Getting Hard Core Emission Passes with Aussie Import x-flows

xctasy

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Just some thoughts I'd like some expert (or non expert) feedback!. Just because this is a hardcore session doesn't mean you'll get flamed if you know little about the emisison rules in your state!.

Most everyone likes the idea of shoving an X-flow Aussie engine between the chassis rails of a post 1978-79-80 Mustang Fox or Fairmont or T-bird. However, indications are that unless you pay for a 20 grand sniffer test for the year of the engine build, it won't pass the federal specs for your state. Not to the letter of the law, anyway.

The 'Stateside' option I've heard about form Hot Rod is benchmarking the Aussie engine in 50 000 mile condition with the same year US vehicle with a stock engine set-up. Expensive. If its a 1988 block, you've gotta reach the mandated 1988 US regs. If its Cali, you have to reach the more strict Cali regs for the year unless you can find a backdoor method.

I've looked at trying to get a defacto 4.1 x-flow (efi, or carb) with two-way cat through the 1976 to 1988 Fed tests via benchmark testing.

Our Aussie cars passed the US 1972 specs from 1976 to 1985 with just EGR and a evapriative emissions.

The 1986 to 1993 x-flow versions passed the US 1975 specs too, but did so with just 2-way AC cats and extra EGR and vaccum fittings and no feedback carb. Unlike you cars, ours Aussie sixes had no 3-way cat and US air pump. Your cars had a full feedback carb from 1980 in all states, I think. With the US bits added to the Aussie engine, I 'd say there is no way they would fail, in my opinion.

Is anyone here interested in going through the legal loopholes of making an Aussie engine swap pass emissions tests without having the cars blackflagged? What are the options for such as swap, in your state. If you aren't into X-flows, but know what your state says about import engines, then go for it.
 
I've been told that if you change engines here that it must pass the regulations impossosed for what ever is newer, the car or engine. So from what I understand It's easyer to put a newer engine in with stock components than to make an older engine comply to stricter guid lines. I don't know how engines that were not available here or at least for the vehicle will fit into that though. Good thing my cars are pre emission requirements :D
 
Some States don't require emission testing. Even parts of California don't have emission testing, Lassen County as an example. Most States that require smog tests, base it on the model year of the car. Kit cars or Replica cars have to meet the standards of the year they are first registered. In Nevada where I live. Only Clark County (Las Vegas) and Washoe County (Reno) require emission testing on all vehicles 1968 model year and newer. We only have to meet Federal standards which is pretty easy to do. Eight years ago I had a 1986 Ford Ranger with over 225,000 miles on it. I had a catylitic converter melt down and I knocked all the guts out of it. When it came time for the smog test, I would change the oil, put a can of emission pass in the tank, and disconnect the distributor advance. It passed hands down every year. I sold the truck to someone who lived in California. I told him everything about the truck and what I did every year to get it to pass smog. He called me about 2 weeks after he bought the truck and told me it passed California smog, but not by much.
 
In Mass, it's the vehicle not the engine. My '65 is exempt, regardless of what is under the hood. Not that it matters though, it hasn't had any 'emissions' since 1998 :oops: :( :cry: :cry: :cry:
 
Emissions standards vary from state to state and even from city to city here in the US. It's our obsitinate nature to dislike broad sweeping federal standards!

In Florida, there is no testing required for any combination of chassis or engine.
 
Sheesh, am I living in the wrong place!

In Colorado, anywhere on the Front (East) Range, you must pass strict emissions. So strict, that if the tester looks under the hood and doesn't recognize a part, it better say "FoMoCo" on it or you're in trouble (although, it has been my experience at the Smog Shops that you have to point out the sparkplug wires to the tester, because there is no connector under the dashboard for his plug-in computer cable....). They arbitrarily halved the HC PPM levels in 1995 and went to 75% or the CO levels in a single day's legislative session when the state lost highway funds because of the high smog (which is mostly caused by weather here, to boot...). Now, the 1979 Fairmont has to pass levels that Detroit met in 1984 and later! Talk about a pain in the get-worser....
 
Mark, i have heard that Lamier county is thinking of dropping smog tests (or have they already?) *shrug* but yea, emmisions in this state are brutal.

funny thing to me is - in california (where i live 1/2 the year, other 1/2 is in Colorado) where my 66 is registered the smog standards are whatever is newer, engine or car. but since 66' is exempt from smog tests, who would ever know if you put a new engine in it?
 
I asked this question of a friend of mine in Houston when I put a 1997 Explorer 5.0 in my 1993 Ranger.

He said they don't care about what is under the hood, if it passes what needs to pass for a 1993 ranger it is good to go. They enter the VIN into the computer, and the VIN says it is a 4 cyl.
 
One thing to look at is that a number of states have exemptions for cars over 25 years old, so a 79 or 80 may squeak in. Check local regs, this may require special plates.

Besides, hiding parts is half the fun! I had an 87 5.0 Mustang with WP iron heads that were 'adjusted' with Ford IDs. A really sharp mechanic would recognize them, but they passed sniff with flying colors. In Massachusetts and CT, they never opened the hood, just wanted to see the exhaust, and make sure it had the cats in place. Which were - the motor wasn't cranking enough for it to make that much of a difference.
 
boston774":2rhj8011 said:
they never opened the hood, just wanted to see the exhaust, and make sure it had the cats in place.

I hear about that a lot. So many places are supposed to do a "Visual" but they just want to get you in and out quick and get the $$$.

Texas has 12 counties (I think...) that require a sniff and visual, but I hear stories all the time of guys that come in with aluminum heads, aftermarket this and that, etc. A lot of places don't care at all as long as the sniff is good.
 
Yeah, in CT they really wanted to crank people through. The company that ran it actually got indicted for fraud in the mid 90s. We basically haven't had emissions inspections since 1998 or 9, just getting ramped up now. Let's just say there are a LOT of guys here running around with "dumba**" approved setups. :-)

You know the funniest part about the 5.0? I actually had -better- emissions after the head swap and extrude honing the intake.
 
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