From what I have heard, a hole in the muffler will make you fail Calif smog. Like someone else said, the probe will not eb getting a true reading.

So, its not that a bad muffler would make you a gross polluter, its part of the "visual inspection".

The advice about the pre-test is sound, though. You really don't want to risk being branded as a gross polluter. A real pain to deal with.

For what its worth, the law in California says that getting a smog certificate is thye SELLER'S responsibility. However, in private transactions, that is almost always ignored.

OH, and BTW, a 1983 car is not 13 years old. Its 17 - 18 years old.

make sure to have pretest first. If it will not pass the charge is about $15.00. If it fails you have to repair it at another shop then have it retested at a third test only shop. Also if it tests too high you are a gross polluter and you will have to pass smog every year for something like 4 years. I believe as long as the leak is downstream of the cat you should be okay. But, the exhaust probe has too see enough heat to work. If too much leaks out it will not register and you will not pass. If people do not turn their head when you drive buy the leak is probably not enough to worry about. Also if any trouble codes set while on the dyno it will not pass but, the check engine light must come on when you turn the key.

Here are some web sites to check out for California smog 2 checks

Bill D. Modesto Ca Smog check 2 land.

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/smogweb/

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/smogweb/

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/smogweb/

I smogged my 82 245 ( which has an 83 B-23F engine) when I brought it in from Oklahoma. In terms of qualifying equipment, the catalytic converter is the most important part, "No Cat, no pass". You need a good baseline tuneup, a new air filter, a new or clean flame trap, and 9 times out of ten the car will pass. BTW, in California a car is a gross poluter based upon how much your car exceeds the standards, not on how many times you test. In certain smog impacted counties you will be required a have a chassis dyno test at a "test only facility" You can get a list of these facilities by zip code off the net by logging onto the CA.GOV website and then to the Consumer affairs section and Bureau of Auto Repair for the listings.

In my experience a Catalytic Converter is good for about 5 years before needing replacement. If it doesn't look reasonably new its unlikely you'll pass. Most places will do a retest for a reduced or no extra charge. Good luck.

Dean

Congratulations on your 245!

My experience with smog checks is in Washington, not California, so take all my comments with the appropriate "YMMV"...

A failed or leaking exhaust would allow in excess air into the exhaust, and the exhaust gases may leak out before they get to the test probe. In WA, this would mean that they can't obtain an accurate gas sample, and the car would be failed. I would fix the exhaust first.

If everything is working correctly, and the car passed a little over a year ago, (which suggests no major problems present at that time,) you can probably have a reasonable expectation to pass just fine.

I usually do a good tune-up prior to the smog check. Not that the car necessarily needs it to pass, but it's a good reminder for me that it's time to do it. My dad on the other hand will run it through as it is, and worry about fixing things after it fails. I vaguely recall that CA will label your car a "gross polluter" or something if you fail several times in a row, so you may want to do the tune-up as a preventative measure.

Yes I have failed a couple of times, most recently because my fuel pressure regulator was on its way out and was causing the car to run rich. I would have had to fix it anyway, so it wasn't a huge crisis. In WA, as long as you can pass the test, they don't care about what's under the hood - I think CA is a little different, with any modifications requiring approval of the California Air Resource Board (CARB). For a stock car with stock parts, I wouldn't think it would be an issue.

Good luck!

Roger