Hey there!

I picked up a 1979 Corvette with an L-82 under the hood last year BEFORE doing research on California Smog Restriction Laws.

I'm hoping someone here can fully explain why I can't replace my tired old engine, with a brand new, cleaner running, better mileage, higher horsepower LS Series engine...!

I don't fully understand the laws here. I see newer Corvettes in all the magazines getting engine upgrades with unlimited horsepower; as much as anyone can afford... but a car that is newer than mine should have even more restrictions on smog controls, not less?!!! Why?

I found out that a 1978 or older Corvette has no such restrictions (maybe it's 1976 - I'm getting conflicting stories) and you can replace the engine with anything you want. Then at the same time, I read in magazines and on sites like this about total engine transplants or upgrades that MUST be worse on smog than the original equipment.

Could one of you explain this? What year(s) of Corvettes can you change the engine and still be legal? And, is it possible to put a more modern engine in a 1979 and be legal? If so, can you recommend a specific crate engine setup? I would like to get better gas mileage AND more horsepower if possible and still be smog legal.

HELP!

Your best information will come from a Referee station which you can find on the CARB or BAR website. They will tell you what you can and can not do smog wise and swap wise.

bassicly cali has there head up there but, makes sense to run a cleaner engine to me too, Im with ya

I checked with DMV on line. 1975 and older are smog ex. If you go with a newer engine then your car, it has to meet smog for that year engine. I checked into it when i was thinking of putting an ls2 in my miata.

I checked with DMV on line. 1975 and older are smog ex. If you go with a newer engine then your car, it has to meet smog for that year engine. I checked into it when i was thinking of putting an ls2 in my miata.

The above is exactly right! Unfortunately CA is the toughest on smog. So we can't just remove those parts. I've only been living in CA for almost two years now thanks to the military. I'm still learning this stuff. My recent cars are all stock because of this. You can buy after market performance parts. However when you take the car in for smog you have to show the coupon that shows they are 50 state smog legal. Good luck!:burnout:

California is as beautiful as it is stupid, and dont get me started on their gun laws!!