Im looking into buying a 1978 Dodge W150 Power Wagon 360 Auto. All the Smog Equipment was taken off. My question is what smog equipment came on the truck stock? I don't wanna buy it if I'm gonna have to put tons of money into it.
Thanks

 

it depends on the smog tests in your state. my self if i was a smog test state i would NOT buy the truck. i herd of trick. you spike the gas with a bunch of methanol. it will pass the test . but run very poorly.

 

If there is any inspection IT WILL need to have a cat converter that can get expensive. EGR valve hooked up and working.. vapor canister.. OEM air cleaner lots of stuff

 

Yup. Very first "job" is to contact your state and check requirements. Some states drop off older vehicles as time goes on, some do not. Some like Arizona, are completely stupid. Hell we had a thread "over there" by some guys AZ has requirements for SIXTY SEVEN cars which didn't even ever COME with smog gear, 'cept PCV

 

yea, it's going to depend. i've a '78 ramcharger and it isn't running cats. it has a few vac lines coming from a container by the passenger wheel well, and i'm in the process of getting it ready for smog, too.

have you checked out ramchargercentral.com? the guys over there know a ton more than i do and a lot of guys with trucks sign up and create build threads.

 

i remember in 1975 chrysler had a 318 in the charger WITH a cat, AND one without a cat. the other car makers whined and cryed about having to use cats. and the government MADE chrysler put cats on all cars. booo hooo iam no good at building good equipment.

 

Yeah I live in California so I have a feeling the truck will cost a ton to get it to smog. I offered the kid $250 and he said he would take it. I was initially thinking about driving it out to Missouri and Registering it there because there is no smog and I own land there but then id have to drive it back every year for a safety check. Its just such a good deal id hate to pass it up. Ill call the State and local smog place and see if they could give me any info.
Thanks Guys!!

 

it just came to me trucks had a different smog requirements in the early days. and some people in the early days would buy a truck instead of a car.

 

I would check with a local smog guy... He should be able to tell you what it should have on it....

It might be worth putting a few bucks in as a project....

Keep us posted....

 

Another thing you could do is to register it to your property address with the Ca plates no inspection. I think it has to already be in your name. Had a Hyundai belonging to a friend, who lives in Texas Car had Ca plates and a Texas address, did not require any more inspections

 

Sort of............

Only 3/4T and for a few years so called "heavy 1/2 tons" which were designed to circumvent smog laws by design.

Depending on the state he's in, the smog test, requirements for equipment inspection, I would not touch this thing.

One thing many of us tend to forget that it is illegal under FEDERAL U.S. law to remove ANY smog equipment from ANY vehicle regardless of state or year model. It's just that (at least yet) there's no agency which actively enforces this, beyond individual states.

Some states are pretty reasonable, dropping older vehicles off "the list" as they get older. Some states are NOT, requiring full blown equipment in any area that applies. As these girls get older, this is going to be more difficult to be in compliance.

So far, in my area, no such problems.

 

I will be sure to ask about that when I call tomorrow. That would be awesome!!

 

Another option is black market or find someone with another 78 Ramcharger that you can borrow. Did that years ago with my 67 Coronet

 

Most the guys with Ramchargers that I’ve asked about smog in CA say the techs have no clue what they are looking at so they do the idle test and pass 'em. That’s what I’m hoping happens to mine because it’s about time to go to the ref.

I can’t believe they make us smog this stuff; the year should be 1980 and up.

 

The ref will do nothing if equipment is missing. There is a cut off date for the smog requirements. But NOT when transferring owner ship as I recall.

 

Called the State DMV and they told me all I need to do is a 1 time initial smog check(found a local place that will pass it for $100) and when I register it I use my Missouri address and I will never have to smog again. So I go pick it up Saturday!!! Thanks Guys!!!

 

Happy for you.......

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