I can't believe how badly my Z failed emissions! It was blowing over 1000 ppm in hydrocarbons out the tailpipe. I advanced my timing to 15 degrees btdc, changed out the plugs, reset the idle speed, and fiddled with the MAF meter. It seems to be running a little better now, but I'm not sure if it will pass... To help things out, I dumped in 4 cans of dry gas, a can of injector cleaner, and a can of that emissions pass protection. I'll let you guys know how the re-test goes. I have a feeling that it's mainly due to a stretched out timing chain. this heap has over 170,000 miles on it and should have probably been junked long ago.

I'll keep you guys posted on this!

 

YEAH BABY!!! My magical potion made the Z pass! Here's the lowdown:

4 cans of dry gas (Iso Heet)
1 can of injector cleaner
1 can of emissions pass protection
6 new spark plugs
Advanced the timing to 15 degrees btdc
Fiddled with the mixture adjustments on the AFM
Reset the Idle

I can't believe what a world of difference that these adjustments and chemicals made in how the car passed smog. It was down from 1088 hydrocarbons in ppm to 132. The running rich problem and power drop off problems are now solved as well.

It seems like a common problem on this board is guys who have trouble with the engine flooding out and running too rich above 3000-4000 rpm. If the engine has a lot of miles on it, try advancing the timing beyond manufacturer's specs. Mine doesn't ping at all, and I run the crappiest gas possible. My car also has 172000 miles on the clock, so the timing chain is really stretched out. That's how I'm getting away with running so much advance.

 

I lucked out with mine, because it's a non-catylist model. It doesn't really matter, because the goobs at the emissions place literally scratch their heads when looking under the hood of my car. My favorite is when the try to open the hood from the wrong end, and then proceed to ask me what kind of an engine is in there while looking straight at it.

Arizona emission laws are horrible. All vehicles from model year '67-present must do the smog test. That's even worse than California!

 

The smog laws in Cali are one of the many reasons I left. In idaho every where except Boise ther are no smog laws at all. If your car came with a cat you are suppose to leave it on, yea like that is gonna happen. I know people with brand new Hondas that are running no cats. That is the advantage to living in a state with a population under 2 million. If I had to get my Z smogged in Cali or Vegas it would never pass. I had a 260 in Cali back in 1985 and it passed the smog test but not the equipment I didnt have a smog pump. Even though my car was well below the output standards they wouldnt pass it because it did not have all the smog crap on it. Luckily for me my dad was in ega and they didnt have smog laws yet so I just went out there and got tags.