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Red engines with high Nox are pretty darn common. Plugging the vacuum line to the ignition control unit may help, but it is tampering and a direct violation so just don't bring it up with the smog tech. While there is a functional test of your vehicle's static timing there is no functional test of how far it will advance or a check of the system to makes sure that it is getting vacuum where it is supposed to. So long as it passes visually it should be ok in that respect. Bruce is correct in his statement that your vehicle has a Chrysler ignition system, once they went with the Chrylser system they stayed that way until they went with the LH 2.4 injection system and EZK ignition.
Understand that what the techinician told you is basically right, you have a lean mixture or a hot mixture and that is what causes the formation of Nox. Your car is either sucking smoking hot air into the intake because of a faulty pre-heat thermostat or you have enough carbon on the piston faces to elevate the engine compression to a level that causes pre-detonation which will also heat up the air/fuel charge. I personally have seen some older 240s with 200-210 psi, that is way too much. As often is the case though you usually have a couple of things going wrong. I have seen lazy O2 sensors or ones that were biased lean that caused this problem as well. This is why diagnosing and repairing a problem like this is not easy and usually not cheap.
Something else to think about, was your car test-only directed? If so you automatically qualify for the state funded CAP program (Consumer Assistance Program). In this program you take your car to a Gold Shield Certified station and they work in conjunction with the state to fix your car. There is a co-pay of $100.00 and then the state picks up the next $500.00 and you are responsible for anything over that. If this sounds like something you are eligible for and/or interested in your test-only facility should have the appropriate forms to fill out and if not do a search online at the BAR website and they will have a list of Gold Shield stations in your area and they will have what you need for sure. It is kind of a pain to deal with but it is $500.00 worth of free money and if you need a cat you will burn up that money in short order.
As far as fixing it yourself goes, good luck. You can try a number of things, new pre-heat thermostat, plug the line, good gas, carbon clean the engine, etc but you will still need to see a smog tech with a dyno to do a pre-test on the thing or you will have to roll the dice and see if it passes on your free re-test you may have. Any way you do it tends to be a crap shoot and costs you money everytime you have it tested.
E-mail me if you'd like and maybe I can shed a little more light on it for you.
Good luck,
Mark
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