How to Smog a 79 Land Rover Series III in California?

[blue thumb]

Hi All,
I recently purchased a 1979 Land Rover Series III petrol, right hand drive.(See images attached) I am getting the run around on getting it smogged in California. I would be exempt if it was 1974 or earlier. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Any recommendations on how to get it smogged here in California?

Thank you!

[Terrys]

Hi All,
I recently purchased a 1979 Land Rover Defender Series III European made

Don't tell an Englishman that England is part of Europe, and it's not a Defender

I am getting the run around on getting it smogged in California.

You don't say whether it's diesel or petrol but either way, isn't it exempt because of it's age?

[blue thumb]

It's a Petrol. 1974 and earlier is exempt.

[Linus Tremaine]

you may not be able to

When you say run around, what do you mean?
California will require some type of listing in their computers to run a test against. Since land rovers were not sold new in ca in 79 they wont have any thing to test it against. I know of at least two land rovers sitting in driveways that cannot be smogged in this state because of their age.

This is probably not what you want to hear, but you may not be able to smog it. They were not made to meet california smog requirements for those years and there isnt much you can do.

I could be wrong though. You need to speak to a smog person outside of the DMV perhaps.

[navydevildoc]

Here is the deal straight from a fellow California resident, and owner of a Series IIA.

I didn't have to smog mine ('65), but a friend of mine did with his '75 Series III. First off, as has been noted it's not a "California" spec car. That's fine, it just means they test it to different standards.

Your truck will have to meet the federal emissions standards from 1975, not the more stringent California standards.

Depending on where you are in California, you may be in the "Enhanced Smog Check" zone of most city areas. In that case the smog check shop will have some dyno rollers in their garage. You can skirt around that by telling them it's full time 4-wheel drive if you wish.

The standards are very lax from back then. Just make sure it's not belching smoke and you will probably pass. If the truck originally had a PCV valve, catalytic converters, or any similar equipment make sure it's not been removed, or at least not obvious when the tech looks under the hood. Otherwise they will stick the sniffer in the tailpipe and let it sit there for a minute. If you don't have a tachometer, then they can't perform the high-rev test.

In the end, you should be just fine. If you already have a California registration (or all that's left is the smog) you are 95% home.

[navydevildoc]

Also you didn't mention how you are getting the "run around". Have you been to a smog shop?

[blue thumb]

First of all, Thank you for the responses. These are a great help thus far.
To clairify "RUN AROUND". I went to a Smog test facility yesturday. They said they couldn't smog it becuse it isn't domestic and it dosn't have some numbers on the serieal plate for them to put into there computer to test. And I need to call a Referee shop to get it done. I went to the Refeere shop this morning. They told me the same thing, and said I need to go see a ARB lab. Does anyone know what numbers I need to give to the smog technitions? It seems like they won't even let it in the garage without these.

[scott]

move to anywhere in new mex but albuquerque. bernalillo county is the only place here that requires all original emmission controls be there and work on 75s and newer.

beside ain't cali overdue for it's big slide into the pacific?

[navydevildoc]

OK, now I see where you are headed. They are calling your Series "Gray Market", since it was imported.

You say you went to a Referee station, where did you go?

Once you go through this headache, you will get a CARB label that will go on the door jamb for the life of the car.

[blue thumb]

I went to (BAR) Bureau of Automotive Repair. State of California Smog Check Referee Center. Station 799194- LA Pierce College. Your right, there are calling my Land Rover a "GRAY MARKET VEHICAL" and need to go to an ARB lab for further assistance. So what can I ecxpect to happin when I go to ARB? The gentleman at BAR said it could be up to $2,500 to make it pass. I find that hard to belive. Thoughts?

[ScottT]

I knew someoneyears ago that had their series truck plated in AZ because of Cali issues.

You may want to try calling British Pacific in Valencia. They might have first hand info.

[blue thumb]

Thank you.
I will give that a try.

[willy510]

California has made it very expensive and somewhat impossible to do what you are trying to do, I hate to tell you but this but what you are trying to do may cost in the thousands and take a really long time . When you go to the ARB lab you may find that they will not be very helpfull or no help at all. But where there is a will there is a way. Good luck

[daveb]

launder the title through another state and turn it into a 72. don't ask me how, use google.

Hi All,
I recently purchased a 1979 Land Rover Series III petrol, right hand drive.(See images attached) I am getting the run around on getting it smogged in California. I would be exempt if it was 1974 or earlier. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Any recommendations on how to get it smogged here in California?

Thank you!

[LaneRover]

Actually as long as you can get it registered and titled in another state you should then be able to bring it into California without 'turning it into' a 1972. Officially Volkswagen diesels were not brought into California until very recently. A friend bought one in Minnesota and brought it here and he registered it just fine.

Brent