California Smog/Bar Referee (1 Viewer)

[Jerzfj40]

My Rig is a 1977 FJ40 with a 1972 Chevy V8 that was installed by the PO. Apparently , he took it to a BAR Referee many years ago and got the CARB sticker for his conversion. ( photo included)It is classified as a 72 Chevy, so has minimal smog requirements.
My question is ...Would it be possible to replace my motor with a new crate motor and run TBI being that it IS a replacement motor for what i have now. Would i still be able to smog it under my 72 CARB sticker requirements?
Any info would be helpful as i need to have this smogged soon anyway.
Jerry

 

[D'Animal]

How in the world did they get a 1972 past a referee in a 1977 rig? You should have to comply to 1977 regs, not 72.


Doing a crate motor with EFI would be way easier than what they did.

 

[Pighead]

How in the world did they get a 1972 past a referee in a 1977 rig? You should have to comply to 1977 regs, not 72.

My question too....
Cash? Drugs?
Personally, I would never put myself in a position to have another ref look at it. Unless you wanna go full-on legal and get to know your ref real well, run what ya got.

 

[Jerzfj40]

How in the world did they get a 1972 past a referee in a 1977 rig? You should have to comply to 1977 regs, not 72.


Doing a crate motor with EFI would be way easier than what they did.

I have owned the Cruiser since 1997 and i know that the PO had it sitting for 5 yrs in his garage, so the conversion must have been done in the early 90's. Maybe it was easiier to do back then.It has passed smog every time since i have owned it, but was considering a new crate TBI or FI swap if possible.

 

[Doug_S]

I would think that if you put a crate motor in and it was identical to the one that you took out, you'd be fine. Or...just rebuild what you have and you'll be golden.

 

[Centermass]

Just call the bar and ask them. Ive talked to the referee about federal and state smog requirements they are very helpfull. My understanding is that what ever year the vehicle engine came out of example95 chevy pickup it has to have the exact same smog equipment the the 95 chevy has on it once the conversion is complete. So basically they have to be able to compare it to a specific year to base the smog off of. But to be safe call your local referee and ask him what the rules re for sure.

Referee Centers Fact Sheet

DCA/BAR Field Offices
Answer general consumer questions and complaints and help identify locations of licensed Smog Check stations.
Bakersfield: 3331 N. Sillect Avenue, (661) 335-7400
Culver City: 6035 Bristol Parkway, (310) 410-0024
Fresno: 4152 W. Swift Ave., Suite 104, (559) 445-5015
Hercules (recently moved from Richmond): 625 Alfred Nobel Drive, Suite A, Hercules, CA, (510) 964-3030
Placentia: 701 Kimberly Ave., Suite 120, (714) 961-7940
Riverside: 3737 Main Street, Suite 850, (951) 782-4250
Sacramento: 10220 Systems Parkway, (916) 255-4200
San Diego/Oceanside: 16855 W. Bernardo Drive, Suite 112, San Diego, CA 92127 (858) 716-1025
San Jose: 1361 South Winchester Blvd., Suite 206, (408) 277-1860
South El Monte: 1180 Durfee Ave., Suite 120, (626) 575-6934
South San Francisco: 395 Oyster Point, Suite 102, (650) 827-2074
Valencia: 27202 Turnberry Lane, Suite 250, (661) 702-6600

 

[Kofoed]

How in the world did they get a 1972 past a referee in a 1977 rig? You should have to comply to 1977 regs, not 72.


Doing a crate motor with EFI would be way easier than what they did.

Find a shop with gearheads that can verify the block casting number COULD have come out of a 1977 whatever....

 

[Plowboy]

I have a 78 with a 1965 283. I had the engine conversion done in 78. At that time the smog requirement in calif required the smog that came with the block. In the early 90's the law changed to the sheet metal or newer. The sticker on your door jam calls for the smog that came on the 72 350. If you change engines, even the same year and model, the referee will require you to have all the smog that came on a 77 engine. I replaced the 283 with a 327 from the same year. It was a factory replacement block, sort of generic. About 5 yrs ago calif changed the door sticker to require a bar code which had all the information in the bar code. I got the TEST ONLY stamp on my renewal and nobody would run the test on the old sticker. I had to go back to the referee for the new style sticker. They ran the engine number, block casting and found it to be a 327 and refused to upgrade the sticker. Gave me a list of all the smog equipment I would need for a 78 chev 350. (327 no longer in production in 78). Nothing would fit since the 327 doesn't have any of the required bolt holes to mount any of the brackets. The ref ran the smog test (it passed the 65 spec) and labeled the 40 a gross poluter. If you can find a shop to test your 77/72, I would have it done and forget about talking to Smog Referees. You'll probably end up in the same red tape and dance they tried to put me through. I cheated and took it Idaho and had it registered there.

 

[cruiserbrett]

In agreement with plowboy, Prior to the comprehensive engine swap legislation(probably before the early 90's) you could use any year motor as long as the smog equipment required to be present on the donor motor was there and functional, and then you had to pass smog requirements for the donor year engine. Now its just a hassle to have an earlier engine than sheetmetal.

my friend has a 76 fj55 and its got a BAR sticker for th 63 283 or what ever sized chevy is in there and its now a pain to smog like plowboy mentioned. even though its legal based on the time the conversion was done he still needs to treat it like he is smogging a truck without the correct emissions b/c no smog shop seems to remember the old laws(IE he has to grease the palms of a friendly smog shop.)

 

[Jerzfj40]

I have a 78 with a 1965 283. I had the engine conversion done in 78. At that time the smog requirement in calif required the smog that came with the block. In the early 90's the law changed to the sheet metal or newer. The sticker on your door jam calls for the smog that came on the 72 350. If you change engines, even the same year and model, the referee will require you to have all the smog that came on a 77 engine. I replaced the 283 with a 327 from the same year. It was a factory replacement block, sort of generic. About 5 yrs ago calif changed the door sticker to require a bar code which had all the information in the bar code. I got the TEST ONLY stamp on my renewal and nobody would run the test on the old sticker. I had to go back to the referee for the new style sticker. They ran the engine number, block casting and found it to be a 327 and refused to upgrade the sticker. Gave me a list of all the smog equipment I would need for a 78 chev 350. (327 no longer in production in 78). Nothing would fit since the 327 doesn't have any of the required bolt holes to mount any of the brackets. The ref ran the smog test (it passed the 65 spec) and labeled the 40 a gross poluter. If you can find a shop to test your 77/72, I would have it done and forget about talking to Smog Referees. You'll probably end up in the same red tape and dance they tried to put me through. I cheated and took it Idaho and had it registered there.

After reading all of your responses, im beginning to think i'll just continue to use the same smog guy until i get nailed on the issue. Then i'll just have to find an earlier year frame and switch everything out.
Thanks to everyone for all the good feedback!

 

[Centermass]

Try giving the BAR a call dont take you vehicle to them. Just tell him you have a 77 with a v-8 with a carb sticker . Ask him what requirements you would have to meet if you wanted to upgrade to TBI. Then you are getting it striaght from the horses mouth. The Fresno Bar ref has been super helpfull to me and some friends. Everything he has told me has been accuratre on my 75 when smog was still required on that year cruiser with a v-8. Most people dont talk to them first then get into trouble.

 

[D'Animal]

Howell does not make a TBI kit for a 1972 engine.

Howell Engine Developments Inc. - Harness with Controller Kits

 

[Theycallmenica]

the best way is to find a friendly smog guy and skip going to the state. So you are best to continue using your guy and keep that secret a well guarded secret.