emissions w/ a cat bypass?

[Rick K]

Should I assume that an 84 carrera w/ a cat bypass will not pass emissions in NoVA - even if it passed in Texas not too long ago?

[Clarke]

Not likely to pass. If the inspector is doing his job it would fail for a visual inspection of the components, regardless of what comes out of the tail pipe. The cat has to be there for the safety inspection as well. Does Texas put the car on a dyno to do the test?

[Rick K]

Not sure about Texas. I do know that the past couple of times I've had an emissions test done in NoVA, the car has not been on the lift for a visual inspection - nor would I want an inspection station putting my car on the lift.

[BlackTalon]

Rick -- I believe some here have passed the tailpipe test. And I don't think anyone here has posted about failing the visual (I guess most techs aren't familiar enough with the old 911 exhaust systems). Clarke is though, so stay away from his garage ;-)

[Mackpipes]

I'd done the sniffer test with my '85 Carrera with a Fabspeed cat bypass, stock chip and a dual out muffler. It failed. I returned with the cat installed and it passed.
They didn't say anything about failing me visually on the cat pipe.
SC's are much easier to get past emmisions with out cats because you can lean them out.

[Trak Ratt]

Not likely to pass. If the inspector is doing his job it would fail for a visual inspection of the components, regardless of what comes out of the tail pipe. The cat has to be there for the safety inspection as well. Does Texas put the car on a dyno to do the test? :lol::lol: Omar down the street seldom checks!

I'd done the sniffer test with my '85 Carrera with a Fabspeed cat bypass, stock chip and a dual out muffler. It failed. I returned with the cat installed and it passed.
They didn't say anything about failing me visually on the cat pipe.
SC's are much easier to get past emmisions with out cats because you can lean them out.
X2, but of course Ted and me were testing cars not for actual use on the highway!;)

[Clarke]

Clarke is though, so stay away from his garage ;-)

Who, me? :D Yes I am an emissions inspector, no we don't do them at my shop.

[VaSteve]

I'd done the sniffer test with my '85 Carrera with a Fabspeed cat bypass, stock chip and a dual out muffler. It failed. I returned with the cat installed and it passed.
They didn't say anything about failing me visually on the cat pipe.
SC's are much easier to get past emmisions with out cats because you can lean them out.


I couldn't pass with my SC, so I borrowed Mackpipes' O2 sensor and passed. I have to wait until January and I'm done with emissions, the car is a MY83, so that's 25 years by my count....please someone tell me I'm right on this. :)

[racer]

You're right, Va Steve.. I think emmissions inspections are every 2 years in Nova.. at least thats what I was told. So, if an '84 can be passed just once, it could be for the first and last time as well. Course, after 25 you can then change to antique tags, which impose other limits on vehicle use. I *think* if you keep "regular" tags on it, you must still pass safety and emissions.

[VaSteve]

You're right, Va Steve.. I think emmissions inspections are every 2 years in Nova.. at least thats what I was told. So, if an '84 can be passed just once, it could be for the first and last time as well. Course, after 25 you can then change to antique tags, which impose other limits on vehicle use. I *think* if you keep "regular" tags on it, you must still pass safety and emissions.

My understanding is, not emissions, but yeah safety. It'd better be!

[Rick V]

Ok I'll say it again, just buy a chunk of land somewhere, get a PO box and register the car there. No smog sticker required. :)
We don't sniff here, but we do look, and we do pick up the cars. I had a custome who refused to allow me to pick up his car so he got rejected for everything I couldn't see.

[VaSteve]

From VA DMV:

Any gasoline powered passenger or property carrying vehicle with a model year that is more than 25 model years old before January 1 of the current calendar year and with a manufacturer's designated gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds (i.e. on January 1, 2006, vehicles with a model year of 1981 are exempt from emissions; on January 1, 2007, vehicles with a model year of 1982 are exempt from emissions). However, vehicles that are 25 or more model years old that are exempt from emissions inspections must still pay the $2 per year emissions fee when renewing the vehicle registration. (Required by the DEQ, Virginia Code § 46.2-1182.1). These vehicles also fall within the definition of "Antique Motor Vehicles". However, a vehicle that is 25 or more model years old does not have to display antique license plates to be exempt from emissions requirements.

