Re: Question about smog testing in San Rafael, CA

["Hanne, Gregg" <ghanne@domain.elided>]

For a simple transfer, not a renewal, you won't need a smog test;  however,
come renewal time you will have to smog the car.  I too have a '74, a great
year for the Spider, but unfortunately one year proud of the 1973 smog
exemption.

I was quoted here in San Jose a minimum of 150.00 for a smog at an Alfa
specialist due to the amount of dickering around that is necessary to get the
car to pass on any given day.............if the mixture was set in August,
there is a good chance the car won't pass in October!  In addition, if you
anticipate the car needing adjustments, you MUST take it to a shop experienced
in these cars, as no run of the mill smog shop will have any idea what to do.

I did the following:  bought Wes Ingram's Spica book, fine tuned everything
that is adjustable, getting the mixture into the ballpark (and the car ran
noticably smoother after all this).  I then took it to my very generous smog
guy who let me remove the airbox and tune the mixture solenoid while he
observed the emissions;  when everything looked ok, he did the test for real,
and it passed!  He charged me 15.00 extra for the added 10 minutes of his
time.

I highly recommend getting familiar with your injection system, it's quite
rewarding when your efforts result in a better running car, and you can make
the necessary adjustments yourself while at the smog test, possibly saving
some $$.

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