Mechanic refused to smog my MH!

[Astrodokk]

He said that I'm missing the PVC air injection system that's supposed to go from the exhaust manifolds to I think the carb. The vacuum hose is plugged with a golf tee! When I had the Doug Thorley headers installed I was told they are street legal in all states. Apparently these didn't have the attachments for the hose, so they left it plugged out. Does anyone know if headers come with the smog control stuff? I may have to order OEM manifiolds to replace since the old ones were cracked. Hopefully they can "install" the PVC onto the headers or just pass the smog test without.

[uncleneal]

There are two different smog systems on the older engines. PCV is positive crankcase ventilation - it should be a pcv valve that plugs into one of the valve covers and runs a fairly large vacuum line to the base of the carburetor. It's purpose is to suck the blow-by from the crankcase and burn it off in the engine, rather than just vent it out into the air. Has nothing to do with the exhaust.

The other is the AIR - air injection reaction (I think I got the "R" name right). It has a smog pump that runs off one of the fan belts, and vacuum lines hooked to the carb and other valves on the intake manifold, as well as a hose about the size of a water hose connected to a set of metal fittings on the exhaust manifolds. Its purpose is to inject air into the exhaust manifolds to help complete the burn of the fuel and polutants in the exhaust. If this is missing it should be possible to add it to the headers.

Neal

[85MH325]

I don't think in California that you can pass a smog inspection with headers. At least that used to be the case. Once upon a time, if you had headers it wouldn't pass the "visual" inspection, regardless of the emissions output.

Roger

[guy99]

Astrodokk,
What State are you in. I had some real adventures getting my 1984 310 with Banks headers smogged in California. I did suceed. One thing you have to do is make sure he is looking up the requiremnts for the right chassis. The first guy who looked at my MH looked up the 1984 motorhome chassis. That's not the chassis Airstream uses, they use the regular P30.

I ended up going to the smog referee, they told me what I needed, I had it done, and then passed the smog.

[Buttercup]

God I am glad I live in a county in Nevada that doesn't require smog!

[59toaster]

Originally Posted by Buttercup

God I am glad I live in a county in Nevada that doesn't require smog!

No kidding. I don't have to smog my 88 454 Sub. 8600lb GVWR makes it exempt in GA. When they do smog they don't even look under the hood. My 4Runner failed because of a problem with the EGR. I unplugged my EGR and it passed the sniffer just fine.

Stupid Cali even though the truck is within their requirements at the tail pipe they would have failed the truck.

[RivetED]

Does Calif. require all vehicles to pass the same smog test or only 'as built'? ...grandfathering old, antique, etc.

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by 85MH325

I don't think in California that you can pass a smog inspection with headers. At least that used to be the case. Once upon a time, if you had headers it wouldn't pass the "visual" inspection, regardless of the emissions output.

Roger

Roger,

Wrong, You can have headers if you also have all other smog equipment. My 1973 PowerWagon has headers, but it did not have an air pump. Having an air pump makes headers more difficult since you need the air line fittings. Calif requires that any vehicle after 1976, I think, meet the emission requirement in effect when the vehicle was produced. My Lincoln is a 49 state car and only has to meet the 49 state requirements, not the tougher Calif 1977 requirements. My Dodge is now exempt from testing.

Bill

[85MH325]

I only found out what little I know 'cause in 1994 I bought a '78 LandCruiser FJ40 with headers on the 2F engine... WITHOUT the air pump that it should have had... actually the former owner had saved all of the parts including the exhaust manifold, so it was fairly easy to return to smog-legal condition. As I said, it was a long time ago, and I didn't know all of the stuff even then... I just know that they can be tough on header-equipped engines. I understood that within a short time after that, they began producing CA "smog legal" headers... hmmm...

Roger

[ALANSD]

In Georgia we are exempt due to weight. Over 10,000lbs. Maybe you can sell those headers if you get stuck and have to replace them. Hope it does not come to that though.

[swebster]

In Kentucky we voted out the VET (Vehicle Emissions Testing) centers two years ago as nearly 98% of the cars taking the test passed on the first try. Seemed like a revenue generator more than a true safegaurd for the environment. Tractor Trailers and vehicles over 15,000# were exempt.

About the same time the centers were closed down I put on my headers, ripped out all of the AIR system and the rig runs better and burns less fuel now then when it was stock.

[Coastalview]

In California, they require the air injection system. We went through this same ordeal years ago, on a small block chevy in our 72 Blazer, that is now in storage. You can purchase headers with the air injection fittings, and basically plumb it as if it had factory manifolds. Or you can try the referee method. Jeff

[Astrodokk]

Thanks for all the replies. Just got a call from the folks who installed the headers, and they said that after looking up the info in the book, this one HAS TO HAVE the air injection system, also called "smog pump", which happens to be missing. Asked why they installed if the pump was missing, and he said that it was missing with the old manifolds and they only matched what was there. But good news, it'll only cost 1-2K to replace!
They are looking into getting a new set of headers with the smog attachments built onto them (to attach the hoses), but I have to cough up the smog equipment. Time to go to a junk yard I think. California !

[Coastalview]

I'd go the junk yard route first, plenty of tried chevy trucks laying around, just find a air pump that you can rotate the drive pulley with your hands, and the rest of the parts, brackets, hose, etc. are easy. Jeff

[Chaplain Kent]

Originally Posted by swebster

In Kentucky we voted out the VET (Vehicle Emissions Testing) centers two years ago

Now I know how we got the Smokey Mountains.

[Astrodokk]

I've got to have the air injection system AND an EFE, or "something" fuel evapration valve. I tried to see if I could get smog legal Thorleys but they won't have the EFE and therefore I need to get the regular exhaust manifolds with the valve already in it. So I'll be selling the Thorleys that are on it later on ebay, and now I have to get the engine put back into it's original form with all the smog equipment on it. There goes my mileage!
Since I'll be keeping her for up to 10 years more, I'm gonna bite the bullet and "Get 'er done! The junk yard had some old Suburban smog stuff...rusted, bent to heck, and generally not looking so good, so I'm getting new stuff. A hod rod company that also does family vehicles and wrecking will be doing the work. They are a "Gold" smog certified company in California. Would those ceramic manifolds be a good choice rather than the cast iron? If anyone's in California, it may be a good idea to keep everything stock but running well.