[tdatk]

The current antique vehicle registration is vague on how you use your car. As long as you don't drive to work, you pretty much can drive at will. Event? why yes I'm heading to ______ today.Which BTW includes DE events. Or, I'm just out testing my new suspension. From the Va DMV
Antique Motor Vehicles and Trailers


Antique and Vintage License Plates

If you own a passenger vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or motorcycle with a model year that is more than 25 model years old before January 1 of the current calendar year, you've got an antique! Depending on how you plan to use your vehicle, you may choose antique, vintage or any one of our standard license plates. Antique license plates are provided by DMV; vintage license plates are original Virginia license plates issued prior to 1976 that you provide. Antique vehicles must be insured (http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/citizen/vehicles/insurance.asp) with motor vehicle liability insurance or you must pay the uninsured motor vehicle fee (http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/citizen/vehicles/uninsured_fee.asp).
Is your antique vehicle just for show…?

If you plan to use your antique vehicle or trailer solely as a collector's item, you may register your vehicle with antique license plates or permanent vintage license plates.
http://www.dmv.state.va.us/images/thumbnails/antiqveh_tn.jpg
http://www.dmv.state.va.us/images/thumbnails/ant2_tn.jpg
Registering your vehicle either of these ways limits your use of the vehicle to:
Participation in antique car club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, and similar events.
Testing its operation, obtaining repairs or maintenance, selling the vehicle or trailer, transportation to and from events as described in number 1 above and for the occasional pleasure driving not to exceed 250 miles from your residence.
Carrying or transporting passengers, personal effects or other antique motor vehicles being transported for show purposes. You may not, however, use your vehicle for general, daily transportation. This includes, but is not limited to, driving to and from work.
If you are providing vintage license plates,


The issue year of the license plate must match the model year of the vehicle.
DMV must inspect and approve their physical condition. To register your vehicle with antique or permanent vintage license plates, DMV charges a one-time fee. Use forms VSA14 (http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/vsa14.pdf) or VSA 10 (http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/vsa10.pdf), and VSA 10B (http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/vsa10b.pdf).


Your license plates will be valid for as long as you own the vehicle.
You may not transfer your license plates to another vehicle, but you may surrender them to DMV and then register them to a different vehicle for an additional fee.
Unless the vehicle was manufactured for one license plate only, you must display license plates on the front and the rear of your vehicle.
Using the "Antique Vehicle Applicant Certification," VSA 10B (http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/vsa10b.pdf), you must also certify that you own, or have regular use of, another vehicle, without antique plates, for daily use and that the vehicle or trailer you want to register with antique plates meets the safety requirements for the model year in which it was manufactured and can be driven safely on the highways of Virginia. If you own a vehicle or trailer that was registered with antique license plates issued prior to July 1, 2007, you will be required to submit a completed "Antique Vehicle Applicant Certification," VSA 10B (http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/vsa10b.pdf), to DMV before January 1, 2008. DMV will cancel your antique vehicle registration if you do not send in the certification by the deadline. If you have additional questions, you may find the answers in our FAQs (http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/antique_faqs.pdf).
…or do you plan to use it for everyday driving?

In order to enjoy unrestricted driving privileges in your antique vehicle, you'll need to provide vintage license plates and register your antique vehicle for general transportation purposes. Just like owning a modern vehicle, you'll have to:

Renew your vehicle registration every year or every other year (depending on whether you renew for one or two years), pay the same registration fee you would pay to purchase standard license plates.
Display month and year decals on your vintage license plates.
Obtain an annual safety inspection sticker for your vehicle. If you own another vehicle or trailer of the same model year, you may transfer your general transportation vintage license plates to that vehicle.

