[Gary S.]

What I have is a 1978 Trans Am,which has been sitting up.I've begun the process of getting it roadworthy again.
Living in Texas,in Dallas County-well,I know this is an emissions county.
Someone told me that because my car is at least a '79 or older,it doesn't have to have a catalytic convertor on it.Anyone know if that is true?
I'm also wondering about the EGR stuff.Am I going to need to make sure that every last piece of hose/line etc is attached where it is supposed to be?And the canister and all that junk is in functional condition?
Any advice on these isues appreciated.

[Gary S.]

What I have is a 1978 Trans Am,which has been sitting up.I've begun the process of getting it roadworthy again.
Living in Texas,in Dallas County-well,I know this is an emissions county.
Someone told me that because my car is at least a '79 or older,it doesn't have to have a catalytic convertor on it.Anyone know if that is true?
I'm also wondering about the EGR stuff.Am I going to need to make sure that every last piece of hose/line etc is attached where it is supposed to be?And the canister and all that junk is in functional condition?
Any advice on these isues appreciated.

[wheelspin]

Gary,

Welcome to the Forums.

I grew up in Texas, but I am unfamilar with their emissions laws. I suggest that you search the County or State websites until you locate the Motor Vehicle Department site which should have what you are looking for.

Les

[Trips4me]

Gary, I beleive that if your car is over 24 years old then you are exempt.. however, here ia website that my help and provide more accurate answers.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/act.htm

[Gary S.]

Hey Trips-thanks for that link!!
Looks like maybe I can have some REAL fun now with an engine build,good intake manifold,etc.

[mikeb]

Just do it at the track. Texas has really tightened up their laws and has added draconian points & fees to "getting caught" so it's really not worth it anymore, even to horse around a little. Exhibition of acceleration is now a very, very bad ticket to get, and a drag racing ticket is akin to a DWI ticket. Just peeling out can be considered exhibition of acceleration if the cop is having a bad day.

[Trips4me]

That's the 1st I've heard of that.. are you speaking from personal experience Mike??

Anyways, that's one of the nice things about Texas... Lot's of backroads in the country where you can really see for a long ways and have a chance to open her up for short distances.... just north and west of here there is tons of room and no one to get it the way. Be careful and enjoy it before it gets to be like CA around here.

[Skip Fix]

My impression is it still need to pass a visual just not a sniffer with the age. Depends on how strict(or knowledgeable) a visual they do.

[Skip Fix]

My son's 81 passed with a 400 in it and no EGR and dual cats.It did have to pass a sniffer and 81 is tougher than 80.

[78 GHOST]

I thought the inspection ensured the OEM emissions devices were all in place and functional. This applies to any vehicle, of any age. I thought this was a Federal statute and enforced by the state.

Be that as it may, I don't have cats on the T/A and I've yet to be dinged. Usually the guys at the inspection station are checking out the car and they don't really seem to take the inspection too seriously.

[mikeb]

No, no personal experience I now pretty much drive like the old man i'm becoming. I have too much on the line at this point in my life to lose my license (and then my business and then my house, etc). Guess i'm becoming my dad.

However, the new laws have been quite the topic on another local DFW board where the members are younger and some do participate..... on unlighted tracks with no timing equipment in the country.

All i'm saying is that getting caught now carries a huge whallop that wasn't there before. Having your car towed and your license suspended for a year is no joke. Be careful.

[can_am4me]

Federal law states that if a car came equipped with one catalytic converter, it shall always have one converter.Not two, but one.
The thinking behind that is the single converter will get up to operating temperature sooner than 2 converters would. In the real world, however, (NOT California!) most inspections will overlook a dual cat set up on a 70's car . Thay never even looked under my '77. I also have my cats installed with the stainless band type clamps, so I can take them out of the system in 10 minutes.

[judge_jury_executioner_69]

i thought the grandfather clause was 1980 and before ( after 80 cat is required ) my roomie used to live in colorado and he says they dont mess around out there. peel out and get caught or race and get caught is automatic 12 points off your license (lose it for 1 year) cant "cruise" town or you get a ticket. cant even meet up ( park your car and sit around and talk,b/s with people ) thats a ticket. very expensive tickets.

[satman]

When I bought my 71 out of state, I had to have it inspected for functionality, brakes, lights, horn (that one I had to get fixed), once inspected you take the green tag to DMV to get plates, I then went back with original 71 plates and got my Antique tag. With the antique tag, you do not need any further inspections. Of course, the antique tag is like antique car insurance, you are not suppose to use it as a daily driver, etc.


http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/Misc...pe.htm#antique

[Skip Fix]

To me as long as the tail pipe emissions are within specs for idle and upper range who cares if all the stuff is there. Better design convertors and better gas now than the 70s.

[prostreetpower]

i envy u guys, i live in Cali and now they just passed a new law which states only 76 and older cars will be exempted from smog checks, any years after a annually smog test is requiered. Bad news for me and my 77 poncho u guys better hope they dont make it a state wide thing

[Ryche400]

Down here in South Texas, they are VERY strict about street racing. There have been a few deaths with teenagers drag racing recently. So you can imagine what it does for everyone else. Just driving my Trans Am to work attracts attention from the Police. If you get caught racing on a public road, your going to jail, PERIOD. And lose your license, etc....

[mikeb]

Yep, it's that way state wide in Texas now from what I can tell. I can't imagine why anyone would buy a new sports car in Texas much less radically modify an older one for performance to drive on the street. Way too much risk.

I'm not a proponent of street racing by any means but when squealing tires can get you into serious trouble it's just not worth the risk of getting a little froggy on an on ramp etc.

[quicksilver97ta]

Gary, if this is not your daily driver build it how you want so your not dissapointed. I don't think too many stations would be very critical on a car that doesn't actually require emissions testing since they are not actually testing anything just visually inspecting. It helps if you buy gas there and become a familiar face.

[Skip Fix]

Gary remember it just has to pass VISUAL no sniffer.If they really press for the visual you need to get an EGR intake, stock or Performer and a cat to hook up for inspection. There are somne great flowing cats now or you can gut one.EGR can be plugged also.If you have the vacuum diagram on the core support some really picky shops wil check it, but most don't know what our older cars look like for emissions stuff.