sEmissions Inspection

J

John Kuhnast

Well-known member
What would you gentle suggest before going for emissions inspection? So far I installed new points and plugs And removed the air cleaner?
 
In Cow Hampshire, emissions testing is set per the requirements of the production year of the car. For the Model A - there isn't any.

Well, beyond an obvious "nuisance to the public" sort of black smoke coming out the tailpipe.

If you live in Commiefornia (the LEFT coast), it might be different.

Joe K
 
Curious though. My 2003 VW TDI (diesel) has NO emissions test - no standards set for emission, and no tailpipe examination can be done as a result.

But the Stealerships STILL charge for the emissions part of the annual car inspection sticker.

I would expect it to be the same for the Model A.

I'm in the wrong line of work - I want to work in an industry where business is MANDATED by the King's edict - and I don't have to lift a finger.

Joe K
 
Ontario, Canada the same. My mechanic puts in a can of a product called Guaranteed to Pass which is available at AutoZone for cars needing emission tests. He has confidence in it and if it does not work they refund your money. Wayne.
 
John Kuhnast said:
What would you gentle suggest before going for emissions inspection? So far I installed new points and plugs And removed the air cleaner?
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What ? Where do you live ?

:D I'd like to see that guy/inspector try and find the diagnostic connector ! :D
 
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Good info from Joe K. Maine is same as NH. You can check your states emissions rules on line at your state's DMV site.
 
N.H. isn't doing tailpipe emissions on state inspections.What they are doing,is the OBD systems test on anything 96 and up,on anything less than 8000 pounds GVW.They do call it the emissions test,but there is no probe involved,just a plug and play with that outlet under the dash.You can fail with a transmission code,or a past due service code.
 
1930artdeco said:
Cali is the same, anything older than 75 is clear.
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1975 or 75 years old?

In any case, anywhere, no matter what state, it would be laughable to smog test a Model A, except maybe for the "nuisance to the public sort of black smoke coming out the tailpipe" mentioned by Joe K.

Or unless there's a test for how much fuel leaks out of a Zenith carburetor in a given time. :rolleyes:
 
At first you would think this is a joke, But in some states the law is changing. I Colorado they changed it to any car with collector plates has to have an emission test. previously they didn't. If the car has Horseless carriage plates, no emmision test is required. This was a surprise to me. It was changed in 2013.

Collector vehicles (defined as vehicles 32 years old or older): Two-speed idle test, performed every 5 years.


CO Emissions Testing Exemptions

If you do not live within the inspection areas listed above, you are exempt from emissions testing.
There are very few vehicle exemptions to the emissions testing program within the inspection areas. Exempt vehicles include:
  • Vehicles that are less than 4 years old.
  • Hybrid and electric vehicles. (For more information about the benefits of eco-friendly driving, visit our section on green driving incentives.)
  • Motorcycles.
  • Vehicles registered as a:
    • Horseless carriage.
    • Street rod.
    • Kit car.
NOTE: While collector vehicles were previously exempt from emissions testing in the areas required, a law was passed into affect in August 2013 that now requires emissions inspections for vehicles registered as collector items. Please review the Collector Plate Regulations Change for more information
 
Joe K said:
Curious though. My 2003 VW TDI (diesel) has NO emissions test - no standards set for emission, and no tailpipe examination can be done as a result.

But the Stealerships STILL charge for the emissions part of the annual car inspection sticker.

I would expect it to be the same for the Model A.

I'm in the wrong line of work - I want to work in an industry where business is MANDATED by the King's edict - and I don't have to lift a finger.

Joe K
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Are you sure the "emission test" really isn't just hooking up to the computer and verifying no faults?
 
Some complain about smog testing, etc, BUT over the years, smog control systems have been a GREAT help in cleaning up the air!
Years back, we almost DIED, working in Dealer shops & breathing the crappy old exhaust!! It's AMAZING that I can still smell COFFEE!
Bill W.
 
mrtexas said:
Are you sure the "emission test" really isn't just hooking up to the computer and verifying no faults?
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Prolly, but one can determine the same information looking at the instrument panel.

