[DeTomaso] California engine swap exemption question

[John Buckman]

I'm going to limit this to Fords, but most (if not all) should pertain to other makes.

There were several factors that were used to determine whether or not a car was delivered with a smog pump (in California).

1.   The county where the car was sold.  Some California counties did not require smog checks.
2.   If the manufacturer could not get an engine to pass a smog check , then a smog pump was added.
3.   The smog pump was an option that could be ordered on some cars.

The Ford era Panteras never had a smog pump.  The worst that it got was an EGR system in 1974.

Here is some interesting info form the Ford FE Engine Forum Archives:

Thermactor (Ford's smog pump) became mandatory in 1966 on some FE cars sold in California and New York due to the 
progressive automobile pollution control of those states.  The California and New York engines which required Thermactor
usually had performance cams, such as the 390GT amd 428PI ca,s, as these cams had a valve overlap large enough to
permit raw fuel to pass straight through to the exhaust without being burned, and richer-jetted carbs which promoted the 
generation of carbon monoxide, creating unsatisfactory emissions levels.  The Thermactor pump injected a tiny amount of 
air into the exhaust ports to promote complete combustion of the unburned fuel, as well as combust carbon monoxide which 
results from the rich fuel-air mixture.  Some counties in California actually required Thermactor on all FE cars sold in 1966 
and 1967 due to particularly bad air pollution issues.  When not mandatory, Thermactor was a $46.00 option available on
every FE sold in the US, and was priced "at cost", not a profit for Ford.  So you would occasionally find Thermactor equipped
FEs in unexpected circumstances, and it would be listed on the window sticker.

In 1968, the California and New York emissions laws were basically adopted by the Feds, making Thermactor mandatory 
on all performance-cammed FE cars sold in the 50 states.  This is why the 427 inherited the hydraulic cam and Thermactor 
for 1968, since it was the only way it would pass emissions, and 500 hydraulic 1968 427s were needed for NASCAR
homologation rules.  Note that 427-4V Fairlanes failed California emissions laws in 1966 and 1967, but a loophole in the 
law exempted twin-carb V-8s from emissions regulations, so 427-8V (dual quads) Fairlanes were legal for sale in California.
This loophole also applied to 1967 Shelby Mustangs sold in California, which could run a solid cammed 428 without
emissions controls if twin carbs were part of the package.

John



On Dec 17, 2010, at 1:16 PM, Curt Hall wrote:

> I bought a new  (California) 1970 Corvette, it did have the PVC but no Smog Pump? I was told that some of the first 1970 Corvettes didn't have Smog Pumps? Most of the 1970 Corvettes I've seen did have a Somg Pump! So how knows?
>  
> Curt
> 
> --- On Fri, 12/17/10, B Hower <b.hower3400 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> From: B Hower <b.hower3400 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso]   California engine swap exemption question
> To: "John Buckman" <jb841 at cox.net>
> Cc: detomaso at realbig.com
> Date: Friday, December 17, 2010, 7:28 AM
> 
> John,
>  
> Thanks for the outline of California's smog requirements over the years. Good historic information. 
>  
> Do you happen to know the story on smog pump usage? In Ca. a 1970 Ford Torino did not have one and I believe that the 1971 did have one. Was the pump just Ford's way to meet requirements or did most makes use a pump in '71?
>  
> Which brings up the question, did the Panteras ever have the smog pump? 
>  
> Inquiring minds want to know,
>  
> Bud #3400 (The & Banger)
>  
>  
>  
> --- On Fri, 12/17/10, John Buckman <jb841 at cox.net> wrote:
> 
> 
> From: John Buckman <jb841 at cox.net>
> Subject: [DeTomaso]   California engine swap exemption question
> To: detomaso at realbig.com
> Date: Friday, December 17, 2010, 4:11 AM
> 
> 
> Bud,
> 
> In 1961, the first automotive emissions control technology in the nation, Positive Crankcase Ventilation, was mandated by
> the California Motor Vehicle State Bureau of Air Sanitation to control hydrocarbon crankcase emissions.
> 
> In 1963, the Positive Crankcase Ventilation requirement of 1961 went into effect on domestic vehicles for sale in California.
> 
> In 1966, auto tailpipe emission standards for HC and CO were adopted by the California Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board.
> It was the first of their kind in the nation.
> 
> In 1967, the California Air Resources Board (ARB, later to become CARB) was created from the merging of the California Motor Vehicle Pollution
> Control Board and the Bureau of Air Sanitation and its Laboratory.
> 
> In 1969, Air Quality Standards were set by the new ARB (Air Resources Board) for total suspended particulates, photochemical
> oxidants, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
> 
> In summary, the PCV requirement went into effect in California in 1963.
> 
> John
> 
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