Smogging in Sacramento County

[kyledub]

I am having the same problem with my 78 383. I have all my stock CA equipment with smog approved headers and a newer edelbrock quad. The last time it was smogged was 6 years ago, it passed with flying colors. Now it failed the NOx. I hate this libtard state!

[454Man]

Try some rxp I've had good results. My sisters BMW wouldn't pass until we ran rxp through two tanks

What's under the hood??? If you have to ask maybe we shouldn't race!

[kyledub]

rxp? Whats that stand for?

[454Man]

Idk wish I really knew, but check this link out http://www.rxp.com/the-results/d-o-t-test/
Can not go wrong by giving it a shot. I ran two tanks by the least quarter I took the test and passed no prob. Wish I had saved the b4 and after test results. But they were significant

What's under the hood??? If you have to ask maybe we shouldn't race!

[SILVERADO]

In Tennessee the counties that touch a major city, i.e. Memphis, Nashville,Knoxville, have to have an emissions test. The other "rural" counties dont. Unfair, I say, why is one counties air more important than another?

[bake74]

Is there a mechanic in the Sacramento area that specializes in older Chevrolets that someone recommends I contact to help me pass smog in Sacramento County?

I most recently passed smog in Santa Barbara County in 2011, but apparently things are stricter here? 

I need someone I can trust and that is knowledgable. I really want to keep her on the road.

Thanks in advance!

Let start by saying...Beautiful Truck!!!!!
I have lived in The Sacramento area all my life, & I have never heard of separate smog rules between counties in Ca. Someone is pulling your chain!!!! I currently live in yolo county, there is no laws stoping me from having my truck/car smoged  in Fresno county and vise versa!!! To the best of my knowledge Ca. Smog laws are the same throughout Ca. If you find out any different I would love for you to let us know!
Meanwhile, I do happen to know of a shop with great knowledge of these trucks. Sense I don't want to sound as if I am advertising , I will send you a pm with the name.

     Sorry for the late reply, been on vacation for a few weeks and then catching up on work.
 
     Just to clear up some confusion about Ca. smog.  The state of California has a standard smog level, they have been pushing the federal government to be able to increase the requirements in California but the auto makers have been fighting back.
     As far as I know all counties in California require the same smog, but there are some that do not require the bi-annual smog upon registration.  See insert below.

      http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm

  "   Which counties require a smog inspection for the registration renewal?

Counties that Require a Smog Inspection for Vehicle Registration Renewal
Alameda   Butte   Colusa   Contra Costa   Fresno
Glenn   Kern   Kings   Los Angeles   Madera
Marin   Merced   Monterey   Napa   Nevada
Orange   Sacramento   San Benito   San Francisco   San Joaquin
San Luis Obispo   San Mateo   Santa Barbara   Santa Clara   Santa Cruz
Shasta   Solano   Stanislaus   Sutter   Tehama
Tulare   Ventura   Yolo   Yuba   

There are six counties that require smog certifications within certain Zip Codes only. These counties are:

El Dorado, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Sonoma.

Follow this link to determine which Zip Codes are included. "

     With that being said, I would say the shop or shops you have taken your truck to are full of it. 
   
     Referee Centers are located throughout the state, primarily at California
Community College sites. Call (800) 622-7733 to schedule an appointment with a
Referee Center.

     Here is one for Sacramento.        

American River College
4700 College Oak Drive
Sacramento, Calif. 95841

     Hope this helps, that is why I build pre 75 vehicles only.

[DuckAholic1]

Very well said bake!!! Thanks for the great info!!
I was thinking the same thing about those shops!! It just didn't add up!!

[CA Big Red]

 

     Sorry for the late reply, been on vacation for a few weeks and then catching up on work.
 
     Just to clear up some confusion about Ca. smog.  The state of California has a standard smog level, they have been pushing the federal government to be able to increase the requirements in California but the auto makers have been fighting back.
     As far as I know all counties in California require the same smog, but there are some that do not require the bi-annual smog upon registration.  See insert below.

      http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm

  "   Which counties require a smog inspection for the registration renewal?

Counties that Require a Smog Inspection for Vehicle Registration Renewal
Alameda   Butte   Colusa   Contra Costa   Fresno
Glenn   Kern   Kings   Los Angeles   Madera
Marin   Merced   Monterey   Napa   Nevada
Orange   Sacramento   San Benito   San Francisco   San Joaquin
San Luis Obispo   San Mateo   Santa Barbara   Santa Clara   Santa Cruz
Shasta   Solano   Stanislaus   Sutter   Tehama
Tulare   Ventura   Yolo   Yuba   

There are six counties that require smog certifications within certain Zip Codes only. These counties are:

El Dorado, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Sonoma.

