Performance/smog question for California trucks

The short question is how do I figure out what I can do to my trucks and
keep them smogged in Calif.?

I have a 2003 GMC pickup (Z71), and a 1978 Chevy 1 ton 4x4 pickup.

The 1978 has a 350 that is horribly under powered, it needs help. I
can't get a straight answer from the smog stations or DMV or anyone. Is
there some way to figure out how much I can do to this truck and still
be Calif. smog legal?

The 2003 GMC runs pretty good but I'd still like to beef it up a bit, so
same question there, how to figure what's legal?

I've checked out quite a few performance places and I guess I could
assume that a collection of "Calif. smog approved" performance upgrades
would be OK. The problem I have is it would be a lot of work and
expense to install everything and find out there was some dependency or
something that I didn't know about.

The GMC should be fairly straightforward:
Fuel/timing chip, headers, dual exhaust, maybe some intake mods, air
intake upgrade (K&N).

The '78 Chevy needs a lot more:
headers, dual exhaust, cam, high capacity radiator fan, carburation/fuel
injection upgrade, ignition upgrade, air intake upgrade K&N), etc.

Would really appreciate some help with the smog problems.

I'll check the newsgroups but you can reply directly to
mailto:[email protected] if you want to.

Thanks,
Rick

"Rick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The short question is how do I figure out what I can do to my trucks and
> keep them smogged in Calif.?
>
> I have a 2003 GMC pickup (Z71), and a 1978 Chevy 1 ton 4x4 pickup.
>
> The 1978 has a 350 that is horribly under powered, it needs help. I
> can't get a straight answer from the smog stations or DMV or anyone. Is
> there some way to figure out how much I can do to this truck and still
> be Calif. smog legal?
>
> The 2003 GMC runs pretty good but I'd still like to beef it up a bit, so
> same question there, how to figure what's legal?
>
> I've checked out quite a few performance places and I guess I could
> assume that a collection of "Calif. smog approved" performance upgrades
> would be OK. The problem I have is it would be a lot of work and
> expense to install everything and find out there was some dependency or
> something that I didn't know about.
>
> The GMC should be fairly straightforward:
> Fuel/timing chip, headers, dual exhaust, maybe some intake mods, air
> intake upgrade (K&N).
>
> The '78 Chevy needs a lot more:
> headers, dual exhaust, cam, high capacity radiator fan, carburation/fuel
> injection upgrade, ignition upgrade, air intake upgrade K&N), etc.
>
> Would really appreciate some help with the smog problems.
>
> I'll check the newsgroups but you can reply directly to
> mailto:[email protected] if you want to.
>
> Thanks,
> Rick
> _____________________

Unless something has changed all those parts will have a BAR(Bureau of
Automotive Repair) aproval of some kind for use in CA if they are legal.
Your best bet is contact the BAR in your city and ask them about it. They
control the state smog laws. Better safe then sorry. Look in the phone book
under California State , Bureau of Automotive Repair.

Get yourself a Summit or Jegs catalog. They usually list what's legal & what
not in the Republik of Kalifornia.
I'm in Kalifornia & have a 74 blazer which is now smog exempt and a 76 Chevy
truck which will be exempt in 2005. The 76 has got a 350 w/ carb, cam,
headers (with the air injection), .202 heads, 3" duals & passed smog this
year with flying colors.
Just make sure you get CARB legal parts & remember to keep the exemption
stickers. Heck, you can even get a legal blower for the GMC.

Good luck.
Brett




"Rick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The short question is how do I figure out what I can do to my trucks and
> keep them smogged in Calif.?
>
> I have a 2003 GMC pickup (Z71), and a 1978 Chevy 1 ton 4x4 pickup.
>
> The 1978 has a 350 that is horribly under powered, it needs help. I
> can't get a straight answer from the smog stations or DMV or anyone. Is
> there some way to figure out how much I can do to this truck and still
> be Calif. smog legal?
>
> The 2003 GMC runs pretty good but I'd still like to beef it up a bit, so
> same question there, how to figure what's legal?
>
> I've checked out quite a few performance places and I guess I could
> assume that a collection of "Calif. smog approved" performance upgrades
> would be OK. The problem I have is it would be a lot of work and
> expense to install everything and find out there was some dependency or
> something that I didn't know about.
>
> The GMC should be fairly straightforward:
> Fuel/timing chip, headers, dual exhaust, maybe some intake mods, air
> intake upgrade (K&N).
>
> The '78 Chevy needs a lot more:
> headers, dual exhaust, cam, high capacity radiator fan, carburation/fuel
> injection upgrade, ignition upgrade, air intake upgrade K&N), etc.
>
> Would really appreciate some help with the smog problems.
>
> I'll check the newsgroups but you can reply directly to
> mailto:[email protected] if you want to.
>
> Thanks,
> Rick
>

"Rick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The short question is how do I figure out what I can do to my trucks and
> keep them smogged in Calif.?
>
> I have a 2003 GMC pickup (Z71), and a 1978 Chevy 1 ton 4x4 pickup.
>
> The 1978 has a 350 that is horribly under powered, it needs help. I
> can't get a straight answer from the smog stations or DMV or anyone. Is
> there some way to figure out how much I can do to this truck and still
> be Calif. smog legal?
>
> The 2003 GMC runs pretty good but I'd still like to beef it up a bit, so
> same question there, how to figure what's legal?
>
> I've checked out quite a few performance places and I guess I could
> assume that a collection of "Calif. smog approved" performance upgrades
> would be OK. The problem I have is it would be a lot of work and
> expense to install everything and find out there was some dependency or
> something that I didn't know about.

Here's a link to the CARB page where you can search for exempted parts. If
it's listed here, you can use it.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/amquery.php

Sean

All the responses help a lot, thanks to everyone who replied. It looks
easier than I thought.

Rick

Rick wrote:
> The short question is how do I figure out what I can do to my trucks and
> keep them smogged in Calif.?
>
> I have a 2003 GMC pickup (Z71), and a 1978 Chevy 1 ton 4x4 pickup.
>
> The 1978 has a 350 that is horribly under powered, it needs help. I
> can't get a straight answer from the smog stations or DMV or anyone. Is
> there some way to figure out how much I can do to this truck and still
> be Calif. smog legal?
>
> The 2003 GMC runs pretty good but I'd still like to beef it up a bit, so
> same question there, how to figure what's legal?
>
> I've checked out quite a few performance places and I guess I could
> assume that a collection of "Calif. smog approved" performance upgrades
> would be OK. The problem I have is it would be a lot of work and
> expense to install everything and find out there was some dependency or
> something that I didn't know about.
>
> The GMC should be fairly straightforward:
> Fuel/timing chip, headers, dual exhaust, maybe some intake mods, air
> intake upgrade (K&N).
>
> The '78 Chevy needs a lot more:
> headers, dual exhaust, cam, high capacity radiator fan, carburation/fuel
> injection upgrade, ignition upgrade, air intake upgrade K&N), etc.
>
> Would really appreciate some help with the smog problems.
>
> I'll check the newsgroups but you can reply directly to
> mailto:[email protected] if you want to.
>
> Thanks,
> Rick
>