From: http://www.recarbco.com/technical/smog/sb42summary.html (with added emphasis)
In 1997, California's smog law was changed to the "30 year rolling window" that exempted cars older than 30 years from being smogged. It was called SB42. Unfortunately, that only lasted a few years. A few years later, a new bill was written to change it back to a fixed date, and was piggy-backed onto a bill about carpool lanes, and the Governator signed it.
Legislation enacted during 2004 made several changes in motor vehicle Smog Check exemptions that will become effective next year. Following is a summary of the revised exemptions and the effective date of each change:
Beginning January 1, 2005, vehicles 6 or less model-years old are exempt from the biennial Smog Check inspection requirement. For vehicles with registration renewals due in the 2006 calendar year, this exemption includes model-years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Beginning January 1, 2005, vehicles 4 or less model-years old are exempt from the Smog Check inspection requirement upon change of ownership and transfer of title transactions with DMV. In 2006, this exemption includes model-years 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Beginning April 1, 2005, the 30-year rolling exemption has been repealed. Instead, vehicles 1975 model-year and older will be exempt. Therefore, 1976 model-year and newer vehicles will continue to be subject to biennial inspection indefinitely.
Beginning April 1, 2005, vehicles being initially registered in California that were previously registered in another state are exempt if the vehicle is a 1975 and older model-year vehicle. Newer vehicles, the first 6 model years, are not exempted upon initial registration in California. These vehicles are required to undergo a Smog Check Inspection."
Wow! I didn't know Arnold was the one who removed the 30 year rolling window!!!! :maddest:
Question :greengrin:: If the 30 year rolling window was still active and you could build any car up to 1981, what would you choose?
I still think I'd build a Mango. Then build a smog exempt SR5 AE86 in 2013 or a GT-S in 2015 :thumbs:
Build your Mango anyway!! It's a pre '76 model after all! Up to '81 huh? KP61 Starlet, just about any coupe corolla, first gen Celica, the firsst gen was right at 2000lb stock, the bubble top RX7 put in a 20B, Datsun 510 or 180SX, 240, 260,280? Z cars, Mercury Capri, Mitsubishi Lancer, Chevy Vega either the Cosworth or put a better engine in it, Vegas were so frikken light. F/R Ford Escort was a good one! Too many to list. I could go on all day. The cars here were mostly econo boxes, but if the funds were available, my Holy Grail is a carby Lambo Countach! It was a BEAST!! The engine sound was a bit heftier than the Ferraris of the time and 12 cylinders chewing with their mouths wide open was awesome!!
Oh yeah, the "logic" behind the set date of '76 was due to the catalytic converter! All vehicles in Caaleeforneeah(typed with an Austrian accent) released in 1976 and later production years were equipped with catalytic converters. So to prevent the removal of the little hot boxes, '76 and newer vehicles are required to have cats installed and in working condition.
Ah! I hadn't thought about the Starlet and the 510 :thumbs:
Can't discount the Datsun skyline! Look into a Chevy Chevette, it had front engine rear drive train and was quite light! I liked the Ford Festiva for it's size and weight. The festiva could have the Mazda 1.8 turbo dropped in with junkyard parts and dieting to weights in the neighborhood of 1400 lbs! 1400 lbs and a 200+ hp powerplant!!? Oh yeah, let's not forget the Mini!!
Okay let's start picketing and get some signatures to repeal this law :greengrin:
I say we set the whole smog program aside 'til this financial crisis is over! Any idea how many tax dollars are used to run the program?! The state budget is a mess and the smog program really IS NOT a necessity to keep this state operational! Shut it down!! At least on a temporary basis! Then revamp the whole program when it is put back into action. There are sooo many things about the way it's run that need to be addressed. One of the items on my list is the vehicles age! Another is the way the vehicles are tested. Ok, I'll put my soapbax away...
Obviously the purpose of the program is to rise money for the government. Otherwise, why would they need to control what we do? If the point is to "reduce emissions" and ensure cars "burn clean" then ONLY check for tail pipe emissions and if they are clean then APPROVE no matter what it is.
My Celica passed smog on the low end of the scale. It had a Weber 40DFEV carb, not legal. A mid range cam, not legal. Header and a gutted cat, definately not legal! 10.2 to 1 compression, not legal for the 20R. The HC was below 100PPM and the CO was under 1%, NOX was around 200PPM. For the standards of the time it was fine, ran clean! But illegal as hell nonetheless. Makes you wonder if all that crap they install IS necessary. If people would just take care of their cars!
CA sb 1224 is a bill to exempt cras pre 1981. Let's see what happens with this.
COME AWN BABY!! :_order: