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California Smog issues

86caliblazer

86caliblazer

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Hi,

I am new to this site but I am in need of some help. I bought my 86 blazer from a young man here is southern California but was not aware that the blazer came from the state of Washington. It came with no Smog emission parts and now after thinking that I would be an easy fix I have reliazed that it is not. I have purchased 90% of the parts needed but I now either need full array of pictures of some ones blazer that has all of the parts on it so that I can duplicate the process or maybe a referrel to a mechanic here in the Whittier area for some help.

I hope to hear from someone here who can help me with either one of this solutions.

Again thank you 86caliblazer
 
Ha, just went through this with my kids 76. It didn't have a thing on it smog wise what so ever when we bought it. Smogged it, and took that crap right back off. lol

Google images where my friend.

Good luck.
 
I think as long as you have the original emission sticker the vehicle came with, and all of those emission parts are on it, that is all you will need to pass smog.
 
NorCal69 said:
Ha, just went through this with my kids 76. It didn't have a thing on it smog wise what so ever when we bought it. Smogged it, and took that crap right back off. lol

Google images where my friend.

Good luck.
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Thank you for your reply but I have my hands full with this crap. Could have just done the pay the money and get the smog passed but then I would have to do that every two years. I thought this would just save me the headaches in the coming years.
 
86caliblazer said:
Thank you for your reply but I have my hands full with this crap. Could have just done the pay the money and get the smog passed but then I would have to do that every two years. I thought this would just save me the headaches in the coming years.
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Is there a sticker on the core support? That really tells you what you need.

Too bad you brought this up after buying the parts. Not to be nasty, but in your situation, it would have been far cheaper and easier to convert the truck over to TBI. :(
 
There is a few stickers you will need, I actually think LMC sells the proper stickers, being an 86 and especially out of state might be good, I'm not too familiar with those years but I think they got an electric q jet??
I am not usually a proponent of the black smog but this would buy you time..
 
I could help you out with pics if you're going to a California configuration but since it's a Federal vehicle, it's going to be slightly different (starting with the ccc carb and I think maybe the distributor). Sorry to hear about the smog issues...

bubbacarb_zps872990b0.jpg
 
sreidmx said:
There is a few stickers you will need, I actually think LMC sells the proper stickers, being an 86 and especially out of state might be good, I'm not too familiar with those years but I think they got an electric q jet??
I am not usually a proponent of the black smog but this would buy you time..
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I forgot about those computer controlled Q-Jet carbs. Dealing with a worn out E-Jet (as they where known back in the day), and the odd ball obsolete emission parts it came with is going to be fun.
 
Hope you didn't pay much for it, the sellers are responsible for smog certs in CA.
 
PWagon said:
Sweet Jesus!!! What a freaking mess! I hate California.
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Not only that, buying all the emissions stuff is not cheap. The AIR system alone is a PITA, throw all the rest of that junk into the mix, yuck. Why I said TBI conversion is a better option, especially in CA.
 
Good luck getting a tbi swap through the ref. Unless you pull a motor with matching vin they can check and all the equipment for the emissions, swapping to the Ls is a better option because you can actually get it sniffed..
 
sreidmx said:
Good luck getting a tbi swap through the ref. Unless you pull a motor with matching vin they can check and all the equipment for the emissions, swapping to the Ls is a better option because you can actually get it sniffed..
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You couldn't pull an '87-91 TBI setup and have it smogged? I thought you were good to go as long as you were installing something newer, with all emissions that came that year?
 
That will work but swapping just the injection over is not technically legal. You would have to remove the whole engine and harness etc to make it legit.. a lot of work for the same poweplant imho
 
Oh gotcha...that makes sense. I assume when doing a swap like this, they tend to look at things like the partial vin on the block, which would be a red flag in this case.

I was going to say the LS-swap would be more hassle, but really, it's not much is it, if you have to swap motor and wiring over for TBI anyway.
 
The issue is there is no consistent application of the regs, they even say it's at the refs discretion to allow or disallow modifications. It's best to chat with them before hand so you know what you are dealing with, even then it's sometimes a crap shoot because you may not get the same dude you spoke with..
 
Yea if you could literally get an ls style motor and harness along with the emissions parts it's the same work.. maybe less because there won't be as much of an issue tuning out stuff you don't want later on.. plus the 100hp jump even with a 4.8
 
sreidmx said:
Yea if you could literally get an ls style motor and harness along with the emissions parts it's the same work.. maybe less because there won't be as much of an issue tuning out stuff you don't want later on.. plus the 100hp jump even with a 4.8
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I agree, I wouldn't waste my time swapping in a TBI engine if I was spending the time to get it ref'd
 
Ah, California, where the rules are made up and points don't matter...I'm convinced that most of these CA smog laws are weed older vehicles out of the population by making it too much trouble to keep them legal, while at the same time generating revenue for the government.
 
Probably. But it is definitely possible. I have a bud who's got a bad c10 with a 4.8 and it looks factory and hauls butt.
 
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