Hello,

I'm a newbie, and I've searched the whole web (this site too!) for how to bring my '79 Camaro to California, without much luck. Maybe someone here has some definite answers/ideas? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I recently moved here from Florida, and had no trouble shipping/registering my daily driver PT Cruiser, but I want to bring my pride and joy, 1979 Camaro (with a 1981 305 V8) here, and I am SURE that the emissions controls are GONZO. The cat canister is gone, the carb is replaced with an Edlebrock with basically no vacuum tubes, there is a flowmaster exhaust on it....you get the picture.

I have talked to some of the local classic owners, and they say everything 1972 and older is exempt from CA emissions law, though they don't know the exact cutoff year, or even if it changes every year. (Like, is it 1972 forever, or just "cars 25 years or older"?) I especially wonder if the year changes because the CA DMV website says 1976 is the cutoff. A guy with a motorcycle said he though there was a mileage exemption for out-of-state vehicles, but he really only knew about it applying to motorcycles for-sure.

So I am stuck. Do I just leave it parked at my parent's house in Florida forever? Do I wait until it is old enough? Is it even possible to stick emissions regulators back in it without breaking the bank? Is there a loophole, or do I just sell it?

 

if you want to legally drive it,its gonna have to pass smog. most places around here offer free retests tho, and how hard would it be to replace all the smog pumps and weld a cat on?

 

You are going to have to replace all the emission stuff to be able to license it.

 

yeah, i got a 1979 too and well i hate that emission crap and as far as i know the cut off line was for 1975 so yeah you need to install the EGR and PCV and cats... bunch of crap,

 

To 1979 RS,

So, I am finally bringing my Camaro to Cali, and I'm researching what all I'll need to get emissions legal again. Anyhow, maybe you can help me? I just want to know what the smog guys look for on a 79.

If I have my list right so far, they look/test the catalytic converter, EGR valve, PCV valve, smog pump, smog canister, and the original air filter housing with heater hose to the manifold.

Am I forgetting anything?

Oh, and do you have any good junkyards/mechanics you recommend out here?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Eric

 

Hey etwill,

Don't forget the smog-legal carb But that's pretty much all you need to pass smog. Once you're done hooking up all the vacuum hoses, take your car to a test-only station. You'll probably fail, but then they'll give you a readout on what failed and what passes. Then, just fix it. I take my car to the shop near me in San Francisco, he's pretty good.

Mine failed twice since I got the camaro 7 years ago. I had to replace the gas tank and gas cap. And just recently my carb died.... so I bought an Edelbrock 1400 which is smog-legal here in Cali. Connect everything and you should be good as new. Hope this helps somewhat

Oh, here's a link (http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...es/amquery.php) to the Air Resources Board in California. Pretty much its a database on all aftermarket, performance, and add-on parts that are LEGAL to put on our smogged cars, i.e., headers, intake manifold, distributor, etc.

Well, good luck with everything!