1977 FJ40 California SMOG

[kjp1969]

I assume that your '70 chassis is currently non-operative. When you go to revive the registration on it, they may require an inspection of it to ensure that all the number match, and that it isn't, oh, let's just say a '78 that you're trying to register as a '70 in order to avoid a smog check. I don't know how they do that, but I know that in California with their draconian smog laws, they've seen it all and will probably be wise to slight-of-hand.

I'm not making any judgments here, just letting you know that you may have to present it, tell the story of it, and sign an affadavit that it is what you say it is.

 

[AndrewP]

When I bought the 1971 frame, I took the title to the DMV. They transferred it to me and issued plates on the spot. No inspection or anything else. It was a bare frame at the time. Not saying it will go that way for anyone else, but they were cool about it. It took me 6 months to rebuild the cruiser on the new frame working a few hours here and there. I took the opportunity to do a spring over and change basically everything but the motor.

Just a motor/axle/body swap could be done in a few weekends.

Here's a link: http://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/165549-rotw-cruiserdrew.html

 

[Pskhaat]

Check http://sor.com for some decent diagrams. FWIW, I have numerous LC40 emissions stuff like smog pumps, charcoal canisters, &c &c please PM me if you need anything.

 

[J-man]

unless the stupid county is asking for an inspection, just find a local corrupt smog shop and "make good" to him and see if that works. Or find a friend here on the board and register it in a county that doesnt have those smog requirements. Its absolute BS for a rig in the 70's to have to have smog testing - it pi$$es me off...

 

[Sloan]

Check http://sor.com for some decent diagrams. FWIW, I have numerous LC40 emissions stuff like smog pumps, charcoal canisters, &c &c please PM me if you need anything.

You wouldn't by chance have an ABV for a 77 2F that holds vacuum?

 

[Pskhaat]

I can check later tonight

 

[Wombat]

unless the stupid county is asking for an inspection, just find a local corrupt smog shop and "make good" to him and see if that works. Or find a friend here on the board and register it in a county that doesnt have those smog requirements. Its absolute BS for a rig in the 70's to have to have smog testing - it pi$$es me off...

Back in the early 90's I was stationed in California with the military. I bought a 68 Mustang fastback, it had the original engine but the smog equipment was long gone. I tried like hell to do everything to meet California standards and get it registered, and finally threw in the towel and registered it in my home state of Vermont. My vehicle was legally registered and still being driven in California, yet California got none of my registration and sales tax dollars. It was nice having that option available as a non-resident military member stationed in California. This was pre-internet days, and finding the resources to retro-smog a vehicle wasn't quite as easy as it may be now. It wasn't for lack of trying.

Scott

 

[mog]

unless the stupid county is asking for an inspection, just find a local corrupt smog shop and "make good" to him and see if that works. Or find a friend here on the board and register it in a county that doesnt have those smog requirements. Its absolute BS for a rig in the 70's to have to have smog testing - it pi$$es me off...

Agree with it's BS. Even in the few counties that do not have the bi-annual smog check requirement, you still have to have a smog cert with chance of ownership. Depending on the area, the under the table smog checks are very hard to fine now with everything being computer linked. Easier in 'the big city', but harder to find then a flealess hound on a hot summer day (did that sound country enough?) in rural areas.

 

[Outback]

CA has again proven that the loons are running the asylum!

If I were you I would park said vehicle for the rest of the year. Make sure you get your certificate of NON OPERATION first! Then put her on blocks in your back yard. Prep her for a long winter and then when she is 33 years old go and get her registered. No Smog Crap. Man Arnold sure lost his nuts! He is now in my book another non male male in California. I bet he even lets his wife make all the decisions at home. What a wuss. Good luck. Ca still sends me notices of fines because I havent registered my dirt bike in Nevada after I left California. The idiots dont seem to get the fact that Nevada doesnt register dirt bikes! And yes they mail them to me in Nevada. Morons!

 

[ntsqd]

Bi-Annual inclusion date is fixed. It is no longer a sliding year of mfg.
If you want someone to blame, it is CARB. The legislature has had to slap them twice because of their rules making to go AROUND a law that the legislature put in place.

 

[mog]

CA has again proven that the loons are running the asylum!

If I were you I would park said vehicle for the rest of the year. Make sure you get your certificate of NON OPERATION first! Then put her on blocks in your back yard. Prep her for a long winter and then when she is 33 years old go and get her registered. No Smog Crap. Man Arnold sure lost his nuts! He is now in my book another non male male in California. I bet he even lets his wife make all the decisions at home. What a wuss. Good luck. Ca still sends me notices of fines because I havent registered my dirt bike in Nevada after I left California. The idiots dont seem to get the fact that Nevada doesnt register dirt bikes! And yes they mail them to me in Nevada. Morons!

No, loonier then you think. You can't register straight to a non-operational registration. So even if it is a burned out shell, 'normal registration' INCLUDING current insurance. Pretty lame. Smog is required on anything newer then 1976. It was 25 years or older, but they cut that out in 2002. How do I remember that date? It was just before my 1978 FJ-40 would have been smog-exempt, (yup a couple cuss words that year). And the Governator (Arnold) does not get the blame, I think Gray Davis was the governor at the time.

 

[Wombat]

CA has again proven that the loons are running the asylum!

If I were you I would park said vehicle for the rest of the year. Make sure you get your certificate of NON OPERATION first! Then put her on blocks in your back yard. Prep her for a long winter and then when she is 33 years old go and get her registered. No Smog Crap. Man Arnold sure lost his nuts! He is now in my book another non male male in California. I bet he even lets his wife make all the decisions at home. What a wuss. Good luck. Ca still sends me notices of fines because I havent registered my dirt bike in Nevada after I left California. The idiots dont seem to get the fact that Nevada doesnt register dirt bikes! And yes they mail them to me in Nevada. Morons!

Glad I'm not the only one they're picking on...I moved to Texas from CA over a year ago, have told them twice now that my 80 is registered in Texas, have included copies of my Texas registration, and yesterday I received another notice that my CA registration is overdue. And yes, it is mailed to my Texas address. Having moved out of California twice now, it seems that once you have anything associated with that state, they never release their tentacles.

 

[Sloan]

Come on guys, California is broke and needs cash please just send it in. :victory: I'm not sure what happened but I have been released from the annual smog test on my 40 and have been allowed to go back to bi annual testing.

 

[kjp1969]

Uh, don't you mean: You took all the good bits from your unsmogable '77 and used them to rebuild your '71? Yes, that's it. Perfectly legal that way. :sombrero:

Interesting tidbit of fact: You can't legally remove smog equipment from older vehicles, they just stop checking to see if you've done it.

 

[FJ55PorkChop]

Hello,
I am new to the forums and am a little late to the party.
I actually just picked up a 1974 FJ55 and am going to remove all the smog equipment.
If you want all you have to do is come pick it up. Let me know!
Great forums, I have a friend here that is heavily involved. Look forward to posting more in the future. I plan to document my restoration on my 74 Iron Pig......Pork Chop