Passing Emissions when Clearly emission Illegal?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Manahawkin NJ
Passing Emissions when Clearly emission Illegal?
When I was eating Chinese at the local Chinese Restaurant (Best food ever might I add) a man pulls up in a 77 vette. I started talking to him about it, and he said he runs true duals, with a brand new 390HP engine. I asked him how he gets by emissions, and he said they passed him???
He said that while running in a garage the emissions and noise aren't that bad with a good set of mufflers from the duals that he passed. (In NJ might I add)
Odd.
Maybe I'll reconsider my exhaust predicament now.
He said that while running in a garage the emissions and noise aren't that bad with a good set of mufflers from the duals that he passed. (In NJ might I add)
Odd.
Maybe I'll reconsider my exhaust predicament now.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
What is the law in NJ for passing inspection? In NY any vehicle 25 yrs. old and older only needs to pass a mechanical inspection, no sniff test. Could it be the same for NJ? My 77 only has to pass a mechanical according to a local NYS Inspection Station. I have removed all the smog stuff and the cat as well and run headers with true duals.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 355
Likes: 1
From: Pennsville NJ
I'm pretty sure I replied to a similar message from you a couple of months ago, but I don't think its illegal to run true duals on your vette in NJ. I had run them for years and never failed because of having dual exhaust. I'm pretty sure you just have to make sure that when you get it done you have a converter on each pipe going back and you're legal. I ran dual exhaust with Flowmaster 40s and it wasn't loud (to me) unless you really got on it. Sounded nice. I'd personally check on the laws, but like I said I'm more than sure its not illegal as long as you still have converters on the pipes running back.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 792
Likes: 2
From: Norcross GA
It's clearly illegal.
This article outlines the requirements. While there are some work arounds, good luck.
As I understand the situation, the Feds pass the laws on required emissions equipment and in that law pass on the responsibility for enforcement to the States.Most have laws where they won't inspect antique cars, only inspect in high pollution areas, etc. but that doesn't change the Federal law, which preempts any state law.
Bob
This article outlines the requirements. While there are some work arounds, good luck.
As I understand the situation, the Feds pass the laws on required emissions equipment and in that law pass on the responsibility for enforcement to the States.Most have laws where they won't inspect antique cars, only inspect in high pollution areas, etc. but that doesn't change the Federal law, which preempts any state law.
Bob
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
In Ohio - you can designate a car "Collector" and get smog check exempt. I did this to my 2002 Corvette. The year of the car is not important.
It has to be :
*a specific model listed in the states collector catagory (and in Ohio all Corvettes are included)
* not your daily driver
* you must supply the plate number of your daily driver
there are no mileage restrictions.
Doing this adds $10 to the plate price for the Corvette (funny that the smog check here costs $20)
So you end up $10 ahead !!!
It has to be :
*a specific model listed in the states collector catagory (and in Ohio all Corvettes are included)
* not your daily driver
* you must supply the plate number of your daily driver
there are no mileage restrictions.
Doing this adds $10 to the plate price for the Corvette (funny that the smog check here costs $20)
So you end up $10 ahead !!!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
My '77 has true duals, and missing just about everything - and it passes the stricter version of the Missouri "sniff test" with no problem. A new state law effectively eliminates sniff testing for 25+ year old vehicles - woo-hoo!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Originally Posted by Bobchad
Good link Bob abd a pretty interesting read.
The bottom line is that there probably are not any truly legal mods, shy of returning a car to its original state. Practically speaking thugh, youve got to figure that even the EPA doesn't have the resources (curently) to do anything about this. As a matter of practicality, I think that most would do well to comply with local requirements knowing that these requirements can, as they did here in CA, change very quickly.
You can always make mods but there is often a price. You might want to keep those old cats and smog manifolds around.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Originally Posted by supervette77
What is the law in NJ for passing inspection? In NY any vehicle 25 yrs. old and older only needs to pass a mechanical inspection, no sniff test.
In NJ any car 25 yrs or older is eligible for historic (QQ) plates. Under this provision the owner registers the car by paying a one time fee ($36.00) + submits pictures of the car. The registration is good for 3 years. At the end of the 3 year period the reistration is renewed at no cost. The car is exempt from any inspection (sniffer or mechanical).
Now the bad part. Use of the car is very restricted, more so than the restrictions with collector car insurance. Under the law the car can only be used for "occasional pleasure", parades, shows and driving to or from these events.
Now the good part. I don't know of anyone who has ever been cited by the police for driving around with QQ plates.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Chambersburg PA
Originally Posted by 6t9l4t6
Now the bad part. Use of the car is very restricted, more so than the restrictions with collector car insurance. Under the law the car can only be used for "occasional pleasure", parades, shows and driving to or from these events.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
79 Vette inspection
I just had a 79 inspected in Texas. I was checked for "Apperance" of the smog stuff, but not the funcationality. Normally I run an Edlebrock aircleaner, but for the inspection, I set the oricinal back on and connected the ram tubes. The vacum lines I just stuffed up out of sighe or ran in a loop going nowhere. I passed with no problem. But without the ram tubes from the Aircleaner to teh front of the car the inspector said he would fail me. The converter was never checked
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Originally Posted by 75rag4sp
Thank goodness no matter where i'm going I'm on my way to a car show a good ways down the road in the direction I am headed at that particular point in time. The law never said such a car show has to be close by
In fact, I carry a list of all the cruise-ins and shows as well as several dealers and resto shops in Nj and neighboring states just in case.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 0
From: Allen, TX, USA
Hey 81 guy;
Actually, you become exempt from smog checks the day you pass
the inspection this year, 2005...
Get it early if your car will pass. Then you have the rest of the year
to do whatever...
I got an inspection early a few years ago to avoid the dyno test for a
year...
Actually, you become exempt from smog checks the day you pass
the inspection this year, 2005...
Get it early if your car will pass. Then you have the rest of the year
to do whatever...
I got an inspection early a few years ago to avoid the dyno test for a
year...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 1
From: "Too Low, Too Fast, Too Loud" TX
So now I am exempt for smog as of this year..just did my 05 inspection? Saweeet, well if that is the case next year going for collector/antique tags and side pipes here I come!!! WOOT! 
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
In Illinois the older cars only need to pass a sniff test. I believe that all the original equipment is supposed to be in place, but they don't seem to care if the car passes. The newer cars get a dyno test. They spent more time checking my gas cap to make sure it was not vented then anything else. I sure am glad they didn't look under the hood. Anyways, my car passes with flying colors, I'm certain it would pass even without the Cat.
Collector car plates are available, but you are supposed to be limited on using the car for shows or club events only. Most local cops won't mess with you unless they nail you on other charges at the same time. I've heard the State Police are looking for those plates with a little more earnest.
Collector car plates are available, but you are supposed to be limited on using the car for shows or club events only. Most local cops won't mess with you unless they nail you on other charges at the same time. I've heard the State Police are looking for those plates with a little more earnest.
