I took my 88GT Short Star in to get a smog certifacation today and it PASSED with flying colors on the first try. The engine and tranny came out of a 2000 Olds Intrigue. It has the Olds gauges and entire wire harness set up just like the Olds. Not just the engine wire harness but the entire car! It was a lot of work but I got the impression that it would have passed even without all the extras I put into it. Mcaanda (Allen) and I were stocked on the way home.
After they were done with the car I asked "What was your impression of the car?" and before I finnished my question he said "I love it" He asked if he could take some pics of the car? I said "take as many as you want" So he snapped a few pics of the car. Man how cool is that?
This is some pics of the car and the sticker after I got home.

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It is a lovely looking car. Beauty beyond words.

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1988 Aero 88 coupe.. 2.8l v6.. more mods to come.
FieroNews.com - Photo Gallery - Fiero Links
I am the signature virus, please put me in your signature so I can spread

So ya gonna put a 5 speed in that thing still? Imagine how it would wake up.

Awesome man...and congrats...

Bob

congratulations! it looks great, and I bet it even runs better. You can just tell when a car is put together right.

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You Don't Know the Power of the Darkside

Thanks........ Man this is a good day
I have plans to put a 5 speed in it but I just dont know when It will be done? I need to find some one that can do the PCM mods to delete the auto tranny codes. This is a S* and I have never seen any PCM mods to this program. It is very close to the N* program and not even the N* has been "hacked" But I can live with the MIL light being on all the time as long as I can scan it for real code and it does not go into Limp Home Mode and run like crap. This engine is the same as the N* and has the total loss coolant limp home capablity along with torque control limp home stuff if it sees major problems. This is all good, but if I want a manual tranny it is all bad

There have been north* 5speed swaps though. Would it require the same mods?

None of the N* swaps have been done with the OBDII in tact, none that I know of. I have seen at least one that got a smog exempt in CA, so it did have to pass an initial smog inspection but i dont know how in depth it is? But that is with the stock 4T80E that came on the N*. I have never seen a N* pass CA smog in CA with a manual because of the laws here it cant pass. And most of the N*s that do get swapped into Fieros are OBDI wich is much easier to get passed in CA. But I dont think there will ever be a smog certified manual N* in CA untill GM puts manuals in them from the factory

If I do get around to doing a manual in the S* it will be frownd upon by the CA State smog laws But as far as I can tell It would be the same flywheel that the N* uses. I was going to get the aluminum flywheel and do the PCM and wire harness mods and call it a day. But i wont know for sure how hard it is or how much diferant or the same it is than the N* till I actualy do it.

I see. Well I wish you luck cause I want to see your car with the manual.

Hey, I've seen this sticker before? I'm glad you passed. Is it the, "every two year deal or exempt for life" tag? If it's two year deal, it would be hard getting around the local smog shops?

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Archie's Choptop conversion #11

[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 02-01-2005).]

Man I would love to show off a manual
That is the two year deal. It is now no longer a Fiero, it is a 2000 Olds intrigue
I am not to worried about the local shops. Some dont realy seem to know much. I dont realy want to sound like I am putting them down, but it would be MUCH easier to pass a manual by a small local shop with the sticker in the door jamb than to take a manual into see a smog Ref The small shop might not even care? But I got two years to drive it before I need to worry about it It is just to hard to get an exempt now days. I was told that the ecemptions were sold out in TWO HOURES. That is just unreal. They also told me that people are already wateing for the next years exemptions People have their cars ready to get registerd but did not get the sticker this year so they have to hold off for next year and hope they get one So it may be easier to just get the regular smog cert than the exempt?

quote Originally posted by DotTC: It is a lovely looking car. Beauty beyond words.

Pictures fail at doing this car justice.

Standing ovation for you guys !!!!!! NICE WORK

That is sooooo nice, I love the looks of that motor! Very nice job, I plan to do a motor swap like that someday, but I am in cali also and am not really wanting to deal all that stuff right now and especially the money!

Beautiful car.....I am, ummmmm.....JEALOUS!

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'89 LX Coupe 5.0
In loving memory of Israel Perez 1985-2004

My cardomain!

That 3.5 looks right at home. Congrats

Thanks
My next swap will be a V8. I am looking at the N* or the LS!/LS2. I have little fear of the next swap. Now that I have seen it done and know what it will take to get it done. There is no guess work anymore. I have seen and been in debates over how hard OBDII conversions can be to pass but now I can put the unknown behind me and hit the next swap running There is no doubt that the next swap I will do will be easier than this one. And with the after market for the N* the next swap will be MUCH more powerfull I can even HOP UP the S* legally. As long as I use parts made for the 3.5 and do not compromize the emissions systems it is all good. Now I know that the LS1/LS2 has not been used in the front wheel drive cars yet and that may rule them out, but there is nothing wrong with the N*. So if the LS2 wont pass I wont loose any sleep over having to do a N*

quote Originally posted by Rickady88GT: Thanks My next swap will be a V8. I am looking at the N* or the LS!/LS2. I have little fear of the next swap. Now that I have seen it done and know what it will take to get it done. There is no guess work anymore. I have seen and been in debates over how hard OBDII conversions can be to pass but now I can put the unknown behind me and hit the next swap running There is no doubt that the next swap I will do will be easier than this one. And with the after market for the N* the next swap will be MUCH more powerfull I can even HOP UP the S* legally. As long as I use parts made for the 3.5 and do not compromize the emissions systems it is all good. Now I know that the LS1/LS2 has not been used in the front wheel drive cars yet and that may rule them out, but there is nothing wrong with the N*. So if the LS2 wont pass I wont loose any sleep over having to do a N*

Awesome news on an OBDII hybrid passing. I get alot of calls from CA about 3800sc conversions. Maybe I can use your email as reference if you dont mind...

