Attention: Older Corvettes - Anti-Smog Law Signed Into Effect

[Rob]

URGENT LEGISLATIVE ANNOUNCEMENT- Governor Signs Smog Check Exemption Repeal Bill Into Law - September 2004

<img src="/images/design/front/junk.jpg" width="225" height="169" border="1" hspace="4" vspace="4" alt="" align="right" />We have just been informed that despite receiving thousands of messages in opposition to the bill, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has just signed A.B. 2683 into law. The new law repeals California’s current rolling emissions-test exemption for vehicles 30 years old and older and replaces it with a law requiring the lifetime testing of all 1976 and newer model-year vehicles.

We remain confident that the facts are on our side: California’s 30-year rolling exemption recognized the minimal impact vintage cars have on air quality, since they constitute a minuscule portion of the overall vehicle population. These older cars are overwhelmingly well maintained and infrequently driven, and are poor candidates for reducing pollution. They are, in the end, convenient scapegoats for legislators, regulators and stationary source polluters using false data and inflated annual mileage assumptions to make it sound like they are cleaning the air. The old car hobby must stand united against future attacks that will accomplish nothing except require unnecessary testing, waste money and burden car hobbyists.

Special thanks to all of the thousands of vehicle hobbyists and related businesses who contacted the Governor requesting his veto. Special thanks also to the steadfast California lawmakers that supported our valiant cause – State Senators Tom McClintock, Betty Karnette and Chuck Poochigian and Assemblymembers Doug LaMalfa and John Campbell.

We will live to fight another day!

Steve McDonald
SEMA VP, Government Affairs

 

[67HEAVEN]

Unfortunately, there's lots more to come......for all of us.....no matter where we live.

 

[JonM]

Unfortunately, there's lots more to come......for all of us.....no matter where we live.

Most likly you are correct...but them Kalifornians have a big head start in the :crazy department.

 

[Trixie]

Whew, just made it.

 

[vettefinderjim]

Our Southern neighbor is causing the problem

When driving the California freeways, 99% of the 1976 thru 1980 automobiles you see on the highway are driven by the less fortunate Mexican American. These vehicles are being re-cycled back into the economy after many years of use in Mexico or other states where smog contol equiptment ( air pumps, cat converters etc) was removed due to NO INSPECTIONS. All the state wants is for these vehicles to be correct........or junked.

My wife still has her 77 Corvette that she bought new, and yes we got caught last May for the bi-annual inspection. The state inspector commented how clean the old car was and said it met 1998 levels of HC and CO allowable emissions.

If you ever drive in Mexico in traffic you will immediately know why they wanted this law in effect.

And.......how many classic 1976 and newer cars are there? I don't see anyone rushing to by anything newer than 1972 metal bumper big blocks.

 

[74bigblock]

Just send the good Gov a note letting him know that all the good people with vintage autos in california will no longer be watching his movies.

 

[vettefinderjim]

Jay Leno even asked

I talked to Jay Leno three weeks ago. He personally made a plea with Arnold. Arnold, who also has collectible cars, said he feels that pre 73 should fill all the hot rodders needs.

If ILLNOIS had smog laws, your 74 would have never been created as you have it. The law here has been thru 1973......then 74 got the break last year ( 30 year window would allow the new old car to be exempt.) This fall, the 75 got in the exempt ruling. Now, begining January 05, all 1976 and newer cars have to be tested every two years.

In Arizona, believe it or not, 1967 ( yes 67 ) and newer have to be tested......so where is the *****?

 

[Evolution1980]

It was easy for the Gov to sign the bill...Who's gonna be the first idiot to give the Gov (or just "Arnold" after a while") for driving around a car that didn't pass inspection? Or who's gonna be the first e-check guy to say, "Umm, like sorry, you didn't pass..."

 

[black_81_vette]

Yeah the emmisions laws in good ole Cali soon become nation wide Here where I live in good ole SE WI we have testing in the milwaukee metro area but nowhere else in the state.And BTW 68 up is tested.

 

[grapeknutz]

The libs out in Kalifornia are way out of control, the only hope that the U.S. removes the state from the union.

 

[dooscoop32]

I'm glad someone printed this new law for us to see. Some of the idiots I work with told me the new law was nationwide and included cars all the way back to 1932!!! Odd they said that since I own a 1932 Ford Street Rod.
There is no use arguing with them about it because they will invariably say that is what they heard.
Typical non-automotive IDIOTS!!!!!

CRVETTE

 

[froggy47]

So what is the new law? Do you have to a 67 pass the std of an 05? Could someone post a summary of the practical effects of this?


Thanks.

