Digital EGR in California (Page 1/5)
Notorio JAN 04, 11:47 PM
Has anyone converted to the 7730 ECM and the Digital EGR in California and gotten that safely through smog check? From consulting posts here it seems that the 7730 can't alert the smog tech BUT they might notice during the Visual Inspection that the EGR doesn't look kosher. Any experience with this? My thinking was that Fiero's are so rare here now that your average tech wouldn't notice the difference ...
cvxjet JAN 05, 02:23 PM
This is something I would be interested in also......Anyone...? (No crickets!)
skywurz JAN 05, 02:25 PM
In my experience its a roll of the dice. They like to look for things that are new and shinny. If you have new parts or bling they will scrutinize the hell out of it. Matter of fact if you took a pre 87 intake blasted it to cast aluminum and slapped an Edelbrock logo on it they would fail it on the spot. Most techs are not familiar with the actual laws and end up on mini power trips.

If Edelbrock did make a factory replacement intake that had all of the same smog hookups it would be an OEM replacement part. Oem equivalent replacement parts do not need a CARBs stickes/approval.A lot of smog jockies don't know this and because its shinny they fail it.
Notorio JAN 05, 02:37 PM
Just for the sake of clarity, here is an example from the Georgia Fiero Club site. Don't get distracted by the changes due to using a coil pack. The EGR comes with a black cap that is removed in this photo. I am a little concerned that the aluminum adaptor plate might fall into the 'bright, shiny object' category. Perhaps it could be painted a rust color to sort of blend in?
skywurz JAN 05, 03:42 PM
One thing id be worried about is one of the steps is to literally "check egr" they check to make sure its there. That doesn't look like a typical EGR for this era of car.

Edit:

I mean you can try it and like i said roll the dice. Worst case you have to convert back for your smog inspection. Basically all of my mods are weighed with am i willing to swap to stock for 1 day every year.

[This message has been edited by skywurz (edited 01-05-2021).]

jjd2296 JAN 05, 06:18 PM
you poor guys in Cali have it bad! here in Ontario, no smog or inspections required for pre 89 cars! we can do what ever we want, just be sure you have a cat and proper exhaust thats it.
Notorio JAN 05, 06:25 PM

quote
Originally posted by jjd2296:

you poor guys in Cali have it bad! here in Ontario, no smog or inspections required for pre 89 cars! we can do what ever we want, just be sure you have a cat and proper exhaust thats it.



Thanks for reminding us

On the matter of the digital looking different, what if we welded the OEM, rusty-looking, digital flange to the pipe right were the original Fiero flange went? The weld would be underneath the flange, so not observable, and we could use a (working) junkyard EGR so the installation would at least look old ...
cvxjet JAN 05, 06:53 PM
A couple of things; A) The states to our east should all be thankful that CA does have strict smog rules- Otherwise you'd be breathing a lot more smog. I actually could tell the difference just driving north into OR.

B) A friend of mine built a (Very hot) AMC 401 for his Javelin (500 hp at 7000 rpm)...Every smog check he would swap on the old 2 bbl set-up from the original 304 and pass with ease (CA does calculate in ring wear, etc so a rebuilt hot 401 would be cleaner than a 200,000 mile oem 304)

So, could the Fiero be switched to the 7730 ecm, driven for 2 years, and then switched back come smog check time? How much is involved?

Just some smoke-creating, gear-grinding thoughts....
Notorio JAN 05, 07:53 PM

quote
Originally posted by cvxjet:

...

So, could the Fiero be switched to the 7730 ecm, driven for 2 years, and then switched back come smog check time? How much is involved?

Just some smoke-creating, gear-grinding thoughts....



Just speaking for myself I would be willing to swap in/out the ECM and EGR every two years. That seems pretty easy to manage. Could do the coil everybody recommends at the same time.
WKDFIRO JAN 06, 01:23 AM
What are the advantages of this EGR set up?

I would rather ground out the EGR Solenoid, block the EGR tube to the plenum and call it a day.