i live in the great state of West Virginia so i don't have to pass a smog test so i was wondering how hard it would be to get rid of the pollution equipment and any problems i would encounter if i removed them I am NOT A tree huggin hippie so I am not concerned about hurting the eviornment. It looks really bad and I want it out!!!!!!!!!!



Thanks in advance :) :) :)

I am not concerned about hurting the eviornment.
Think about that statement for a while....

Oh, let me wish you a belated Happy 16th Birthday too.

:mrgreen:

thank you.

i still want the emissions stuff out it is not that big of a deal and did you know that there is no solid proof that there is a hole in the ozone. it is probably just a stunt the green party pulled to get on the news. any help is appreciated.

Is your name Rush, and do you have a red-neck radio show???

i dont like pollution controlled vehicles either but cars make up smaller polution numbers than people say they do. look at the recent california forest fire. that put way more haze in the air than a city worth of cars do in a year. with proper brush clearing it wouldn't have been so big. i know that they had a drought there for the last 3years. but the brush had to of been piling up for some time.

dont say you dont care about your environment just cause you have some clutter in the engine bay.

I'm not a really big fan of some of the smog stuff they put on cars in the 70s and 80s either but..... For the most part we're stuck with it being on the vehicles. That said you can still get things like headers, intakes and other items that will help add power and better efficiency for the overall system.

Things like removing those restrictive exhaust manifolds and replacing things like the EGR with a new one, tuning, rebuilding or replacing the carburetor, installing better flowing catalytic converter all can and will add better fuel efficiency and more power to the engine.

Remember most of our vehicles are pretty damn old and they were not made to last for ever. So new parts and improvements in technology will add to the overall satisfaction.

A good crate LS1 will remove almost all the smog stuff you dislike now but it has its own smog controls on it and it, if I am not mistaken, is legal in all 50 states. So you do have options some cost more than others.

I want my grandchildren to be able to walk around and enjoy the air when they are my age so anything I can do to help with that now I try to do. I am not by any means a shinning example of the Green Party, or even a member, but I do like trees and grass and fishing in clean lakes and swimming /camping around them. I am a "country boy" not to be mistaken for a "Red Neck" just a country boy.

Good luck with your ride.

Oh........ And I was a "Hippy" and I don't remember ever hugging a tree in my life and none of the people I hung around with did that I know of. Some did a little hugging of a toilet every so often when they had too much to drink. 8)

Up here in Central PA our county is now getting mandated emissions testing starting in December. This has been bantered about by the politicos for years and nothing ever happened. All of a sudden.....here it is. 8O

My 82 Elky, which I purchased in September has most of the smog stuff removed and at the time it was not that important to me that it was missing. The car runs great.

I will need to find and put back the A.I.R. pump and other assorted sensors and hoses. I have yet to figure out all that needs to be put back.

To add insult to injury, the law as I am told for my car, which will fall under the category of driven less than 5000 miles a year, only needs a "visual inspection" and a gas cap pressure test. It does not matter if the smog stuff works, it JUST HAS TO BE THERE. The AIR pump could be an empty case but hooked up to the belt system.

So, if anyone has an empty AIR pump they want to part with let me know.

JIM

ok i really don't care it is coming out anyway. then maybe i'll start a destroy the earth as much as possible club.

I am currently pulling all the smog crap off my car too(also a unconcerned 16 year old whippersnapper!) I am doing exhaust first- putting on headers and dual side exhaust. What I would recommend is that if you are going to take off the pump and eveything get an MSD or similar device that provide a more powerful spark. It burns more gasses in the combustion chamber, creating less crap in your exhaust. For example my autotech teacher has a Turbocharged maxima wagon with MSD with no cats and can pass any emissions test you put it through. If you have to get a test by law- you're screwed( you dont have any air pumps etc.). But to be a bit friendlier to the enviro- and to make you car run better, at least get the MSD.

Good Luck- Its hard when your a youngin', everyone takes you so seriously!

-Luke

Good Luck- Its hard when your a youngin', everyone takes you so seriously!


The ENVIRONMENT is a serious thing.

Let's talk about politics, next. 8O

im just glad i dont live in a smog state, and my elky is old enough that no emission laws apply anyway. sweet freedom! :D

I think that as long as a car passes the tailpipe emissions test it should not matter whats under the hood. My 78 did not have much on it but all that works is a egr & aftermarket cat. It is clean out the back because I feel we should do what we can for the air we breathe.

