Smog Legal Headers/ Cali laws

[54Caddy]

I am wanting to upgrade my exhaust system on my truck soon. But living in california is a pain. My truck is a federal truck and does not have air injection, my problem is finding smog legal shorty headers with out air injection. Would i be able to run regular headers and still pass smog because the truck originally doesnt have air injection?? I know i can order them with the holes and plug them up but to me that would not look nice at all. Also my truck is a factory 2 barrel truck and i want to add a four barrel would i be able to use a 4 barrel setup for smog and still pass or would it not work because the U code in my vin states it is a 2 barrel truck.

Issue Number 1: Smog Legal Headers w/out air injection
Issue Number 2: Converting to 4 Barrel Carb and still be smog legal

Thanks for any replys and if there is a good smog tech from california on here your knowledge would be appreciated.

[blu-by-u-2]

What is a federal truck. the guy I bought my blazer said it has a fed vin. unsure what that means. I have not yet smogged it and the PO said smog should not be a problem when it has fed vin.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by blu-by-u-2

What is a federal truck. the guy I bought my blazer said it has a fed vin. unsure what that means. I have not yet smogged it and the PO said smog should not be a problem when it has fed vin.

People will tell you anything to sell you a truck...especially when it comes to pasing a smog check. The law states that it is the SELLERS responsibility to smog it. I have never heard of a "fed vin" having anything to do with smogging a truck. If the smog guy hasn't either, chanced are it was a BS story to sell the truck.

[fixit-p]

I used to have a Chevy van (350 4bbl) with Federal Smog I forget what year exactly (mid 80's) it had no cats, no air pump and no egr, every time I had it smog-ed I had to explain to the tech (after he told me it wont pass) that it didn't need any of that stuff and had to show them the sticker which identified it as a federal smog vehicle (it's on the air cleaner so don't throw it away) I'm sure the vin also identifies it as being a federal smog vehicle. The problem with running headers is you need the CARB approval number and if the headers aren't ported for air injection, o2 or egr (depending on vehicle) you wont get a CARB card with it.

[LiveAnimals]

As long as you use 50 state legal headers you'll be fine. Even on fed trucks you'll have to have a C.A.R.B tag that matches the ID on the headers. If I'm not mistaken Hedman makes a set too. Your truck should have a 4 barrel on it, NO? An old timer at my work has a fed 78, he has a 377 with a comp 268H, headers, and a worked over Qjet and true dual flowmasters and he passes every time. Its backed by a NV4500 and a NP208, and that thing SH*TS and Gets boi .

[54Caddy]

it is a specific model that was built from factory with out some standard smog equipment. Mine does not have an air injection pump and thats all i can really see as a difference. In my 79 original shop manual it has all the different diagrams for emission hose routing offered in 79 and it seems that federal trucks are simplified and most nonfederal setups have 2 charcoal canisters. I am not fully sure why some where built this way but hopefully both me and you will have some answers to our federal trucks. My truck is a 305 with a durajet rochester carb on it.

[AceX]

Edelbrock makes a good set of smog legal headers with or without AIR injection. On the subject of the carb, look at Edelbrock's website. I believe it is the #1401?

[54Caddy]

i have looked on summit racing matt and all the edelbrock ones on there list for air injection. Maybe have to order them directly from edelbrock. I know the carb is smog legal but would it be legal for me to convert from 2 barrel set up to a 4 barrel set up??

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by 54Caddy

I know the carb is smog legal but would it be legal for me to convert from 2 barrel set up to a 4 barrel set up??

No. Even if they do not pull the air cleaner to check (which they probably will) you will still fail the sniffer test.

[54Caddy]

Would it be legal to run headers that are made for a 89 chevy truck. They look like they will fit, any one done this??

[manimal]

you may want to talk to your local smog guy about this. You'll get it right from the horses mouth.

[54Caddy]

Thats the thing i dont have a normal smog guy. And most dont seem to understand the federal truck issue anyways. I want to try and find a smog referre and talk to them but between work and life theres really no time to hunt him down.

[83burban]

As long as you get the headers that have a CARB approval card that you can show you will be ok as far as that goes.

For the carb, I would just get the 4 barrel manifold from and a 4 barrel and swap it on. They wont pull the air filter housing to check and most of them wont be able to tell the difference honestly.

I live in LA so I am sort of familiar with dealing with smog issues

[AceX]

There's a # you can call to ahve a ref contact you via phone. Most of them have been really nice guys so far.

[presleyhome]

Just use the ones with the A.I.R. tubes and cap where the hoses connect. Just screw on a cap and plug it. Won't hurt anything doing that.

Jim P

[bmchevy1979]

Originally Posted by presleyhome

Just use the ones with the A.I.R. tubes and cap where the hoses connect. Just screw on a cap and plug it. Won't hurt anything doing that. Jim P

Only problem with that is when you go and have it smogged then they ask why that is on there if it doesn't need it

[54Caddy]

plus im wont thing that will look nice with the way i am approaching to recreate the engine bay. And LiveAnimals my truck does not have a 4 barrel, it really sucks a new 2 barrel is more expensive than a 4 barrel. I want to get a 650 edelbrock carb, the only think i can think is just put one on and forget smog then come time to smog it swap it out again but that would be a pain in the ass. Im going to have to go on the dmv webiste and see if there is a way to find a smog referre in my area that i can talk to. Thanks for clearing up the header issue.

[bmchevy1979]

54CADDY I don't think you would run into any problems with swapping carbs but who know here in Cali. I think if a type of vehicle that didn't have a factory 4 barrel carb option you would but these trucks did have that option so I would say your OK but don't know for sure

[motornut]

i guess locking out the secondarys won't help to pass.....