1977 FJ40 and California smog?

[Gusb]

I’m in California and ready to buy a 1977 FJ40 (original 2F) that is located here but has been registered out of state. The engine seems for the most part, original, but I doubt it has any of the old required California smog stuff. The cost is over $10k and the truck is not perfect, but I think it’s what I’m after to replace my stock 1980 4X Toy pickup (which I purchased new in 80). After all the trouble I’ve gone through the last few years keeping the pickup CA smog legal, I’m really worried about bureaucratic nightmare trying to transfer/register/smog this vehicle. Is there some standard the FJ40 has to pass that would say, be way beyond the original requirements the it had to meet when new?

Also (for the 77 FJ40):
Can one find a stock front bumper, with hooks, etc.?
Are the rear “rounded” bumpers available?

Thanks for any feedback.
Gus

 

[Poser]

Welcome.


Stock front bumper did not have tow hooks. They can easily be mounted to the front frame horns.


Rear 'bumperettes' can be found out here in the 'wanted' or 'for sale' section.



1977 CA smog??? Good luck.

 

[nick]

I bought a 78 FJ40 out of New Mexico. He had all the smog stuff in a box. I then had to put it all back together and there was still a couple things missing, i.e. the heat shield.
The smog station put together a make shift heat shield for $50 and it passed.
I'll sell you mine...
https://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-trailers-sale-wanted/202705-78-fj40-so-cal.html

Good luck.
BTW where in Ca. are you?

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! If it is IN California, but registered OUT of state, it is most likely because it will NOT meet smog requirements, and the current owner does not want to spend the $$$ and time and trouble to restore it to it's Original Equipment specs. In 1977, The California specs may have been different from the Federal standards for the rest of the country. In my opinion, that is the wrong truck for you if you need to be smog legal. John

 

[high country cruiser]

as the story goes......

i bought mine w/no smog would i have done that again NO-F..N-WAY it was such a pain in the arse to keep all the legal stuff legal w/b.a.r. (bureau automotive repairs ) and now i'm smog exempt who would'a thunk it........plus all the money i spent on parts to get it legal. everyone wants more when they know you need them,but it's your decision....good luck....

 

[FJ40 TOOLMAN]

I was looking at 77 fj40 with V8 in Yuma and passed because I live California they wanted $4000. I picked up a 75 fj40 with all the smog on it for $3000.Now I have the problem of removing some of the smog equipment.

 

[Gusb]

Northern California/Bay Area

Thanks for all the feedback.
Gus

 

[Rocky_LC]

I bought a '74 from a woman who had some kind of deal with a Smog Station operator who would pass it.

Once I got it, I started looking at it, and found it was missing a whole lot of EGR parts. (EGR Cooler, Wrong Exhaust Manifold, No EGR plumbing, etc.)

It turned into a huge nightmare trying to get it passed (I finally did), but every two years was a huge headache worrying about it. If I knew then, what I know now...

I finally moved to AZ, where they only do the tailpipe test for a '74, and I am passing. What a relief.

The CARB (California Air Sesources Board) won't cut you any slack. If you get tagged as a "gross polluter" then you are on their list, and can get called into "special" inspection stations for the "once over".. It can be a tremendous headache - and trying to maintiain an "out of state" registration would be a huge PIA (and illegal) as well (unless you are in the military).

Don't even go in for a "evaluation check" because they put the license and your info into their computer on the Smog machine, and it goes right to Sacremanto.....

Not trying to be a "wet blanket", but my smog experience in CA was not fun....

Rocky

 

[Larr75fj40]

FYI, the new year for smog exemption for ALL California models as of Feb or March of this year is 1976 and earlier. Call your neighborhood AAA to verify. I asked a DMV employee which was looking at her latest code book and she said she heard nothing of it. I looked at the code book she was looking at and it read June of 2007. Believe it or not AAA Auto club is more up to date.

 

[SD_rdcruzer]

Last I heard the state cut off the exemption at 1975. Meaning that any model year after that would still have to meet smog requirements and have all the equipment that came on the vehicle from the factory.

I have an early '75 40 that has the 1.5f engine and a four speed tranny. NO SMOG TEST. The later year 75's came with disc brakes up front.

My .02 would be to keep looking and avoid the headache.

 

[Larr75fj40]

Last I heard the state cut off the exemption at 1975. Meaning that any model year after that would still have to meet smog requirements and have all the equipment that came on the vehicle from the factory.

I have an early '75 40 that has the 1.5f engine and a four speed tranny. NO SMOG TEST. The later year 75's came with disc brakes up front.

My .02 would be to keep looking and avoid the headache.

New year, new laws and finally another year to added to the exemption list.

 

[snailwagon]

I was under the impression that the smog cutoff date still currently resides in the end of 1975. Legislation has stated that the date is not to be extended.

The whole 76'-78' cruiser emmision equipment is a joke. The biggest drawback is the whole thermal reactor system. This can be swapped out with a different system, but you still need all vac switching systems, canisters, thermostatic air cleaner, EGR system, air injection, blah, blah, blah. A later manifold setup would likely conform, as would a 74' California setup with the proper stepdown studs and aircleaner relocation.

