Air injection systems were implemented in engine emission design beginning in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Since your Special Construction (Home Made) vehicle will require a Smog Check Referee inspection prior to receiving its California vehicle registration, we highly recommend that you only use an engine which is in its original engine emission configuration.
We can not make a determination on whether the referee's office will allow you to install a modified engine of any year in a vehicle which you build yourself. We can mention however that the likelihood of getting a special construction vehicle approval from the State's smog referee will be greater when using an engine in it's original emissions configuration. This is not to say the referee will not accept a modified engine, specially since the engines which you are considering using no longer require biennial smog inspections, but to be on the safe side, it would be best to keep an engine emission system in its original state; in regards to its emissions components.
Simply put, if the engine which you choose to install originally was equipped with an air injection system or smog pump, we'd recommend installing the engine with its smog pump. With that said, California smog check laws do not allow any engine emission modification to any vehicle which currently falls under California biennial smog check requirement, i.e. 1976 and newer vehicles.
posted by SmogTips Support
