Was over at a buddys house. Another guy came by. We got talking about the Elky. This guy seems quite up on this stuff. Says it will be sniffed as a 305 since nothing bigger was ever offered in this car. I say no biggy, as it is registered a couple of counties away. He says even then, a visual inspection looks for EGR, Smog Pump, Thermactor Air cleaner etc. (none of which it has, or could with good parts. Right now no big in that county, but it's getting worse all over Texas. First buddy says he knows several cars that would not pass sniff....
And to the best he knows "if it has a carb, it will not pass"

D%mn!!!! This is making my stomach hurt!!!!

Thoughts?

Dave H.
Houston
(not having much fun right now!)

I remember when they passed those laws in Louisiana. It was sometime around 1985 or 86. Cars built before 1980 were exempt. Unfortunately, my sister's husband had a 1980 Trans Am NASCAR Turbo Pace Car. He had modified everything top to bottom, front to back. Had to get rid of it because it wouldn't pass inspection.

I wonder if Texas has a similar exemption for cars built before a certain year.

Check with your DMV for the rules. In Arizona they publish the rules in a booklet. For us, it is no check for '67 and earlier, idle test only from '68 to '74. After '74 they do inspect for all the proper hardware.

Dave, in 81 cars still had carbs so your ok there as long your not registered in harris county, but the smog equipment will have to be on it.Put a factory looking air cleaner on it so it hides the top part of the engine and looks legal. I know that alot of the inspectors up here in Dallas county dont look past the factory air cleaner maybe you can sneak it by

Here in Illinois, you must have all original smog stuff on it. If it had cats and other stuff from the factory, you will need them. I had a '79 Camino (bought from another county) and failed 'cuz the guy put duals on...no cats. Everything else was there, but I had to go out and spend a ton to re-do the exhaust. Went crossover into one cat, then into a Camaro-type muffler with single inlet and dual outlet. Shortly after that, one of my kids backed into a pole at about mach1. Hated to see those pipes (and the money I spent on them) go. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif

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Don - Chicago 'Burbs
'67 Malibu Street Machine
"Under Construction"
Gold #43
I've heard that the memory is the second thing to go.
I don't remember what the first thing is!?

Dave, I was a smog tech in Ca, and found the best way to get around the BS was to find a used/wrecked vehicle with all the smog equip intact, remove and install for the testing, then remove and store or sell after. It may cost a bit but it's a small price to pay to have your cake and eat it too. If your state has roadside/annual inspections it might not be worth the extra effort, but sometimes you have to sc$%w the ba$#$rds to get by.

In N.C. any 1974 and older (pre 75) does not need an emissions inspection. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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Gotta have a Chevy !In Durham N.C.
Make it look the way you like it, forget what the other guys say! :D

Is it possible to bribe or trick the tech by pulling up in a "legal" car and handing him the paper for the old car and asking him not to compare the vin's or offering him/her $100 bucks?Im also looking for a way and this ideally would be the easiest.

Just leave the air pump and egr equipment on the car, the alternator uses more power than the a/p and the egr may keep the engine from pinging from todays crappy gas. No, I'm not a tree hugger, it's just less expensive and less of a hassle at inspection time to just leave the stuff alone. Personally, I've never had one of my cars fail an emissions inspection, carburated or otherwise.

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Leo Paugh
Maryland Chevelle Club #017
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of the low price is forgotten.
www.clark.net/pub/chevelle/mcc.htm (http://www.clark.net/pub/chevelle/mcc.htm)

Scotty,
Here in NJ we just started the dyno testing, but pre '81 cars are subject to only the tailpipe test. Plus, each vehicle registration is bar coded and is scanned into the computer which is tied into DMV in Trenton. Last year my '70 Malibu went right through. The hydrocarbon standard for 1970 was 700 parts per million and we tested at 73 parts per million, and the carbon monoxide standard was 2.28% and we tested at 1.26, so, no need to cheat! I actually asked the guy for a printout! The vehicle only has to pass the standards which were in effect when it was built. I wouldn't even think of offering a "bribe" to any of these people. Spells nothing but trouble, and if it's a private inspection center, the place could lose his/her license...after putting out 50 grand for the equipment!! With the standards that were in effect at the time of manufacture, these cars should make it with no problem. We've had the emission testing in NJ for a long time and I very rarely failed, and I've owned my '70 since new.

chev64,

Problem is, none of that stuff is on it now, and with headers and a decent (Performer RPM, Weiand Stealth, or Torker 2) manifold, there AIN'T no place for smog pump to pump or EGR to egr.
Not to mention 406 cubes where 305 used to be.
Actually I think the 406 would stand a better chance of passing than the SLUG 36? that's in there now.

Iron exhaust manifolds, and an EGR intake will sure hurt what I'm trying to do!

Just gotta hope I can move to an out county if our setup ever crashes (the several counties deal)

Stomach still aches! (I worry a LOT!) Prozac has been mentioned!!!

Dave H.
Houston

I don't know about Texas, but here in Missouri El Caminos are registered as trucks, not cars. This can be good, because if a truck is registered for 12,000 GVW it is exempt from smog check. Trucks start at 6,000 and go up in 6k increments, so 12k is the next step. Elkys with duals and S-10's with v8 swaps are commonly seen sporting 12k plates.

81el, I hear ya ,but someone coulda(I know,here goes that coulda,shoulda,woulda stuff) put a Performer with EGR and smog legal headers on it,but O well.

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Leo Paugh
Maryland Chevelle Club #017
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of the low price is forgotten.
www.clark.net/pub/chevelle/mcc.htm (http://www.clark.net/pub/chevelle/mcc.htm)

JMWAGNER incorrect my friends 67 Chevelle goes through emmissions each year here in phoenix. It is 66 and older that don't go through.

doesn't texas have a 20 year or older exemption rule ?That's what I've heard forever.

This is only a suggestion,but why not get with some members who live in the no smog law states like Alabama who don't reqire nor administer smog tests.They could register your car in your name with their or a bogus address.I'm sure there are a few more states as behind as Ala.

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There is no replacement for displacement.
72 SS W/ls6,4-SPD. 68 Malibu 396,4-spd.

To Chev64.... eewwwww a performer (not RPM)? That's one thing I regret putting on the 36? that's in there now.

To xllr8.... Oh what a Dream 20 years will be here in 2001.... somehow I doubt it....

To Morris.... But that sounds... ahem... like uh....

Dave H.
Houston

If not having fun, at least chuckling over your answers!!!!

Dave, they had that in CA, but with all the older cars in the area TPTB changed the rules (without notification) and required all vehicles to test back as far as 1955. That has now been recinded, but it was a stab in the back to all the older car enthuiasts.
Jim

You ain't seen nuthin' yet! Just wait 'til "clean air Al" gets elected Pres!!
http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif

Only the big cities in Arizona have a smog Check, in Yuma there is no smog check. I have a 79 El Camino and it does not have a cat converter on it, I am quite shure this is how it came from the factory as it still has the original exhaust system on it. In one of the parts catalogs they have a smog sticker avalable for a 79 El Camino sold in Arizona so maybe it came without a catalytic converter. Has anyone ever heard of this?

MalibuJerry350: Wash your mouth out with 104+ for saying Al Gore!!!!!

Actually I'm scared that Ross Pero (sp?) with his hate for the Bushs will make it happen some how!!!

Doggone it!!! Another thing to worry about!!!!

Dave H.
Houston