauges. Gauges to me score the highest because they point directly at monitoring the performance on a car. Again, this is just my opinion so take it as a grain of salt because it's just what I think about how others might perceive a car.

Obviously, this is just about looks so sound is a whole different story

Edit-
Again, I'm not against tinting but nothing beats a cargo cover in not displaying whatever valuables you're storing. Luckily, for those that don't have one Atkins Rotary offers aftermarket replacements:



https://www.atkinsrotary.com/store/9...-310b-02-.html