Dave,
Your Spitfire is required to meet the standards to which it was manufactured,
that is Federal Standards, not California Standards. How different the
standards are, I don't know. There is a coding in the VIN number that will tell
the test computer that your car is a Federal car and not a California car.
There is also a sticker under the hood somewhere that states that the car was
manufactured to Federal emissions standards and also probably has the required
specs for timing and idle. It may also have a diagram of the emissions system
showing the major pieces like the EGR valve and charcoal canisters as well as
how hoses are connected.
Here are some tips for helping the car pass. Do a complete tune-up, new plugs,
wires, cap and rotor. New oil and filter and air filter. Make sure the timing
is spot on and the idle is set, don't trust the tach for the idle, use a dwell
tach. If you have an aftermarket ignition you will either have to take it off
or show proof that it is approved for use in Ca. If you have a Petronix that
fits in the dist. you should be OK because they won't look under the cap. Make
sure the mechanical and vacuum advances (retard?) are working. Adjust the
valves slightly loose, I've heard by .003 to .005. This effectively reduces the
time the valves are open and the valve overlap. After the test, immediately
re-adjust them properly. Make sure all the vacuum hoses are in good shape and
have tight connections. They will test your gas cap to make sure it will seal
and hold a vacuum, make sure its in good shape. Fix exhaust leaks if any. Put
in a tank of fresh, name brand gas. Make sure the car is good and warmed up, 20
mins at freeway speed, right before you go for the test. Like Brian Kemp
suggested, get a pre-test, this will let you know where you stand. There are
"emissions test passer" additives, I don't know what they are or how they work
but take every advantage you can get!
Santa Maria is a pretty nice part of Ca. close to the coast, wineries, and as
luck would have it, Triumphest '98 in San Luis Obispo, Oct 23-25.
Best of luck.
Kurt Oblinger
Redondo Beach, Ca.
"I am my car's mechanic"
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