Failed HC (standard = 450 ppm; my result = 885) and CO % (standard = 5 my result = 8.55). The distributor, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, coil, oil breather cap & air filter < 1 year. Oil changed 7 days prior to test (20W-50W. Has PVC, working OK. Any recommendations would sincerly be appreciated!

1967 SS 396 (Engine is '69)

Thanks!

885 is really high. But I would crank up the idle and maybe advance the timing a bit, and dump some the rubbing alcohol in your gas and fill up with some 91 octane. It should help.

No NOX results? Too me it looks like you idle mixture is a bit on the rich side. Is the test just an Idle test? (if so try turning the idle screws in a 1/4 turn in more and maybe advance your timing 1-2* more.)

I had a similar problem 2 years ago with my Chevelle (I am in Arizona also - cars older than 1981 do not get NOX readings. The test is a loaded - 32/33 mph - & an idle test). This may sound goofy, but all I did this past year was dump a can of GM's Top Engine Cleaner down the carb & it passed with the same numbers it has always passed with in prior years. It will help to double check your timing & idle mixure as well. So, whenever I have to go through from now on, I will be using that $5 can of magic.

where do you get this magic the Chevelle is due on the 31st

To rancherlee, WakkoWarner and CheZeppleinCorps:

These are all great suggestions! So, I'll work on those..thanks for getting back to me!!!

Regards,
pgarlsvc

You can get the GM Top Engine Cleaner at any GM dealership. I have an account at Brown & Brown Chevrolet, so my cost on the can is just over $5.00. I believe that list price on it is a tick over $7.00, but that is still well worth it - it works very well. One of the main benefits is that it removes deposits that may have developed on the valves over time & also helps to clean the tops of the pistons. I followed the directions, waited the 15 minutes, started it up, drove to the emissions station, & it passed without any difficulty. (Just a side note, since they are so dang picky about gas caps, I keep a brand new on in the garage & put it on just before I go. Once I get home, the locking one goes back on. I just find it hard to believe that my 33 year old car - it was built in December of 1971 - still has to go through emissions. We really need to start pushing for a rolling exemption here.)

It hasent even been a fricking year and I have to do it again.

OK, 2nd attempt at the emissions station after advancing timing a couple of degrees (mechanical = 17, total = 30 @ 2,000 rpm) and turning in both idle mixture screws a 1/4 (Holley 4160): HC = 532 CO = 8.25

Also dumped in the GM Top Engine Cleaner. Made great progress on HC, but not moving the needle much on the CO, the STD = 5. Is this a carb problem? still running too rich? I'm a little reluctant to advance timing any more..hard to start warm.

Thanks!
Pgarlsvc

You know what I do, I just take my car to one of those shops right around the corner from the emmision station, they charge like 25 bucks and put it on a analyzer, they'll tweek the carb and timing till it passes and most of the time they'll have you bring the car back and they'll adjust it back so it runs right for no charge, If you figured you paid for the first test and the retest was free, now your on the 3rd test and you have to pay again, I know I live in tucson too, just bite the bullet, usally you can watch them work on it if you don't like the idea of someone under the hood,it beats not knowing if any of these ideas are going to work or not, Jim

Anyone you recommend? I've been going to the emission station off Prince & I-10.
Thanks!
pgarlsvc

I take mine over to the station off of 22nd and sarnoff theres like 2 shops around the corner, I take mine to the shop just north of the station, had good luck with them in the past, Jim

I'm having the same problem in Phoenix. My '69 chevelle has a dual edelbrock 650 setup. I bought the car like that and I don't know squat about tunnel ram setups so I'm hesitant to fool with it.

Taking it to B&R automotive later this week and having them take a look.

Anyone recommend any good muscle car shops in Phoenix with experience with chevelles? Not just for emission stuff, but everything.

Jim Mac:

OK,. thanks for the tip. I've taken my timing back to spec (4 BTDC) and the darn thing runs pretty good..I'll see how that fares with the CO spec.

This is why I won't live in town. We just bought another home out by Manville and Anway in Avra Valley and the main consideration was staying out of the test area, actually getting as far out of it as possible.

Arizona needs to exempt more vehicles, maybe roll it up to 75 when they started using cats and unleaded gas.

All of my vehicles are exempt except the one I drive to work. I list my Harley as the primary commuter vehicle and it is exempt due to its age (2002) so I have never been to a test center. I don't know if there is a limit on exemptions but I have registered to me 96 Chevy Z-71, 94 Firebird Formula, 78 El Camino, 96 Nissan Pick Up, 79 Turbo Regal, 02 Harley and 75 Nova Hatchback. If I had to have them all tested every year I wouldn't have time to work.

Did you know that Az allows individuals to get fleet registration? The plate shows fleet/perm but the catch is they all come due at the same time. I thought about doing it but the yearly cost would be to much all at once.

Well, I made it. Decided to ratchet down the timing to factory spec. Took it over to a shop, like Jim Mac recommended, off I-10 & Highway (near the Prince Road emissions stations). He tweaked the carb while testing emissions - took the car over for me & ran it thru - passed well below the standard for HC & CO.

..another year down!

Thanks!!

pgarlsvc

great to here, I hate taking my car to a shop but sometimes it's cheaper and quicker in the long run, especially where emmisions is concerned, Jim

God willin and the creek don't rise, I'll be movin to the Phoenix area within the next year. What are the testing requirements? My 67 gonna have to get sniffed?

yep, 67 and up in tucson and phoenix, good luck! Jim

Those shops next to the emissions place is always the thing to do, i use to go to a shop that i knew the guy but wasn't right there and i barely passed the last year i went there. I think the shops right next to them know the people who run the tests, two years ago i paid the shop $50 to get me through and the readings were so low its like they forgot to stick a tester on one of my pipes.

when I put headers on my jimmy I got too lazy to pull the exhaust pipe that hung out the back of the car, so when the guy tested it he stuck one probe in the dead pipe and the other in the left pipe, passed with flying colors? I have since cut the 3rd exhaust pipe off. Jim

just for info, from my exp last week, Methonal, 1/2 to 1 gal per full tank will knock out the CO reading. i went from around a 3.0 ppm to a .37 ppm with that change alone. on the HC side i just upped the idle from 800 ppm to 1000 ppm, HC went from 501 to a passing 437. legislation has passed for the rolling change on emmisions here in AZ, it's suppossed to be on the Gov desk as we speak. can't wait!!