> Things like porting and polishing, balancing, etc.,
> should pose no problems. Increasing compression or
> changing cam profiles clearly could cause problems for
> passing the test.
Doug, the important question here is whether the test for your car includes
running on the dyno and measuring NOx at the tailpipe. Newer cars
definitely do, but the standards are looser for older cars. My 74 motorhome
does not get checked for NOx, but I don't know if this is due to it's age,
or weight.
> Things like carbs probably will have to appear stock
> just to pass the visual check. I have a header I want
> to use, and since there are not emissions fittings on
> the stock iron manifold, I assume it could pass.
Technically, the entire exhaust system is part of the emissions equipment,
even altering the muffler is grounds for flunking the visual part of the
test. This actually does make sense, since backpressure plays a part in
determining mixture and NOx. However, in practice, very few technicians
will know that a TR6 did not have headers as stock.
> How much can one "get away
> with" before you cannot pass smog and then cannot drive
> the car (the last thing I want to do is to create a
> fine running car that cannot be driven).
I've no direct experience as I was careful to buy only Triumphs that didn't
have to be smogged in CA and my other vehicles are bone stock. However, the
current system is much harder to cheat than the old one, you'll eventually
get the "test only" notice and have to go to a different station. They get
scrutinized much closer by the state, and so are much stricter than the run
of the mill smog check station.
And remember, if they detect that your engine is modified, all dollar limits
and waivers are off. You have to spend whatever it takes to return it to
the 'approved' configuration, or not drive the car on the street.
(Curiously enough, they demand a registration fee even if you can't legally
drive the car <g>)
Of course, you could not drive the car until 2005, when it will hopefully be
exempt...
Randall
/// triumphs@autox.team.net mailing list
/// To unsubscribe send a plain text message to majordomo@autox.team.net
/// with nothing in it but
///
/// unsubscribe triumphs
///
/// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool
|