Need Euro conversion expertise!

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Hi all,

Recently, in another thread, someone mentioned the infamous "Johnson box" installed to pass EPA regs on Euro-spec Ferraris. Unfortunately, I have one of these on my Mondial 8, (circuit board vintage 1982, revision C, the paper label with s/n and model was unreadable), but was not operating (no sensor attached to shielded wire, no power leads connected, and no sensor to engine? - the only connection was to a selenoid controlling air flow - probably to the crudely added air pump). Not a class act. I managed to get the EPA approval letter, but I don't know who installed it (in Virginia area I believe) or who disconnected it.

My questions:
1. Should I bother with reconnection of this box, or is there a better way to get a 80-vintage euro 308 engine ready for CA registration?
2. If the present box is ok, does anyone have schematics/recommendations for the O2 and other sensors required?
3. The car is otherwise straight euro - including no air ports in the head, but only on the headers - do I need cats installed?

Yes,I have done forum searches, but not with any usable results. I'm having the engine rebuilt now, so any links or technical help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Tom

 

I have a car in a similar situation that I think about recertifying. If you have the DOT EPA papers it tells you what is on the car to get the cert. So the smee stuff needs to be there for the BAR ref to sign off and then do a functional test. You will need cats and o2 sensor, charchol canister, and airpump to the headers is fine. I know of the johnson box but don't think you can get them anymore. So perhaps you can get one from a volvo or mercedes at a junk yard? If you do the legwork to track something down will you keep me posted on this thread. I may want to copy you. I have pictures of Luigi's 308 that was converted and legalized recently. Also you have to wire in the freq valve (aka fuel injector) from the control head to the intake. I think the car is set-up lean and the freq valve just sprays extra fuel based on the johnson box.

 

If that's a Mondial 8 coup, do you want to sell it?

Alabama has no smog check (thank God sanity still exists somewhere!) for registration, and I need some track cars.

 

A couple of weeks ago, before I spent several thousand more in parts and a 348 wheel set, I would have entertained the thought. But then, I'd only have the 911 to dote on, and thats defininitly less of a challege!

 

My 1981 Euro Mondial 8 Smog paperwork says, , “Smog Pump N/A.”
And, I have CA plates,,, do you..?.
If you have plates in CA, you have a CARB clearance. (In the DMV, somewhere.)

My car had an added O2 sensor and feed back box, from a Datsun.
The signal is fed into the digiplex, , , ? This leaned out the system enough to pass,, and probably hole a piston if too lean. (ouch)
My car also had, at some point a smog pump, but all is removed now, and not needed,,,,,, because with Cats and a O2 sensor it would pass CA smog. I am not at that point yet, my motor is all apart.
(This was done to pass CA emissions, then disconnected for road use.)

Remember, all euro cars Needed new 5 MPH bumpers w/ shocks,,, and Side Impact Intrusion bars added. Do you have these….?

PM me if more advise needed…

Ciao, Edwardo
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Hi Edwardo - Excuse me for saying so, but the only way I'd get underneath that car is to put some jackstands under there! Take care and be careful...

 

no problem,,,,
I used the cat to test the stability of my stack of romance novels. (ha ha)













(I have stands, that was just a 37" lift.)
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The ports on the header are sampling tubes, not air injection points.......I guess they would work?????

 

Tex,

No, the converted cars had Tubes welded into the header tops.
(see photo, mine have been welded shut. (Not needed to pass CA emissions on my car.)

The tapped and plugged, inspection ports are just before the collector portion of the header.

Edwardo
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No, on the early cars the top ports got the sampling tubes for tuning, with air injectors in the head....

I'd say that lower port at the collector is for a sensor????

I dunno I'lll bow out as my cras all say DOT APPROVED.......NON CATALYST next to the year of manufacture......

To get a Euro done in California now I'd wager you need all new equipment inplace, installed by someone who knows what they are doing.....

I am stripping the pumps and rails off of two cars but have no idea as to condition of any of it......good for patterns only, I'd imagine....

Now put some jack stands under there before you squash your cat!!!! LOL!

 

Tex,

fear not, , the cat is safe.

And, no,,, there are 4 lower ports on each header,,, each with a threaded plug. These were used at the factory as test ports during engine fire and testing.

On the top of the header, near the exhaust port, are the 4, welded shut, air pump ports.

Send all smog equipment to me, , I will need it for a 1977 308 GTB I want to do.

Edwardo
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Is there a limit on the year of smog check in CA State? 25 or 30 yrs back and it doesn't need to do it?

 

1975 and older,,, OK...!
1976+ ,,, your screwed.

 

They basically stopped the rolling age exemption, and back tracked to "If it was on there it STILL has to be on there!"....and working......

