Hi all!!!
I have a 1977 vega gt It now has a 1979 buick 231 v-6 with a 350 automatic.
I want to install a small block but it has to pass smog I need help. The body is in very good condition don't want to let it go  

Wow! Haven't seen a write in on this subject in a long time! Let me see what I can dig up and I'll get back to you.

One thing, where do you live? Being a '77 model, your car is now 20 yearrs old and should be emissions exempt in most places, unless you live in California.  

Phill, your right, I do live in the regulated state of california But hey! I love it here. Thanks for any help.  

One suggestion would be seeing if you could pirate the smog equipment from a '77 Monza, which had a V-8 option.

Another is to contact a local car club and see if they know of any exemptions you can file for regarding emissions.

Another possibility would be bolting on an aftermarket cat converter, and building a small block that's very efficient, with a good, hot ignition system that would burn everything in the cylinders and keep the emissions low.  

Phill,

What can I do to the existing engine in the vega now,to enhance it's performance.  The 1979 231 v6 in it now runs very strong. I just want to get as  much smog legal power   as possible out of it!  

It's got the Buick V-6, why not put a turbo on it like the Grand Nationals? Those cars made wicked power and had the GN's running in the 12s. Your Vega should be in the 11s with that much power. Put an intercooled turbo on the motor and have some fun.  

The State of California really makes this easy. Basically the law states that the emissions must be equal to either the year of the vehicle or the year of the engine, whichever is the most stringent. So if you put in a 69 350, you only need to bring it to 1977 emissions which is the year of the vehicle and with presumably more stringent requirements. Or you can put in a current LS-4 along with all its systems such that the installation meets 2006 standards.

The Bureau of Automotive Repair supplies a techncial referee who oversees your efforts and when he/she agrees that you meet emissions (edit: emissions here refers to system design not yuk in the tail pipe gasses) for the year of engine/vehicle; installs a plastic sticker on the door informing the world that the State of California agrees that your vehicle is in compliance.

Bogie  

Thanks Bogie!!

I will do some research to see which engines
fit into the car. I will also visit the referee station.

Vega  

What about beefing up front end of a 77 Vega with 350 small block?  Read an article from some time ago where an engine swapper put springs in from the rear of a 64 Corvair wagon (didnt know there was such a thing).

BTW, in Texas, it may be possible to register a 25 year old vehicle as a an Antique vehicle, and not have to take emissions.  Not supposed to actually drive the vehicle (except for maintenance), but not sure that anyone really checks...  

There were 2 types of Corvair station wagons, well sort of. The basic passenger Corvair offered a station wagon body, but I think what's refered to here as heavy duty front springs is from the "sort of" station wagon the Greenbrier. This was a van which used the Corvair engine/rear drive package. It was a lot larger and heavier vehicle than the passenger car based station wagon.

Both were quite ugly.

Bogie  

Hello buddies, I have a '78 4 door Impala and I'm about to buy a 454 Engine from a '76 truck, what do I need to adapt the engine in he compartment? the car has actually a smoggy 305 and a TH350 tranny. Thanks.  

Hello buddies, I have a '78 4 door Impala and I'm about to buy a 454 Engine from a '76 truck, what do I need to adapt the engine in he compartment? the car has actually a smoggy 305 and a TH350 tranny. Thanks.  

I think '78 was the first year they went to the new chassis, so fitting a big-block in the car is going to require some mods. I can't remember seeing this done before, so besides the fact you'll need new motor mounts and you'll want to swap the TH350 for a TH400 (Unless you're gonna have the TH350 rebuilt to take the torque from the 454)

You'll probably have to make some mods to the car's A/C syste, especially the evaporator box so the 454 valve covers will clear. You'll probably also have ot beat the firewall in some to clear the distributor.  

Thanks Phill, the first yr to use this new chassis was 1977, The TH350 tranny I have has been rebuilt few months ago, what mounts would you suggest me to buy? can I hammer the firewall to fit the distributor? hehe. Regards  

Check out this URL http://www.v8monza.com/

You can also box the existing K member using some .080 or so mild sheet.

Bogie