Catylic Convertor Laws
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
I've got the antique tags here in Tennessee with driving restrictions. They do not enforce. Even when I got a reckless driving ticket, no one asked me what parade I was going to at 10pm. 
My local muffler shop did not even bat an eye when I brought in my vette missing the cat and had them fab new system. I don't think they care as long as they were not the shop that removed the cat. I'm sure Arkansas is probably as relaxed as TN. You might find some car clubs or cruise-in sites to visit and see what their experience is. Mine is not DD, but I do drive it when and where I want without worry.
My local muffler shop did not even bat an eye when I brought in my vette missing the cat and had them fab new system. I don't think they care as long as they were not the shop that removed the cat. I'm sure Arkansas is probably as relaxed as TN. You might find some car clubs or cruise-in sites to visit and see what their experience is. Mine is not DD, but I do drive it when and where I want without worry.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
Who exactly governs this law. State police, county or local? I have an 86 CJ7 with Chevy 383, fender headers, 4" side pipes. I have been pulled over in Mi, IN, and OH. Not once did any officer ever ask about the cat's. Just wondering. My 81 has no cat now, just a 3" tube where cat was. Wifes Mustang Cobra has no cats either. All SST exhaust from Headers back. I would not mind having a hi flow cat if it was needed though. Al
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 4
From: Arlington texas
Who exactly governs this law. State police, county or local? I have an 86 CJ7 with Chevy 383, fender headers, 4" side pipes. I have been pulled over in Mi, IN, and OH. Not once did any officer ever ask about the cat's. Just wondering. My 81 has no cat now, just a 3" tube where cat was. Wifes Mustang Cobra has no cats either. All SST exhaust from Headers back. I would not mind having a hi flow cat if it was needed though. Al
When I was a local cop, I saw quite a few tickets written for altered vehicles whether it was the vehicle height having been changed. They were pretty much given out to the teens who acted a fool in the cars. I'm putting side pipes on mine and not too worried about it. Most of the inspection stations, since they don't have to hook you up to their computer will spend most of their time just admiring the car not really doing much of an inspection.
As far as the test pipes: They won't really save you. There are alot of restrictions and documentation that has to be done to take the Cats off even to have them properly replaced. If they wanted to be a jerk about it they could require you to show documentation of who removed them and when, etc. Without that from an authorized mechanic they could still nail you.
Bottom line, other than California not many places really care.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '08
Seems to me if the .gov really gave half a chit about reducing emissions that a dual cat or performance cat exhaust system that meets or exceeds the emissions of the OE setup would be allowed. Of course writing the law like that would haven taken slightly more effort and intelligence and we all know how much of that there is in Washington
Luckily, many states, like Nebraska, have no such inspection, so one could do almost whatever one wanted...
Luckily, many states, like Nebraska, have no such inspection, so one could do almost whatever one wanted...
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 6
From: Chester Virginia
Basically, in most states the federal epa laws governing this are implemented by the states. In states with safety or smog inspections it's done then. Otherwise repair shops are also responsible for not violating the law whether you ask them to or they decide under penalty of federal fines that are pretty big. I doubt seriously that many police officers ever actually know what was supposed to be on a 1979 much less crawl under it. However, if there is an incident then this is another law that can be used and applied...have a wreck and then the list of citations could include this if the officers noticed it. Another "gotcha" law without a totally effective enforcement law.
There are far bigger problems for officers in almost every state than this. In Va. it would be nice if people didn't run red lights...a huge problem locally. You'd think they never really got off the farm in Central Va. Yellow light, accelerate. Turned red and you want to turn left instead of waiting they go through. I see it over and over and over...and they know they are doing it forcing others to protect their safety by not hitting them.
There are far bigger problems for officers in almost every state than this. In Va. it would be nice if people didn't run red lights...a huge problem locally. You'd think they never really got off the farm in Central Va. Yellow light, accelerate. Turned red and you want to turn left instead of waiting they go through. I see it over and over and over...and they know they are doing it forcing others to protect their safety by not hitting them.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 233
Likes: 6
From: Lake Charles LA
I know that in Louisiana, some parts of the state enforce it and some do not. I have a company vehicle that is licensed out of my company's home office in Baton Rouge. The state inspection sticker has a place for a separate emission sticker for several different parishes (counties) around Baton Rouge. Other parishes do not have to perform emission inspections and leave this space blank on the sticker. I have had problems getting my vehicle inspected where I live, because it has the emission inspection sticker on it. Most stations pass on doing my inspection and recommend that I return to the parish in which it is registered to get the proper inspection done.
I have a good friend that is a Louisiana State Trooper. I need to ask him about their policy on emission equipment the next time I see him. My thoughts are that it is probably as mentioned before. An offense that they really don't check for, but can be added to other violations if you are stopped and the officer notices that the cat is not in place.
I have a good friend that is a Louisiana State Trooper. I need to ask him about their policy on emission equipment the next time I see him. My thoughts are that it is probably as mentioned before. An offense that they really don't check for, but can be added to other violations if you are stopped and the officer notices that the cat is not in place.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Seems to me if the .gov really gave half a chit about reducing emissions that a dual cat or performance cat exhaust system that meets or exceeds the emissions of the OE setup would be allowed. Of course writing the law like that would haven taken slightly more effort and intelligence and we all know how much of that there is in Washington
Luckily, many states, like Nebraska, have no such inspection, so one could do almost whatever one wanted...
Luckily, many states, like Nebraska, have no such inspection, so one could do almost whatever one wanted...
Last part references obdll converters, but in all likelyhood the pre computer cats are also covered. If in doubt contact this outfit or the epa.
California has already passed laws requiring cats to be certified for sale or use.
http://www.ritecat.com/uploadedResou...20reprint2.pdf
If your state doesn't require an real sniffer test, then it shouldn't be a problem putting on high flow dual cats or just shells.
Here is a listing of "Non OBDll cats/engines size" that are allowed by the EPA, therefore I would think all states must also comply, just as with the initial rules. Engine size is the criteria for cat performance.
http://www.ritecat.com/uploadedResou...0non-OBDII.pdf
In Florida, back when there was testing, the dual cats on a 77 passed both the visual and the sniffer.
