I worked alot on my car to get it ready fro ispection.
Got all the lights working properly, adjusted the stupid e-brake to have it work(Somewhat)

AND STILL FAILED due to emissions.
They run it at idle, then a span of different RPMs.
Anyway-
I was about double the standard.
Not sure of the readings, but I have it printed out.
Think Standard is 500- I was 1100

What improvements would give me the most bang for the buck?
What are my options to improve emissions?

Thanks

 

Well you diden't say what you failed for. If your car is original and retains all the emmission equiptment, I would take it to a mechanic that does testing. Only then will you know what has to be done and at what cost. The other route you can take is get QQ plates and forget about inspection.

 

Eric; If you failed for CO- or HC- you can take your car to a re-inspection station and they will retest the car and make necessary adjustments for thew car to pass legally.... The cost will be about $50.00
The stations are listed in your phone book under NJ State Reinspection Stations.

 

As already suggested, QQ plates are the way to go. No more NJ inspection headache. However, if you don't want to go that route, your local neighborhood shop should be able to get you passed for around $50.

 

Just curious - are we sure that the current standard for a 71 corvette is the level of emissions that the car would produce when new? It is not stricter now for a 71 is it?
I am always impressed when I see a car from the 60s or 70s with regular registration here in NJ because I know they had to pass inspection, but I tell you - it is very rare! Most of the old cars have QQ plates. It is more common to see that abused, ie I see cars with QQ plates driven like regular cars.

 

Hi
I had a 71 last year that wouldn't have ever passed the safety portion let alone the emissions.
So I registered as QQ.

However, I wasnted to use it much more than an occassional ride.
So I decided to get this car ready for the inspection.
I thought I did a great job for myy limited knowledge.
The forum has been super helpful.
My ycar is original as far as I know for components.
So I went today and failed for:
HC(Standard 500)-Reading 1200
CO%(Standard 5.00)- Reading 7.19
CO2% - Reading 7.8 (No standard- just info)
RPM -Reading 435(No standard-just info)

The Emissions repair sheet they gave me has a list of 26 items.
PCV System
Thermostatic Air Cleaner
Air Injection Syystem
Air Pump
Air Filter
EGR System-other
EGR Valkve
Evap Em Controls-other
Fuel Cap
Vapor lines
Charcoal Canister
Ctalytic Converter or Thermal Reactor
Ignition System-other
Spark Plugs
Timing
Fuel Filter
Carb Adjustment
Carb Rebuild
FI Syystem-other
Engine Mechanical
Vacuum Hoses/Fittings
Computer System
Oxygen sysytem
Other electrical sensprs
other repairs/unknown
Any suggestions?
The local inspection site seems like my best bet.
$50 is fine, just dont wanna pay $500 for a cure.

 

The standard is not stricter for older cars. They should meet the standard for the year of production

 

What are QQ plates? Sorry I don't know, and thank god we don't have emissions down here in FL.

 

QQ are historic plates in New Jersey.
Some states have different colored plates or a picture on them, in new jersey they look just like everyother plate, but the first 2 letters are QQ!

ALOT cheaper insurance, but many restrictions on driving times.
BUT NO INSPECTION!!!

 

here in NJ the emissions are for the year of the vehicle itself.
is there any way you can scan your paper from inspection and post it?

either way when we used to fail emissions with the old cars
back in the late 70s and early 80s.
it always came down to timing and carb adjustment so long as you knew the ignition system parts were in good condition.
if youre sure the points plugs and wires are fine then i would

set your timing to factory if it that hasnt already been done
and lean out the carb as much as you can and you should pass
without a problem.

one other thing to also be aware of is the guys that work for parsons are mostly idiots so you need to make sure the inspector you had
DID set the machine to your car 1971 emissions.

 

Eric, as it's been stated above I'd go for the QQ plates myself like I have and I did this for sevevera lreasons.

1- I'd much rather pay $130.00 per/yr then who knows what regular ins. would cost so it's easier on the wallet.

2- While I love to drive mine, it might not be as fun to me if I drove it everyone or more often then I do now and I get real enjoyment driving her when I haven't in a while.

3- The more you drive the more you leave yourself open to an accident due to these young kids who tool around without regard and even moreso now since my son got his license 3 weeks ago

4- New Jersey roads aren't the best in terms of keeping potholes and stuff taken care of which doesn't help and you've got to pick and choose the roads in which you drive.

I'll be taking my Vette to a friends house for a party in Parsippany today and will be taking Rt 80 so i'll let you know how the road fairs imo

We've gotta hookup at a car show or something someday soon

 

I hear you with the excitement...
Maybe after the first summer I will switch it.
Not sure.
I LOVE driving it.
Once I get the weatherstripping and heat/AC working I will drive it all over the place.
For now- only fair weather days for me...

BUT send me an email with your address and I would surely swing by, as it would be awesome to see a nice example of a 72!

 

Try registering your call under a "collector registration". The collector status doesn't have many of the restrictions that a QQ registration has but does have a mileage restriction per year. Easy enough to live with. I found the collectors registration under the NJ MVC website. It's buried in there and it is a little known option. NO INSPECTION! Just a mileage check every two years....

 

This is what I did with mine. You go to an inspection station every 2 years where they check to see if your odometer is working and that you didn't put more than 6000 miles on since last time (3000 per year). Thats it. No restrictions on when and where you drive.

 

I was just on 80 today coming back from Mothers Performance in Rockaway picking up some differential fluid.
Don't forget me on the get-together. Hopfully I have an engine by that time.
Be careful on those darn roads...I just replaced my windshield in my suv yesterday.

 

Not that if affects me, but am curious to know what the fine is if you go over the 6000 mile limit? doh!!!

 

on my old 76 special delux truck there was no way I was passing emmisions (small block). I stopped the truck in the road just before entering the facility and tuned it so it was on the verge of detonation and went through BARELY, and then tuned it back properly as I left. I dont know if thats something you would want to do or if it would help your cause, but it worked for me. I did that figgureing this; less fuel, hotter explosions=less harmful exhaust gasses.

 

The NJ collector registration requires a special insurance policy that matches the registration status. It falls between collector insurance and regular, make sure the insurance company knows how the car is registered...

My 72 L-48 passed inspection easily, concerning emissions, even though I later found out that one of my idle bleeds was clogged and raw fuel was dumping from the carb at idle. I had to set the idle above 1000, or it would stall. It still passed emissions, well under the required levels. The inspectors didn't like my weak horn, but let it go... My original bushings were also shot; I thought it might fall apart on the shaker machine. I also had a a piece of soup can JB welded over a large whole in the muffler for the inspection!

I'm in FL now, no inspections for anyone here

 

Back in the mid 90's I went to inspection in Freehold,(the old one on Rt9). Young kid stuck the smog pipe in my exhaust tip. Saw in the rearview he was having a problem, judging from his bewildered look. Another guy came over, looked at the machines results, and started laughing, calling over more guys to see.

Finally, someone in charge came to break up the little party. He came to me and said just pull up. Asked what the team meeting was about. He said they don't check cars 70 and before, since there weren't any restriction to speak of back then.

I told him I use leaded aviation fuel. He smiled and shook his head . Got a regular passed sticker and went on my way.

went to QQ's the next year......

 

I don't know the answer to that. I imagine they would force me to change to a different type of registration. But, as we all know, its easy to disable that speedometer/odometer when necessary. Not that I'm advocating that sort of thing.