1974 and before don't require smog checks.

Regards,
BillGear

302 Roller, 5 speed, FTI Custom cam, AFR heads, 17 TT2's, Holley 650dp,see it at http://www.289mustang.com
http://www.289mustang.com/images/vmfcar.jpg

 

Current California law says that all vehicles of body year prior to 1974 are not required to have the bi-annul SMOG inspection. As of January 1, 2003, this changes to all vehicles with body year over 30 years old. That's all the exemption we get, though. You still are not allowed to remove any SMOG equipment that originally came on the car, and can be cited for doing so, and have to make a trip to the BAR referree, to get inspected. We're also not exempted from roadside testing.

Unfortuneatlly, though, I don't beleive this applies to cars comming in from out of state. I believe they have to be SMOGed one time. All you really need is a stock air cleaner, a PCV valve, and a KNOX kit ($30 vaccum port plugs *LOL*). The stock air cleaner must have a heat riser on it.

I used to get my Mustang SMOGed every other year, back when we had to. It was always a pain, as I'd have to go from station to station listening to all the illegal things my car had, but eventually I'd always find someone to SMOG it with the radical cam it had, the headers, Performer intake, Holley carb, and all.

If you always do what you've always done,
You'll always get what you've always got
http://www.classic-mustang.net/johnpro
http://www.classic-mustang.net/john66/mustang/pics/66fsides2.jpg

 

Current California law says that all vehicles of body year prior to 1974 are not required to have the bi-annul SMOG inspection. As of January 1, 2003, this changes to all vehicles with body year over 30 years old. That's all the exemption we get, though. You still are not allowed to remove any SMOG equipment that originally came on the car, and can be cited for doing so, and have to make a trip to the BAR referree, to get inspected. We're also not exempted from roadside testing.

Unfortuneatlly, though, I don't beleive this applies to cars comming in from out of state. I believe they have to be SMOGed one time. All you really need is a stock air cleaner, a PCV valve, and a KNOX kit ($30 vaccum port plugs LOL). The stock air cleaner must have a heat riser on it.

I used to get my Mustang SMOGed every other year, back when we had to. It was always a pain, as I'd have to go from station to station listening to all the illegal things my car had, but eventually I'd always find someone to SMOG it with the radical cam it had, the headers, Performer intake, Holley carb, and all.

If you always do what you've always done,
You'll always get what you've always got
http://www.classic-mustang.net/johnpro

http://www.classic-mustang.net/john66/mustang/pics/66fsides2.jpg

I had to smog my 69 Mustang in SF ... it was always a piece of work finding a station that would pass it, and it was totally stock! The biggest "mod" was that the AC was removed (which was cause for failing more than once). But that was 5 or so years ago. Its cool that the laws have eased up in some ways.

thanks again!

I knew a guy I could hand the paperwork to with some cash. A few days later he'd have the cert thing for me to mail in. never took the car near one of the smog check places.

 

I had to smog my 69 Mustang in SF ... it was always a piece of work finding a station that would pass it, and it was totally stock! The biggest "mod" was that the AC was removed (which was cause for failing more than once). But that was 5 or so years ago. Its cool that the laws have eased up in some ways.

thanks again!

 

California:

What SMOG is required for a 1965 C-code 2V 289 V8 Mustang?

To sell it, should need nothing.
As a 1965, does not need a SMOG certificate (test) to transfer the title.

It is Non-op ... so it is in the DMV. ... so NO DMV/CHP/Private VIN verification needed.
Title is clear.

Buyer just need the signed off Title, and a Bill of sale

What else is needed?

non-runner, but totally complete Convertible

 

What SMOG is required for a 1965 C-code 2V 289 V8 Mustang?

Are you asking? Or trying to answer a question from 20 years ago?

 

20 year old Zombie thread. I think the smog laws have changed somewhat in the last 20 years, and it would be prudent to check up on them if you need to register your ride in Kalifornia,

 

The newest law I know of won't affect us at all.
If you modified the tune on your ecu, you fail automatically.

 

The newest law I know of won't affect us at all.
If you modified the tune on your ecu, you fail automatically.

Never fear, someone will come up with a work around.

 

Wow, this is an old thread. Laws are always changing or being updated. In California, one can modify a modern car with let's say a specific ECU tune, catch can, or aftermarket cold air intake if the part carries a California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Order (EO) number. The EO number indicates the performance upgrade or modified part is California Emissions Legal. Currently, this does not apply to gasoline vehicles that are 1975 model year or older. Diesel powered smog exempt vehicles are 1997 or older with a GVW of more than 14,000 pounds. One can put let's say a 2017 Coyote engine with a custom tune into a 1966 titled and registered Mustang and the vehicle is still smog exempt. However, a specialty constructed kit car that looks like a Mustang does need to be smog compliant based on a number of factors.

 

I think I now know.
For a 1965 car, the CA DMV does not require a SMOG test (certificate) to changed the title (i.e., sell the car to another person)
If the car is "non-op" then it is retained in the DMV system, so does not need to be "DMV/CHP/Private" VIN and vehicle verified.
If it is NOT on a non-op status, then it needs to are "verified" ... in which case, any vehicle 1968 and newer has to have the Federal Safety stickers, and as mentioned elsewhere, ALL the SMOG equipment as originally delivered and sold in California.

I found that by 1966, there were some additional "emissions" item of those cars, and I do not know that, if a car needed to be DMV/CHP?Private verified because is is NOT in the DMV system (i.e., was not on non-op status), that it needs that emission items. I suspect just vacuum hoses to keep from dumping fuel into the carb on throttle off, etc.

Once registered, any 1975 or OLDR car does not need the biannual SMOPG check, but if the car is inspected, say by a CHP on the side of the road, speeding ticket, they can inspect the car for the SMOG equipemnt, and if not there, flag the car to a BAR referee ... who do KNOW what parts were on gather car. They (BAR) have a national database for the parts, so there is NO LIMIT to the code to being the car into compliance. If the parts do NOT exist, you are only given a 2 year exemption. After that, the car cannot be used on the road.
A private verifier I spoke with filled me in on the process ... . The first question he asked, "what year" ... as if 1968, I can't do it without the car having all the federal safety stickers, etc.

Hence, a 1965 Mustang is "golden" ... needs nothing.

This is now my understanding, having gone through the system.

What one wants to avoid, is getting "kicked" the the BAR referee !!

 

I think I now know.
For a 1965 car, the CA DMV does not require a SMOG test (certificate) to changed the title (i.e., sell the car to another person)
If the car is "non-op" then it is retained in the DMV system, so does not need to be "DMV/CHP/Private" VIN and vehicle verified.
If it is NOT on a non-op status, then it needs to are "verified" ... in which case, any vehicle 1968 and newer has to have the Federal Safety stickers, and as mentioned elsewhere, ALL the SMOG equipment as originally delivered and sold in California.

I found that by 1966, there were some additional "emissions" item of those cars, and I do not know that, if a car needed to be DMV/CHP?Private verified because is is NOT in the DMV system (i.e., was not on non-op status), that it needs that emission items. I suspect just vacuum hoses to keep from dumping fuel into the carb on throttle off, etc.

The car needs to be "as delivered" wherever that destination was.....
Hence (in California) the distinction between "federal" car and otherwise.
My '66 is a "federal" car.... it had no thermactor pump, as California-destined Mustang's did. All it needed was PCV, closed air cleaner
with pre-heat snorkel and vacuum advance distributor. That's the physical equipment that had to be present and operating to get you
through the "smog" test. (my driver's side breather cap was not originally connected to the air cleaner..... this can be a bone of contention
in California, unless the smog inspector knew that Ford did build some Mustangs OE like that)

1965 Mustangs always got passed over for the smog program, which always miffed me........ they merely started with '66 models because
that's when California got the special "enhanced" equipment (thermactor), so it was easy to draw a line.

 

So what would happen to a '67 model car that was imported to CA from out of state? I think there used to be different rules for out of state cars.

 

Aug 25, 2001 — Fallin' by Alicia Keys was the #1 song

 

So I'm curious about my 69 now..... It's on non-op now but once I get it going I'll have to take it out of non-op. It's definitely not stock anymore with its 408w and long tube headers. I'll be ok as long as I don't get pulled over for doing something dumb and inspected?

 

My '67 was non-op. Get insurance and pay the registration fees and you're good to go. As far as getting pulled over and inspected, I've only read that it could happen on the interwebs postings. I have never hear about it happening in real life.

 

Another reason not to live in California.

How do you people keep up with the constantly changing rules and regulations?

 

It's called Federal Law that dictates what the states will do..........................it's up to the states as to how to "handle" it.

 

Under current law, pre '76 year model cars are exempt from smog inspections for registration purposes. From time to time, someone proposes road side sniffers that are supposed to "smell" smog. Not sure what the current status is on any of those proposals.

 

I have not seen any for a few years now, but here in SoCal the BAR did have self-monitored sampling equipment at some of the on-ramps, in the vicinity
of the "traffic waiting" signals. I don't know where that data went but I do know that some of that equipment did have photo-taking ability. (The Air Quality
Monitoring folks are over in Diamond Bar and they work closely with BAR)
Lastly, the CHP and the BAR used to do mobile "spot checks"....... once again, I haven't seen one set up in a few years but it used to be done on a busy street
roughly 2 miles from my house. This as recently as 2018....

Smog Check Checkpoint Set Up In Redondo Beach

patch.com

 

I believe your '69 is fine, as long as you keep it non-op, then when going to register, you'll just pay that years fee, and I recall a $138 fee for non-reg over the years. NO SMOG certificate needed. But, yes, that is what I was "told" that a CHP can inspect a car and if not having the required SMOG equipment, can get kicked to the BAR. The example given to me was some guy speeded at a Good Guys event, was stopped and gave the CHP a hard time. They then said, lets look at that engine for SMOG ... and he was 'kicked" to the BAR for inspection.

That said, I think it is very unusual for any "peace officer" to look at an older car. Just something to be aware of ... yeah?

This tis my understanding, at this point.

 

Great information, thank you !!

So, a 1965 is "golden" in terms of any "SMOG" items !!

 

If you live in California, anyone can report a car of any year as a violating polluter if it "smokes".
They are working on making your car of any year subjected to no idling, even if it does not smoke.
They ignore a fire truck if it runs all day to put out all the fires there. LOL, it must be the bad air affecting the brain! 😂

Idle-Free California | Idling Regulations

Idle-Free California - California's heavy-duty diesel vehicle idling regulations and how to report violations.

idlefreecalifornia.org

 

If you live in California, anyone can report a car of any year as a violating polluter if it "smokes".
They are working on making your car of any year subjected to no idling, even if it does not smoke.
They ignore a fire truck if it runs all day to put out all the fires there. LOL, it must be the bad air affecting the brain! 😂

Idle-Free California | Idling Regulations

Idle-Free California - California's heavy-duty diesel vehicle idling regulations and how to report violations.

idlefreecalifornia.org

You can report a smoking vehicle in most states including Arizona too.

People here seem to love bashing California smog laws, but in with respect to classics they aren't any different from many other states. There are no smog requirement for pre-76 cars. The law isn't constantly changing. And no, the boogie man isn't going to pull you over in your mustang and give you a smog test.

 

If you got pulled over, more than likely the CHP is more interested in your classic and knows little about what came on your car as he/she wasn't born yet.

And some people may call you in as a polluter simply because of some perceived slight you caused them on the road. It's more of an underhanded cerebral road rage get even tactic.

 

When I moved from Canada to Palm Springs, my '65 did not need a smog test, just a VIN check from the CHP and cash.

 

Don’t call it the golden state for nothing...

 

I don't remember seeing anything on my 69 when I yanked out the I-6 250 engine..... was it already missing something?
The only thing I can think of is on the air cleaner it had a temperature controlled valve that opened and closed with the heat from the exhaust manifold.....
Was that for smog?

Last time I looked up the vin number, I remember seeing it made in San jose

 

My Phoenix DSO car came with a road draft tube. Now that's emissions control! LOL

 

Out of curiosity, if I were to run a properly tuned, bone stock 65 Mustang with a 289 through an emissions testing station, how dirty would it be?

Todays gasoline is much cleaner than the leaded gasoline of the past.

 

It would pass probably at the '66 levels. It would be nowhere near passing more modern standards.
We had a nowhere-near-stock (expensive) 5.0 in J's Saleen when I was at JBA that would pass whatever emission numbers there were in 1987.
It would not pass visual underneath because it had no cats. It was actually quite a bit cleaner than all the standards were in that year.
That was back in the timeframe we were building NASCAR practice engines for Robert Yates. We learned a lot of stuff from that experience.

 

Here's the other one......

 

So how many hot idle compensators are still on 65’s in Cali?

 

289 C code with a/c built in San Jose.

It was close to 25 years before I ever saw another car with one.

 

I purchased an NOS unit from Ebay assuming I'd need it after installing my AC. You can't use them with factory dual quads, I think many people just threw them away over the years, Does the bimetal assembly actually work?

 

People seem to conflate California new modern requirements with classic car requirements. They are two separate things. California is currently no different from most other states with respect to pre '76 cars. I have friends with classic cars in California who never give smog a second thought. Its just not an issue. In fact those so called "draconian laws" don't even require annual safety inspections like some other states do.

 

I haven’t lived in Cali since 96.

The issue is when the cars/trucks get retrofitted with a modern one.

Back then, if your modern engine had an air pump, cats, and other emission related components….they had to be installed on the vehicle.

This followed the engine not the vehicle.
Exemptions were not handed out like candy on 4th of July.
That’s why original blocks were used for hopped up engines back in the day.
They passed the visual inspection, especially if you had a tough inspector.

Hopefully things have changed.
The pre 76 exemption didn’t exist as I recall back in the 90’s.