pa emmisions woes

[buzzsaw560]

Hey fellas I got a 79 z28 with a 327 headers h pipe and daul flowmasters, no emmisions equip anywhere to be found hense I have a tough time getting it inspected. now my options are gut the car spend a whole bunch of money and make my car emmisions friendly or change my tag to classic and drive it once a week. I dont want to do either, this is the way I bought the car and I dont have the money to change it. If anyone has any other ideas i would apreciate it.

[turbocoupejim]

make it classic and disconnect the speedo that way the odometer wont move.....

[buzzsaw560]

ya I dont think they even check the odometer its just limited to one day a week usage, I dont know how they check that I guess some jerk would have to catch you driveing more than one day in a row and turn you in some how. It is an idea

[thunderchicken]

disconnet the speedo before it hits 5'000 more than your last inspection and you should be exempt

[jeffmotorman]

The 1979 is a visual inspection for emission equipment only. There is no performance test. You can get a special exception waiver. The state requires you to make repairs IF THE NECESSARY PARTS ARE AVAILABLE NEW. You need to prove that only one part is discontinued and not available thru either the dealer or aftermarket supply to comply. A note is required from both a GM dealer and a jobber parts store that the part is not available. Assistance from an inspection station is required and the inspection station must receive the fax and submit the info to the inspection referee station.
You will receive a clean emission sticker with no exempt tag. Hold alll documentation with the vehicle for the next inspection or put less than 5000 miles within a 12 month period.
The discontinued part from your 1979 Camaro is the smog pump mounting bracket.

[Bigtime]

I don't think the 5000 mile exemption applies here. I think were up/down to 1981 and down so technically it would need a visual no matter what the mileage. I could be wrong since it been a while since my IM class.

[Hotrod1451]

I asked a friend of mine who runs a inspection station,and does PA state Inspections.
He told me that 1979 and older does not require any emissions at all.No sticker no check,no test.No exemption.
I have a 73 Suburban and when I take my truck to him it gets a State inspection and thats it! There is only 1 sticker on my windshield and has been this way for years.
I thought it was 79 and older,when I read this post the other day I emailed him and waitied for his reply till I posted this.

[buzzsaw560]

I read the law online through penndots web site and it appears that: i do need a visual inspection and gas cap check only! and through further reading section 177.281 states that if the required emmisions equip is not present then you will fail but if parts are not available brand new from the dealer then you can get an exempt sticker. I'm trying to figure out what i can and cannot get in a letter from the dealer as well as a exerpt from the law book stating so and take it to my mechanic and tell him to shove it!

[Hotrod1451]

sounds like you need to go somehwere else.
somewhere that understands that 79 and older gets nothing.

[junk496]

I have a 67 camaro with classic res and insurance with a regular pa tag.I drive it all the time even in the rain.No proplems at all.Oh it costs me $98 a year for insurance.

[buzzsaw560]

ya im working on the exemption for long term, and I also have someone who will inspect it and forget to look at some things. If these fail then Ill get the classics Id rather take my chances with that then buyin stickers somewhere.

[Jagtec1]

I'll have to pull my book out...but won't be able to until Monday, because it's at work. I'm pretty sure you need no Emissions inspection.

[Bigtime]

The way it reads is if you are in one of the counties that require it by the owners card then you need it, It then goes on to say if its under 5K and you have owned it for the full 12 months it is exempt. The best part in school they told us "if the owner of the car says they are exempt we are not to argue with them" So just say its exempt and smile

[Hotrod1451]

I'll have to pull my book out...but won't be able to until Monday, because it's at work. I'm pretty sure you need no Emissions inspection.

Exactly right!
thats what I said way back in the topic.
My 73 Suburban has not had any emissions inspection or sticker for years and years now.it gets only 1 sticker on the windshield.
its 1979 and down.

