Smog equipment and ?'s
- Thread starter Richard
- Start date
My goof, hit too many keys at once. Anyway, with all of the smog stuff hooked up, the truck smogs just perfect, really good. My ? Is: everything being equal, does/can the engine run just as efficient without the smog stuff? If I take everything off, time the engine @ 5 degrees timed, adjust the carb, so on and so forth, will the engine gets the same emission results? I would like to run the truck without the smog stuff, I usually put it all back on to get the truck smogged in so cal. Or, how/what timing/settings can be recommended for adjusting without the smog pump and associated hoses.
Thank,
Thank,
Dealbreaker74
Member
Honestly, the smog gear is not the hindrance to performance that people think. If you have all the stuff, and you live in cali, you might as well slap it all on and leave it. The pump draws next to nothing, the egr will lower internal combustion temps and help with pinging, and the charcoal canister is completely passive. The biggest gotcha in today's test is the pressure test that looks for leaks in the evap system of the fuel tank. The maze of hoses that lead to the plastic evap manifold in the left quarter panel are prone to leaks. If that system won't hold pressure, you fail.
Of course if you don't have all the stuff, then you're looking at spending a chunk to get it all lined up. That's something you'll have to decide for yourself.
The smog laws in CA aren't going to get any easier, that much we know. Keeping the stuff operable is just a part of owning an old vehicle.
Of course if you don't have all the stuff, then you're looking at spending a chunk to get it all lined up. That's something you'll have to decide for yourself.
The smog laws in CA aren't going to get any easier, that much we know. Keeping the stuff operable is just a part of owning an old vehicle.
Well, yes you are right. It's just that all of the parts: smog pump, injector tubes, hoses, fittings, are getting hard to find and are getting pricey. I just thought that I would like to keep the parts for a while and not have to buy replacements.
Other than that, I was wondering if the fuel mileage would suffer without the smog stuff. Would it go up or down?
Other than that, I was wondering if the fuel mileage would suffer without the smog stuff. Would it go up or down?
Dealbreaker74
Member
The mileage difference is inconclusive in my experience. I drove my '74 for 10 years without a smog pump. After I rebuilt the motor, I reinstalled all the emissions gack and mileage was better (yes, it was a fresh motor, and that had a lot to do with it). The only thing that might impact mileage is a cat. If your rig is a '79 or '80, you'll have to get one to be legal. You'll also have to run a single exhaust. So yeah, those things constrict the engine to some degree and could choke the mpg a bit. My '79 gets at least 14 mpg and it has single exhaust and single cat. But again, fresh motor, and a 700r4 trans (but also 33's and 3.54 axles, so this isn't close to optimal yet....!).
There's really no magic here. No matter what you do, you won't get 20 mpg from these v-8s. My advice is to make it run as well as you can and enjoy it. Crummy mileage is just part of the deal.
I can smell the chili and the smoked ahi dip is calling my name. Its beer:30 on super Sunday. Hope you get it worked out!
There's really no magic here. No matter what you do, you won't get 20 mpg from these v-8s. My advice is to make it run as well as you can and enjoy it. Crummy mileage is just part of the deal.
I can smell the chili and the smoked ahi dip is calling my name. Its beer:30 on super Sunday. Hope you get it worked out!