"Test Only" or "Gold Shield" for smog check?
 

Okay, here's the dilemma:

I've finished my fresh build and as far as I can tell by testing, all my smog components are operating to spec. the car's running fine; & I've tuned the idle as carefully as possible without any access to a gas analyzer... but tuning a Nikki for smog is a guessing game, because the major step per the FSM is to "Adjust the MAS clockwise until the engine hunts severely, then counterclockwise until the CO value is below (some small value)" Then you back it off another half-turn.

Without a CO analyzer, you're always in the dark when tuning for smog. You can tune it as best you can by idle smoothness, and by 'nose,' but there's no guarantee the sniffer is gonna agree with your sniffer.

So, question is... is there any advantage to taking the car to a "Gold Shield" station for the test? Unlike a 'Test Only" station, will a Gold Shield station be able to tweak the carb prior to the official test, since they are allowed to do 'repairs?'

Advice? Useful suggestions? I'm trying to get everything done before Thursday so I can get my paperwork done & go to WHIV5 on Friday. So I don't have more than one, maybe two shots to get it done, between my working hours and the closing time of most smog shops.

Yes....test only stations are not authorized to work on your vehicle at all. They pay less operating costs then a repair facility.

Pls PM Djdino. He helped me in my 2004 honda accord v6 turbo with megasquirt. Thank you