re: smog check
got a free "pre-test" on my '94 GSR, at idle:
( fuel pressure turned down to 40 WOT )

202 HC ppm
0.02 CO %
15.0 CO2 %
1.5 O2 %

the legal limit for my HC is 100. so i suspect my cat is totally crumbled and shot. this would explain power not being where it's supposed to be (butt-dyno + installer's butt-dyno).

dealer wants $1141.71 (!!!) + $30 in gaskets
a&h says $279 for the Random Tech. comes w/gaskets)
a&h can get a "copy of the original" for about the same money.

all the scuttlebut i remember about random and others (i.e., "high flow", whatever) is that you may not pass or you probably won't pass. i don't wanna blow $300 on something that won't let me pass smog, but there's no way in hell i'm buying anything from the dealer.

thoughts/advice??? help!

 

Go to a junk yard, get one for like $50. Then get high flow cat.

 

I have a random tech can, and im not sure youd pass smog with it. We have no smog here, so im not sure, but after i got it, my bumper gets black by my exhaust, didnt before. Just a thought

 

bring the car in real hot and turn fuel pressure down and advance spark a couple of degrees. also add a can of "guaranteed to pass". If not available in US, let me know I will need dealers.

 

i think i'm beyond any "tricks" to make it pass when i'm posting 200 instead of 100. i had the fuel pressure all the way down to 40WOT which is as low as i was gonna go, even for 1 block. plus, i brought it in hot.

junkyard might be the way to go if i can swing it (needs to be 94-95 i think) then after i pass go with the jdm 4-1 w/ carsound. (i have very old DC 4-2-1).