[jeffmotorman]

As the emission guidlines are at present, pre 1975 cars and trucks are not required to have any emission inspection, and the safety inspection sticker reflects that issue with a different sticker insert.
You must keep all paperwork in your posession for future emission special exemption waivers. When an emission part is no longer available at the dealer or parts jobber, your future emission test procedure for the special exemption all of your footwork is done and only a call to a referee station and the fax transmittal of the paperwork outlining the unavailable part to the referee station. The emission referee will authorize issuance of the emission sticker without the exempt insert. Your sticker will appear as a normal passing sticker.

[Dmystix]

Buzz
4 yrs ago I bought an 1980 Camaro outta Long Island, 3 yr father/son project, completely gone thru fresh eng, trans, alum heads, new susp, brakes, exh, tons of $ and untold labor.
BUT NO EMISSIONS, not bolt 1 of smog parts.
Headers, Flowmaster exh, H-pipe, etc, NO CATS
I registered with a Pa Classic tag, $75 one time only reg fee, No annual reg fee after that.
NO EMISSIONS INSPECTION required, only annual safety inspection, brakes, lights, exh, etc, like before the emission stuff came along. 4 pics, frt, rear, sides, closer looking to stock the better. The mileage stuff seems to be a generality, if you talk to 2 different people in PennDot you will get 2 different stories, the main criteria seems to be that its not your Daily Driver, and its for occasional use, remember most of the Specialty Tags aren't for DDs. If mileage is a concern, like everyone said, disconnect the speedo.
I went to a local convience store style Notary office, they tried to explain the process, but seemed whiny and unsure about the process. You gotta remember notaries, inspection stations, etc, are Private Businesses, and would RATHER NOT deal with stuff outta the ordinary. So I got the forms from them, got the pics, etc, and went straight to PennDot in Harrisburg, 120 miles one way, best to deal with the horses mouth, not the other end. The only hiccup I had was the car had black Corvette rally wheels, No rings or hats, and blackwall tires, so they looked wierd on the pics, the PennDot clerk at first thought there were no tires and wheels because the shadows in the wheel wells made everything seem dark,she questioned where the Bling was, no mags, or hubcaps, I busted out laughing as this was her only problem. Main point was that I was standing right in front of her to answer any ?s she may have had. If this had been a mailin or messenger delivered application, it may have been sent back. I've had Apportioned Tags for my trucks for years and found its best to deal with PennDot direct.
I left with new tags, have had the car inspected 3 times since, no one has asked about anything.
Sorry for being so long winded, but the cars are similiar ,so I thought I would post my experience with this
Don

[buzzsaw560]

hey I appreciate the help, I've had so many people jerking me around on this, one guy says you can do it this way and another says you can do it that way but when it comes time to do the deed no one knows what theyre talking about or wants to know. I've read the whole inspection guidelines front to back on line (penndot's site) as well as in my vechile code book from my police academy and these people who call them selves mechanics at these things they call garages still tell me other wise! I mean its your job if your so afraid about getting in trouble know the law! Know what you can and cant do, I would be more than willing to pay for there time as well as any work that needs to be done! but anyway my rant is over I'm fed up and I'm applying for the classics today thanks for all the info everybody!

[buzzsaw560]

FYI in case anyone was interested

http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/v ... /439c.html

2008 1975-1982 vehicles, light duty trucks and full time all wheel drive vehicles. Gas cap test; visual inspection.
1983 light duty trucks. One speed idle test; gas cap test; visual inspection.
1983-1995 vehicles and 1984-1995 light duty trucks. ASM 1 (ASM5015); evaporative system function test (pressure purge and gas cap test); visual inspection.
1983-1995 full time all wheel drive vehicles.

http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/v ... /439c.html

§ 177.281. Issuance of waiver.
The emission inspection station shall issue a certificate of emission inspection with an indicator to show that the vehicle has received a waiver if:

(1) The subject vehicle has failed the initial emission inspection, qualifying repairs have been completed and the subject vehicle has failed the retest.

(2) Emission control devices, as originally equipped, are installed. Vehicles with emission devices which are obsolete and cannot be obtained through the original equipment manufacturer, aftermarket manufacturers or suppliers of used parts are exempt from this paragraph. Specific reporting requirements shall be completed and maintained as specified by the Department.