Southern California smog gurus --please help...

This may be quite a ways from you but I just happen to saw this smog station as I was
driving along Beach Blvd. in Huntington Beach. I can try and get the number for you if you like.
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I don't know if they will do an off-the-record test or not, but these guys tested and passed my heavily modified 1980 308 when nobody else would touch it (including Ferrari of Newport Beach):

South Coast Test Only
648 West.Baker st #A
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(714) 708-3073‎
(714) 708-3030‎


I believe because of the age and performance of these cars, they can only be certified by a test only facility.

 

Looks like the shop above is onto something - smog check/ big Ferrari sign, ha ha. Worth a shot, at least you'll know you'll be in good hands!

 

My old friend Joe Kerby used to help me quite a bit to get Maserati Bi-turbo's, spica injection Alfa's, and carbed Ferrari's passed (legitimately and honestly of course) when I had my shop.

Now, I haven't talked to Joe in many years but the shop is still there. You might want to drop by and give them a talk. I can't see how it could hurt.

http://www.joekerbyauto.com/history.htm

He's on Aviation blvd and Ford in Redondo Beach.

 

I have a 1985 308 GTS QV. I live in Seattle and I will be moving to So Cal by the end of the year. The car recently passed the emissions test here in WA by a large margin.
My question is:
How different are the emission standards between WA and CA?

My car is actually a California car, and it had a lot of troubles passing emissions the last few times while in CA. The first time I took the car for the smog test here it failed too, but my mechanic found a faulty temperature sensor, and upon replacement the car has been passing very easily.
I don’t know if the mechanic is CA wasn’t very good and never replaced the sensor, or is it that the emission standards in CA are so much more stringent that here is WA?

 

Manuel where in So Cal are you moving to?

 

To Orange County.

 

Thanks.

 

I use these guys, solid, honest rockstars.

In regard to another post: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=138873435&postcount=2

 

What about a pre-cat carb 308, like my 77 GTB? Would it pass in CA? My car has a Stebro exhaust (thermal reactor removed) and no air pumps. The nozzles are crimped off. (Both done by previous owner) Are these old pre-cat cars grandfathered in?

Car runs great, but I suspect it blows dirty. Never had it tested, here in Houston, but how in the heck would it blow clean, with no cats, pretty much straight-through exhaust???



Thanks,
Greg

 

It wouldn't be retroactive though so only from whatever year forward. That could explain the difference. I lived in NY and they had the CA standards form like 95 on but before that you simply had to have the equipment the car came with if the guy in the shop happened to know what he was looking for (which was very very rare).

 

From experience:

Air pump and check valves are hugely important. If you check for output on pump, do it after check valve. Some valves stick, corrosion etc, and some air pumps won't blow past the valves. Also, diverter valves (if installed) need to work otherwise air injection won't get to where it needs to go.

Hold the phone! Does an 85 QV have air injection??? I thought no. That's a lambda car, hence the coolant switch issue. If it's all working, should be EZ. If not, the CA smog test will most likely catch it, and you'll have the pleasure to fix it with registration hanging over your head. Should be totally do-able. Plenty of resources on So CA that are talented on these machines. Best of luck!!!


OOPS! Sorry Andy, I just re-read the threads, you have an 82. The 85 is CANUT. I have an '81, and my first pragraph is very applicable for good old Crazyfornia. On these cars, I've found Air injection cleans up better and more reliably than even the cats.