The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Coming soon to a garage near you, Emission Testing for your Bolt?

I just gotta quit these early morning thinkin’ sessions over the coffee pot. Just read a reply that mentioned passing emission testing to get insurance if your collector car/truck has standard plates. So this got me to thinking about emission testing for a stock 1950 216. There is no doubt it would not pass the inspection so what would one do in a case like this?
Fortunately emission testing hasn’t gotten to us yet, but it’s a comin’ soon, right behind all the pilgrims that are gobbling up the farmland for subdivisions and flooding the area with blacktop and stop lights. I drove over to see my good buddy three towns away last weekend and counted 26 lights. When we bought the homestead a couple of decades ago there were 3 lights in that same route.
So have any of you guys had to face the emission tester with your stock bolt???
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

So Far So Good here in PA, not yet!...

yup

not yey ......... but
I have this same feeling Denny, it's coming to my old motocycles also. they (our fair haired boys in state/congress) already are working on lawnmowers and weed wacker constraints. The reformulated gas we have here in californy and most other states contains product that eats the old rubber fuel lines so these older vehicles go & burn up. most any new vehicle has fuel injection so they are hard plumbed and have high pressure fuel lines, what little they do have.
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The brain dead people up in Sacramento are already considering that emissions stuff for old cars and trucks. Everyone on the 'bolt should write to their legislators and squawk LOUDLY about this idiocy. I wrote to the committee that is considering it in Ca. and got an acknowledgement of receipt of the e-mail from only one out of the 16 that I wote, but at least they know how I feel about it. It is said that for each letter they receive there are 10,000 that agree but don't write so they do read them and think it over (at least for a minute or two).

So far, I repeat, so far emission testing is not required on vehicles 24 years old or older in Texas.
Cleon

Just checked , here in PA any vehicle older than 1978 is exempt under current law.
so for em to rewind the clock to 1952 will take more yrs of political bullcrap & Buerocracy of seein who they can put the screws too that I will prob be in the dirt nap ...long before they get to Us Bolters!...lol

In Connecticut, among other exemptions including motorcycles it reads:

A motor vehicle twenty five-years old or older, “twenty-five or more years ago” shall mean the number of years arrived at by subtracting the model year of the motor vehicle seeking the exemption from the current calendar year)

Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds

Emission testing has historically been a state issue, decided by state legislatures, maybe along with some arm-twisting by the EPA behind the scenes. Two large factors that influence a state's decision to start an emission testing program, or to extend the inclusion of vehicles, are cash flow to the state's coffer, and legislative control. Clean air, clean water and public safety are the public face of these efforts, and are the means of manipulating public opinion to support (or at least tolerate) such programs, but they are no longer the primary factor to justify these programs. The test standards for these programs are routinely changed to accomodate the opinion of whatever air-quality board has authority over the program- that authority is often invisible to public view. Not unavailable for scrutiny, just obscure enough to avoid bringing attention.

The next big push to watch for is safety inspections. Watch for the next big tire recall, or brake or steering system failure to make the national news to be followed by calls for safety inspections.


Harvester

When it comes to emissions, look to California. If it gets done, it will get done there.

Yeah, I remember when they were going to make the bottom year a rolling number here. The cutoff of 1975 would change to 1976, then '77, then '78, etc. The 25 year rule. When time came close for this portion of the smog laws to be enacted, the legislature stepped in and made the 1975 year permanent. No more 25 year rule.

Maybe people would find this an interesting read in the Greasy Spoon?

We have never had emission inspections on any car in the K.C. area.

When I lived in Florida you could drive around in a car with busted out windows, no brakes and no doors but God help you if you failed emissions inspection.

New York currently tests diesel and gas engine emissions with vehicles over 25 years old being exempt. Time will tell what's next.

If it ever comes to Iowa, and since I'm a certified tech, all my trucks will pass with flying colors, LOL. May be a good time to install some fuel injected small blocks with free flowing cats to help pass the sniff test. Oh well, can't worry about that 'til it happens,
Scott

So I guess the consensus is that most states still have the grandfather laws in place. As bad as these things stink while your sitting at the stop light or after you park them in the garage there’s just now way they would survive getting a probe stuck up there tailpipe. I know I worry every time that happens to me!
Thanks for the response guys, very interesting.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

so far in florida, i dont see that happenning. but you never know. from about 1990 -2000, we did have to get emissions test for newer cars, i think they went back 20 years, but older than that you didnt have to go.
dont like the governement to get involved with any aspect of my life..they need to stay out...leonard.

Here is something to think about. In Ontario, we have the rolling cutoff rule but if you build a rod with a new VIN and all, the registration year goes by the engine year, so I am told. Now that could throw a wrench into someone's plans.

