Texas 79 in California

[Weelan]

There's a chance I'll be moving to California in a year or so, I have a 1979 spider with a fresh engine rebuild plus performance upgrades that I'll list below, and no smog equipment anymore(removed and discarded years ago) . I'm curious what's going to need to happen to be able to eventually register it there.

Engine mods:
1800 intake manifold
32/37 dfev
No stock filter house
Performance upgraded original head(2.0L)
Higher compression pistons
Stock cams
Performance ignition coil
Rebuilt but original distributor

Bad things left to fix:
Rusted floors
Unknown rust behind rocker panels(shock towers are good though)
Exhaust after downpipe all needs replaced

There are several smaller things that need to be done. The paint is alright. Not perfect or anything, but doesn't bother me.

So really I'm wondering what I would need to be able to register it in California some day. Totally stock looking motor is my understanding, which stinks but I wouldn't mind swapping the carb and intake back and forth. The problem and annoying part would be sourcing and installing all the emissions stuff.

I've contemplated buying a rust free (or nearly) roller 75 or earlier and swapping my engine and good stuff in. And I've considered just bailing all together and selling when it comes time to move.

So, ideas?

[SLOSpider]

Yeah you better sell it there as you will need all the emission stuff to be able to register it here. I have a rolling 74 but it would need alot to get it on the road. Better to buy a 75 or older car for cali. Why would you want to come here

[Weelan]

Ya, the emission stuff is a long list of things to spend money on and take on and off, or put on and fake to make them look like they're functional.

Buying a roller would be a way to get to keep the car, but we wouldn't have to budget for a couple years after moving until my wife finishes grad school. I wouldn't really have money for a new project, and the only way I'd be able to keep this one would basically be to store it for a couple years.

We want to move there for the same reason lots of people do, the weather. My wife also wants to do grad school, and there's a lot of programs out there.

[So Cal Mark]

you can get by with the carb if the stock air cleaner is in place but you need to put egr and air pump on it as well as catalyst and evap system. Basically whatever was on the car originally. They don't check the functional aspect of the systems, so you can fake the egr. The problem is getting the emissions low enough if the equipment doesn't function. If you can register the car as historic you can get around smog checks, but driving is very limited with that type of registration

[spidernut]

Here's your pre-smog roller. It is a 73 in Northern, CA for $1,500 asking price. A motor swap into an older car is your best bet. If you can avoid smog checks, you'll be better off in the long run.

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4424481820.html

[vandor]

Another option is to convert it to stock fuel injection, as you are allowed to update. Then it would have to pass the emissions standards of a FI Spider, but those pass easier.
Moving from TX to CA? Prepare to pay 3-4 times more for real estate...

[Weelan]

I'd have to attempt to find those parts, and spend money on them plus a new exhaust system to even get it close. I heard you can lean it out to where it just runs well enough and that'd help smog tests? Maybe that's misinformation and assumptions though.

That does look like a good candidate. I'm not really ready to buy a roller yet, I live in an apartment so 1 garage space. That's definitely helpful in my attempt to weigh costs so thank you!

I didn't know converting to fuel injection was allowed. I kind of like carb more because of how non-tech it is, but if it allows me to keep the car I'll consider it. How complicated and expensive is it? Also, I assume it has to be fully stock still?

Haha, ya I know it's quite a bit more expensive, but I'd make considerably more too.

Another question, how hard is it to store an engine out of a car for over a year?