Thread: California smog test

Tweet

Getting a little ahead of myself here, but in the next few years we're hoping that we will be taking Rita down highway 1 in California.we were talking about it at work and someone said you better make sure your smog is up to date on it or you will get fined because the motor is out of a 2000 pickup and they have small checks at several gas stations. Does anybody know the rules or have any experience with California smog laws. I know Colorado and some other states are pretty fussy too

With out of state registration I don't think the idiots can touch you. Are you referring to 101 in Ca? It starts or ends, depends on your point of view, at San Ysidro and a lot of it between San Diego and Long Beach is now I-5. The furthest I ever drove 101 was to Santa Barbara.

I have never had a problem with my '36 and smog here in the San Fransico Bay area. Nor have I heard of such from anyone in my car club??

Being out of stater they won't bother you for smog. That car needs to be in-state greater than 6 months for the rules to apply to you and the vehicle.

Did anyone else see the "Diesel Brothers" got slammed 850 thousand for modifying a new diesel engine and exhaust system? I'll see if I can find the article online and share it with you.

Here's some of it, https://www.greencarreports.com/news...-modifications


And here's the rest; https://www.thedrive.com/news/32533/...k95NIXL-0HytVc

Quote, "U.S. District Court Judge Robert Shelby announced in his ruling Friday that the plaintiffs may also submit their attorney fees to be paid by Sparks and Co. Per Cole Cannon, a lawyer for the Diesel Brothers, the opposing party claimed $1.2 million in fees when speaking with the judge.

Shelby confirmed that the defendants must pay $761,451 to the U.S. government with the remaining $90,000 going to Davis County. This comes less than a year after Shelby found those involved with the television program guilty of violating the Clean Air Act and Utah state law by stripping diesel pickups of their legally required emissions equipment.

end quote. So by the time they are done with this, it'll be over two million dollars not counting their lawyer fees! OUCH!

Originally Posted by 34_40

So by the time they are done with this, it'll be over two million dollars not counting their lawyer fees! OUCH!

I hope they were paid well for each episode, and that they saved prudently! Fat Chance on the second part, right?


I agree on the smog question. You have no worries with Iowa tags. They won't give you a second look.

Originally Posted by rspears

I hope they were paid well for each episode, and that they saved prudently! Fat Chance on the second part, right?.

I'd hope their contract with Discovery allows them some coverage from lawsuits.

Originally Posted by 34_40

I'd hope their contract with Discovery allows them some coverage from lawsuits.

Yeah, but I expect Discovery's attorney's covered their liabilities back when they started the whole reality series concept.... Saw some time back that Chip & Joanna Gaines got fined for improper handling of lead paint on a broadcast TV show. To their credit they sucked up, admitted the problem and stood up to the fines. Not sure the Diesel Brothers will be able to survive.

Yes, I meant highway 101. I don't know how far south I want to get, seems like there may be a group of people down there who think outside my comfort zone Its good that I shouldn't have to worry about it, otherwise I'd put some cats back on. I heard about the Diesel Bros fine. Our shop is going though a similar thing. We Ecotuned quite a few farm tractors and combines for more power and better economy. We would copy the ECM software send it to Ecotune and they would send the modified file back. Countless happy costumers. Turns out the local Case IH dealer where quite a few of us used to work turned us into the EPA because he hates seeing our shop succeed . We got a certified letter from the EPA requesting info on how many we did and the problem is its all on Quick Books so there isn't much covering of tracks. We're hoping that it's only going to cost 50k which is a lot of money for a 5 employee shop. It's getting pretty bitter between us and the owner of the CIH dealer, he thinks we take all his work and employees. We put up an ad for help and work and they come here because they don't want to be there, it's not that complicated. We're getting our parts from another dealer now instead, they appreciate the 10-15k a month we give them in parts bushiness. Done venting

Smog goes by the year of the car not the year of the engine. Vintage cars are exempt, I don't remember the exact year but you are way older than that. There are not any smog spot checks going on here.

