California Smog!

[RM77CJ5]

I'm going to start a new thread regarding Cali smog emissions and questions. I just picked up a 77 CJ5 for the wife and I will be having a lot of questions regarding smog equipment. I believe a few items are missing and I'll need to add these for the testing. We're talking AMC 304 here.
To start with this... air cleaner. This is not stock by any means and I don't think they'll let it fly!


My question I,s will this air cleaner work? I've been searching for a "stock" one and can't find one anywhere!
Jeep Grand Wagoneer 360 V8 Engine Air Cleaner Housing Assembly | eBay

Thank you.
I will be back with more questions, ie. air pump!

 

[norcalcrawler]

OK I'm no expert on Ca Smog- but maybe this will help.

I have passed smog with aftermarket devices many times: PROVIDING the vehicle has all the equipment that mimics the factory stuff. So a custom air cleaner with whatever came on the yr in questions air cleaner is OK for the visual part of the inspection. Possible items: heat pipe from exhaust manifold and maybe a crankcase vent tube.

If you find a Ca smog dia which maybe not be all that hard, then you will know what came on the jeep in that year. I have always been able to find a doc that shows the correct equipment for the vehicle im working with.

I have read the smog specs saying you may have aftermarket equipment on a smog vehicle as long AS IT DOES NOT CHANGE OR INTERFERE WITH THE OEM SMOG STUFF. You can run a supercharger as long as it has all the original smog junk in place and operational. Then you need to pass the sniffer which is also very possible providing the timing is what the factory calls for, the rest is emissions numbers.

Also you can buy an aftermarket clamp on heat tube assy, that clamps onto the exhaust manifold, then a flex tube to the underside on the air cleaner..

 

[Hedgehog]

You are going to need a bunch of hard to find smog equipment. For instance manifold spiders and the accompanying valves and hoses. Your probably missing the charcoal canister and does the Jeep already have cats? ERG and PVC valves are fairly easy to find. The proper air cleaner shouldn't be any different from other AMC V8's of that era. Call Willy's Works in Tucson, Rob has air cleaners. I got one out his air cleaner pile for my '75. The Wagoneer cleaner has a few built in valves your '77 might have no answers for. Does the '77 have a square air duct? I have an air cleaner from an '82 Wagoneer, similar to the one you linked to I'd sent you for the price of shipping ..... come to think of it my cleaner doesn't have a top, but they are all the same and I used mine with the '75 housing

 

[Tommy]

I have an '81 CJ5 , AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l liter that came out of Nevada with all the smog ripped out. I took it to a local smog shop where I did all my smogging and had the mechanic give me a list of everything I didn't have but needed for CA. I was able to find everything I needed at a jeep junk yard in the Bay Area. Not cheap but not too bad. If you have a smog shop that will check the jeep for you, at least you will know what you need. It's a pain to smog for CA but it's the only way you will be able to run it down the road. Although it seems like nonsense, I grew up in CA and the smog today is nothing like it was in the 60's so I think the effort is worth it.

Tommy

 

[Torxhead]

At this point you can consider a smog legal fuel injection kit, since purchasing the oem equipment will cost you a few bucks also. Then visiting the smog man is just like paying taxes. Learning how the fuel injection system works is a whole new ball game.

 

[JimsCJ5]

At this point you can consider a smog legal fuel injection kit, since purchasing the oem equipment will cost you a few bucks also. Then visiting the smog man is just like paying taxes. Learning how the fuel injection system works is a whole new ball game.

Wise words these. The stock emissions equipment is not worth putting back on. Fuel injection will give you better driveabilty, more MPG and you can tell the smog nazis to go to hades.

I grew up in Southern Cal and the smog requirements are one reason I will never go back. No matter how clean my bronco ran if there was a piece factory equipment missing or altered it was an instant fail. They even failed me for having a dual exhaust on my V8 because stock was a single.

 

[81laredo]

I was in a similar spot with my '81 with the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l L Inline 6. The best way for me was the Howell CARB Approved Fuel Injection. It is based on a 90's Chevy Throttle Body System. Very straight forward to install...get rid of all the original junk...with new components and wiring.
I upgraded the Distributor to an HEI (also based on a 90's Chevy Distributor) at that time and have been very happy since! The CJ starts easily and runs great at 20 degrees or 120 degrees, on a hill or flat and has a wider power band. I replaced the muffler and Catalytic Converter at the same time with FLOMASTER stuff that I picked up a O'Reilly's.
I am sure that there are other ways but this was best for me, I think that it comes down to how long will you own the CJ and how much grief do you want to put up with..the original Carburetion wasn't all that good even back in the day. Here is a link if interested, PS no SMOG Pump!;
Jeep TBI Products :: TBI KIT: 1972-93 304, 360, 401 V-8 Jeep/AMC - Emissions Legal - Howell Engine Developments, Inc.