 

[JohnGrawcock]

One big problem with this type of legislation is that they usually require all the emmisions gear to be as it was when the vechile left the factory. They don't allow for any alterations even if the changes result in lower emmisions than the original equipment. This means that once the OEM stops supplying any one of those fragil little peices your car cannot be repaired. Upgrading is not an option.
If their problem is a bunch of old beaters burning oil all they need to do is sniff the tail pipe. New rings and a valve job would fix you right up.

 

[vettefinderjim]

Not Necessarily !

One big problem with this type of legislation is that they usually require all the emmisions gear to be as it was when the vehicle left the factory. They don't allow for any alterations even if the changes result in lower emmisions than the original equipment. This means that once the OEM stops supplying any one of those fragil little peices your car cannot be repaired. Upgrading is not an option.
If their problem is a bunch of old beaters burning oil all they need to do is sniff the tail pipe. New rings and a valve job would fix you right up.

Not always true John. I had my California SMOG licence for 27 years. The key here is one must use CARB(California Air Resources Board) approved parts for the upgrade. Edelbrock has all it's parts with a CARB # approved for sale in this state. If it is strictly a race part, then it says NOT FOR HIGHWAY USE.

Now if you use a MSD distributor, Edelbrock intake and carburator, Cat back performance exhaust systen, alluminum head change that have CARB approval #'s on them you will see a handsome improvement in performance. And your next visit to the state SMOG inspection will be a pleasant one.....as the car not only runs better and stronger.......but way cleaner.

 

[craig0ry]

When driving the California freeways, 99% of the 1976 thru 1980 automobiles you see on the highway are driven by the less fortunate Mexican American. These vehicles are being re-cycled back into the economy after many years of use in Mexico or other states where smog contol equiptment ( air pumps, cat converters etc) was removed due to NO INSPECTIONS. All the state wants is for these vehicles to be correct........or junked.

My wife still has her 77 Corvette that she bought new, and yes we got caught last May for the bi-annual inspection. The state inspector commented how clean the old car was and said it met 1998 levels of HC and CO allowable emissions.

If you ever drive in Mexico in traffic you will immediately know why they wanted this law in effect.

And.......how many classic 1976 and newer cars are there? I don't see anyone rushing to by anything newer than 1972 metal bumper big blocks.

Finally someone talking some sense.

 

[JohnGrawcock]

Not always true John. I had my California SMOG licence for 27 years. The key here is one must use CARB(California Air Resources Board) approved parts for the upgrade. Edelbrock has all it's parts with a CARB # approved for sale in this state. If it is strictly a race part, then it says NOT FOR HIGHWAY USE.

Jim,
I was thinking more of some of the less common parts such as an obsolete AIR switching value.
My point was why not pass or fail cars of a certain age based on output levels alone. If someone drops a LS1 onto a late 70's car and includs all the modern SMOG gear they are certainly not harming anyone. It's a better system. However, unless I'm mistaken this setup would not pass most state inspections because it is significantly different from the original and I would bet that these parts are not officially approved for the application.
It's just my opinion but I think the focus should be on results rather than part numbers.

 

[Larry's Yellow Rdstr]

There you go making sense John. Absolutely, results should be the determining factor, period. I just built a 383 chevy stroker motor for my 74 El Camino, spending over 6000 in the process-all with EO parts.

 

[WhalePirot]

TYVM for the heads up

Speaking of obsolete parts, have you tried to find the (expensive) air switching valves for an '87; or for an '85? I know of no replacement, either.

I hope this lives only to die another day, but this is about a shrinking revenue source for the state. It is not about common sense. If this were truly about clean air, would the increasingly common Mexican trucks not have to pass these same rules? If it were about the best good or the public, would the inspections of old, where horns had to work, lights needed to be aimed and other safety items were checked, not be reinstated? No, that would disadvantage the poor. Time again, to thank the Governator or 'saving' us from ourselves; more big government, despite his Conservatism?

I have a '77 Suburban which is driven very little, but was cheap to acquire, and proves indispensible when the odd big thing needs to be carried. How much real impact would this vehicle have, even if it WAS blowing blue? A disproportionate % of its mileage is going for the SMOG check. Heck, even the '84 Vette gets, maybe, 2-3000 miles a year. I do like knowing that it has tested clean and (kinda) passes visual.

I travel all over and have gasped for air in Bankok, Hong Kong, Dehli, New York, Denver and Taipei. My eyes have watered from same. I know that the 'liberal' view of having clean air and water despite increased costs to business (and us) has real value as a result of those costs. Just because our neighbors, however close or distant, choose not to bear the true costs of clean air and water, does not mean that WE don't pay a price. I have seen the increased haziness all over the world, even in remote areas. Where do you think this pollution goes? It goes through our bodies, perhaps later than sooner, when Asian factories belch tons of crap into our air.

Let's put our efforts where they matter, and the rare old cars are NOT the issue. CARB is way past its time. Heck, they want to ban fireplaces and outdoor barbeques! Smokers? Look out!