Emissions
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Joined: Jun 2016
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Emissions
Hey Gals and Guys, this really is not totally corvette orientated but I am very curious about something. What is the law in California regarding emissions? Can you have a corvette or hot rod with NO catalytic converters? I am sure there are guys out there who modify their corvettes, especially the early ones. How do they get around the emissions thing.
Up here in Canada we don't have to worry about such things.....
Can someone pls advise me for curious sake......
Thx
Up here in Canada we don't have to worry about such things.....
Can someone pls advise me for curious sake......
Thx
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2019
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From: Tucson AZ
If your car came with an emission control device originally it must have it to pass emission testing. There are several approved aftermarket parts available which you can find on CA approved emission control devices websites including manufactures sites. Cat convertors as well. Pre 1976cars do not need inspections, there are other exemptions etc.... Diesels etc..... Also note: Many aftermarket parts are not legal to ship to CA. If someone does an illegal inspection, or station owner is involved, jail time, and heavy fines have been imposed.
Last edited by Leroyt10; Oct 25, 2024 at 06:07 PM. Reason: Correction year
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You can have a Corvette with no cats if it was manufactured that way, that would be 1974 model year or older
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CA is very strict on emission device compliance.
CA is very strict on emission device compliance.
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Technically if you tamper with an emissions compliant control device you are in violation of the Clean Air Act of 1974. But, as with almost all federal laws its up the states to pass similar laws and enforce those. State agencies will not enforce federal laws and last I checked there is no federal agency who is going to go after you for violating the Clean Air Act.
Now states like CA have their own more stringent laws (which CA is allowed due to a provision allowing it to regulate over the Federal law for emissions.). States can then choose to follow CA, follow the Feds or follow neither.
So your car must be sold under either CA or Federal emissions, but if you are in a non emissions testing state with lax enforcement (or little to no state laws), like Michigan where I live, you can pretty much do whatever you want provided you don't violate noise ordinances and laws.
The "off-road" X-pipes that a lot of people run have been cracked down on because they remove the secondary "non-monitored" cats which is a violation of the Clean Air Act, but since most states as I said don't enforce that you get away with it (hence the Federal crack down at the point of sale). The Feds can regulate this because of interstate commerce.
Now states like CA have their own more stringent laws (which CA is allowed due to a provision allowing it to regulate over the Federal law for emissions.). States can then choose to follow CA, follow the Feds or follow neither.
So your car must be sold under either CA or Federal emissions, but if you are in a non emissions testing state with lax enforcement (or little to no state laws), like Michigan where I live, you can pretty much do whatever you want provided you don't violate noise ordinances and laws.
The "off-road" X-pipes that a lot of people run have been cracked down on because they remove the secondary "non-monitored" cats which is a violation of the Clean Air Act, but since most states as I said don't enforce that you get away with it (hence the Federal crack down at the point of sale). The Feds can regulate this because of interstate commerce.