Loyde

I dont mind if people E-Mail me about the swap or passing other swap's, but it would be better for all of us if this thread was a refrance. That way all questions can be asked here and all can see the answers. That way it would avoid repeting the same questions over and over in E-Mail form. I dont have all the answers to all swaps, I have not smogged a 3800 yet, but the same laws apply.

I will say this to save some time.
If you dont have the stock tranny, PCM, AIR system ( if equipt ), gas tank pressure senser, charcoal/vapor canister, cat and manifolds with cross over pipe (no headers,or exhaust mods) it needs the entire stock exhaust system from the heads to the cat, the OBDII Data Link Conector to conect their computer to your car all stock smog equiptment that came on the donor car engine dont bother asking if it can pass smog, because it cant You may even need the stock donor car gauges, but that I am not sure of. You have to realize that the OBDII system is very complex and the major components comunicate with each other via a class 2 serial data link and each major component has a computer that can send read and store code or lines of comunication. So if you dont have the components needed the system may shoot off a MIL or check engine light. ANY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS AUTOMATIC FAILER. The light NEEDS to be functional to pass. Just taking the light bulb out will not work. They will check ALL stored codes (dont think you can erace them because you cant, you can reset the light but the code will still be stored) and any codes that affect the check engine light will effect the out come of the certifacation. I would not try to certify any engine swap with reprogramed PCM's. The risk of them finding out that the PCM is altered is very high and will fail. They look for engine codes not Air Bag or Traction Control and stuff like that so there is NO NEED to reprogram the PCM to pass smog. DONT TRY IT. Just use the stock PCM that came with the engine. If you have codes, fix the problems that are causing the codes dont try to fix the program by changing the program in the PCM. If there is a code after the swap, it wont pass any way, so dont try to fool the smog Ref with an altered PCM.

You will also need:
1) Pink slip
2) Renewal notice from DMV
3) Serial Number off of the Donor Car ( if you just baught an engine from someone and dont know were the engine came from, they may not pass it?)
4) Drivers Licence
5) Money ( Mine cost $38.25 yes that is it. It was acualy CHEAPER than a Smog Check and the certification IS a Smog Check )
6) The car MUST RUN GOOD. They will put it on a dyno and run it for a LONG time. If it over heats, stalls, or brakes down, your done, its over.
7) Like a Job interview the car should look good. If you apply for a job that pays good and you look like a "gangster" you wont get the job even if you can do it better than the others. The certification MAY be the same way. A "Hack Job" wont pass. It SHOULD look like it can "do the job"
8) DONT BE A JERK. They are people too and you must realize they are the last resort for people that can not pass smog. Almost everybody that goes there has a bad problem with there car and wont pass smog. So they dont want to hear alot of complaning and "why do I need that?" Just dont try to "teach them " how to do their job or how "dumb the laws are". They hear it all the time and it gets old.

If I can think of any more I will post it on this thread.

[This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 02-02-2005).]

Any Questions?

I've got some friends that have been bugging me to move to California, but I know that Sharona won't pass smog. So what happens to cars that don't pass? Can they be driven at all?

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Dowdian
Chopped up, broken down, bashed in 88 GT that I love dearly.

oop...

Forgot to mention, Incredible job on you car! It really is beautiful.

Hey Rickady,
The GenIII SBC (LS-x) series is about to be used in the FWD configeration. Look here: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/057310.html
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/048860.html
This should make it much easier for CA folks to do a SBC V-8 swap. I know I'll be doing it as soon as it becomes a reasonably affordable swap.
Scott

EDIT: found another thread

[This message has been edited by AnimalGT (edited 02-06-2005).]

If you cant pass smog, you cant get plates and you cant drive the car You will pay a HUGE fine for out of date tags or and out of state car that you keep in CA. That is why CA offers 500 exemptions a year. So people that build totaly custom cars that have NO hope of passing smog tests can get to register and drive the car.

I have seen the DOD 5.3 Man I want at least two of them One for another 88GT and one for my Olds Intrigue Man that would be a sleeper. A Cobra killer Intrigue

[This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 02-07-2005).]

Hey Rick, I'm glad you passed. Did you go to the one in Bakersfield or where you live?

I was looking at your previous post about the "list." It's funny how each station has it's own set of false god-like rules.

On your list, numbers 3 and 6 I didn't have to do. Even Orville's test was different I think? It's sad that you need to bow-down to them.

Ya it does suck that there is so much to do to pass but what do you do if you want to drive the car?
I think you have diferent standards because you did not register as a stock car. Being that you got the smog exemption the rules are not the same.

Oh, and I got it smogged at the Visalia Ref at the College.

[This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 02-08-2005).]

Rickady, I gave you a plus for all the useful smog cert. info...nice work, and congratulations.

congrats! now you can drive your work of art.

I vote for the LSx series on your next project!!!