550bryan

I just bought a 78 SC. I have the complete exhaust and air pump system, except none of it is installed on the car. I've owned an SC before and they are hard to get passed even if completely stock. You have to lean them out so they barely run to get then through and then adjust them back. I'd rather just find a cooperative smog station and avoid the cost and hassle of installing everything. If anyone has any suggestions in this regard I'd sure appreciate the help. I live in the south bay by Torrance. Send me a PM if you have any leads. Thx. Bryan

Amber Gramps

My guy always says "This isn't the engine that goes in this thing. I can see the turbo hiding under the heat shielding where the cat goes....but I like you."

Edward

Cali's politics and ensuing do-goodie legislation stinks in so many I ways I cannot begin to emumerate! PM'd you.

Edward

Speedster911

In No CA, I have found smog tests are a bit more lenient on the coast vs. inland. IE- I have had cars pass in a Santa Cruz smog station when they will not pass in San Jose.

Not sure if testing in a coastal smog station is an option for you. Good luck, beautiful car!!

Amber Gramps

Smog'n 'em in the morning always helps too.

Last time I took my E350 in the guy went and got his new VW and put it on the dyno.

Spyerx

Can't help you on a smog guy. Harder and harder to find I just bite the bullet and get them to pass.

What a bs situation this whole thing is: newer cars have no sniffer test. Odb II port only and a visual. Well, my mom brings her Jetta in. All computer is fine. He does a visual. Guys who did last oil change spilled some oil on the pcv valve next to filler and it collected some dirt. Well he decided it was leaking and failed her saying it needed to be replaced. A hole. I cleaned it up and it passed another shop. Now I go back and get a refund from that a hole.

550bryan

Well, I have all the components to make it stock. I understand the harder installation is the air pump system given that it has air injectors in every port the have to be installed along with the plumbing to feed them. I guess it easier to do with the exhaust system off which I would also have to change. I have the original system with the catalyst that will have to replace my headers. Anyone have any idea how long all this will take? Several hours I think. An SC is still a bitch to smog even with all the stuff in place. I owned one back in the 90's and it was always a challenge, had to be leaned out so it would barely run, get it through the test and then reset it afterwards. In my case I will probably remove everything once the test is passed, certainly I would at least put the header back on. Sadly a bill died in committee in Sacramento last year that would have moved the exemption from the 75 to the 80 model year. I and others with a late 70's cars would greatly benefit with no impact of the environment. Does the government care? Not really.

stlrj

Back in the days when I had my 78 SC, I never had any any problems the way it ran with all the smog hooked up. In fact, it felt quicker than my 87 Carrera and I never had an issue smogging it. As far as I can tell, the air pump and cat never hurt performance in any way.

Cheers,

Joe
87 Carrera

abe

I have an 83SC .. never had any problems smogging it. It does not have the smog pump system ... only the CAT and 02 sensor.
Good Luck

Edward

There is little question that with a cat, and air pump (and properly-tuned CIS, natch), an SC can pass smog. The real question (as I read it) is that once one has SSIs, it's hard to go back to stock, at least IME. Not only because the engine feels so much more rev happy and responsive, but also the specter of R&R-ing the orig heat exchangers and cat is a PITA, replete with the possibility of snapping an exhaust stud if the SSIs have been on there for a while. If anyone's got good experience with going back and forth multiple times, then please chime in!

Edward