need emissions help asap
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles MO.
need emissions help asap
hey guys, i'm dying to get a new exhaust put on. I'm going to be moving to st. louis or the surrounding area to start work soon, and I realize that whether i'm in illinois or the missouri side, i'm going to be in a testing area. Does anyone know what it will take to exempt my 81, i'd love to hear from owners in both states, since I dont know which side of the river i'll be on yet
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Elmhurst IL
If your car passed emissions before swapping out your exhaust "cat back" should not cause you to fail. I have never heard of anyone failing emissions because of a cat back swap. Headers or no cats might give you problems.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 16,507
Likes: 84
From: Southern Indiana
In my experience, the emissions testers in Illinois aren't too strict. They don't pay any attention to aftermarket systems, only on the numbers that come up on their computer. As long as you still have the cat, you should pass (unless something else is wrong w/ your emissions equipment.)In order to exempt your vehicle, you can apply for antique plates. Your car is old enough to qualify. The bad news is that you can then only legally drive the car in certain circumstances... http://www.sos.state.il.us/departmen...s/antique.html
(I have no idea about Missouri laws.)
Last edited by xwing; Feb 28, 2007 at 03:26 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles MO.
yeah i have no cats as is, but i dont live in a testing area so its never been a problem, I also dont want to put one on because the 81 is slower than a honda with it on there!
Pro
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: Frankfort Il
The emissions laws just changed for Illinois. Vehicles prior to OBDII (95 and older) no longer have emission testings. Even newer cars just have to be scanned. So if you passed your last emissions test, you most likely won't have to pass ever again.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 26,794
Likes: 614
From: Elmhurst, IL (West Suburb of Chicago) & Home of MEGA Horsepower
St. Jude Donor '06
Another great option since your car is over 25 years old you would have no problem getting collector car isurance with Grundy, Rally Ins. in ELMHUSRT, IL, and with this special insurance you will be EXEMPT from emissions but technically you are suppose to only drive you car to car shows, etc., but who is really going to enfore that on you (if you get pulled over just say your going to car show) b/c in the summer there is just about one every night! 
hmmmmmmmm, looks like MATT below me was typing this same advice about the same time I was typing!
hmmmmmmmm, looks like MATT below me was typing this same advice about the same time I was typing!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 1
From: 2003 Points Champ Great Lakes Corvette Challenge; 2006/2007 Winner MSD True Street
Do you drive your car more than 3000 miles a year?
If not, you can get it insured as a show car. This is actually cheaper than what you may be paying now. AND cheaper and less flag waving than antique plates.
Then go to the agency and get a show car excemption form.
You must show that the car is insured as a show car and provide proof.
Anyway you will get a certificate from the state saying your car is excempt.
They say that you can only drive for club events, shows, club functions or to and from the 'Shop".
I have never been pulled over and asked for the emissions cert.
They just run your plates to see if you are clean or not.
In any case I am ALWAYS driving from a club event in case they ask.
Matt383
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
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
California Republican Resident here,
As of this moment, your Vette already failed. The second they see LTH, you failed the visual, you have to pay for the inspection, you get red-flagged,, and if you want the car to be registered, you must put it back to stock or close to it.
Short tubes headers are legal, the catalysts need to be California C.A.R.B., and you can use your cat-back system. Our old cars were not build to be clean, drive no less than 10-15 miles, get those cats HoT before the test.
You can shop around the internet; I found California cats for The Ghost half the price from other vendors.
If you want to keep it, do it, in reality, sell it in NJ, move here and buy a Vette up here. By law, they must have been SMOGGED before it is sold. I sold Betty Boop to a forum member in Nebraska thus smog test was not required.
PLRX
As of this moment, your Vette already failed. The second they see LTH, you failed the visual, you have to pay for the inspection, you get red-flagged,, and if you want the car to be registered, you must put it back to stock or close to it.
Short tubes headers are legal, the catalysts need to be California C.A.R.B., and you can use your cat-back system. Our old cars were not build to be clean, drive no less than 10-15 miles, get those cats HoT before the test.
You can shop around the internet; I found California cats for The Ghost half the price from other vendors.
If you want to keep it, do it, in reality, sell it in NJ, move here and buy a Vette up here. By law, they must have been SMOGGED before it is sold. I sold Betty Boop to a forum member in Nebraska thus smog test was not required.
PLRX
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,193
Likes: 2,129
From: Right Corner Pocket of Illinois
No-IL Events Coordinator
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
2019 C6 of Year Winner (appearance mods)
2018 C6 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '26
I wonder if he still has that car after 13 years?