Originally Posted by v8nutz

Smog goes by the year of the car not the year of the engine. Vintage cars are exempt, I don't remember the exact year but you are way older than that. There are not any smog spot checks going on here.

In places like Massachusetts, some cars that are "mostly vintage" get titles as year of build. They have to follow the rules for the engine / trans combo year. I believe California is the same. ( Guess where Mass got their rule book?) so it isn't always easy to say generally or in a broad sweeping statement that it will always be the case.

As Seth was saying about the modifying of the tractors, that the EPA and most states are becoming very heavy handed and very particular about messing with these systems. And here in Mass, we are voting once again to force the big 3 automakers to provide service information to businesses and consumers so we can fix our cars. I think this is the third time we've fought over this. Thanks to Cat and John Deere, they believe they "own the technology" and while you paid thousands upon thousands of dollars.. you only get to use their technology... you can never own it. As long as the EPA wants to enforce these emission laws that is! And Seth's story drives home the point. The OEM gets held to a standard or face penalties ( huge ones too!) but some "guy" / "shop" / "company" modifies something for what he sees is a benefit for him.... but the law thinks otherwise. And we've been doing this for decades. I think the end is closer than we've realized for awhile now. It'll be like it was in the mid 70's - color changes and graphics, body kits..

Good point 34_40!
We should never assume, and always get it from the horses mouth or not at all.

While I have never had a problem (in my area), that doesn't mean there could not be a problem and my advice was foolish.

Thank you for pointing out my error.

Originally Posted by 36 sedan

Good point 34_40!
We should never assume, and always get it from the horses mouth or not at all.

While I have never had a problem (in my area), that doesn't mean there could not be a problem and my advice was foolish.

Thank you for pointing out my error.

No, you weren't wrong - I give and gave the same advice! But there are exceptions to every rule was my point. And for a simple drive through a different state, with a vehicle that doesn't appear totally out of line, he won't have any trouble.

As long as CA doesn't change the laws you will be fine. My brother Scott had my old 92 F350 out there with a heavily modified 12V Cummins and I'm certain you could follow him every where he went by the trail of smoke. He did get some warnings but never got a check or fog test. If he stayed there any longer I'm sure it would have been game over. Now if you had a commercial truck, it would be a different story. I actually got into it with a state official because he was declaring that the emissions laws are to match the engine year and not the body model according to him. But in reality, which ever is newer is what the emissions have to be met to. For instance if I put a 1994 engine in a 2008, the emissions laws for 2008 need to be passed. Luckily in Iowa it isn't an issue but it could be down the road.

I drive my open hooded 406cu in blown 1931 ford coupe from east of the Sacramento, CA area to Pleasanton, CA every year for the GG West Coast Nationals, Spring Get-Together and on occasion the Fall Get-Together about 150 miles each way. I have been passed by dozens of CHP officers over the years, as well as local police and never had a problem. As long as your not screwing around you will be fine.
If you get to Cali, make sure you get over to Highway 1 at San Francisco to at least Big Sir, that stretch is 150 miles long. You can actually take it from San Francisco to L.A. One of the most beautiful picturesque roads in the country. Make sure you have a lot of time and, it's a curvy road, but breathtaking!
As far as smog goes, pre '74 vehicles are exempt. Yes, the law states that if the engine in a pre '74 vehicle is replaced with a newer engine the car has to adhere to the newer engine smog test standards. I have never heard of this happening but it is the law. I would never voluntarily take my modified car to a the smog referee (different from a smog station or gas stations that does smog tests) to be smogged because I put a newer engine in it, that is just suicide here in this state. Also, when you move to California, you have 10 days to register your cars and get a California drivers license.

California has smog certs every two years. Not required for tourists. no spot checks. unless your belching smoke or blowing tight blue smoke. the CHP might stop you. 101 is ok lots of freeway driving. When you get to salinas take hwy 68 to monterrey (real birchen' aquarium) and take hwy 1 to santa cruz beautiful drive. Get a book on scenic drives in Cali. If you belong to AAA they have literature to help make it a great vacation.