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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / February 2005

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Required Smog control devices on a 1976 Dodge Ramcharger with 440 engine?

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plymouthduster@gmail.com - 23 Feb 2005 18:44 GMT
I am about to purchase a 76 Dodge ramcharger with a 440 engine.Problem
is it does not have any smog devices and has aftermarket
intake/Carb.does anyone have a book they can lookup what devices I need
to pass a smog test in california?The owner said something about the
gross weight of the truck means it does not need a air pump, can anyone
confirm this, thanks in advance.
Daniel J. Stern - 24 Feb 2005 00:18 GMT
> I am about to purchase a 76 Dodge ramcharger with a 440 engine.Problem
> is it does not have any smog devices and has aftermarket
> intake/Carb.does anyone have a book they can lookup what devices I need
> to pass a smog test in california?The owner said something about the
> gross weight of the truck means it does not need a air pump, can anyone
> confirm this, thanks in advance.

Your best course of action is to contact the CA smog referee line and ask
THEM what devices, which carb, etc. are required. It doesn't matter what
the factory put on in '76, it matters what the state of CA _says_ the
factory put on in '76. You can also take a look at the VECI label under
the hood.
Steve - 24 Feb 2005 15:26 GMT
>>I am about to purchase a 76 Dodge ramcharger with a 440 engine.Problem
>>is it does not have any smog devices and has aftermarket
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> factory put on in '76. You can also take a look at the VECI label under
> the hood.

I agree with what Dan said- check with the regulators and it'll make
life a lot easier. That being said, a '76 truck would typically have a
lot less in the way of emission controls than a 76 car. Many trucks
through '78 didn't have catcons, although more (if not all) California
trucks did. The typical systems I'd DEFINITELY expect it to need are:
PCV, OSAC, EGR, and probably the heated-air intake stovepipe needs to be
in place- which is usually a casualty of "aftermarket intake/carb" and
aircleaner.

If it was originally sold as a "federal emissions standards" (non-CA)
truck, I wouldn't expect it to have cats or an airpump, but its very
inconsistent in that regard. Some models did have cats, but got by with
a passive "aspirator" air injection system while others had air pumps.
greenflag@mgci.com - 25 Feb 2005 07:43 GMT
Also- if the label is gone from your 29-year-old truck, check in an
Emission Control Guide, published by Chilton's and others, mostly
likely on the shelf in your local library, or any state-certified
garage or inspector has to have one (or online guide) on hand, they
might look it up for ya if ya ask real nice... Have your VIN in hand,
with the guide you'll know exactly how that vehicle was equipped (or
should have been) when new.  That's what CA will require.

If it has aftermarket accessories, (like headers, cam, carb) check with
the manufacturers of those items to see if CARB-approved.  If so, they
can give you a sticker that has to be displayed under the hood to pass
inspection.  If not, you're SOL, get it outa there.

If your truck has been de-smogged, well...  Finding all that's missing
may be cost-prohibitive, or at least a big pain in the a.s, compared to
just replacing da big-block 'Charger with something that will pass,
unless you're completely in love with the thing.  Or get an earlier one
if you can find one- 1975 or older are exempt.

If you're moving to CA, and your truck is equipped OEM, and you're not
sure if it'll pass, find out from CA DMV what the acceptable levels (of
CO, HC, NOx, I think that's it) are, take your truck to a shop with a
gas analyzer, have them tune it into spec if it isn't already.  If they
can't get it within spec, something's wrong and needs fixing.  To pass,
it has to be within spec AND originally equipped.

Be sure timing is correct and use new plugs, cap rotor, and wires for
the test!  These items are the cause of most smog failures, usually not
the smog equipment itself.  If originally equipped and everything's
working properly, it should pass just fine.

Oh and one more thing, if the engine is not original, don't despair, it
could still be legal.
This is how it is in Nevada, I'm told it's the same in CA.  It has to
be the same year or newer.  To prove this, you need an affidavit from a
manufacturer's rep (a dealer) identifying the engine (by its numbers)
and what vehicle it came out of.  The engine has to be as equipped as
it was in THAT vehicle. The DMV lab has to do the initial inspection,
though renewals can be done anywhere.  Finally, (duh) it has to pass at
the tailpipe.

For more info:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm#BM2536
http://www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm

I had a heck of a time and a lot of junkyard searching to bring my
de-smogged 1987 carbureted Toyota 4x4 back to NV-legal (sigh, I was in
love.), something I wouldn't do again.

Of course, you could just swap the VIN plate for a '75.
BUT THAT WOULD BE ILLEGAL!!!
Daniel J. Stern - 25 Feb 2005 19:23 GMT
> Oh and one more thing, if the engine is not original, don't despair, it
> could still be legal. This is how it is in Nevada, I'm told it's the
> same in CA.  It has to be the same year or newer.  To prove this, you
> need an affidavit from a manufacturer's rep (a dealer) identifying the
> engine (by its numbers) and what vehicle it came out of.  The engine has
> to be as equipped as it was in THAT vehicle.

This raises the pragmatic question of how they're going to know the engine
isn't original, unless the owner does something stupid like telling them.

Think about it: I drive in with my theoretical '76 Valiant for a CA smog
check. All of the Valiant's visible original-equipment emissions-related
components and devices are in place, functional and correctly adjusted.
The car passes the tailpipe and evaporative emission tests. Now, how
likely is it that the smog tech is going to say "Sorry, you flunk. Your
engine block is a casting number 2121730, which was supplanted in October
of 1968 by casting number 2482765. Furthermore, you've got camshaft
P4120243, which is a 244/244/28/0.436 unit, and not the 3465770, correct
for '76, which is a 244/244/26/0.414 unit. Also, you've overbored the
engine by 0.060", which means it's no longer to spec, and you used the
1963 intake valves", etc?

Not gonna happen.

DS
 
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