So they did move back from previous exemptions.....

I'll let you know when it hits the floor, Ed......my Tech quite rightly pointed out that tubing corrosion and control valve deterioration of it left in place might well cause exhaust leaks and other problems.......

 

Also, a air pump seizing up could easily trash a very expensive camshaft.......

 

Exactly, my headers have had all tubes removed and are going to Fresno next week for Jet Hot Sterling coating.

 

Time to reenter the thread!

Still don't have the functions of the Johnson Box figured completely out, but it seems to at least control the air injection system added to meed smog requirements. However, I can't seem to find the water temp switch to control the electrovalve/diverter valve. Normally, this would be on the water expansion tank, but this is an early model, which has a round plastic tank (a Mercedes part) instead of the metal Ferrari tank. No sensors on it at all. Have to keep looking for a temperature input for the box.

I talked to Dick Merritt today at NHTSA, and he looked at the paperwork again (I got a copy of the approval letter from Dick Fritz several years ago but it was not much help, just a standard form with approval dates) and he mentioned that the car entered the US thru Los Angeles. A big surprise, the car came to me from Virginia, so I thought that AmeriSpec did the work. Some body/company called "Prigo" did the work, can't find any references on this site or Google.

However, I also got a hit on a quick DMV check that shows that it was registered in CA to Maregest Co. in Santa Ana, with tag 1MYY840. Ring any bells with anyone?

In my mind, this shows that I should be able to restore the air injection system (and not install any cats or O2 sensor) and have it CA compliant. I plan on seeing what other DMV info exists, such as the listing of installed equipment used for compliance. Anyone try that or have contacts in the DMV?

Eduardo, thanks for the PM. And to add to the confusion about air injection points, my '80 headers have only one set of tapped fittings, they look like the original factory tuning ports. No other input plugs or ports on the entire exhaust system. I don't think this configuration is what you'll see for most of the 8's in the US which are '81s or later.

Also, thanks to everyone else who is providing inputs. This needs to be documented, since lost documentation/certification when registering one of these old gray market vehicles can be a nightmare.

Tom

 

Tom,

Horray!
I think you are home free.

"I also got a hit on a quick DMV check that shows that it was registered in CA to Maregest Co. in Santa Ana, with tag 1MYY840."
What dates in Santa Ana?

Use this to get a CA title (application), pay the back owed bucks, (700.00???) , , , then get a practice Smog check.
It will tell you what you need,,, and, you might not need a pump at all.
Adding a Cat system, and leaning out the CIS might be all you need, then replace that CAT system with a Custom Stainless System, run no cats for 23 months. Repeat as necessary...



Edwardo

 

I don't have any real-world experience with a smog pump freezing, but I would guess that the camshaft would fare just fine. Belts, valves, pistons, etc., maybe not so well, but I think the cam would be ok. It would be sort of the consolation prize.

 

My belts always "fall off" as soon as I can manage it........

Now back to our thread...interesting, so he can piggy back onto that earlier CA registration?

 

Well the smog deal used to be and you need to check what I say next.

1) even if you have a ca registration and title your car is not smog legal even if it once was legal until you have a BAR label that is basically a re-cert of the car

2) everything needs to be on the car as the dot import papers say like 02 sensor, charcol canister air pump diverter valves etc..

3) then the car needs to pass a sniff and functional test at a BAR ref center. The BAR will put a sticker on it.

4) then the car can go to any smog center unless your registration due notice says "test only" station.

5) first thing the smog guy will look for once the non-USA vin is put in is the bar label

6) you cannot take a non-usa car to any smog shop and get a pass even if your car passes the tests unless you have a BAR label

 

here your wrong. (sorry)
Now a days, in California, , it's just CARB paperwork,
and you don't need a copy, it's all in the new computer system.
(BAR is other 49 states, and the sticker on the windshield is needed.)

But here you are right,,,
You must go to a "referee station" for the first smog check for title issuance in California.
They will know everything about your car, and check for all equipment.
(this is like a BAR inspection and sticker.)

I am doing this now, , and, I had to state, "My car has NEVER left california." (ya right, , and pigs fly... ha ha)
The DMV just wants your money!



Edwardo

 

Nope. Just need a title for Alabama.

 

Alabama is not a communist country, , , ,

,
,

like California.

 

FYI,

My 85 euro 308 was converted in 2005, just passed smog again last week (california ) No air pump. Cats, lambda system
(mercedes control box, O2 sensor and frequency valve), charcoal cannister & unleaded nozzle restrictor in tank filler neck is all I have.

these guys did my car, might be a source of info at least (good guys, honest) http://www.gnkauto.com/