California emissions

[gmpower]

Would an otherwise stock and clean running 86 GN fail the emissions test without a cat in California? I'm sure it would fail the visual, but what about the rest of the test?

 

[1BADDAM]

Yes - emissions standard are lower now than what they were when the cars were new.

 

[BlackBandit]

I don't believe they can hold your car to the standard of new cars. I think they use the standards that applied to the car when new.

 

[TurboDave]

In my 12+ years in San Diego, my guess would be no way to pass without a clean running cat.
I still have all my smog check receipts somewhere and the standards kept getting more and more stringent with every check. They hold you to the standards "they" set, not the standards that were in effect when these cars were new.
Trust me the standards are way cleaner now than they were even 10 years ago, let alone 20.