I recently stumbled across the archive of new car "engine family" certifications on the ARB site, all the "A" and "P" series EOs all the way back into the '70s. I noticed two things: 1) the 1984 Riviera turbo had a "P" series EO -- certified under federal limits because it flunked the California NOx limit; 2) there is NOTHING for any 1985 Buick turbo -- meaning they were NOT certified for sale in California, which agrees with information in the Buick parts catalog and in EPA databases.
Digging around, I find stuff about AB965 (from 1981) and the "NOx offsets" program under which the '84 Riviera was certified. So I assume that the '85s fell victim to some quirk of that program, since according to EPA data the '85s otherwise should have passed. But I can't find any information specific to the case, or even specific to GM.
AFAIK, this would only impact engine swaps. The Engine Change Guidelines specify that if you have a California-certified vehicle, then the engine you swap in must be California-certified too, and the '85s aren't.
Do I have all of this right? Am I missing something? Do you know where I might find out more, specifically about the '85s in California?
Digging around, I find stuff about AB965 (from 1981) and the "NOx offsets" program under which the '84 Riviera was certified. So I assume that the '85s fell victim to some quirk of that program, since according to EPA data the '85s otherwise should have passed. But I can't find any information specific to the case, or even specific to GM.
AFAIK, this would only impact engine swaps. The Engine Change Guidelines specify that if you have a California-certified vehicle, then the engine you swap in must be California-certified too, and the '85s aren't.
Do I have all of this right? Am I missing something? Do you know where I might find out more, specifically about the '85s in California?