Violations of the antique vehicle rules are Class 4 misdemeanors under Virginia Code Section 46.2-730 (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-730) and will result in the revocation of your antique or permanent vintage license plates for a period of five years from the date DMV is notified of your conviction.
For more details about the use of antique or vintage license plates, visit Virginia Code Section 46.2-730 (http://www.dmv.state.va.us/exec/link.asp?711).



http://www.dmv.state.va.us/images/dmv4.jpg

[arob]

I have to wait until January and I'm done with emissions, the car is a MY83, so that's 25 years by my count....please someone tell me I'm right on this. :)

Correct. When I registered my SC, the woman smiled and said "lucky you", and wrote a big-ass "EXEMPT" on my application. :D

[racer]

Nice. thanks for clarifying. Looks like I wont be subjected to a tail snifter on my next porsche.

Question though.. if over 25, and emission exempt, how does the "visual safety test/ safety inspection" issue work since in checking for safety, they may notice a missing cat?

[arob]

... if over 25, and emission exempt, how does the "visual safety test/ safety inspection" issue work since in checking for safety, they may notice a missing cat?

I can answer that question next month - I'm due for the safety inspection. :roll:

[HoodPin]

.... Looks like I wont be subjected to a tail snifter on my next porsche. ...

Do you know something you haven't shared yet? :?

[racer]

Do you know something you haven't shared yet? :?

Only that I am looking at "older" Porsches. :p

[Rick V]

Nice. thanks for clarifying. Looks like I wont be subjected to a tail snifter on my next porsche.

Question though.. if over 25, and emission exempt, how does the "visual safety test/ safety inspection" issue work since in checking for safety, they may notice a missing cat?

Depends on the inspector, and the location. Here we don't smog but we do inspect the smog stuff. It has to be installed and properly mounted. It doesn't have to be functional just installed. A gutted cat will pass here. A removed cat won't. (unless the inspector doesn't notice it)

[tdatk]

Depends on the inspector, and the location. Here we don't smog but we do inspect the smog stuff. It has to be installed and properly mounted. It doesn't have to be functional just installed. A gutted cat will pass here. A removed cat won't. (unless the inspector doesn't notice it)

When I took my SC in for the first inspection, the mechanic thought my heat exchangers WERE the cat's, I agreed with him naturally, and mentioned that Euro cats are funky lookin.

[Rick K]

It passed, nice.

[type954]

From VA DMV:

i'm likin' what i'm seeing, my 83 is due for plate renewal in Feb so it seems to me that as of Jan 1, 08 a 1983 is exempt from emissions test.

[SkipC]

Anyone know what the current Maryland rules are for normal and for historic tags? I'm only interested in the impact on having to do emissions inspections. Thanks !

[Dr K]

Anyone know what the current Maryland rules are for normal and for historic tags? I'm only interested in the impact on having to do emissions inspections. Thanks !
20 years and older cars
No emissions tests on historic tags
"A historic registered vehicle cannot be used for general daily transportation, or primarily for the transportation of passengers or property on highways. It can only be used in exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, occasional transportation and similar uses."
http://www.marylandmva.com/AboutMVA/INFO/27300-28T.htm#historic

Peter (yes, I'm baaaaccckk)

[lpsalsaman]

SKIPC, Dr K is correct! I just renewed my 85 Targa tags for Historic and it was smooth with no questions. The good thing is that your are automatically excempt from emmisions. So I just got my cat by pass and sport muffler which I will be installing soon!

[SkipC]

Peter/Tony,
The MD emission rules for normal tags is, once over 25 years old, no more emission inspections required. Found this out when my "classic :D" 1980 Toyota Corona Wagon passed 25 yrs old and they stopped sending me the emissions inspection reminders.
So, now its only 20 yrs old for historic tags. Anyone know if Md changed the emissions inspection exemption from over 25 yrs old to over 20 yrs old for normal tags ??

[Jim Coffman]

My '82 SC passed safety/visual and emissions in MD with no cat. You can get the safety/visual inspection done at a lot of places. Find a station with no sports car experience in a residential area. For emissions, I pointed out that the car was too low for the dyno, so they did a simple exhaust test which the car passed without a problem. I did not do any tuning, etc. before test. I don't know if peoples' republic of MD is as strict as VA, but I'd be very surprised if it isn't. The lesson here, if there is one, is get it tested to find out. You always have a second shot at passing if you fail. The SC is now registered as antique/collector so I don't worry about the problem any more.