Let's talk about politics, next.


Not me....I just came for the youngin's leftovers. Need-a-AIR-Pump.
Working or not for here in the polluted Keystone state.

:mrgreen:

I took all the Emissions crap out of my 85. When i had the duals put in, i took the cats out. Then i just took the belt off for the emission.

Simple and effective.............
(another damn 17 yr old punk here.........tee hee :P )

PA_82ELKY - You have something mixed up. Where these emission tests are being started if you prove, via the inspection records, that you drive the vehicle less than 5000 miles per year you will be able to get an "exception sticker" and not need any tests at all. Start at http://www.dep.state.pa.us/aq_apps/emissions/testinfo.htm and surf the site from there.

Anyone ever see the amount of crap that spews from the stacks of big rigs? Why are they allowed to get away with that? Is it because they pay road taxes? Anyway a good running engine will not pollute the air as bad as the EPA would have us believe...as long as it is running good! Yes catalytic converters are necessary! I also am not a member of the Green Party but I do believe in a clean environment. Here's one for ya..."Nuke the Whales...they eat too much" Just kidding! :lol:

I don't see the problem with keeping the "emission crap" as long as your not making your elky a top of the line dragster. I don't really want to mess with the stuff, because by the time I get it all out, the great state of missouri will probably require under the hood identifiaction of emission crap. Right now they just check the carbon in the exhust pipe and the gas cap. But if I was to fail then I would have to put all of the emisson crap back on. So until my '86 is 25 years old and I have collector plates on, I will keep the emission crap.

ChevyNut - thanks for the URL to the PA emissions site. After entering my information into the "calculator" this is what I got:

The following tests may be required for your vehicle:

County: Cumberland
Year: 1982
Vehicle: Car
Tests: Visual Check and Gas Cap Check
Note: Brand-new vehicles and vehicles driven under 5000 miles annually may qualify for an exemption sticker. Ask your service provider for more details.
Effective: Dec., 2003

Disclaimer: Actual test requirements based on make and model, drive system, vehicle weight, etc. The regulations in Title 67 Pa. Code, Chapter 177 shall determine the test type for any individual vehicle.

It does NOT say that ALL vehicles driven under 5K miles in a year will be exempt. It says "may qualify". I got my previous information from local newspaper, PennDOT info sheet included in latest registration application (different car) and I talked to my ''service provider". I will call the 800 number and see what that persons' opinion is and I need to find Title 76 PA Code.

Since this is new for us I am sure confusion will be rampant. I did find the following reference which follows your thoughts:

Are any vehicles exempt from Pennsylvania’s emissions program?

Yes. Vehicles will be exempt from the program if:
· If the vehicle has been owned for one year and driven less than 5,000 miles in the prior year. However, motorists must go to an inspection station to verify the vehicle’s mileage and receive an exemption sticker. Motorists can do this when they get their safety inspection if the station performs both types of inspections.· If the vehicle is a new car, not previously titled and driven less than 5,000 miles before registration; motorists should receive an exemption sticker valid for up to 12 months upon receipt of the new car from your new car dealer.
If the vehicle is a motorcycle, street rod or a vehicle registered as classic,
collectible or antique.
Exemptions are determined by the vehicle registration or by a certified technician.

Even in this statement I see a potential problem - "if a vehicle has been owned for one year"..... I have only owned my El Camino since September and the inspection is good until May. How do you think they will determine mileage and exemption eligibility under this situation?

I have dealt with some real jerks at the PennDOT office in Harrisburg and their interpretation of the law. One clerk once refused to issue an antique plate because the car, a 1959 Ford, showed a "Nixon for President" bumper sticker (visible on one of the 4 pictures required) on it. She declared that the car was not original = as it came off the assembly line in 1959. Arguing did no good. Left the building. Came back the next day, got a different clerk, and got the antique tag. Never trust anybody that says "I'm from Harrisburg and I'm here to help you!"

So, are you in an area where emissions testing is happening and do you have an El Camino or any other car that is exempt? I do not see a problem with my cars that have antique tags or my motorcycles. That part is pretty clear.

JB

Another rebel seventeen year old camino owner here.
I too live in central PA. Lancaster to be exact. I bought an 81 with a 229 six and all the great emmisions junk. So wise but foolishly of me to have ripped and hacked off the emmision equipment so soon. Now the high and mighties are cracking down on use hopeless muscle car folk to help smog. my word of advice, unconnect everything, get yourself a nice carb and your set. But leave everything on the car or in your garage. Now I either don't drive it legally or a whip up $6000.00 for and LT1 swap making minimum wage! Be a rebel but to it wisely before your high and mighties to the same to you as me.

