Considering buying one of the performance crate engines from GM, to go into an '85 Elky. I intend to hook up all smog equipment currently on the 305. Wanted to know if anyone has done this swap in California and successfully passed Smog Check. Would like to know the GM HP rating of the engine you installed.

As always, thanks for your responses.

Anyone done this swap, or something like it in CA / NV? My thinking is that if it is a solid running engine, and all the smog stuff is attached, it should pass. Someone mentioned that if the power starts to get into the 330 HP range, that the cam may not let it pass SMOG.

Just don't want to go throught the efforts of making a swap just to find out I can't drive it.

Give me your thoughts

Thanks.

I don't know anyone that has done it. You would need to look close at the cam to figure out if it would pass. Might try comparing it to a stock cam for the same year as yours.

Most of the people I know have just gone with an LT1 or LS1.

wit my knowledge so far on CA emissions that im learning...you should be fine as long as its all visually correct and all the emission equipment is installed correctly they should never know if your a packin brother. Also use the Edlebrock pt#1400 carburetor its 50 state legal and has teh C.A.R.B. exempt number sticker and any other parts you use for performance make sure you have CARB exempt numbers on your fan shroud!

-Anduh

According to CA law, ANY change from what came under the hood of your car originally is illegal. That means changing your oil is against the law. There are then afterthoughts like 50 state emission parts. It tends to depend on your smog guy what goes and what doesn't. If he checks the numbers on your 350 against his book, it's not factory that way and may fail. Most likely, however, as long as it looks like all the stuff is there, he'll probably just hook it up to the sniffer and see what it reads. I would agree that as long as you stay fairly mild on your cam you should be fine.

Devin

According to CA law, ANY change from what came under the hood of your car originally is illegal.Please cite the statute for this misinformation. A good starting place would be "http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html". Happy hunting.

The CA smog tet consists of two parts. The first part is the visual inspection. This consists of checking external components to ensure that everything is properly connected. This is where they'll check that the carb, intake, heads, exhaust, ignition and external emissions equipment are either original, direct OEM replacement, or "50-state legal". Be sure to have the CARB exemption stickers where they can be seen, or hand them the pile of documentation. They are NOT allowed to check the internal components of the engine. If the smog guy is in a bad mood, they might check the casting numbers, but the worst they can do is send you to a referee station.

The second part is the sniffer test. In some locations, it's a two-step process (low-speed and high-speed) that gets done on a dyno. This is simple pass/fail. It used to be that in some instances, they could pass you even if the numbers don't turn out right (a certain percentage improvement in smog output), but I doubt that this applies any more.

The ONLY way a standard smog station can check the camshaft is through the tailpipe.

If the engine block is newer than the chassis, you need to pass smog for the year of the engine. If the engine block is older, you need to pass smog for the year of the chassis. I believe that for "crate" engines, the year that is used for the block is the first year that the casting was made.

In my experience I would say that you should be fine as long as you hook up all the emissions equipment as you stated, and the cam is not too wild.

I was able to get a 383 to pass without any problems, both visual and sniffer, so I'm sure you'll be fine with a 305 or 350.

question I will be moving to southern cal this year if all falls in place. what is the smog law on a 69 SS BB car does the fact its over 25 year old just plain exempt the car for smoging ? or do they have to pass the sniffer? Car was built in calif in 69 but sold in Virgina so there is no smog pumps and such. Has complete new engine all parts in the stock locations.

skinyfisher - You won't have a problem and won't have to smog your car... They changed the law early last year (I think it was last year), from the old, rolling 30-year rule to a fixed deal for ALL cars '75 or newer.

Your '69 will be "off the hook" for smog checks... :)

...for ALL cars '75 or newer... :)

He means 75 or older you don't have to smog your car. Your 69 will be fine.

[B]Old School Rules! No smog :lol:

Old School Rules! No smog :lol:In California, yes. Other states may not be so lenient. I hear that Arizona is particularly strict.

Also, California can always change the rules, requiring you to meet the same smog requirements that were in place as of the date of vehicle manufacture. It's not likely, but it is possible.

In Arizona now if the car is 15 years or older and you have collector car insurance or one other I can't think of you don't have to smog anymore. A friend that lives there told me about that.

to be on the safe side call your local community college and see if they have a smog referee program. if they do tell the ref what you want to do and he /she will tell you yes or no. you will have to go to a ref anyway if your gonna get the car smogged because they have to give you another emission label. also in the state of cali a legal swap is same year or newer engine