Ted---As noted by other listers, it depends on what State you live in,
as to whether or not your car needs to have an emissions check. Here in
California, the exemption stops with year 1973, so your car (1974, or
newer) would have to undergo the bi-ennial check to get new license
tags. (Eventually, this car year will be dropped from the program, but
we don't know when.)
Should your car have to pass such an inspection, it all depends on who
you get your smog "certificate" from. If you can get one from a State
certified smog shop, like some corner gas station, you might just pass.
Typically, these places are only interested in whether the engine will
pass the tail pipe "sniffer" test. Properly set up SU's are capable of
running clean, when tested for HC and CO. (Not tested for NOx)
If you must go to a State-run referee station, these guys have the
manufacturers illustrations and specs in front of them. They know what
equipment and emission controls came with what car, by year. In such a
case, the SU's would not be acceptable, as certain other features were
never included on the SU. (Bi-pass valves, temp compensators, ports for
vacuum retard only, to name a few.)
To answer your question, yes, you will be running with an illegal setup.
It all depends now on whether you need to have the car inspected in your
state, and what tests will be. The shop doing the work should know...
Dick
'73
L.A.
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