Hey was just trying to find out how tough Texas Inspection Laws are for a 78 model. I am removing exhaust, installing headers and duals no cats and was wondering if they will inspect it? I know some states exempt this year model car.

Any info?

 

if you register it as a antique you wont have to worry about inspections, but i was told it wont pass if you have sidepipes (that was not a stock option) they will fail you. but you dont have to worry about emmisions testing even if you register it as a daily driver.
it also depends on what county you are in, dallas and surrounding county and i think harris and surrounding countys do the emmisions testing, some countys dont do it yet.

 

Once a vehicle has reached 25 years of age in Texas, they are exempt from emmisions testing. Also, inspections stations are not to look for CATs on vehicles any older that 1984 except if a CAT has exhaust leaks around the pipes.

I am planning to use Hooker Sidepipes on my 78 when I finish my rebuild and every inspetion station I have talked to about this said they would pass it as long as the exhaust outlet is behind the drivers/passenger's door. I live just south of Houston and am required to have emmsions testing for my vehicles that require testing.

Antique plates will exempt you from needing inspections stickers all together.

www.bigdogvettes.com

 

Here is the 'official' statement about exhaust emmisions in Texas:

20.14 Exhaust Emission System. The owner or operator of any new motor vehicle or new motor vehicle engine beginning with the model year 1968 equipped with an exhaust emission system shall maintain the exhaust emission system in good operable condition and shall use it at all times that the motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine is operated. The owner or oper-

ator of the motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine shall not remove or intentionally make inoperable within the state of Texas the exhaust emission system or any part thereof, except where the purpose of removal of the exhaust emission system or part thereof is to install another exhaust emission system or part thereof, which is intended to be equally effective in reducing atmospheric emissions from the vehicle or engine.

The exhaust emission system was installed by manufacturers of motor vehicles beginning with model year 1968. The inspection of the exhaust emission system will apply only to those vehicles that are equipped with such a system. The following exhaust emission systems will be inspected if installed as original equipment by the manufacturer: thermostatic air cleaner, exhaust gas recirculation system, positive crankcase ventilation system, air injection system, evaporative emission system, and/or catalytic converter.

If installed as original equipment by the manufacturer, the catalytic converter will be considered a part of the exhaust emission system on all 1984 and later model vehicles. It will be inspected as a part of the exhaust system on prior to 1984 model vehicles.

Here is the link:
Texas Air Check

 

Man you guys are the best thanks for the information I love this site.

 

My 80 became exempt last year. No issues with inspection as it is only a safety check now....two years with no issues. Original L48 now puts down 368hp, headers, true duals thru dynomax.

 

I checked too on my 75. I can put dual exhaust, as long as I have cat's on both pipes. Don't need the Smog equip, as only a safety check is done.

 

Well, not really, as the law says all original anti pollution equipment must not be removed.

I'm sure it depends on the station and if they want to, or can, look up the original equipment list. I'm hoping if it looks like factory it will pass.

 

Antique plates are the only way to go. There are restrictions on where you're supposed to drive it. But I've never heard of anyone getting nailed for this. Apparently, cops consider it a chicken**** ticket...

 

The Texas emissions program applies to cars 2-24 years old. Older than that is safety only. HOWEVER, the safety check includes checking the presence of some emissions equipment on 68-up cars including thermostatic air cleaner, PCV, EVAP and EGR (only applies to vehicles equipped with these from the factory).

The odds at failing the safety inspection for not having these are pretty low though.

BTW, I've never had any problems passing with my L-88 air-cleaner and EFI. Had one inspector look at my EFI throttle body and tell his buddy it was a 4-barrell carb. I just nodded and smiled.