1976 Is it a 49 state or Cali car? Options

[gnomefabtech]

Car came from Nevada but I can't tell if it was originally a California car. It still has injection but doesn't have a cat or smog pump. Doesn't look like it ever had either but I'm wondering since I'm going to try and register it here in California. Thanks in advance!!

Here is the Vin:

[technicalninja]

Wow!
Wonki is Sherlock Holmes...

I can give a couple of tips on emission control: The EGR system was developed solely for the reduction of NOX via introducing an inert gas (without oxygen-could have been anything) into the intake to dampen the temperatures achieved. A small amount of exhaust gas equaled a large combustion chamber temperature decrease. If you keep the combustion chamber below 2500F oxides of nitrogen are significantly reduced.

The air pump was utilized to add additional oxygen to the cat to allow the cat to burn the HC and CO out of an extremely rich mixture. (by today's standards). Without the supplementary oxygen the cat will stop functioning earlier.
Air pump keeps cat alive; it doesn't dilute the exhaust.

Damned interesting that cat cars got an automatic replacement at 30K.
Replacing a cat every 30k would get old quickly...

What I didn't know was why Nissan added EGR valves to the Z-car in 76 and then added nothing else (49 states cars) until 1979 when everyone went to cats across the board. The 75 Z FI manifold without EGR is a rarity.
Thanks Woki!

I've found getting into tangles with city and state officials is often more trouble than it is worth.

Good luck to you if you try. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Chris914n6]

The air pump was utilized to add additional oxygen to the cat to allow the cat to burn the HC and CO out of an extremely rich mixture. (by today's standards). Without the supplementary oxygen the cat will stop functioning earlier.
Air pump keeps cat alive; it doesn't dilute the exhaust.

Not exactly. The air pump was added to trucks before cats were mandated. 1973 Chevy C10 for example. It was to finish burning the gas since carbs tended to run a bit rich.
Interesting side note. An air pump and EGR was used in the 2001 Chevy S10, but not used in the 2004 Blazer.

What I didn't know was why Nissan added EGR valves to the Z-car in 76 and then added nothing else (49 states cars) until 1979 when everyone went to cats across the board. The 75 Z FI manifold without EGR is a rarity.
Thanks Woki!

EGR isn't a mandate, it's a way to reduce emissions to pass regulations that year. For example the 2001 and 2002 Nissan Maxima didn't have EGR, but the <2000 and >2003 did. The new engine (VQ35de) introduced for those years was clean enough with just ECU tuning and design. On the other hand a 2005 VW Beetle has air injection but only runs from startup to warmed up.

[Dave_Darling]

The air pump was added to trucks before cats were mandated.

I dated a gal who had a 68 912. Every other year, it was a huge pain to try to get it smogged because it was supposed to have a smog pump. She couldn't find one, but the official sources that CARB used said they had one in stock. (I think she found out who was supposed to have it, and they listed it in inventory but you couldn't actually order it.)

Eventually she had the car converted to a 912-6, and apparently didn't have to worry about it after that due to having different requirements.

--DD

[wonkipop]

The air pump was added to trucks before cats were mandated.

I dated a gal who had a 68 912. Every other year, it was a huge pain to try to get it smogged because it was supposed to have a smog pump. She couldn't find one, but the official sources that CARB used said they had one in stock. (I think she found out who was supposed to have it, and they listed it in inventory but you couldn't actually order it.)

Eventually she had the car converted to a 912-6, and apparently didn't have to worry about it after that due to having different requirements.

--DD

68 912 is pre smog mate!
or pre serious smog. most it would have had would have been closed crankcase vent system. its even pre vapor emissions in 69.

you must mean a 76 912 E?
loaded with the same gear as 76 914 more or less.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
its probably pretty farked trying to own one of those in california just like the 914.
theoretically i suppose you can find a cat for a 76?
but i bet you can't find those thermal reactor log exhaust manifolds that were on a 912E instead of a cat! ? with a bit of luck the smog inspector probably wouldn't have a clue what to look for since that bit of tech died out pretty quick. i hear the reactors used to cook the engines in BMWs. Merc liked using them too. i remember my old USA girlfriend's grandmother had a 70s merc with a reactor manifold. first time i looked in that engine bay to check the oil for her i spotted it. thought to myself what the hell is that thing.

[Dave_Darling]

68 912 is pre smog mate!

Nope, not at the time. She had to have her car tested every other year, like most of us.

Short wheelbase long-hood 912, not a 912E.

--DD

[wonkipop]

68 912 is pre smog mate!

Nope, not at the time. She had to have her car tested every other year, like most of us.

Short wheelbase long-hood 912, not a 912E.

--DD

yeah i just got schooled in that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)
i had not realised the CARB was in existence and empowered under legislation prior to the formation of the USEPA.

its interesting how influential it all was.

australia started about 5 years after the US in 1974.
basically copied US emissions standards and program beginning with the same initial moves that the EPA did in 69.
the aim was to get to USEPA 1975 standards by 1980. but it ended up stretched to 1985. problem was getting enough infrastructure in to do the shift to unleaded fuel.
can remember there were cars capable of running on unleaded from about 1980 but the shift was not done to unleaded only cars until that 85 date, thats when the cats came in as well on all cars here.

my 74 914 is pretty much the equal of any 1984 vehicle sold in aus. we remained 10 years behind all the way to the end of the century. used US 90 to implement AUS standards in 99. switched over to EURO standards in 2004. currently at EURO6.

no smog tests but. never been a program here where you have to take your car in and have it sniffed. which is pretty strange when you think about it given how much australians love bending over to rules and regulations and the pollies love inflicting it on folks. but it did get mandated in the USA, land of the free.

i guess i got to be thankful for some things.

also the 25 year rule on cars has never been overturned here. keeps on rolling forward.
after that time you can switch to historic vehicle plates and pay registration that is only 10% of full registration. log books and restrictions on use and you have to be a member of a historic car club.

in extreme cases the cops can stop you for a grossly polluting vehicle under smoke laws.
and give the car a canary (yellow unroadworthy sticker). but as far as i know no actual emissions check using any kind of real equipment.