That’s not entirely correct. My Turbo was clearly built after 75 and required no smog as a historical vehicle. Unless California DMV changed something in the last 2 years, I still believe that to be the case.
That "exemption" was mistakenly given out to many Historical vehicles at the beginning. In the last 5 years, they have cracked down on it a lot and most 76+ cars don't have the exemption anymore. There are certainly counties in California where they don't do any smog checks for any cars but those are out in the boon dogs. If you live anywhere in the more populated places, your car would be required to pass a smog test. If they have not caught up with you yet, enjoy your luck. It may not last. My 1989 Ferrari with a Historical Plate needs to pass smog every 2 years. No exemptions, no fail.
There is a very good chance your next registration renewal will say in the upper left corner "Smog Check Required" Had it happen to several of my buddies cars, now they are AR and Texas registered.
Here in NYC, a lot sucks and the taxes on everything is ridiculous, but the annual test isn't all that bad. If the car is OBD2 they plug the DMV computer into the port and if the monitors are set and there's no active codes, you pass. They used to do a sniff test and then a dyno test, but all that ended about 5 years or so ago and it's now just the OBD2 test. You gotta see some of the stuff driving on NYC roads with active/valid emission stickers.....my 355's emissions may as well be electric compared to the wrecks driving "legally" on the roads here. My shop always does me a favor every year, they test and validate all my cars and make sure the car will pass before they actually hook it up to the DMV system and test it. I never have a problem with the 355, but I did with my brand new Mustang some years ago, I was driving it so infrequently that even after 2 years of owning it there were 4 monitors that weren't in a "ready" state. I had to get Ford involved and they gave the dealer a drive cycle to kick them on. And I always give the shop a case of beer when they are done testing and passing the 355. It's like insurance for next year's test. That's NYC, you apply some grease and things get done, very few people take it all that serious.
in my humble experience, most smog shops dont know what the stock exhaust looks like, so as long as the monitors are set ( depending on year) and it will pass the "sniff test" , make sure it has the emissions sticker on the side panel, you probably wont have an issue, ... just did a 96 355 with fabspeed cats, tubi exhaust, monitors where set. No lights no codes no problem... regular smog station
I agree, most smog stations in CA wouldn’t have a clue even when it’s sporting a shiny polished after market cat. I have easily passed smog testing in CA with a 94 348 Spider with a Tubi exhaust and both a Hyperflow or Fabspeed cats over many years. No problem. Side note- no idea if this mattered- convinced them to direct two fans at the air intake strikes on either side as I told them it’s required for normal air intake at the higher rpms. Probably doesn’t matter?
you might get lucky that you never need a "Star smog station", when you do (depending on your luck), they are VERY thorough. They WILL check every components including OEM CATS.
I have never had a problem at Star because my car is legal. I just had to change a battery anf do the drive cycle nonsense and get smoged. It is effortless if your Ferrari is well maintained, stock, and OBD-OIS (post 2000).
Well running 355s with stock equipment always pass. Once you swap out cats, bypass valves, secondary cats, then CELs are thrown up as well as emission increases and that is when they fail.
I’m going through this right now with my 355. Ran high in HC both 15mph (62 with 54 max) and 25 mph (36 with 32 max). NOx and CO2 were within tolerance. Does running cats hotter really help clear this up? Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Agreed most shop wouldn’t know where the cats are. They don’t see 355’s often Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
my 99 f1 has tubings headers, capristo twin pipes and hyper flow cats It always passed smog from about 02 to 2016 Last few years were 2 years apart First few were 4 years apart Possibly laws changed when ever it did not pass, about 3 times, it needed o2 sensors. Mini cats in 2010 solved the cel problem I had for about 10 years which meant that the cel would come on about 1 every 1000 miles Car passed with mini cats installed as well. what I figured was the richness of the exhaust screwed them up faster, but am not possitive of that. All I know is once they threw a cel it always came back within a tank or 2 of gas, and never lasted as long as a new one
Understood. Very frustrating - CA SMOG. New cats placed by seller with Fabspeed O2 extender. Perhaps more miles to break in cats as put on just before I got car. Not even 100 miles. Next will be sensors. Passed visual. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Make sure your bypass valve is fully closed, check throttle bodies and hoses for vacuum leaks. Seems about 50% of these have issues. need to be smoke tested That along with good cats you should have no issue at all passing CA smog
Got it. Had a shop look at it and they affirmed should be good to go. Apparently there’s a world of difference in emission readings between a “cold” cat and a hot one. Being told to go get em nice and hot. Seems city driving won’t do the trick. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
You will need to buy OEM Cats Because California emissions will not let you do emission or spacers . IT will cost you lot . No way around it unless you can find the original cats back. And you cant buy used cats either. Ask me how i know work on these car for living
Looking for help, am located in West Los Angeles, the shop I used to go to for service closed due to the owners unfortunate medical situation. my 97' is showing a check engine light, needs a smog check this month at a Star station, has fabspeed exhuast and Tubi. Thank you. Mel I will also post in So. Cal section.
I would invest in an OBD2 reader. We should be able to help in the forum if we have fault codes to work with.
Every inspection station accesses the online guide at BAR showing pictures of what the exhaust and intake systems are supposed to look like. Before, you could have an inspector that wasn't so knowledgeable or thorough and you might glide by with mods. Now, its far less likely. You can legally change anything post cat. As for 355 cats, replacements are generally way better, but not legal - go figure. One tip I got was to get a set of dead 355 cats and have an experienced shop cut them open and replace the innards with a more efficient (flow and performance) metal core. It is possible to pass an inspection depending on how good the work was done.
Not all smog shops are so picky on the visual aspect, the one is use in CA just goes by the numbers. After I had by car dino-tuned it passed the numbers easily. After all it is numbers that matter relative to the reduction in smog not the actual configuration of the exhaust system.
Maybe where you are in Somas, but down here in the LA basin the test centers are picky. However, I have found a few who can be worked with. They understand the intent of the rules to have cars in compliance with emissions, not some bureaucratic checklist of approved parts.
I live in westchester ny and work in Manhattan I never seen a shop sniff test a car older then 1996 I have had some mid 80’s and early 90’s and they always made sure I passed before testing but. Ow most of my cars just get plugged in and in the check engine light is off and I drove it for a few days before hand I was always good Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
