I know I've seen someone here in the Cruzah section from Alaska that might be able to answer my questions.
I am relocating to Anchorage this summer, May, and am wondering what I need to look for in regards to getting my Cruzah up to Alaska Specs, if required. I have a 70 FJ40 with a 350 in it, will this get through the inspections? It is currently registered in Calif and of course 73 and earlier are smog exempt. I recall hearing that in Alaska 67 and earlier are exempt. Is this true?
What do you need to do to a vehicle to get it setup for the winters, battery blaket, block heater????? :skull:
I am trying to preplan so I don't have to make choices at the last minute, like selling my Cruzah....:(
Thanks for any help that can be offered!!!!!!!!!!

First of all, diesels are exempt and that's what I know the most about. They only check vehicles for CO and HC because NOx aren't a problem, just CO especially with cold weather inversions in the winter. Call the DMV for which year chassis is exempt. I'd guess pre '73 but it's just a guess. The # for the DMV is 907-269-5551. They also are on the Internet.
For Anchorage a good block heater (replacing a freeze plug) should be sufficient. Whatever wattage is available for that motor. The hardest thing about putting in a block heater is accessing the plug and dealing with the coolant mess. If you have a decent reason for a 2nd battery (electric winch, diesel) then it's a good time put one in.
Anchorage can go an entire winter and not drop below -10 F. Last winter that was the case. This winter we had recently 2 weeks of -10 F. with some pockets of -22 or even -30 F. A rig with a block heater should start. Oil is another issue. I use Delo 400 15W-40 which despite the 15W has a low pour point of -41 F. I do use a magnetic oil pan heater in addition to a block heater when it drops below -10 F. I use just the block heater between -10 F. and +15 F., nothing above that.
Fairbanks or even the Matanuska valley is another story. In the Mat Valley, only 35 miles N of Anchorage, you can get -45F. and Fairbanks can of course get down to -65 F. That calls for extreme measures: battery heaters, oil heaters and CAREFUL application of loads to avoid breakage. Basically machinery of all sorts doesn't do well below -20 F. or so.
Charlie

I have A 73, with an F engine. All that I am required is the tail pipe test. With your 350 conversion, you may need to go to the vehicle referee. Their decision may be dependant on what year engine you have. As for preparing for the cold, all previous staments, are good. Personally I left my cruiser out in the cold for nearly 3 weeks while it was between 0 and -20 last month. With no heaters, all I needed was a quick shot of Ether. and it started right up.

Thanks for the information!:D
What kind of wheelin can I expect there?
Happy Holidays!!!!!

Type of wheeling really depends on your set-up. There are a couple of Alaska wheeling sites on the web. One or two for cruisers. I don't think there are any cruiser clubs though unfortunately. Northern 4X4 has a good site. I don't know the URL though. Parts are also readily abundant.

We have sort of a Cruiser Club, the unofficial president is Mark Whatley, tchnical editor of Toyota Trails. I'm in charge of the "diesel department".
Charlie

Are there any good rock crawling trails in Alaska?

Sweet, more good news! Abundance of Cruzah parts, wheelin, hunting and fishing!!!! Rock crawling would be a major ++++, thats what my Cruzah likes best!!

There's a bit of rock but most of the 4X4 challenges are mud. So much so that for my M37 for instance my "street" tires are 11.00R16 Michelin XLs but my "muck tires" are Firestone 16.5L-16.1 Implement tires.
Charlie

As For Anchorage, I am sure the cold requirements arent nearly as tough as here in Fairbanks. I would use a battery pad and the block heaters as bare minimum, and a oil pan heater is a good idea anytime it gets near zero. It will save major wear and tear on your motor. As far as smog here in AK, Anchorage and Fairbanks require a tail pipe test as mentioned. Having done the 350 in a couple cruisers in California, and now in AK, You will definately want to get a Calif. referee sticker on your truck showing it meets requirement of a whatever year chevy 350. From experience...the referee bozo's here in Fairbanks have no clue about this. Even though there are the same rules here for motor swaps as CA. They tried to tell me I couldnt 4.3 My 4Runner as that engine obviously wasnt an option for it...I sat there and said HUH? Then he tried to say AK was strickter then CA. Thats funny I said, if it meets CA standards..it's 50 state legal.. AK is the 49th state!! So to avoid any problems, get it done ahead of time, and it will make your process a whole lot easier. As for rock..not to much there. But you will gain a whole new respect for mud..and muskeg and tundra.

My Cruiser is a 70, in California 73 and older vehicles are smog exempt. So fortunately my truck never has to be tested... It wouldn't help me taking my truck to a referee here, because of this fact.
According to the Alaka DMV website, 67 and earlier vehicles are smog exempt. Reading some of the rules on this site it seems Alaska is more stringent on some portions of Smog laws.. In a way this sucks.....
I know whats gonna happen when I call the DMV, happens all the time. One person gonna tell me one story, then when I actually get up there someones gonna tell me a different story. I just love dealin with the DMV!:rolleyes:
Thanks for all the information!!!:D
:skull:

I grew up in Anchorage and built a 69 FJ40 with a 350 in it with no problem. At the time the IM was 73 and up. I joined the military, left the state and then got assigned to Eielson AFB near Fairbanks. Still did not have a problem with IM there because it was 73 and up but Anchorage changed there IM to 68 and up. I was looking at moving back to Anchorage and contacted the IM people and explained to them that I had built this under there old rules and asked if I would be exempt from the new regs. They told me know and told me that I would have to have all of the IM bullshit that would come with the 350 chevy attached. In my opinion my engine burns cleaner than most of the ones with the IM crap hooked up. I ended up moving to Oregon for a job. As for your colder climate you will get by with a block heater that you can get from your local auto parts store. You will mount it in the left rear freeze plug hole with the unit facing about 9 to 12 o'clock. Sometimes it is a pain to get the plug out but you should have plenty of room to do it in you TLC. Just be sure you don't loose the plug in the block. If you have a good battery you will be alright but it wouldn't hurt to add a battery blanket (not a pad) to help keep your battery warm so it cranks easier. Well hope this helps you out and good luck. Alaska is a big state, enjoy all of here resources and buy plenty of Mosquito repellent.