Aussie Emmisions Standards

[Anonymous]

I was wanting to touch base about something Xtaxi brought up a couple weeks ago. I found it extremely interesting the fact that, correct me if I'm wrong here, this was the way I understood it, the fact that Aussie auto manufacturers were about ten years behind the US in emmisions compliance, and Ford New Zealand had virtually no emmisions at all until about a year ago. Is this correct? This sounds so cool to me because I have, as a lot of US hot rodders have had, a real sour taste, for smog pumps, catalytic converters, miles of vacume hose and emmisions in general, for years. There was always just so much stuff, junk, crap in the way, that didn't do anything for us but break down and slow us down. Then there were computers to complicate matters. You could no longer work on a car without the proper diagnostics equipment. 1970's US iron after about 1974 was for the most part, bogged down, slow and of very poor quality. There were a lot of folks that would of rather had an older car than a new one. Then came the down sizing. This stuff went on for years. You know, it really took me a long time to get over this stuff. Then to think, parts of the world didn't even have to deal with it. Do you know how long it took me to get over the unleaded fuel mandate? Then, leaded fuel wasn't even available except for a few specialty hot rod shops selling very expensive Super Fuels which was basically Premium Leaded. I loved leaded fuel. It worked....

My, how things have changed.

It took me a while, but these computers rock. The efficiency, rocks. The 100,000 miles before a tune up, rocks. New cars rock. Again it took me a while. New cars are faster than ever. Have more horse power than ever and handle better than ever. New cars are great. I love new cars.

Of course, I've always loved cars. All shapes and sizes. Even the cars I hated, I liked. Go figure...

Now, tell me about buying a car in 2003 with no emmisions. Are they still fuel injected with the reliability? Computer controlled? A new car and engine with no emmisions restrictions at all? I guess these things run on unleaded. These things must run great. Does Ford New Zealand make an emmisions free Mustang GT?

You know, this is kind of hard for me to imagine. It was after all, all the emmisions garb to begin with, that brought on all the extra efficiency and reliability we now enjoy.

My, how things have changed.

I love emmisions.

 

[Anonymous]

I love LPG.

 

[xctasy]

The real reason the Aussies were behind the ball was the imense cost of getting only a tiny market fitted out with emissions gear. Until the US Clean Air act in the late 60's, there was no chance a market of less than 500 000 cars a year in 1968 would be able to absorb the cost.

This is why the 5 year lag to Federal Motor Vehicle Standard US 1968 (the Aussie ADR 27 of 1973), and a 3 year lag to the US 1973 emmision adaption with ADR 27A in 1976.

In 1976, the Swedish looked at adpoting the US 1968 emmisions standard, as did the European Ecconomic community in 1978.

One state in Australia, New South Wales, updated to a stronger emission standard in 1983. This was like the California regs...stricter than the other states.The Swedish then decided to copy the 1976 ADR 27A regs in 1983 because many Volvo 245 s were assembled in Australia.

We had to wait 10 years for the US 1975 regs to be ratified in Australia and Germany...1986. This was ADR 37A. The Japanse had US 1975 regs in 1975...unleaded all round with cats.

Why the lag? Economies of scale didn't work in small markets!

In New Zealand, we were the dumping ground for unsold cars. Any over supply was sent here, we would take anything, even if it was left hooker. Our high lead fuel was no bother to any Euro spec car. In 1988, we got unleaded fuel, so Asian imports raced in.

The real joy of New Zealand dirty emission engines was the instant response, and the total lack of run-on when you lifted off the gas on overrun while going fast into corners.

Our Euro spec 2 liter Cortinas did 108 mph, ran 0-60 in 10.5 seconds, with 17.8 second quarter miles. Average fuel consumption, 36 mpg imperial on the open road. An Aussie 1976-1983 Cortina, with US 1973 Emission regs, would be unable to do 0-60 in less than 14 secs, and quarters not less than 18.5 sec. The maximum speed...99 mph!, fuel consumptiopn...28 mpg tops!

The NZ spec Rover 3500 5-speed gave about 155 hp, did 16.8 second quarters, and 126 mph, and 28 mpg. Aussie style, it was down to 137 hp, gave 17.9 second quarters, and 20 mpg.

The Group 3 Commodore in Oz would do 14.9 second quarters with its 250 hp 308 V8 engine. In NZ, it was assembeld locally, and gave 300 hp, and did low 14's without emissions gear.

There were plenty of ex Austria/Germany imported Opel Monzas. They were GM intermediates. They had a 3.0 In-line Bosch K Jetronic engine with 185 hp. It was a Holden Commodore 3door hatch. It could do 16 second quarters, 30 mpg, and was peachy smooth. There was never an unleaded version sold here, but there was in Germany, and it lost a lot of performance with a cat.

The Jag XJ-S of 1974 got 4-speed manuals here, and were able to do low 15.2 second quarters, and 150 mph, with 286 hp. Emission spec, it was down to less than 244 hp, and couldn't break 17 seconds with an auto. The US/Aussie Spec HE V12 gave about 260 hp, and couldn't break 16.6 seconds with an auto. Euro spec, with 12.5:1 compression, and auto would do 15.8 second quarters, a hit 145 mph.

As the Aussies said "The Clean Cats Claws Clipped"

A Euro spec 1983 928S auto would do low 15 second quarters. Oz Emissionised, no better than 16.6 seconds.

An Aussie Falcon gained a few seconds over the quarter mile, and was much freer reving.

The most fun were the Port EFI GM 3800 Buick engined 1988 to 1994 Holden Commodores. Borg warner T-5 5-speed in a light car, and 15.5 second quarter miles, 130 mph, and 180 hp, 12 hp up on the Aussie spec machines. My friend bolted a 2000 buck Super charger kit, and it does low 14 second quarters. We used a station wagon Commodore at the consultancy, and it weighed over 3300 pounds with all the pig iron we had to get it to run our road rouhgness meter. With a THM 700 auto, it would still do sub 17 second quarters two up (I know, I tried!), and it would never go below 19 Imperial mpg, thrashed.

(In New Zealand, most of our roads are made of savage, high texture 3/8" chip tar macadam, which is a flexible pavement which prevents black ice. In the US, the pavements are smoother asphalt or cement, and the lower drag improves fuel consumption by 10%. That 19 miles per imperial gallon would be 26 mp US gal!)

The other nice ones? Well, a US spec 1973 Pontiac 455 may do a 15.2 second quarter. Without emissions gear, it would do low 14's, and still do better fuel economy.

These days, every Hot Rodder wants EFI V8's from the states. Can't get enough of them. The old grunt missing since the late 1960's has returned. It may have taken 40 years, but its back!