My 1988 LFX F40 build. (Page 42/68)
ChuckR JUL 22, 08:16 PM
Sorry I never think of the emissions passing as I live in a state without testing or inspections of any kind. It is silly that they are making you have 2006 emissions when your car is a 84-88. It should be as long as you are passing emissions based on the original car's footprint. If it is an improvement over the original design that should be a net gain regardless if it meets the 2006 standard that engine came with. One of the many reasons I will never live in CA. The laws out there are a freaking mess. Daryl is in AZ though, not sure what emissions he has there. It is simple enough to keep the EVAP canister though.
Rickady88GT JUL 22, 09:02 PM

quote
Originally posted by ChuckR:

Sorry I never think of the emissions passing as I live in a state without testing or inspections of any kind. It is silly that they are making you have 2006 emissions when your car is a 84-88. It should be as long as you are passing emissions based on the original car's footprint. If it is an improvement over the original design that should be a net gain regardless if it meets the 2006 standard that engine came with. One of the many reasons I will never live in CA. The laws out there are a freaking mess. Daryl is in AZ though, not sure what emissions he has there. It is simple enough to keep the EVAP canister though.



I only wish I could feel the burden of getting away with the "sin" of no emissions standards For the record I think California is a mess. They have no idea how much better modern engine swaps would be for the environment. But they continue to push the crush old cars rather than improve the old cars mentality. In California environmentalism is a religion that does not tolerate blasphemy.
Will JUL 23, 08:32 AM

quote
Originally posted by Rickady88GT:

I wish California had common sense laws regulating engine swaps,...but they don't.
I had to incorporate the evaporative system vent and purge on my LS4 swap. Basically I used a Monte Carlo evaporative system in the Fiero. Regardless of what the original Fiero had, it is now more like a 2006 Monte Carlo than a Fiero. No reprogramming necessary. For what it's worth, reprogramming is illegal on California engine swaps. Tuning is ok, as long as it does not interfere with emissions equipment. The car will still have to pass a smog inspection visually and run on the rollers with the diagnostic cable hooked up and tail pipe sniffer. Along with a fuel tank and cap pressure test.
It would be difficult to program the computer to cheat the inspection.



Umm... Isn't tuning illegal? The tuned calibration is no longer the calibration that was included with the certified configuration. Likewise, any altered hard parts you're tuning for were not part of the certified configuration.

However, if they can't detect that you have a tuned calibration and all the other indications are good, then a tune is something you can get away with even if it's not strictly legal.
Rickady88GT JUL 23, 10:21 AM

quote
Originally posted by Will:


Umm... Isn't tuning illegal? The tuned calibration is no longer the calibration that was included with the certified configuration. Likewise, any altered hard parts you're tuning for were not part of the certified configuration.

However, if they can't detect that you have a tuned calibration and all the other indications are good, then a tune is something you can get away with even if it's not strictly legal.



Exactly. A tune does not always have to be race oriented. A tune can optimize the package. For example the transmission torque safety code, and speed govener. Checking for lean or rich points through the RPM range.
A tune absolutely can ruin the emissions test as well. The best idea is to not even mess with the ECM. Get the car running with out mods.
But in my case I was ordered to. I had to have the GM dealer refresh ALL of the computers so the all had the same vin number.
Will JUL 23, 12:55 PM

quote
Originally posted by Rickady88GT:


Exactly. A tune does not always have to be race oriented. A tune can optimize the package. For example the transmission torque safety code, and speed govener. Checking for lean or rich points through the RPM range.
A tune absolutely can ruin the emissions test as well. The best idea is to not even mess with the ECM. Get the car running with out mods.
But in my case I was ordered to. I had to have the GM dealer refresh ALL of the computers so the all had the same vin number.



Right... they required you to make it exactly the same as the original certified configuration.
Daryl M JUL 23, 03:41 PM

quote
Originally posted by ChuckR:

Sorry I never think of the emissions passing as I live in a state without testing or inspections of any kind. It is silly that they are making you have 2006 emissions when your car is a 84-88. It should be as long as you are passing emissions based on the original car's footprint. If it is an improvement over the original design that should be a net gain regardless if it meets the 2006 standard that engine came with. One of the many reasons I will never live in CA. The laws out there are a freaking mess. Daryl is in AZ though, not sure what emissions he has there. It is simple enough to keep the EVAP canister though.



In Arizona, "collector cars" are exempt from emissions.

[This message has been edited by Daryl M (edited 07-23-2020).]

Daryl M JUL 23, 03:44 PM

quote
Originally posted by Will:

On '87's and '88's, the vent from the fuel tank is supposed to go to the expansion tank between the right frame rail and the right quarter panel. IIRC, there's another connection on that volume that goes to the filler neck vent and/or purge system.



Will, is this the tank you refer to the one in the photo? If so, I assume the vent from the tank goes to the bottom fitting and the top fitting goes back to the purge valve. Does that sound right?
Daryl M JUL 23, 03:47 PM
Will JUL 23, 04:39 PM
That's the one. I've actually never had a Fiero rear clip off, so I've never investigated it to that extent.
Daryl M JUL 23, 04:48 PM

quote
Originally posted by Rickady88GT:


I wish California had common sense laws regulating engine swaps,...but they don't.
I had to incorporate the evaporative system vent and purge on my LS4 swap. Basically I used a Monte Carlo evaporative system in the Fiero. Regardless of what the original Fiero had, it is now more like a 2006 Monte Carlo than a Fiero. No reprogramming necessary. For what it's worth, reprogramming is illegal on California engine swaps. Tuning is ok, as long as it does not interfere with emissions equipment. The car will still have to pass a smog inspection visually and run on the rollers with the diagnostic cable hooked up and tail pipe sniffer. Along with a fuel tank and cap pressure test.
It would be difficult to program the computer to cheat the inspection.



Just one more reason not to live in California. I visited as a kid. I had relatives in northern California. It was really nice then, and is probably still nice except for the regulations and such.