Cruzzintheroad -

My problem is that most of my emissions stuff is gone - the PO did it. If I end up having to go thru the visual check that means I have to put stuff back on - but it doesn't have to function....just be "visible". If I have to put an A.I.R. Pump back on it can be an empty shell for all they care at the inspection station.

Anyway - welcome to the club. Maybe we'll see you on the road. What color is your Elky?

Jim - Camp Hill

I see you found the info helpful. I have (2) 79's a Malibu and El Camino. The Malibu is fully restored and registered as a "classic" and is emissions exempt as a result of being a classic, lower insurance as well. I submitted pictures and proper paperwork to a local notary public and had the plates in no time. The Elky will need to have the emission stuffed re-installed as I am in Northampton County. I can see some epoxy "plugs" installed in a few vacuum lines :-P The testing is to be expected. I'm surprised it took this long. It could be worse. Even for "newer" cars they are only requiring a computer scan, not a full on dyno, tailpipe snffer (in most counties, to be technical).
BTW - I wouldthinksince you did not own the car for at least one inpection cycle you could not hope to get an exemption.

I just wanted to post something about the previous post regarding tractor trailers and their exhaust.

You want to know the honest reason they don't make them get inspections? CASH. If they started requiring the inspections the businesses would all run to another state or county to base out of. That would cost the local govt. tons in property taxes, etc...

Most trucking companies already register their vehicles in states with lower costs. I know, the company I work for used to do it before outsourcing our trucking. All of our Tx rigs had Jersey tags.

Another prime example - California. Look at how many businesses Ca. has lost due to it's increased regulations and goofy laws. That's part of why they have such a huge deficit and a new governor.

I live in Harris County in Tx. We have tons of petrochemical plants, more tractor trailers on the highway than you could imagine, and yet the refineries get money to help make their plants more enviornmentally friendly and the trucks don't get inspected, but the daily driver - and all of those in the surrounding counties - have to get their cars smogged.

I'm sorry, but it is BS. Cars do cause pollution. So fine, force them to be compliant. But so do trucks and chemical refineries - but they are far more lenient to them because of the money they bring to the area. Which of course attracts workers, who build houses that they can tax for property taxes and so on....

It's all about cash flow. Don't believe it? Everybody wants better school systems, but what get's built first new shcools or new sports arenas?

amen brother!

My advice to you is do not remove the emissions system because: 1) The EGR helps cool some internal engine parts such as pistons and valves. Without it, heat can damage your engine and that's expensive to fix. 2) If you remove too much of the system, the "Service Engine" light will burn all the time which is irritating and you'll be forced to reinstall some of the emission system or open the dash and remove the bulb. 3) As soon as your state, county or city mandates that your vehicle has to pass inspection, and it's coming, you will be forced to reinstall it all. Considering these things, don't you think it's better to just leave it in place?

Not only would I leave it in place, I would also replace all the vacuum hoses. It's inexpensive compared to having to reinstall everything when the state requires it.

But to each, his own. Good luck!

Hey All,

OK, here's the scoop on old vs new Diesels, The more you turn the fuel up on a Cummins the more smoke it will spew, 8O the reason the fuel is turned up is to get more horse's out of it.


The feds have put restrictions on all new diesels starting with 04's . They have EGR valve, and catalytic converters on them now. The engine makers have a long way to go though. I had to take another driver to Mobile, AL
to pick up a truck that just had a new motor put in, the orginal had less than 10,000 miles on it and blew up. The service guy told us it was due to the new pollution crap on it. I know of a driver personally that bought a new pete with emissions crap on it got 2 miles to the gallon goin to CA with it, took off emissions and now gets 7 miles to the gallon which is average.

Brian

P.S. If a driver knows when to shift (within RPM Spec's) not as much smoke will come out.

You can remove everything including the computer. All you have to change out is the distributor and the carb once this is done. I have done it and loved every minute of it. We even traced the wires that were not necessary and removed them from the computer harness....sold it all on ebay except the extra wires...those hit the trash!

My Elky blew better numbers than some new cars when last tested a few years ago with NONE of the emissions stuff on it. All that stuff was just extra weight to satisfy the EPA's requirements so that they could sell cars and the only thing it really did was serve to start the trend they wanted...people NOT working on their own cars. It was and is all about the money.

