Cheating the System

[packman]

For those people that live in the smog states (CA comes to mind) and those who used to. What color were these engines (CFI and EFI alike) when they were new? Are there any aftermarket heads and intakes that will fit the stock lower and HO upper? Probably been discussed before, but I was thinking if one were to scratch/file down the manufacturer logo on the heads and paint them whatever color these engines came with; would it be possible to sneak it through inspection?


Packman

[grandpaslincoln]

I think they were all grey. Not sure though.

[crazyman]

My grandma's 84 CFI is grey.

[RyPow]

For those people that live in the smog states (CA comes to mind) and those who used to. What color were these engines (CFI and EFI alike) when they were new?

My '85 TC (CFI) valve covers are grey from factory, and the '87s (SEFI) are black. I'll have to double-check the heads themselves when I'm home later.

[packman]

Duh, now I remember that the EFI (at least my '86) valve covers are black. I would imagine the engine is gray along with the intake. Would the inspection people remember or know what color a fresh engine is? I am just concerned with making a non-stock engine look original. Couldn't do headers; or at least have them installed when inspection time comes. Though I imagine if you're cheeky, you could set up the exhaust so you could unbolt the manifolds and H/X pipe and replace with the headers and appropriate piping; so basically make use of the flanges in between inspections.


Packman

[GM_Guy]

Lincoln logs would make that easy. But paint the entire engine semi-gloss black. A lot of engines in the 80's where painted all black, black will help "hide" any markings as well.

Alex.

[HiFiMerc]

Paint it rust colored? No one will suspect rust

[gadget73]

They don't know or care about the paint. In California, you buy CARB certified parts, or stealthily modify the stock parts. For all the bother, CARB stuff is probably better and easier to deal with. New Jersey's smog inspections are a joke. I've been passing for years with no smog pump and non-stock exhaust. Here, if it has converters and passes the sniff test, its good. Ironically, the car with all of the correct bullshit is the one that has a hard time passing. I took the smog pump out of the system since I last went through though, so I'll find out what it has to tell me soon. I think I'm due this month.

[Lincolnmania]

nobody gonna even know or care on a 35 yr old car, as long as it appears stock

[P72Crazy]

What is this country coming to? I can't imagine any state including the far left one checking the smog control devices on a 25 year old car. Today the news folks reported the EPA is wanting to use more ethanol in the fuel. Damn! Using feed corn in our fuel in not the frigg-in answer to getting off foreign oil !! Ethanol is for drinking, not for fuel ! Think of all the diesel it takes to plant, plow, and harvest the stuff. And our yuppy friends are paying 1.29 for a 20oz plastic bottle of water (8.26 per gallon). Oh, and we all know that plastic is a product of what? It ain't corn liquor folks.

[miamibob]

Only God knows what Ethanol is doing to our fuel and engine parts.....I've already seen what it does to lawn equipment!!

[oldschool84]

i live in a stupid smog state.what i did when i restored my merc was remove the entire exhaust system, cats included and put dual straight pipes with dual cherrybombs. its extremely loud and illegal but i have never been bothered. when i went for the inspectiob sticker the guy said it will not pass, luckily i convinced him to pass it and he said "well fix it for next time"

[packman]

nobody gonna even know or care on a 35 yr old car, as long as it appears stock

Exactly my point. GM_Guy had a good idea with painting it all black and I guess leave the intake "as is". That would work I think.

In NJ, inspections have gotten lax over the past few years. Though, I remember back in the late '90s, it was tough. It's the reason why I pay for inspections. It's also the reason why I put the 305sbc back into my Malibu for all of those years. Less hassle for $30-$50 private inspection.


Packman

[P72Crazy]

So in NJ, were the inspectors looking for physical devices to be present or sniffing the tailpipe for HC/CO readings? Can't believe the inspectors were just looking for paint color as a tip for "tampering with a pollution controlled vehicle"......Hate that term, you can't convert a "pollution controlled vehicle" to run CNG.....stupid bastards (EPA that is).

[packman]

So in NJ, were the inspectors looking for physical devices to be present or sniffing the tailpipe for HC/CO readings? Can't believe the inspectors were just looking for paint color as a tip for "tampering with a pollution controlled vehicle"......Hate that term, you can't convert a "pollution controlled vehicle" to run CNG.....stupid bastards (EPA that is).

They were for a short time sniffing the tailpipe on the classics (i.e. '68 Charger). We tried running methanol and got caught. Also tried explaining to the people that in '68, there were no pollution standards. But those were the rules back then, so we had to let that car go. There was a time back in the '60s (in NJ) when seatbelts would get you failed. Anything not originally installed in the vehicle was illegal. My father's friend had a nice Dodge that he had to ditch because he installed seatbelts to make it a bit more safe to drive.


Packman