[Nitmare67]

Im looking at doing a cam swap on my 99 Mustang GT. Im curious if the compcams xe262H or CMS stage 1 N/A Will pass emmisions? I have all other smog equipment on the car. Factory H pipe and such. Im not looking for a radical idle ( have a 67 mustang for that). I Just want to better compliment my mods. I'm looking for good streetable torque and power, not trying to rev for 6500rpm which is why I didnt look at a bigger cam.

They cant do a visual on the cam and it the car passes, its passes right. I have an aftermarket cam in my silverado pickup that passed this year so im curious if I can switch it up on my stang also.

[StangAddiction]

maybe in another state, but cali has some STRICT emissions. It'll take a good tuner to make a cammed mustang pass smog.

[ReverendDexter]

There are some smog legal cams, I'm not sure if the one you're talking about is or isn't.

What I'd suggest doing is checking the specs on the legal cams, and seeing how far "off" those you'll be. I can't guarantee it, but I'd be willing to bet that so long as it's close, it should still pass the emissions part.

To pass the visual, you will need a CARB sticker with the EO number for either your cam (if it has an exemption), or a similar cam (likely any cam, but you'll need some EO number displayed for the smog shop).

Here's the definitive list: Database: Aftermarket Parts Database of Executive Orders

[Nitmare67]

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter There are some smog legal cams, I'm not sure if the one you're talking about is or isn't. What I'd suggest doing is checking the specs on the legal cams, and seeing how far "off" those you'll be. I can't guarantee it, but I'd be willing to bet that so long as it's close, it should still pass the emissions part. To pass the visual, you will need a CARB sticker with the EO number for either your cam (if it has an exemption), or a similar cam (likely any cam, but you'll need some EO number displayed for the smog shop). Here's the definitive list: Database: Aftermarket Parts Database of Executive Orders

No CARB sticker on my truck with aftermarket an aftermarket cam and it passed. They have no way of knowing unless the cam is obviously loping harsh.

I didnt see any smog legal cams for the 4.6 though? If there is cam somebody point me in the direction please!

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by StangAddiction maybe in another state, but cali has some STRICT emissions. It'll take a good tuner to make a cammed mustang pass smog.

Honestly, the more I learn about states with emissions, California is one of the most relaxed. It's the only one I'm aware of that has a system for getting aftermarket parts okayed. My understanding is that for those states that just do a sniffer test, mods are totally illegal, people just get away because they don't check for modifications when they do the testing.

It's kinda how everyone thinks that by having a pre-'75 vehicle in California they're allowed to do whatever they want, when actually you're not allowed to make ANY modification that would affect emissions. I know a guy that got sent to ref with a '72 Datsun 510 because the cop thought it might be illegally modified (and it was, he was SR20 swapped). He had to get rid of the car because of it.

Basically, there's a difference between stuff being legal, and stuff you can get away with.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by Nitmare67 No CARB sticker on my truck with aftermarket an aftermarket cam and it passed. They have no way of knowing unless the cam is obviously loping harsh.

Really depends on the shop and the tech. Like I said, there's what you can get away with, and what's legal. If the smog tech wanted to be a dick, they could send you to a smog ref under suspicion of tampering, and the ref WILL check your cam if they suspect it's aftermarket.

Legally you're supposed to have an EO number displayed for every aftermarket part that could affect emissions.

[Nitmare67]

Word on legal. My 67 Mustang has a 408w. Pump gas motor, solid roller. 540hp from the flywheel. Extremely radical idle. I ran 1 3/4 headers, 3" mandrel bent, dynomax bullets lol. Dont bother me a bit as long as I keep my foot out of it. Worst ive had is an exhaust ticket.

[Nitmare67]

I spoke with CMS and Jim said he believes his stage 1 will pass emissions. He said he has sold several told Cali guys and they havent heard complaints about smog.

Wonder if I would be ok.

[limited]

stage 1 should pass, heard of many people passing california smog with those cams, I pass with stage 3's(no sniffer) but if you have cats stage 1's should pass that easy.

