Help On Exhaust.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
From: Southlake, Texas, USA
Help On Exhaust.
The new front calipers will go on tonight. :D So the beast will be ready to drive to allow breaking in the engine. The inspection sticker is out so I will need to get it inspected. Problem is the exhaust. The car has headers that someone welded glasspacks onto and downturned on the end. Exhaust ends just before the crossmember. I am not that fimiliar with the inspections laws here in Texas but I have been told that I only have to survive one more year before no more sniff tests. Do you think that this set-up will pass or do I need something else. I would love to go with sidepipes :yesnod: but with what I have spent so far, the cost is out of the question right now. All I want is to get it to pass inspection.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,145
Likes: 477
From: NM
Re: Help On Exhaust. (SprintCarDriver)
In the Texas emission inspection areas, cars 2 to 25 years old must pass an emission test. All cars (except historic registered) must pass a safety inspection. From your description, that exhaust system will not pass the safety inspection. And without a cat converter it will have trouble with the emission test, especialy if they do a visual check.
tom...
tom...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
Re: Help On Exhaust. (SprintCarDriver)
If they do a visual, you'll need a 2-1-2 exhaust that originally came with the car. Even a true dual WITH cats is not technically legal as the car did not come with that option. Unfortunately, you could be looking at $$$ to get this past inspection. If they only do the sniffer, you can put true duals with cats, but the problem there is getting someone to install it for you (if you don't do it yourself), as it's illegal (Federal law) for them to install it. I don't believe that there is a dual w/cats system like that sold, so you have to buy a true dual system from a 74 (or "off road" 75-79) and weld cats in.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
From: Southlake, Texas, USA
Re: Help On Exhaust. (79MakoL82)
So if I read this right, I have to get a True dual system and weld in cats, BUT make it so I can remove a section to allow 2-1-2 for inspection purposes. Now does the 2-1 need to go through the cat before returning to 2? This is gonna be fun.. Only thought I was close to driving this beast...
:sad:
:sad:
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Tucson Az
Re: Help On Exhaust. (Ben Taylor)
Here is a Idea for Cats " Has anyone pulled the cat and just inserted a straight pipe throught the cat and then weld the sucker back in" pipe in pipe out to the eyes of the inspector and his mirror.
Later
Ken
Later
Ken
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Re: Help On Exhaust. (SprintCarDriver)
Contact 63Banshee who is in your area.
See http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=213813
This is not my area of interest so no one send any info. that contradicts my belief that the single ex. cat. is a Calif. only :eek: ex. !
:cool:
See http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=213813
This is not my area of interest so no one send any info. that contradicts my belief that the single ex. cat. is a Calif. only :eek: ex. !
:cool:
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
From: Southlake, Texas, USA
Re: Help On Exhaust. (Ganey)
I had intended to correct the exhaust, but not planning on going back to orginal. Without the help of the "Special stations" are you all running two seperate exhaust systems?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
Re: Help On Exhaust. (SprintCarDriver)
We have no inspections here in FL. I have true duals with cats and they were on the car when I bought it. I'm not sure what your inspections are like in TX. If it's only a "safety" inspection, and they are not concerned with correctness, they may let you slide on the 2-1-2 exhaust, as long as your pipes exit the exhaust at the rear of the car. So in that case, you could get past the "safety" inspection and the sniffer test with true duals and cats. If the safety inspection does check for correctness, you will have to be concerned with the 2-1-2 exhaust, and may be your only option. I don't see how you could make an "interchangeable" system. The two pipes go into one, it then goes through a single cat converter, and then splits back into two.
