Thoughts on this odd (smog legal) combo?

@AeroCoupe - Since it doesn't have a current CA registration, you'll prob be starting out at a ref station.

I just went through re-registering a CA car (always a CA car) that had a lapse of registration and had failed its last smog before going non-op - I had to go to a ref station per the state. Here are some things that may help based on my recent experience.

1. Get your vacuum lines in order (aligned to the sticker exactly), gives them no reason to look further.
2. Same with a clean motor that looks factoryish. Easy to verify their key check points.
3. Get your Carb EO Stickers for anything that has been swapped. Keep them under the hood or in a binder, whatever. Some will ask for the sticker, regardless of being able to read the EO number. I have a non-OE air box, but the sticker is on the intake tube and they do check it.
4. Make sure you have a working EGR valve and that the ignition timing is set at 10deg btc. Not 11, not 9. 10deg btc.
5. The ref stations seemed more forgiving (visually) than the regular independent shop, which makes sense. If an Indy shop makes a mistake, they lose their smog license + the high cost of the equipment. As for ref shops... maybe they are used to seeing such crap come through that they don't care as much? Maybe my dude DGAF. He asked didn't ask a lot of questions and appreciated things being clean/organized under the hood.

To address the intake question. The original CARB ordinance declared that many aftermarket intakes were considered 'Like-Kind repair parts' as long as they had all smog provisions, didn't require an EO number to be compliant. The Edelbrock Perf 5.0 fell under this classification (it's noted in the manual). I have that manifold, but haven't tried smogging a car with it ironically enough. On the other hand, my brother runs a ported explorer intake, and the smog guy he takes it to always gives him about it, but passes him. The point of that story is that I'm not sure if the replacement part ordinance has changed over the last 20yrs from when that Eddy manifold was cast until now. When in doubt, keep it as OEM-looking as possible (color, trim plate, etc), and if they don't know the difference in manifolds, they prob won't care. And if they do ask, point to the ford casting number.

Cats. So this is the weird one. My 93 has some old Pypes 49 state cats from 10yrs ago. No numbers on them. It passed with no questions asked. If i understand the cat converter law. the real issue is sales of non-ca converters within the state itself, not the actual cats on the physical car at time of smog cert. My brother's car has whatever cats shipped with the BBK x-pipe. Both cars have 2 (not 4) cats. Once they age out and need to be replaced, then it might be a different story.

ECU - they test to make sure it's there (throws a CEL light during the test). Make sure the bulb works.

MAF - I've passed with other MAF's (SN95, C&L, etc). I don't know that there is an EO requirement for sensors that provide a measurement - I wouldn't worry about that.

For the EGR cooling plate - I have a BBK TB/plate combo that I don't need (w/ EO numbers). You can have it for shipping if you need it.

The TLDR of all of this is to follow the golden smog rule - don't give them a reason to look any further. Being clean, no leaks and running right will go a long way to getting the car on the rollers and their head out from under the hood. Long tubes should be an auto-fail b/c they replace a federally mandated smog device by design (upper cats). You may befriend an indy shop in the future that would let it slide, but a ref shop can't let that one slide.

It's not *that* hard to smog these cars. The ref shop is new in the last 2-3yrs b/c a lot of shops only have OBD-II equipment and can't even test our cars. With that said, keep the EO stickers ready, use ford (or ford looking) parts when you can, and get the cats good and warm before pulling up to the station.

It's the CARB (California Air Research Board) you will be dealing with
When you get to Cal you will just check with them as to what needs to be done to your 49 state vehicle
Don't be surprised, if they will not give you plates, unless you spend a ton of money to bring it up to Cal I/M standards
All that Cal I/M stuff should be available
Good luck

IDK, sounds like a lot of hassle. How about this, Just don't move so you can leave your Fox the way you want it!

Around here, in UT, with an 89 you can register it as an antique vintage vehicle, and still daily drive it
You sign your own inspection, and just pay 10 bucks for the plates
State inspection is gone now, so you just go in there and get your plates
I agree, just visit Cal