Look at cars now...the new ones...know anyone that works on their own? It worked didn't it?

Also another point...all that stuff about the air? If it were that important, wouldn't all towns have the same process for inspection and smogging? Nope, there's no regs in small towns since they don't rely on federal money for roads...it's only in medium to large metro areas.

Kinda like school zones only on major streets. You have to slow down on the major streets near a school, but sometime, drive around the school to the side on a residential street....most of them have no 20 mph zone. It's not about kids safety as much as it is about revenue for the city.

Thank GOD both our vehicles are way outta range.... :D
FREEDOM IS RIGHT!!!

Some emissions stuff can go, but some is good. Besides lower emissions, you'll actually get better power and better MPG, becuase the engine will run more efficiently.

I ditched the smog pump, but I put a high capacity converter in place that didn't use an AIR tube. The secondaries on the carb aren't ECM controlled, therefore WOT fuel mixture isn't either. EGR is disabled at WOT as well.

Get a cheap OTC Monitor scan tool and take advantage of all the sensors.

I'm not saying keep it all. Just learn what the effect will be before removing it. Ripping it all off will be a mistake IMO.

has anybody seen the amount of crap that spews out of the tailpipe on a car that has not been taken care of? older deisels and worn out deisels cause alot of pollution as does a worn out car. if you do a little research you would know the facts. 1) there are pollution regulations for big trucks. 2) many cities prohibit trucks from idling including the whole state of NY 3) my truck consistently gets between 7.5-8 mpg. this may not seem like alot to you, not to long ago trucks would only get about 5-5.5 mpg. this is an increase of about 30%, creating way less pollution. 4) regulations are not as tough on trucks, because your gasoline engine does not have to pull 30,000 to 80,000 lbs. i would also guess every time standards for cars are increased in the future, trucks will also get tougher regulations. but don't let the facts get in the way of your opinion. you can make up your own mind about what you want to believe!

My advice to you is do not remove the emissions system because: 1) The EGR helps cool some internal engine parts such as pistons and valves. Without it, heat can damage your engine and that's expensive to fix. 2) If you remove too much of the system, the "Service Engine" light will burn all the time which is irritating and you'll be forced to reinstall some of the emission system or open the dash and remove the bulb. 3) As soon as your state, county or city mandates that your vehicle has to pass inspection, and it's coming, you will be forced to reinstall it all. Considering these things, don't you think it's better to just leave it in place?

Not only would I leave it in place, I would also replace all the vacuum hoses. It's inexpensive compared to having to reinstall everything when the state requires it.

But to each, his own. Good luck!

Did you know that in Japan, since emissions are not tested (or atleast not the same way), there isnt EGR on thier motors. Granted they are 4 cyl, but its still the same principal.
Also, i just had to smile when you said that the check engine lite comes on, because it did when i took all the junk off of my firebird. But i just took some electrical tape to the dash to black it out, and you couldnt tell.

Alright, im done comenting, back to your discussion.

Electrical tape will block the light, but it will not block the fact that you KNOW that sucker is back there burning its little heart out. Plus, each and every minute the ignition is in the "on" position the light is generating heat and contributing to the aging process by increasing the brittleness of surrounding components and slowly destroying the lamp holder. Wouldn't you just rather fix it right?

:lol: :lol: :lol:
I cant beat that one.

It's easy enough to just pluck that boy out.

Another thing to be careful of is changing emissions laws. My cousin drove a 1979 Corvette. In 1998 an emissions law took effect, with a stipulation that once a car turned 20 it no longer had to be smogged. Since my cousin had his vette smogged in 98 he thought he'd never have to have it smogged again. He promptly removed all of it, but then California passed a law to extend the need to smog a car to 25 years. My cousin got royally screwed. i just want to caution everyone thinking about taking all of the stuff out to make sure your car ALREADY does not need to apply to smog laws. Better safe than sorry.

I recently visited some of my family who lives about 30 miles east of Raleigh, N. C. They told me the State has expanded emissions testing to include an additional eight counties that surround Raleigh (Wake County). In my neck of the woods (Tennessee) there are current negotiations underway about how to reduce the smog level. Anyone who lives within a reasonable distance of a metropolitan area will be testing before too much time passes. That's just my opinion, of course. However, if you remove it, make a drawing of where everything goes and connects. Keep the parts and drawing in a safe place and be prepared to replace it on short notice. It's coming to your part of the world, I think.