Author Topic: 1985 c10- headed to LA  (Read 11154 times)

Offline anderskorn

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1985 c10- headed to LA
« on: June 01, 2009, 01:29:30 am »
Hello folks, checking here from Hawaii. 
I'm moving to LA in aug-sept time frame and I’m curious about what I’m going to be facing as far as emissions.  I did some internet machine searches and i just didn't get the straight no BS answers i was looking for.  I don't have any pics of the vehicle on this computer, when i get to my other comp i'll post up some pics.  I bought this truck for 500 bucks, it was and still is in bad shape (body wise).  The truck started its life with the 6 in it, until last year when i got my hands on it. 

Now it has a 1988-89 IROC GTA motor in it with a 1991 Camero transmission.  I'd like to do a lot of stuff to the thing, but honestly, i believe i can and will be better off finding a donor with a body in better condition, with a blown motor (or something to that effect) and just swap the power train i invested in into a new body, you folks will see when i post pics of it later.  Most likely I’ll be driving the thing for a while and just maintain it till i get a game plan down as far as what i actually want to accomplish with this truck.  I need to really get a good understanding for how much it will cost to fix the body on this truck and then i'll know if i actually want to keep it or find a donor body that just needs paint.  Will post pics when i get a chance. :)

anyway, for now, I'd like to hear anything anyone has to say about what i am looking to expect as far as facing emissions tests problems, registration pitfalls, I’ve never lived in Cally before, i LOVE los Angeles though, I’ve been visiting the city every few months since being here in Hawaii for the last 4 years.  Can't wait to get there! 

Thanks in advance for any info/links/ advice. 

Skorned.  ;)
The Beatings Will Continue Until Moral Improves

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2009, 01:47:42 am »
Welcome from Maryland. cant help you on any of your questions but as you know there are allot of guys and a couple girls that can good luck with it all
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Offline 406 Q-ship

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2009, 02:02:01 am »
Welcome to the land of fruits and nuts.....

You will find the DMV is full of them too.  You must have all the emission equipment for the engine (I'm assuming that it is a TPI set up) hooked up and operating with a stock ECM.......and I do mean ALL.  They will ding you even if the Transmission lock up is disabled (if you have a later trans I figure yours works).  For all the emission information to register the truck in CA call the Bureau of Automotive Repair will get you in touch with a referee that can help you through all the landmines.  Here is all that I think you'll need to get it passed the State Smog test.

Catalytic converter
ECM with all the sensors and pieces working and no codes
Evap
AIR (if the engine had it originally)
EGR
TCC (torque converter lock up)
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Offline anderskorn

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2009, 07:58:50 am »
  For all the emission information to register the truck in CA call the Bureau of Automotive Repair will get you in touch with a referee that can help you through all the landmines. 

That is the kind of info i needed!  This truck is going to be a nightmare to register.  having read your post, i'm going to Have to get in touch with an Official to find out what has to be done.  I was aware and expected to have to do cats, will have to have that tossed on there, as it dosn't have any right now... didn't need them here...  :o   As far as everything else, the motor WAS TBFI i remember correctly, but i had it swaped over to straight carb.  Nothing on it is electronic now besides the distributor lol.   ;D 
Hope i can get away with driving it home from the port  ::)  It dosn't smoke at all but its not anywhere near Cally legal either.  I need to get this worked out now for sure. 

Thanks for the info. 
The Beatings Will Continue Until Moral Improves

Offline choptop

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2009, 08:14:28 am »
Being an 85, the TBFI wasnt original for it. You will probably have to have the AIR system on it. Cali is non forgiving on their emmissions, no way I could move there.
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Offline oldwhity

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2009, 08:05:34 pm »
Another welcome from Maryland. Good luck with making that thing Cali-ready.
Rob G.
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Offline 69byrd

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2009, 08:36:13 pm »
Welcome from Tennessee.
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Offline Captkaos

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2009, 09:00:19 pm »
Welcome to the site!

Offline oldyeller

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2009, 10:02:51 pm »
Welcome from Texas. 
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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #9 on: June 02, 2009, 02:02:24 am »
i forget were i heard it from but there was a rule certain states were going by and it pretty much said you can have a jeep with a Chevy motor in it but you can take a late model gm and lets use you for and example your truck and you could put a newer motor in it. and i want to say only if it was offered for that series later on. now if this is true i think cali would be the first state to pass it but don't quote me on it yet
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

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Offline anderskorn

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #10 on: June 02, 2009, 03:10:09 pm »
the truck is a 350 straight carb'ed, intake and headers, no cats atm.  No electronics at all.  The motor in the truck NOW started life as a TBFI motor from an IROC GTA if i remember correctly from what i was told about it.

The thing is that how will they evaluate the set up?  Will they hold the motor to a v6 standard of emission because the truck started its life as a v6, or will they have some kind of system for determining what an "acceptable" level of emission is for the motor in it now?  

Hmmpf, looks like really need to get on the horn with a professional in cally before i do anything.  They actually call people that work for the state's emission compliance "Referees?" LOL

we'll see how it turns out.  I'm going to be livid if it costs thousands of bucks to get it registered legally because i have to install some electronics, i'll pull the motor in my carport and sell the body for scrap metal and drop the motor into a dune buggy if that happens....  :P ::)








the body has a LOT of surface rust but no bad cancer except for around the doors.  This is the start of me trying to clean up the pain from the tail gate...
The Beatings Will Continue Until Moral Improves

Offline anderskorn

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #11 on: June 02, 2009, 04:35:15 pm »
[youtube=425,350]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VmpKqXDqyFk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VmpKqXDqyFk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/youtube]

the ole beast.  This motor sounds EFN great at WOT with load. 
The Beatings Will Continue Until Moral Improves

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #12 on: June 02, 2009, 04:59:23 pm »
You need to turn that fast idle screw down a bit.
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Offline anderskorn

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #13 on: June 02, 2009, 10:24:46 pm »
You need to turn that fast idle screw down a bit.
i knew someone would notice that!  yeah i should be shot for not actually spending an hour reading the book and watching the video that came with the carburetor.  now its in LA, went with the pack out.  I can't wait to start getting my tools and garage set up the way i want it after i get there! 
The Beatings Will Continue Until Moral Improves

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 1985 c10- headed to LA
« Reply #14 on: June 06, 2009, 01:25:51 am »
i know over here in Del they just go by the Vin but there still Gide lines due to the age of the motor and what not
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes