'77 Scout without smog pump
Hello,
I have followed this forum over the years, but haven’t posted until now. I think I have a unique situation. I searched the forum without luck. Here’s my background and what I’m up against:
I own a 1977 Scout II with a 304 v8, 727 auto tranny, and CA emissions. I purchased it 10+ years ago from the original owner, who purchased the vehicle in April of ’77 from bruno’s garage in mount shasta, CA. The original owner payed for a smog check prior to selling the vehicle to me, during which the Scout passed visual, functional, and emissions tests with good numbers (I have the original certificate).
Fast forward ten years: I live in sacramento, CA, recently purchased a ’75 Scout, and want to sell my ’77. I took the vehicle to a test station and the tech informed me that his book indicates that the ’76 CA Scout II’s were not equipped with a smog pump (air injection pump), however the ‘77’s were. He refused to test my vehicle because of the “missing” smog pump.
So…I spent the next few days doing my own research. Here’s what I know about my ’77: first off, it is a ’77, and not a ’76. The vin starts with a “g,” I have the original 1977 owner’s manual, and my dmv registration is for a 1977. The vin plate indicates a manufacture date of 8/11/76, and vin #g0062ggd13292. The sticker on the valve cover indicates v-304 calif., August 1976. And most importantly, the vacuum diagram does not show an air injection pump. I am confident that the vehicle is completely stock (I.e., pump was never removed, and sticker was not replaced). There is absolutely no evidence of an air pump having ever been installed.
After doing my research, I went to another smog shop. The guy was really helpful. Unfortunately, he came up with the same thing as the prior shop, but he was cool enough to allow me to look at his book with him, and even take photos of the ’76 page versus the ’77 page.
So here’s my quandary now: I have a completely stock, unmolested 1977 Scout, yet I’m unable to smog it because it is allegedly “missing” the smog pump, even though it was clearly never equipped with one in the first place. The smog shops don’t care what my vacuum diagram shows; they’re relying on their book.
Here’s my theory: my Scout was built in August of ’76, meaning that it was likely one of the first 1977 “model years” off the line. I’m speculating that they built it like a ’76, but sold it as a ’77, and now almost forty years later, I’m paying the price.
What do you think? Any alternative theories? Any suggestions for what I should do? I’m at a bit of a loss. And I don’t want to spend the time or money tearing apart my factory configuration to try to install an air pump from another Scout.
*photos of the engine compartment, line set ticket, vacuum diagram, valve cover sticker, vin plate, and “smog book” pages are attached for reference.
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any insight you can provide!
Isaac
Hello,
I have followed this forum over the years, but haven’t posted until now. I think I have a unique situation. I searched the forum without luck. Here’s my background and what I’m up against:
I own a 1977 Scout II with a 304 v8, 727 auto tranny, and CA emissions. I purchased it 10+ years ago from the original owner, who purchased the vehicle in April of ’77 from bruno’s garage in mount shasta, CA. The original owner payed for a smog check prior to selling the vehicle to me, during which the Scout passed visual, functional, and emissions tests with good numbers (I have the original certificate).
Fast forward ten years: I live in sacramento, CA, recently purchased a ’75 Scout, and want to sell my ’77. I took the vehicle to a test station and the tech informed me that his book indicates that the ’76 CA Scout II’s were not equipped with a smog pump (air injection pump), however the ‘77’s were. He refused to test my vehicle because of the “missing” smog pump.
So…I spent the next few days doing my own research. Here’s what I know about my ’77: first off, it is a ’77, and not a ’76. The vin starts with a “g,” I have the original 1977 owner’s manual, and my dmv registration is for a 1977. The vin plate indicates a manufacture date of 8/11/76, and vin #g0062ggd13292. The sticker on the valve cover indicates v-304 calif., August 1976. And most importantly, the vacuum diagram does not show an air injection pump. I am confident that the vehicle is completely stock (I.e., pump was never removed, and sticker was not replaced). There is absolutely no evidence of an air pump having ever been installed.
After doing my research, I went to another smog shop. The guy was really helpful. Unfortunately, he came up with the same thing as the prior shop, but he was cool enough to allow me to look at his book with him, and even take photos of the ’76 page versus the ’77 page.
So here’s my quandary now: I have a completely stock, unmolested 1977 Scout, yet I’m unable to smog it because it is allegedly “missing” the smog pump, even though it was clearly never equipped with one in the first place. The smog shops don’t care what my vacuum diagram shows; they’re relying on their book.
Here’s my theory: my Scout was built in August of ’76, meaning that it was likely one of the first 1977 “model years” off the line. I’m speculating that they built it like a ’76, but sold it as a ’77, and now almost forty years later, I’m paying the price.
What do you think? Any alternative theories? Any suggestions for what I should do? I’m at a bit of a loss. And I don’t want to spend the time or money tearing apart my factory configuration to try to install an air pump from another Scout.
*photos of the engine compartment, line set ticket, vacuum diagram, valve cover sticker, vin plate, and “smog book” pages are attached for reference.
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any insight you can provide!
Isaac
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