Do all California L-79 engines have K-19 SMOG when new?

[James G.]

Do all California L-79 engines have K-19 SMOG when new? I don't think so. I owned a 66 L-79 with AC in 1974 to 77. It was a ''KH'' engine car, with 4 speed, AC, and power steering.

SMOG K-19 started showing up on California cars, 300hp for sure. I had my SMOG license for 28 years , but I don't remember if L-79 cars had smog pumps.

I recently found the car above in Prospect, CT for sale in HEMMINGS. It has no pump and appears to never had one. 65000 original miles.

[Mike T.]

Re: Do all California L-79 engines have K-19 SMOG when new?

Jim - I've only owned one 66 L79, my Mosport Coupe and it's still running it's original engine with the HD code signifying L79/K-19/4-speed.
Shipping report showed it was originally sold in Paso Robles, CA.

[Tim G.]

Re: Do all California L-79 engines have K-19 SMOG when new?

Every 1967 sold new in California and street licensed should have had smog by Federal law. I owned a 1966 sold to a pilot while in Denver, he drove it home to California and licensed it new there. This was a base motor and should have had smog to be licensed new in California, but it got by the registration folks.

[Tom B.]

Re: Do all California L-79 engines have K-19 SMOG when new?

I have a good friend who has an original 66 L79 sold in Modesto area and it has K19 . I did think tho that all 66 427 425 hp had no smog if delivered in Ca? I know the 390 has smog in Ca.

[Joe L.]

Re: Do all California L-79 engines have K-19 SMOG when new?

Every 1967 sold new in California and street licensed should have had smog by Federal law. I owned a 1966 sold to a pilot while in Denver, he drove it home to California and licensed it new there. This was a base motor and should have had smog to be licensed new in California, but it got by the registration folks.

Tim------


Exhaust emission control was required by California state law for 1966-67. Federal requirements did no begin until 1968.

I'm not surprised the original owner had no trouble registering it new in California. At that time, field (inspection) offices of vehicle emission control regulatory agencies in California were essentially non-existent and the DMV did not do any such inspection of motor vehicles then (or, even, now).

[James G.]

Re: Do all California L-79 engines have K-19 SMOG when new?

I appreciate all the comments. I discovered last night that ''ALL' base motor 300hp and L-79 , 350hp Corvettes sold ''NEW'' in California had K-19 SMOG PUMP systems.

AND , The ‘’KH’’ suffix on the engine means 327/350hp, manual trans, AC, Power steering, and A.I.R, K-19 smog pump. The car had one when new. If it was missing when i bought it, would i check the ‘’YES'' box on a smog check that I performed at my Laguna Hills Shell station ?????.........

[Joe L.]

Re: Do all California L-79 engines have K-19 SMOG when new?

I appreciate all the comments. I discovered last night that ''ALL' base motor 300hp and L-79 , 350hp Corvettes sold ''NEW'' in California had K-19 SMOG PUMP systems.

AND , The ‘’KH’’ suffix on the engine means 327/350hp, manual trans, AC, Power steering, and A.I.R, K-19 smog pump. The car had one when new. If it was missing when i bought it, would i check the ‘’YES'' box on a smog check that I performed at my Laguna Hills Shell station ?????.........

Jim------


Yes, and the engine suffix code is an easy way to definitively determine if any 1966 or 67 Corvette was originally delivered with or without K-19. For a 1966, any engine suffix-coded HD, HH, HR, KH, IM,or IR was originally equipped with K-19. Period. Any other code was not. Period.

For 1967 any engine suffix-coded HD, HH, HR, KH, IM, IR, JA, JF, JG, OR JH was originally equipped with K-19. Period. Any other code was not. Period.

It does not matter where the car was delivered, where the car was not delivered, where someone thinks the cars was delivered, or where someone thinks the car was not delivered. The above applies. Period.

[Mike D.]

Re: Do all California L-79 engines have K-19 SMOG when new?

If my memory is correct Ed Vignone had a 66 yellow convertible at Sun Valley national in 1999 with K19. At that time I heard all CA cars had K19 starting in 1966. My 67 has K19 also.

[Robert G.]

Re: Do all California L-79 engines have K-19 SMOG when new?

Somebody posted a pic of a 1967 dealer order form here (post 22):

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c1-and-c2-corvettes/4400413-1967-corvette-dealer-order-form-2.html

It says California Vehicle Registration Only for K19. I wonder if it was not allowed for non-California cars and whether some California dealers neglected to check the box. I'm also wondering why they bundled N40 and J50 together in a separate box and F41 and J56 the same way.

[Tim G.]

Re: Do all California L-79 engines have K-19 SMOG when new?

I know of two K19 optioned cars that didn't make it to California. One was a Corvette delivered to the engineering center and one is a Canadian delivered car with Canadian paperwork.

[Ara G.]

Re: Do all California L-79 engines have K-19 SMOG when new?

I know of two K19 optioned cars that didn't make it to California. One was a Corvette delivered to the engineering center and one is a Canadian delivered car with Canadian paperwork.

And more to Tim's point, the Canadian car is a Black 67 where the original buyer simply checked off all the options (it's a heavily optioned car) not really realizing that K19 was a California requirement as opposed to an "option". From memory, it has 400 engine, AC, all power options and more. So, technically a buyer could have theoretically checked off K19 as an option on a car that was not being delivered to California. Cool stuff. ARA
Tim, hope you and your family are well, as well as everyone else's....