pollution test

[Danny Vrachan]

I recently purchased a 1980 L82 corvette with 18,000 miles stripped of polution equipment with headers and no catalytic converters.What can I do to pass the test? Im in plainfield Il.

[Joe L.]

Re: pollution test

Danny-----

I'm not very familiar with the emission control laws/inspection procedures for the State of Illinois. However, I am familiar with those for the State of California and I'll bet that there is significant commonality as far as inspection procedures go.

If Illinois has both a visual inspection and a functional inspection (i.e. exhaust gas measurement), you won't be able to pass either one as your car is currently constituted. The visual inspection will be as far as you'll get. In California, if the visual inspection reveals removed emissions control equipment, the vehicle automatically fails the test and is considered to be a "tampered" vehicle. This results in a "no cost limit" requirement for repair of the system to original configuration.

Regardless of whether a visual inspection is part of the requirements of your state, there is no way, AT ALL, that you'll be able to pass the functional test. Just the absence of the catalytic converter will make it all but impossible for you to pass.

How can you pass the test? About the only way that you can LEGALLY do it is to acquire and re-install all of the components of the emissions control system. It won't be easy or cheap, depending upon what you need to get back to original configuration. Believe me, there is NO other way to do it in a LEGAL manner.

Your situation is a perfect example of why I continually advise folks to NOT remove or render inoperative emissions control equipment on their cars.

[Clem Z.]

Re: pollution test

find a friendly test operator and use a "donor car" of the same make and model to do the test. it is done all the time. just put in all the info for your car and then test a smod legal one. if the test stations are run by the state and not independent shops it could be harder and cost more $$$ under the table.

[John R.]

Re: pollution test

It's been a while since I lived in Illinois, but in Arizona Clem's procedure could land you in the Big House for a couple of years. Every year when I have my 67 tested the inspectors are all over (and under my vehicle) verifying the VIN number and equipment (and, on a 67, there was very little smog equipment required outside of the State of California). With the mirrors and inspectors, it starts to look like an NCRS meet.

[Clem Z.]

Re: pollution test

maybe your car is old enought to be classified as antique and not require the emission test.i would think arizona would be more worried about the pollution from mexicans than cars.

[Clem Z.]

Re: pollution test

if there is no parts available to put the car back to orignal what can they do?? here in PA they have a $400 max you must spend and after that they give you a exemtion if it does not pass. check the rules in your state.

[Clem Z.]

PS

get jessie jackson to protest in the state that this is unfair to the "poor" and maybe they will change the rules

[Donald O.]

Re: pollution test

Danny,
Go to your FLAPS and get 2 universal fit 3-way catalytic perverters and install them behind the collector for each cylinder bank. If I remember correctly (careful CRS may have set in again) the 80 is fed through a carb and has an O2 sensor. You may also have to go to the bone yard, find any exhaust system that has that still in place, pay to have them remove the sensor and its bung (where its hreaded in) then drill a big enough hole in a header pipe and the weld the bung in. Replace the O2 sensor with a new one. And oh yeah, hopefully Bubba did not destroy the wiring for the sensor or you can add that to the costs. I'm your neighbor in Bolingbrook, IL for ya.
Don

[John R.]

Re: pollution test

It's the pits, Clem. Every car 67 and newer has to be tested in Arizona. At this point there is little hope that they will exempt antiques although the test standard is so liberal it hardly makes any sense to test these pre-catalytic vehicles. I could trade for a 66 and not have to worry. They also have signs hanging all around the test facility warning you that it is a felony to offer a bribe to a test official. What a process. At least I hear its better than the Golden State to the west.

[William C.]

Re: pollution test

80 used o2 sensor only in California. 49 state was non-computer in '80.

[Duke W.]

Re: pollution test

I find it utterly amazing that AZ required tail pipe test on pre-'68 cars, because prior to '68 there were NO tailpipe standards for cars sold in states other than CA. The only emission control equipment was closed crankcase ventilation, which began on 49-state cars in 1963 (1961 on cars originally sold in CA.) CA also had tailpipe standards beginning in '66.

AZ car guys should try to find a reasonable solon to at least exempt pre-1966 cars from any tailpipe standards since they weren't built to a legal standard.

Duke

[Craig S.]

Re: pollution test

Duke - 66 and back are not tested, 67 forward are. I have one of each, and live in Tucson. Basically, the inspections are in Pima and Maricopa county (Tucson and Phoenix respectively). I used to be only 25 years back until they changed it to be 67 and forward without any exceptions in these two counties. The 67 has to pass if I recall 4% CO at the exhaust and 600PPM on the HC....fairly relaxed. They don't know crap about what emissions devices should or shouldn't be there on old cars, my 67 is a CA A.I.R. car but they never look for the smog pump which I managed to find with all parts and is in a box for future restoration. However, they do require you to pass the idle test. Somewhere in the early 70's, they have you do a loaded and unloaded test, that is, driven at 35mph and idle. Later on, in 95 up, they just check for MIL and DTC on the computuer OBDI or OBDII port, goodness is pass. All a real PITA....and they are real mornons at the inspection facility......Craig

[Clem Z.]

Re: pollution test

if the inspections are only in certain county take out a post office mail box,cost $10 a year, in a non inspection county and register the car there. that is what i do with my desmogged pick up. i use my camp address in a county with no inspection just for my pickup.

[Terry M.]

[Patrick H.]

Re: pollution test

"Just don't commute to work regularly in your Corvette."

FYI, I have 1971 plates on my blue car here in Michigan, and have zero problems driving it to work and everywhere. Friends and patients are police officers in various departments, and they've ALL told me that they have a lot more to worry about than a vintage plate on an older Corvette. So, I spent the $35 on a lifetime plate and drive it without worry.

The yellow car has an antique plate ($35 for 10 years) but I don't drive that except to car shows - across the country or in Canada.

Patrick