'''''just now way they would survive getting a probe
stuck up there tailpipe. I know I worry every time that happens to me!''''

I hate it when that happens ..... that's why I don't own a ford PROBE ........... those barbs hurt coming back out http://media.motortopia.com/files/1179/vehicles/44d167a9a67e1/kenniceside.jpg

The one they are trying to push through here in California is for 8 counties. It will require testing for all pre 76 vehicles at change of ownership and testing every 2 years forever. Currently all vehicles 76 & newer require testing.
Just who is going to establish the test standards for Model A's, Hudsons, our trucks, modified vehicles, etc seems to be unknown. Our illustrious "Green Govenor" travels on a private jet from Sacramento to his home in So Cal and back 4 times a week. He causes more polution in one week than all of our vehicles in a lifetime.
Fred

They say theres more than one way to skin a cat,wonder where that came from. When I lived in Illinois and got tired of trying to get one of my vehicles through the sniff test so I went and got a PO Box in a town (Kingston) far from sniff test area and registered that vehicle at that address and whala, no more sniff test for that machine.
Denny, I know you know where that is, out west on Rt.72. Ya, I did have to drive out there once and awhile to pick up my mail and the form for new plates, but no worry about the sniff test any longer.
My other idea was to hide a pipe which injects fresh air into the exhaust and freshen up the air heading to that sniff tester.
Ain't that what Detroit did with an AIR pump, sorta. I know it was their intention to further the combustion of gases as it left the motor, but they where still pumping fresh air into the Exh.
Dan

Sure I know Kingston, just west of Genoa . Where did your live in Illinois, Elgin??
I really think that there is too large of a collector car community to allow them to lift the grandfather clause in most states. DeKalb county still doesn't have any testing in it as far as I know.
Anyway it was just a thought that crossed my mind the other day, not really any worry right now. I was just wondering if any of the other bolters had to deal with it.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I'm not worried about it with mine. They would have to try to reach the tail pipes first. If needed i'd just have to install some aftermarket cats on it.

Yeah, but Willlllbur, you got that fancy new ingine in that thar truck O' your's.
Ya got any surprises for the show circuit this year??? My old '50 taint gonna be so purty to look at but I think I'll still drive her over to Fair Grounds this year since I'm only a couple of blocks away.
I'd be to embarrassed to take it up to Sycamore, although she might get the ugly duckling award up there.
Hope to see you guys around this summer.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Funny, don't remember that accent you type. HA!

Nope, no surprises this year. The truck is now concidered old news in the show world so were going to cut back some and only go to the big shows. Ya know with gas prices and all.
We love going to the local cruises and will still do those.

Believe it or not we put 7900 miles on that thing last year. That was fun.
Did I tell you we placed in the top 100 at sycamore, that was huge to us.
This year good-guys at joliet is scheduled. I think a ride around the track in a cup car will be in order, along with a lap or 2 in the 50.
I'm outta breath ttyl.

Denny, Sounds like you like to drive that truck of yours a little. I still talk to my buddies in Elgin and they enjoy going to Crystal Lake on Thurs. nights for the drive in car show. No fee,just drive up and park. The old part of that town on the north side up where the RR tracks come thru town.
I'd have to ask if it is still going this year but it was always worth the drive on a good weather night. A DJ playin tunes, food, and foxy women to look at along with all that chrome and shiney paint.
Just don't head up Randall Rd unless you enjoy traffic and stop lights, but then if you haven't seen that "golden corridor" you might enjoy it once. Two years ago when I was back there I was shocked at what it has become. Ah, progress its so nice. lol
Dan

Fermilab for 27 years Dan, I just retired a couple of years ago. Also went up to Elgin Holiday Inn several times a year with the Antique Radio Club of Illinois for about 15 years. I know that route well. I've lived and drivin in the area since the late 50's so believe me, I'm well aware of the changes.
Afraid Crystal Lake is a bit to far with my 4.56 tail end.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I put a couple of cats on my 64 C 10 just for the heck of it. I was thinking of adding an EFI system so I popped for the cats when I did the pipes.

We may see emission testing for all vehicles sooner than we thought in California since the legislators have been told to look for other revenue sources. Doing old cars and trucks at $60 a pop would certainly add to their party funds.

I'm not going to worry about it, as I'll most likely be one of the local guys doing the tests anyway. I'm sure mine will pass with flying colors!

I think the bottom line is that the maximum a state can require is that which was expected of the vehicle WHEN NEW.

And since emissions standards didn't exist until 63 (or so) for cars, and even later than that for trucks, "stovebolters" don't have to worry.

B