Check engine light pulls in ALL that and other matters too - including historical spurious indication (which has happened and I can clear as I have the software.)

Joe K
 
whirnot said:
At first you would think this is a joke, But in some states the law is changing. I Colorado they changed it to any car with collector plates has to have an emission test. previously they didn't. If the car has Horseless carriage plates, no emmision test is required. This was a surprise to me. It was changed in 2013.

Collector vehicles (defined as vehicles 32 years old or older): Two-speed idle test, performed every 5 years.


NOTE: While collector vehicles were previously exempt from emissions testing in the areas required, a law was passed into affect in August 2013 that now requires emissions inspections for vehicles registered as collector items. Please review the Collector Plate Regulations Change for more information
Click to expand...

I would think there were many muscle cars for example, that were registered as "Collector Vehicles" that were slipping under the radar. Many owners just don't know how to keep a vehicle in good repair/tune, their car might have smog components removed or disabled, or the engine might have speed equipment added. Having Collector plates was a good scam for them while it lasted, but the state wised up and changed the law.
Vehicles are only required to meet the Federal standards set for their particular model year, nothing more, and those standards did not take effect until 1968. They might smog test a Model A but there are no standards it must meet; of course any pre '68 blatant oil burner could be cited as a polluter but it could not be failed on emissions, only as a nuisance.
 
When NJ had the dyno emission test I ran the A, it wasn't in the database so I entered it as a Honda civic---the emissions were low enough that it could pass as a 1998.
The emission standards are high enough for 67 and back cars that a properly restored and adjusted car will easily pass
 
First off, you are wasting you money just changing the points and plugs. You should expect decades of use from a set of good points. Plugs should only be changed when they are bad too.

The emissions are more likely affected by other issues such as a carb that is not set up and adjusted properly and your timing being off.

As my brother points out, Kurt in NJ, his car passes some pretty modern specs. He should add that was with the used points that came with the car back in 1970. I believe he has been using the same plugs too. Keep in mind he generally trys to keep the car under 60 MPH and generally only gets in the low twenties for fuel mileage.

Odds are a decent running A will pass the emissions levels they would impose on it.

Keep in mind other issues are likely to affect emissions. Too many people use their special methods for determining what a good cam is and for setting the valve clearances. Along with other special methods for setting up their engines. This can lead to engines with interesting properties.
 
In California, vehicles model year 1975 and older are exempt from smog tests . . . at this time. I am mentioning "at this time" because the legislator can change this at any time. For example, just a couple of years back California decided to start testing Diesels model year 1996 or younger. These vehicles were previously exempt.

That being said, since the word emission wasn't even in the vocabulary in the early part of the 20th century, I can't possibly imagine what standard of emissions would have to be met on a Ford Model A. I find it ridiculous to test any such vehicle. Would love to see the inspector driving a Model T onto the rollers.
 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
Some complain about smog testing, etc, BUT over the years, smog control systems have been a GREAT help in cleaning up the air!
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I think smog testing of modern cars, or post-1968 daily drivers, with OEM emissions equipment installed, is certainly a beneficial and responsible thing to do. No argument at all.

Where I draw the line is on pre-1968 automobiles, and certainly on pre-1964 automobiles (when PCV became standard equipment on most vehicles), other than citing them as gross polluters or public nuisances if they're trailing massive amounts of black or blue smoke on the highway.

Pre-1968 collector cars, driven only occasionally, are hardly significant sources of air pollution. I suppose though, for the states that are imposing testing requirements on them, they might think they'll be significant sources of revenue. :(


whirnot said:
At first you would think this is a joke, But in some states the law is changing. I Colorado they changed it to any car with collector plates has to have an emission test. previously they didn't. If the car has Horseless carriage plates, no emmision test is required. This was a surprise to me. It was changed in 2013.

Collector vehicles (defined as vehicles 32 years old or older): Two-speed idle test, performed every 5 years.
Click to expand...

Wow, I think in some respects that's worse than whatever Commiefornia does now. :eek: They'll have to do some catching up once they find out about it. ;)
 
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