Follow this link to determine which Zip Codes are included. "

     With that being said, I would say the shop or shops you have taken your truck to are full of it. 
   
     Referee Centers are located throughout the state, primarily at California
Community College sites. Call (800) 622-7733 to schedule an appointment with a
Referee Center.

     Here is one for Sacramento.        

American River College
4700 College Oak Drive
Sacramento, Calif. 95841

     Hope this helps, that is why I build pre 75 vehicles only.

Thanks Bake74.

I was back at this again today. Another shop, another different set of thoughts and suggestions.  In the morning I'll post a scan of his copied "requirements" as he sees them, depending if i am a federal truck or a California truck.

If I'm a CA truck, I'm screwed.  I've got a ton of stuff missing and that I've never seen.  If I am a federal truck, I need a new air filter...and a couple of other things.

Ultimately, no one so far can tell me if it is a federal truck. Not GM, not any shop, not any website.  So, the guy said, call a referee and hope he says it's federal.  The only documentation I have that supports that it is federal is that I have some original dealer paperwork, showing that it was first sold in Spokane, WA.  That would make me think it was made by GM for a federal sale, but it was built in Fremont, CA, which makes today's mechanics think that the percentage is high that if it was built in CA, it was built for CA. 

Any idea on how I can prove to a referee that it was a federal truck?

[bake74]

     More than likely all GM trucks sold to the western 9 states where made on the west coast, so they made both Ca. trucks and federal trucks in Fremont.  Just a couple of months ago I saw a 77 k10 being sold in Stockton, Ca. that was a federal truck.  It was made in Fremont, so don't pay attention to someone who is just guessing that made in Ca. can only mean it was meant for Ca.  Anybody with a half a brain should know better than that.
     The major difference between a federal truck and a Ca. truck is a federal did not come equipped with a catalytic converter.  Is your exhaust original or do you know if it had or has a catalytic converter on it ?

"The only documentation I have that supports that it is federal is that I have some original dealer paperwork, showing that it was first sold in Spokane, WA. "

      That is impressive that you have paperwork from the original purchase of the truck, are you the original owner ?  Also have you tried to contact the dealership that you have paperwork on to see if they are still open and by chance might have some other paperwork in their archives on your truck ?  It would be worth a shot.
     If I were you I would make an appointment with a referee and go in there with the attitude that it is a federal truck, if the ref. is going to say it is not, ask them to prove it.  The only way they can really prove it is by the vin# and they might not want to take the time to prove it is not.  Especially if your truck is running good and will pass the sniff test with what you got.

[morrow07]

Just went through this crap in Oct-Nov. My truck is in San Mateo County which requires smog. Very simple solution. Went to my in laws in Placer County and got myself a PO box. They only require smog for title transfers. I've owned the truck since 97, so no problem. I go to Tahoe about 6 times a year, so swinging by the PO box is a piece of cake. So, no smog for me until the communist ruin that county as well.

[CA Big Red]

Thanks bake74.  I'm going to make that appointment and do just as you say.  Force them to prove it.

I am not the original owner.  I am either the 3rd or 4th.  The truck was my dad's and I think he was the 2nd owner, but there may have been one person between him and the original owner.  Not sure.  Its been in the family since '84.

The engine was replaced in '85/6 and the exhaust has been replaced twice by me and I have never included catalytic converters during either of those times.  I'll ask my father if he recalls one being on their when he purchased it. 

I'll reach out to the dealer, that's not a bad suggestion.  However, if they operate anything like GM Headquarters, the chances a slim to none. 

Thanks, I'll keep you posted.

[CA Big Red]

Called the dealer in Pullman, WA.  No luck.  No records that old.

[bake74]

Called the dealer in Pullman, WA.  No luck.  No records that old.

     It was a shot in the dark, but worth the effort.  Keep me informed on what happens, ok.

[CA Big Red]

I'm on my way to the referee.  I'll have my answer by the end of the first week of January.

I'm going into the meeting ready to pass smog as a federal truck.  I've spent the week making sure that it will pass based on that standard. 

If I fail the smog test, then I have 60 days to fix it.  In those 60 days I'll be registering it in Montana or Wyoming or something.  I'm not going to put all that stuff back on this truck now. 

[CA Big Red]

Its done.

On Friday I received my tabs.  I went from being told that I was looking at $2200 to finally paying $397, parts and labor.

I was also able to avoid the referee appointment.  The same shop that did the work agreed with me that all the evidence pointed to the fact that I had a federal truck and not a California truck.

So, I'm legally back on the road for another two years in Sac County.

If anyone is interested, I'd be happy to post my smog results.  Despite having a little bit of noticeable coloration coming out the exhaust, I passed with what I would consider flying colors.  Especially when you consider the age of this rebuild.

Now, onto the hood project.