 

[Fast Eddy]

I was under the impression that the smog cutoff date still currently resides in the end of 1975. Legislation has stated that the date is not to be extended.

This is the case. AAA is misinformed. If you'd care to link to a .ca.gov source that shows different, I'll believe it. Best of luck in your search.

The whole 76'-78' cruiser emmision equipment is a joke. The biggest drawback is the whole thermal reactor system. This can be swapped out with a different system, but you still need all vac switching systems, canisters, thermostatic air cleaner, EGR system, air injection, blah, blah, blah. A later manifold setup would likely conform

Yea, but blah, blah, blah isn't much. The thermal reactor is no longer required. The other stuff is required, but not hard to find. I'm a mechanic and mine passed first time with a driveway tuneup. Maybe it's a joke, but it seems to work. My rig runs great too, BTW. It was a bit more powerful desmogged with 3x2 headers and dual exhaust, but I like the way it runs better now with half the exhaust capacity.

For $10000 it had better be pretty nice, or at least come with all the parts in a box. Mine was $10000, pretty nice and came with a truckload of extra parts ($2500+).

If you've got to aquire all the parts you may find them from one guy with an fj60 that he's desmogging. That would be best; usually around $200 or so. You can get all the parts from SOR, but it will cost you at least $1000. You'll probably need to have Mark's Off Road rebuild your carb for 3 or 4 Benjamins. He's the pro for CA smog-passing carbs.

Most importantly, if you buy it, get the year-specific emissions manual. Once it passes, it will be worth more for any CA buyer. A '78 will always be a bit more desirable because of the fine-spline pinions.

BTW, I made my heat riser out of a coat hanger, tinfoil and some aluminum tape. It was good enough for smog man.

 

[Larr75fj40]

77 and 78 are not included, only 76! Many people don't know this fact but if you owned a 76 vehicle that was made in the first four months of that year (Jan-April1976) it came with a smog exempt pass in 2004 (DMV Yorba Linda Office) The gov.ca website is not up to date and it's better to go straight to the source. Funny how even some DMV employee's will tell you that AAA gets the new laws before them.

 

[Fast Eddy]

77 and 78 are not included, only 76! Many people don't know this fact but if you owned a 76 vehicle that was made in the first four months of that year (Jan-April1976) it came with a smog exempt pass in 2004 (DMV Yorba Linda Office) The gov.ca website is not up to date and it's better to go straight to the source. Funny how even some DMV employee's will tell you that AAA gets the new laws before them.

This stinks of urban legend. Believe what you want.

'75 and earlier model years are exempt. '76 and later require a smog check in most counties and when transferring title.

 

[Pin_Head]

'76 model years need to pass smog, which means that anything manufactured after 9/75. I just smogged my 76 and the DMV sent me the notice as usual. If you don't believe me, ask Paul Johnson in So. Cal. TLC. He works for CA BAR testing smog check stations.

 

[dgangle]

This thread should be required reading for all the newbys that post up wanting to know how to get their 40 running right after 'desmogging' it. Don't understand it? Rip it out, jackass.

I guess this make my 8/75 more desireable and possibly more valuable

 

[Downey]

When testing 1985-1887 FJ60's in 1998-1999 (trying to get our fuel injection system legal) all vehicles were gross polluters with 100% defective smog devices. My guess now in 2008 is that those smog devices are almost falling off the engines on their own accord. Yes, the State of California will want you to epoxy the defective pieces of poo-poo back together just to keep the under-hood inspector happy. This kind of crapola has made engine swaps very popular. There is nothing the State would like more than for you to put a late model, clean burning muscle engine into your Toyota!!!!! I think the only prayer 1976-newer owners have in California is to patch together the smog device, install a new Catalytic Converter (whether your year needed it or not), then hope for the best at the tail pipe test.

 

[ducktapeguy]

FastEddy and Pinhead are correct, it's 75 and earlier. I went through the same dilemma right before I bought mine, except mine was originally a CA compliant vehicle. California stopped the 30 year rolling exemption back in 2005. I don't know if other counties are able to make their own exemptions, but I know in Socal the DMV goes by the 75 and earlier rule that's on their website. Even if you heard some rumors of special exceptions, good luck trying to convince a DMV employee of that.

Smog Information

Unless this 77 is a smoking deal, I'd avoid having to deal with the hassle of trying to bring it up to spec, if that's even possible. If it was originally an out of state vehicle, I'm not sure if it would even be eligible even if it were completely stock. Most of the manuals list different emissions equipment for CA-spec FJ40's for those years.

For $10k you can find one that should already be emissions compliant, or find a really good pre-75.

 

[Pin_Head]

The good news is that now it is just a visual inspection to make sure all the smog equipment looks like it is there and might work. It doesn't have to actually work and they no longer test its function directly. They only do a tail pipe test and the pre catalyst standards are loose, so the smog gear doesn't have to work to pass.

The pre cat air pumps are hyper active. CO2 is diluted by about 40% over what you would see in a modern engine with a 3 way cat. This dilution effect helps you pass when your numbers are marginal, so don't disable the air pump.

California would prefer that you let them crush any car that is over 10 years old.