[Nitmare67]

Sounds great to me. I dont want to go FI because I dont have enough money to invest in an actual good kit. I dont want a POS 2700 dollar kit. I do know that If i dont spend this money soon my wife will some how end up with a cause for it!! lol.

So my mods list is for the final product

75mm Plenum and Throttle body
SCT Custom tune - might go dialbo though because of local dyno availability
JBA shorty headers (not certain but may do this, still have to decide if its worth $$)
Underdrive Pulleys
Stage 1 CMS camshafts


I already have 3.73 gears and TL so thats taken care of. This should turn out to be a pretty quick little street car! I wonder what HP range I will be looking at?

[ReverendDexter]

How do you drive the car?

Only reason I ask is that if it's "just" a street car/DD, you can get a lot more out of suspension than power, and you don't have to worry about if your CC plates will affect your ability to pass emissions.

[Nitmare67]

This is just a street car. Will never see the strip. Its my commuter car lol. I already have a decent amount of suspension mods and I like the way the car handles/drives. Ive already dont the short shifter, CC plates, lowered, gears and such. I love the way the car drives. Just want some more good streetable reliable power.

[SWEET2KSTANG]

most stage 1's should pass, tuning will help a lot as well.

[Nitmare67]

Will I need any type of special tuning or just the same I have done on all my carb. cars. Which is basically get the AFR around 13:1. Optimizing timing for hp. Optimize AFR. Recheck. All on the dyno of course. I would probably be alot better off to take it to a good dyno tune shop though to load some tunes and tweak it in though wouldnt I.

Any paticular brand of stage 1 cams thats best. Comp, CMS, Hitech??? It would be awesome if I didnt have to spring change but I probably will.

[I8ACMRO]

Guys w/ stage 2 or 3 cams have passed in Cali. I'm planning on stage 2 blower cams when the time comes and should pass. You'd have to go to the most snobish place to not pass though.

[SWEET2KSTANG]

a competent tuner that know cali regulations will be able to set up the tune to pass. as for the cams, its personal preference for the most part. i would recommend looking into a hitech set up, but thats just me.

[Trick Tuners]

Cams with a lot of overlap will not pass due to high HC. I'm pretty sure most (all?) cam swaps are technically illegal, but i know some cars that passed smog in ca with stage 2 or 3 cams. High lift and low overlap (like blower cams) will pass much easier than a radical overlap. Most cams will require tuning to get everything good.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by Trick Tuners Cams with a lot of overlap will not pass due to high HC. I'm pretty sure most (all?) cam swaps are technically illegal, but i know some cars that passed smog in ca with stage 2 or 3 cams. High lift and low overlap (like blower cams) will pass much easier than a radical overlap. Most cams will require tuning to get everything good.

I checked the CARB website, and I don't see *any* cams with EO numbers for mod motors. There are plenty of legal cams for other motors, but it looks like as of right now, there's no legal cams for mod motors other than the stockers.

[Trick Tuners]

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter I checked the CARB website, and I don't see *any* cams with EO numbers for mod motors. There are plenty of legal cams for other motors, but it looks like as of right now, there's no legal cams for mod motors other than the stockers.

yeah, most companies stopped getting EO numbers due to the cost and time required to get them. Typically (from what i've heard) its $50,000 and a few months in sacramento with the bar guys. Gotta sell a hell of a lot of cams to make that worth it! What ever happened to blow clean = pass? Damn government taxes on everything now. (yes, EO#s are just another tax IMO)

[ReverendDexter]

I totally agree about the EO #s being just another tax.

Honestly, how hard is it to go; here's the emissions on a stock motor, here's the emissions for a stock motor with our part on it, and if it's the same or lower, it's legal?

I mean, I understand the visual inspection to make sure that you're not totally circumventing emissions, but if it's an EMISSIONS test, why does anything matter besides your EMISSIONS? I mean, if the EGR is so important and does what it's supposed to, and you remove the EGR, shouldn't that be enough that you fail the emissions test? If the sniffer can't tell the difference, it's either not a valid failure, or it's not a valid test.