Just an FYI, most states (thankfully not Michigan which doesn't do smog tests)
have
set the year cut-off at 1973. This is very common. I'm a bit rusty on this
topic but
used to be fairly knowledgable (many years in Nevada making vehicles smog
legal,
or smog legal for the test). I can't remember if '73 was the first year any
type of smog
equipment was mandatory (in the 49 states, Ca is typically 1 year prior across
the
board on all smog systems) or the final year when all the equip was mandatory
(PCV, EGR, etc). I thought it was the first year, as such, that is typically
why
emissions tests usually start with 73 and anything prior doesn't need it.
Seth
#1544
On 10/22/01, at 1:14 AM, Steve Owens wrote:
>After researching smog issues pertaining to Bricklins (of any model year)
>based in, or destined for, California, I thought I might as well document it
>in case others are heading for that. It would probably be of greatest
>interest to potential Bricklin buyers here (that is, non-CA will likely want
>to skip reading).
>
>Vehicles of 1973 or earlier are exempt from smog examinations. If you own
>such a car, you can do just about anything you want with it's engine. In
>effect, the cut-off year is 1973; as such, Bricklins must pass smog checks
>every two years even if it is not changing hands.
>
>The DMV regulates registration, which coincides with verifying a smog check.
> In theory and in practice it is possible to have "historical vehicle"
>plates and yet still be subjected to the smog regulations like a daily
>commuter devoid of any special interest appeal.
>
>The year of exclusion is not set by the DMV; the Bureau of Auto Repair
>(BAR--see links at end) decides this. Nothing per se, stops the Bureau from
>changing the rules tommorrow, from rolling back the cut-off year to 1960 or
>rolling it forward to 1990.
>
>The Bureau of Auto Repair is constantly lobbied by two special interest
>groups to roll it back (to at least what it had been in the 80s ... a cut
>off year about 1966). Environmentalists lobby for such rollbacks. Smog
>check station owners are the second group (surprise); they sort of miss the
>days of collecting in excess of $200 from muscle cars they would have not
>otherwise seen. The special interest group lobbying for a roll UP, is the
>special interest car people. Obviously, Bricklin owners are not alone. To
>say some 2nd generation Firebird owners with 455 blocks 'share the pain' is
>an understatement.
>
>The Bureau of Auto Repair refuses to estimate what the next exclusion year
>will be and when it would be effective. If you were thinking along the
>lines of a 2 year restoration with upgrading to a bigger engine, this would
>matter a lot.
>
>If the Bureau behaves in the future in any way like it had in the past, it
>will wait until 2007 and then set the exclusion year at about
>1980...consequently letting all Bricklins off the hook at the same time.
>
>If your Bricklin is estimated to cost over $400 to make smog-legal, it would
>probably be labeled a 'gross polluter' and there is no financial limit on
>what you can be made to spend. It becomes a red flag and you are likely to
>be directed to "special" stations.
>
>Bricklins with engine swaps will raise eyebrows. The Bureau wants engine
>swap cars to pass only if that engine were offered. (A senior agent of the
>bureau also said the year of the engine had to meet certain parameters but I
>was able to make him reverse his position when I pointed out that so many
>engine swaps in daily commuters are conducted without regard to engine
>year--and these are never frowned upon, in and of themselves). The
>Bureau/smog station "might" give a 1974 401 Bricklin the green light, if
>it's emission is low enough. However, if they figure out that Bricklin did
>not offer a 401 at all, they would immediately write it off as illegal, even
>if it put out far less than the legal limit. For 75-76 Bricklins, the same
>would hold true: too much toxic waste and the car fails, a technician
>recognizes a better engine (even of the same make) and happens to know it
>wasn't offer then the car fails.
>
>The mediocre silver lining on this cloud is that which is probably known to
>most already: the bigger the engine and the older the car, the higher the
>tolerances for various pollutants. Also, (to my knowledge) 1974 Bricklins
>never had catalytic converters. Which means they can take leaded gas. But
>if a Bricklin is "borderline", the addition of new catalytic converters is
>not illegal and would probably 'save' the smog inspection. Sooner or later,
>an engine rebuild will probably still be necessary though.
>
>Technicals:
>During the mid-70s, carburetors approached a climax in complexity but still
>did not meter accurately under all conditions to have minimal unburned fuel.
> Also, pre-1980 engines tended to rely on valve overlap to make a lot of
>power. Post-1990 engines had mature fuel injection and ECM systems.
>Consider that one may buy a Dodge Viper making 450+ hp and it's ok. But
>consider what Dodge would have said to you if you wanted that such a car in
>1974--"get lost". The difference is FI, ECM (which, in the most advanced
>cars can dictate a bewildering array of valve timing to make power and burn
>almost all the fuel).
>
>Outlaw esoteric:
>If a cop thinks a Bricklin merely "looks smoggy", he can write up a ticket
>that requires an early smog check. If a citizen wants to complain about a
>Bricklin "looking smoggy" (or just get revenge because of road rage), he can
>call 1-800-CUT-SMOG but that only results in the DMV sending the owner a
>letter hinting that someday you may be found to be not in compliance with
>smog laws.
>
>Most smog station technicians do not know what engines were offered in the
>Bricklins. Moreover, they may rely on the ID tag only, not knowing anything
>if it's the wrong tag or missing. A technician who is keen on AMC practices
>(how many of those are left?) can look for a large 401 cast into the lower
>left side of the block. Otherwise, the 401 is outwardly identical to it's
>360 cousin. Consider also that in the 24 months between smog checks,
>backyard mechanics have swapped engines (out goes the 'green' engine, in
>goes the 'mean' engine, until the next smog check). I didn't dream up these
>concepts up and don't mean to endforse them per se...it's just that it's
>been such a hassel for so long that people have already given thought to
>various resolutions. Prior to 1997, the black market for certificates
>errupted and spread like wildfire. Later, that market became a ghost town
>for three reasons, 1) govt agencies set up stings to catch issuers, 2)
>prosecutions of issuers became more frequent and fierce, and 3) most muscle
>car drivers didn't need them when the exemption was changed to pre-1974
>cars.
>
>As for me, I haven't even tried to pass yet...I want everything to be
>perfect...or as close as I can get it.
>
>http://www.dmv.ca.gov/faq/faq.htm#SMOG
>http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/stdhome.asp
///
/// bricklin@autox.team.net mailing list
/// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool
///
|