Question on performance upgrades on California Spiders

[bobcity]

I'm pretty new to the forum and also to my great little 79 California Spider ( 3 months).

Been reading up on the whole carb thing, and get it about replacing the 32 ADHA carb. My question is what happens with all the smog stuff. Will I still be able to pass smog after making the conversion. How about the other stuff 4-2-1 exhaust and 1800 intake manifold changes.

Are there some changes that can be made to Cal. cars or what?

I aprecciate a laymans guide to the smog aspect. I'm not worried about polluting, just where will it leave me when it's time to smog it. I'm very confused about how this works.

[kristoj]

As my Spider is fuel injected, I can't give you advice on the carb issue, but I'm sure Mark will be able to chime in on this one. I'm just glad I don't live in a state that requires smog tests on a 30 year old car. That's just ridiculous! I guess I take for granted the fact that I've never had to have any vehicle tested for anything.

[rlux4]

Ridiculous is right John. I have always believed it's purely a money maker for the state. There is a state fund that you can apply to if you have a car that needs over a certain amount in repairs to get it to pass smog. Problem is I was just in a smog shop and there was a notice saying the fund is out of funds! Where'd our money go?
Ron

[bobcity]

How about if I could just pay to not have it smogged ... like you say, how many cars are we talking about anyway.

So in your states you don't have to go through this?

Cool!

[pope]

I was just in a smog shop and there was a notice saying the fund is out of funds! Where'd our money go?
Ron

Probably for all the 1979 Fiat Spiders needing smog work!

[fiatS2000]

About the only legal performance mod you could do to your '79 is to convert it to F.I.

[So Cal Mark]

converting to FI is not really legal; the car would have to go to the referee for approval.
Calif smog laws really prohibit any mods to the car except those approved by CARB. But, there are several ways around it and especially since no smog techs are familiar with Fiats you can get away with some updates/backdates. You can easily get away with swapping an 1800 intake and carb, but you'll have to install the earlier egr system. Just use the stock air cleaner and make it look original. The air pump system and evap system have to stay functional. You can get away with mild perf cams too. I've put several header systems on Calif cars, you have to keep the catalytic converter and egr systems.

[Jim DeShon]

I'm planning to put my Spider back together this year in California. As a state employee, I know only too well how dumb thier rules can be. One solution I have considered is to have 2 cylinder head and manifold assemblies. One for the "street" and one when I want to play. The "play" setup would have the good carb[s], hot cams, headers, and compression increase . It only takes a couple of hours to switch it over one way or the other. The "street" setup would be the stock scrap with the air pump fittings, puny carburator, useless exhaust manifold etc. Luckly, my car was a 49 state with no cat. ...J.D.

P.S. "This system is not legal for use on public highways" etc.etc.etc.

[mdrburchette]

Another reason to be on the right side of the US. NC only has safety inspections for anything older than 96 and they're talking about getting rid of that.

[bobcity]

Thanks Mark

Calif smog laws really prohibit any mods to the car except those approved by CARB.

Is it worth anything to pursue what's approved?

But, there are several ways around it and especially since no smog techs are familiar with Fiats you can get away with some updates/backdates. You can easily get away with swapping an 1800 intake and carb, but you'll have to install the earlier egr system.

So I don't know much about the actual smog test, would the car perform OK on that part?
I understand that the inspection part would be pretty easy.

[bobcity]

Another reason to be on the right side of the US. NC only has safety inspections for anything older than 96 and they're talking about getting rid of that.

Sounds too good to be true.
Maybe you could invite our Gov. "Terminator" over there for the weekend and explain it to him. Pleeeeese!

[kristoj]

How about if I could just pay to not have it smogged ... like you say, how many cars are we talking about anyway.

So in your states you don't have to go through this?

Cool!

Certain counties in Ohio do require exhaust gas testing (the counties with large cities like Cleveland, Columbus Cincinnati etc). But even in those counties, the state exempts cars that are over 25 years old and exotic/collectible vehicles less than 25 years old. So even if my countuy began testing tomorrow, my Fiat would be exempt due to age and my BMW M3 would be exempt as an exotic/collector car (it qualified for collector plates, so I went ahead and took advantage just in case).

For the few miles a year these types of cars are driven, this seems like a reasonable approach to me.

[pope]

Michigan has a law that if your car Passes the snog test, you are NOT allowed to drive it. We only allow big honkin, gas guzzlin, Detroit iron that seats about 20 so bring you jute-box money to the Love Shack! Fiat Spiderrrrr.......rusted!

[Jim DeShon]

Someone ought to invite "Arnold" somewhre and keep him. Too many outsiders like him have ruined our state over the years. ...J.D.

[bobcity]

You can easily get away with swapping an 1800 intake and carb, but you'll have to install the earlier egr system. Just use the stock air cleaner and make it look original. The air pump system and evap system have to stay functional. You can get away with mild perf cams too. I've put several header systems on Calif cars, you have to keep the catalytic converter and egr systems.

Also ... do you think I can get away with the 4-2-1 exhaust? I just ordered one.