Another option is: Try to find a 3" 2-1-2 exhaust system with a high flow cat. The internal area of a single 3" exhaust pipe is only slightly smaller than two 2 1/4" pipes (7.06" vs 7.95"). Also, todays after market high flow cats are not that restricitve. They're expensive, but don't restrict flow. Use this system until you can convert to a true dual, and then sell it to someone out in California on Ebay. :D :crazy: :smash:
Another option is: Try to find a 3" 2-1-2 exhaust system with a high flow cat. The internal area of a single 3" exhaust pipe is only slightly smaller than two 2 1/4" pipes (7.06" vs 7.95"). Also, todays after market high flow cats are not that restricitve. They're expensive, but don't restrict flow. Use this system until you can convert to a true dual, and then sell it to someone out in California on Ebay. :D :crazy: :smash:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,206
Likes: 0
From: WANTED: '68 rear valance with b/u light assemblies IM, e-mail, or PM me here. Thanks!
Re: Help On Exhaust. (SprintCarDriver)
A few years ago you may have been able to find a garage that would “work” with you, but no more. These guys around here take their job very seriously and don’t play. Hell, I was failed for missing one lug nut on my Dodge and pointing out the fact that if I had hub caps on it they would never know it was missing... lets just say it didn’t go over very well.
Your only chance on finding a flexible garage is in south Fort Worth or Arlington. You may get lucky with a guy that doesn’t care to look under the car, but you still have to have that thing tuned to perfection to pass the sniffer test. This is very possible. The last time I had my ’74 Dodge truck smog checked it passed with emissions under 1990 standards. Surprised me more then the guy running the test.
Only other idea I can think of is to try and find a guy on the forum or local Vette club that is in the middle of a resto and will let you borrow/buy his old exhaust system.
Sorry I can't help more.
Your only chance on finding a flexible garage is in south Fort Worth or Arlington. You may get lucky with a guy that doesn’t care to look under the car, but you still have to have that thing tuned to perfection to pass the sniffer test. This is very possible. The last time I had my ’74 Dodge truck smog checked it passed with emissions under 1990 standards. Surprised me more then the guy running the test.
Only other idea I can think of is to try and find a guy on the forum or local Vette club that is in the middle of a resto and will let you borrow/buy his old exhaust system.
Sorry I can't help more.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
From: Plano, Dallas, Texas Originally from Pittsburgh PA Texas
Re: Help On Exhaust. (SprintCarDriver)
Hey Sprint
I think i am in the same boat. My 81 exhaust will probably not pass this time because the garage I used to go to went out of business. Right now mine is all original stuff. Anybody know what ballpark I will be playing in as far as cost for replacing the system?
Sprint let me know how you solve your problem and I will also keep you in mind.
I think i am in the same boat. My 81 exhaust will probably not pass this time because the garage I used to go to went out of business. Right now mine is all original stuff. Anybody know what ballpark I will be playing in as far as cost for replacing the system?
Sprint let me know how you solve your problem and I will also keep you in mind.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Fort Collins CO
Re: Help On Exhaust. (SprintCarDriver)
Look on the TxDOT website and you'll see that only 1983 and later cars are required to have a cat for inspection in texas. (coinicidence?) Technically you are required to have the EGR and air pump. You'll still have to pass the sniffer test, which will be awfully hard without the cat, but may still work. I think you have a good argument if you do pass the sniffer test but are missing the EGR and air pump to still pass. I bought my car from a guy in Austin last June and will need to get it inspected pretty soon. I don't think I'm going to pass the sniffer test, I have no cats, no air pump, and no EGR valve. :( I'm thinking of going with a fuel injection system to help that along though.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Re: Help On Exhaust. (Gameshow Bob)
Gameshow Bob
Did you look at the EPA link I posted? You guys need to find out what the "standards" are for your year.
You may have enough cam for "internal egr". Expect that obviously missing items will fail.
Did you look at the EPA link I posted? You guys need to find out what the "standards" are for your year.
You may have enough cam for "internal egr". Expect that obviously missing items will fail.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Tx
Re: Help On Exhaust. (SprintCarDriver)
I have true duals..no cats..just mufflers..i bought the car with a recent inspection sticker on it. I know that it would not pass inspection today (or when the previous owner did it for that matter) he is my dads friend so i'll find out where he got it inspected. Somewhere in the Dallas area if you are interested.