 

[RM77CJ5]

Thank you gentlemen and Happy New Year!
I understand what everyone is saying and I appreciate the feedback. The wife will not get rid of this Jeep. Just like my 68 Camaro!
I will look at the link and talk it over with her. It looks as though in the long run going with the CARB legal injection will be the way to go. I'll do some investigating and searching on here regarding the matter.
I read in another post the ignition system was an issue with the Jeep and the HEI was the way to go anyway. It does have a CAT and the entire exhaust needs to be replaced.


So much for the BUDGET build!

 

[DHugg]

I believe a few items are missing and I'll need to add these for the testing. We're talking AMC 304 here.
I will be back with more questions, ie. air pump!

My AMC 304 , a reman 1980 CJ7 , has had the air pump stripped out, and the injector ports to the cylinders blocked by blind bolts. I'm a bit away from Cali, at 30N, -89.45W. I am confident I wouldn't be allowed to even drive it close to Cali as, say, New Mexico .

 

[Torxhead]

RM77CJ5, your current ignition system does leave a lot to be desired. A properly setup hei will be an upgrade. Like one built by Davis Unified Ignition which can get pricey. Another option would be to add the Motorcraft ignition as the later model CJs use, if you can do all the wiring that includes an ignition control module.

 

[Hedgehog]

HEI is the way to go. Only one wire to worry about, two if your running a tach. All the magic is done internally. Carry a spare module, which is indeed a small package and you are good to go. I like the idea to go with the fuel injection, first off you have an excuse ... emissions ... , secondly the system is far superior to the stock system.

 

[JSTAGE]

Even if you get all the stock smog equipment you may still have problems I sure did. The Howell fuel injection was the best thing I've done to my jeep, and next will be CRT hei kit.

 

[Tommy]

Depends on if price is a factor or not. I got all original equipment and got it smogged for less than $500. I'm thinking the HEI and Howell system will be over twice that. Actually, the Howell alone is well over twice that. It will run a lot better for sure, my brother went that route, but I still go anywhere he does off road and down the highway.

Tommy

 

[Torxhead]

Depends on if price is a factor or not. I got all original equipment and got it smogged for less than $500. I'm thinking the HEI and Howell system will be over twice that. Actually, the Howell alone is well over twice that. It will run a lot better for sure, my brother went that route, but I still go anywhere he does off road and down the highway.

Tommy

I saw you gallery and the pics are outstanding, Anyway your brother should have a much better performing engine, running easier thru the rocks, getting better gas mileage,and will not stall up the super steep hills. Yes, a lot better performing engine will cost more and your extra price estimate is pretty accurate.

 

[Tommy]

Thanks Torxhead. Everything you said is true. His does run hotter than mine though. I do like his setup better, but didn't have the funds or foresight at the time.

 

[RM77CJ5]

Even if you get all the stock smog equipment you may still have problems I sure did. The Howell fuel injection was the best thing I've done to my jeep, and next will be CRT hei kit.

Thank you. I'm kind of leaning in this direction. The wife didn't take it too bad when I mentioned the price!

Depends on if price is a factor or not. I got all original equipment and got it smogged for less than $500. I'm thinking the HEI and Howell system will be over twice that. Actually, the Howell alone is well over twice that. It will run a lot better for sure, my brother went that route, but I still go anywhere he does off road and down the highway.

Tommy

How much smog equipment were you missing? I'm missing quite a bit... I believe everything but the canister!

I was looking at the instructions for the Howell kit and you do still need some of the smog; canister, egr, cto. Are you guys running stock air cleaner or an open element with some vacuum line attachments?
Thank you for all the replies and info.

 

[Tommy]

I had the canister, pump and a couple of lines. I had to find the rest. I had the smog guy help me set it up right. I am running the stock air filter with lines running to and from it. Mine is a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l liter as I mentioned so I am sure your V8 well be a little different. Also, yours is a little older and may not need as much. If you have a smog mechanic you can trust, he can tell you what you need and maybe even where to find everything. The big thing for me is that it goes everywhere I want it to and I don't have to worry about changing things back when I get smogged. I do more rock climbing than mud bogging so I don't need the high end torque and the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l has all the low end grunt I need. Either way you go it's going to cost you. California would rather you spend the money on smog rather than lockers or winches. If I had the money at the time I would have gone the route that Torx went. Less headache and a better running rig in the end.

Tommy

 

[JSTAGE]

I'm running the factory air cleaner on the Howell throutle body,
Mine is a 1979 AMC 304 .

 

[dunebuggy18]

Another resource for "missing stuff" is J & W in Antelope, CA (outside of Sacramento) - They are a Jeep only auto wrecker. They are pretty amazing at finding CJ parts...

J&W Auto Wreckers: New & Used Jeep Parts - Home

 

[RM77CJ5]

Again, thank you for the replies.
I believe we will be going with the Howell EFI kit. I talked with some smog guys and I went to the Ca. air resources board and looked up the EO number for the kit. I was able to find what was removed and needed there.
Looking forward to starting my build thread!