? about crate engine safty/emissions inspection

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Sep 11, 2004 | 05:31 PM

SaltyNuts

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Racer

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 319

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From: Houston TX

? about crate engine safty/emissions inspection

Thanks to yalls help, I found that cars that are 25 years or older in Texas do not require emissions testing. Apparently, they don't even do a visual on emissions equipment like a smog pump and a catalytic converter. I talked to two different inspection places today and they indicated this was the case.

So the plan is to order a crate engine and say "to heck" with the catalytic converter/smog pump/whatever other equiptment might deal with emissions.

Question: if for whatever reason sometime in the future I have to put emission equiptment back on, can this be done to just about any engine? I just want to make sure I don't somehow order a crate engine that is totally incompatable with some emissions equipment that might be needed in the future as a result of a change in law or something else.

Thanks alot for any further help.

Sep 11, 2004 | 07:16 PM

SaltyNuts

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Racer

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 319

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From: Houston TX

bump

Sep 11, 2004 | 10:02 PM

SaltyNuts

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Racer

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 319

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From: Houston TX

Good question Retard. I'll let someone else help you, as I have no knowledge of engines....

Sep 11, 2004 | 10:34 PM

zwede

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Joined: Sep 1999

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From: Plano TX

Well, it's kind of a loaded question... what does "compatible mean"? As far as physically bolting on most of the stuff, I'm sure it can be done. You will have to modify some brackets here and there... for the smog pump you would need to drill holes in the header tubes etc.

But would you pass a sniffer? That's a different ball game. Now it depends on what kind of crate engine you got... how big of a cam, what kind of carb. How well is it tuned.

Sep 12, 2004 | 12:08 AM

Tom73

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Joined: Apr 1999

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From: NM

About the only thing that may not bolt back on is the EGR, depends upon if the intake manifold has previsions for one or not.

But that may allow it to pass a visual exam, but what about a sniffer or dyno test? Don't think it would pass then.

tom...

Sep 12, 2004 | 12:16 AM

SaltyNuts

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Racer

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 319

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From: Houston TX

OK, guys, lets just say visual, forget the sniffers. About the only thing I might have to change on the engine is the manifold and some brackets? No block or head change?

Thanks so much.

Sep 12, 2004 | 12:23 AM

62fuelie

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2001

Posts: 3,025

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From: Pleasant Grove AL

Basically, anything that will bolt on one SBC will bolt onto another. There are some exceptions, due to the presence/absence of drilled/tapped holes, particluarily in the cylinder heads. The biggest issue you may come across is the use of Vortec heads on many GM crate engines. Some Vortec heads are dual pattern drilled to accept any intake manifold. Others are drilled only for the Vortec intake. None of these problems are insurmountable and the worst case scenario would probably be pulling the heads and taking them to a machine shop to get some extra bolt holes.