CA Smog and performance upgrades

[sporkton]

I live in socal and thus smog checks every 2 years. I'm wondering what are some smog safe mods

Also what is the deal with smog and a stroker? I saw some mention that the emissions are about the same if not cleaner in a stroker, but I'm concerned with the visual inspection. Maybe I'm dumb but isnt the smog guy going to take one look at a stroker and tell its not quite right?

 

[gradon]

The engine still looks like a 4.0l(it's the internals that are different). Here in MD, for '96 and newer OBD2 vehicles, as long as you don't have a CEL, and there is sufficient data stored in the PCM, you pass(you can't clear a CEL right before you go). OBD1 vehicles have to pass an idle and 2500rpm tail pipe sniff.

 

[sporkton]

This is for a 95 i forgot to mention.

 

[gradon]

If you have a good cat on it, it should pass the sniffer just fine.

 

[IslanderOffRoad]

when I lived in Cali, my guideline for a part was "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"

Dont put on shiny mods that call attention
Dont make the exhaust too loud
Dont volunteer any mod information.

They can't see or "hear" a stroker or a lot of internal parts. So long as your cam isnt too aggressive you'll be fine. Avoid headers, ebay cone air filters, and any engine bling and you should be ok.

 

[cheapcherokee93]

stroker can be done and still be smog-able. my buddy has a stroker in his 90 XJ and has passed twice now i believe. the exterior of the engine does not change so the smog guy can't tell a difference. as long as it passes the sniffer test its good to go. just make sure your intake is stock or has a CARB # because aftermarket intakes can fail you as you probably know

 

[Johnnie Walker]

What everyone else said. If it looks stock, and passes sniffer then not a problem.
Glad I do not have to have my heep tested anymore.

 

[sporkton]

Regarding the looking stock item. Does that mean just no fancy/colorful/shiny objects around the engine bay that wouldnt normally be there, or is it more conservative. I was considering going for a bit of a higher end stroker which would require a head replacement and probably exhaust and intake increase sizes. I feel like I could explain a newish looking header by saying i cracked it and had to replace with a new one or something like that. But a higher flow/larger intake and exhaust, would that be harder to explain? Also I noticed a lot of strokers using ford(?) injectors which happen to be bright blue. Is that at all an issue?

 

[glamisdunin]

Dont have a throttle body spacer on it when you get smogged unless it has a carb number also like the others said dont have cold air intake unless it has a carb tag. The header should be fine bevause its hidden i would recommend not getting a chromed header just so it doesnt look out of the ordinary the engine can be painted so a different head wont be an issue just make sure you do t put to big of a cam into your engine with to much overlap. Overlap will cause that lumpy idle everyone loves but causes unburnt exhaust gases to escape through the exhaust valves before it can all be burnt off. Injectors should not be an issue unless they dump to much fuel into your engine causing your smog readings to be out of legal spec. My suggestion keep all stock parts you replace in a box on a shelf inyour garage and swap them for smog then swap them back after you pass your test. Goodluck