[Gary S.]

Here is an update on the subject,which has been discussed before at various times.This is my personal experience.
Took my car to the muffler shop,for a new system from the manifolds back.My car never had a catalytic converter,from when I bought it in 1996.I'm the 2nd owner.The shop guy was pretty hesitant about it,as there was no converter.I had him duplicate the system that was on the car,which was a straight dual exhaust,no crossover,with glasspack mufflers.My splitter tips were in too poor shape to be re-used.
Took the car last week to the station to get a safety inspection.The man didn't look real hard under the hood.He did stop the inspection when he saw no tips on the exhaust.Said I had to have that on there,so the exhaust extended visibly beyond where the passenger compartment ended.
Ordered the correct tips from Performance Years,and took them to the muffler shop today and had them installed.Very happy with the appearance.
Took the car back to the inspection station.He did verify that the exhaust was complete.Did a standard safety inspection-horn,brakes,turn signals,etc.Again,didn't inspect real hard under the hood.Looked at the power steering pump and made sure that it wasn't leaking,made a comment about the canister being present (the lines aren't even all hooked up),and didn't do any disassembly of the air cleaner/hoses etc.
I've got the standard factory parts on there,with the hose coming up from the right side valve cover and into the breather assembly,etc.He looked only casually at that,then closed the hood.The intake manifold is a 1969,and the engine is a 1971-neither of which was any issue whatsoever.
The car did not need to be emissions tested because of being 24+ years or older.
Inspection cost $12.50.
Now I've got all my plates and stickers,the car is legal,and it is back on the road after about a 5 year hiatus,and I'm very happy.
So it appears to me that if your car is running well,and you have most of the factory stock pieces on it,then it isn't going to be all that closely examined.He made sure it was basically safe to operate,is what I gathered from all this.
It sure feels good to be driving a Trans Am down the road again.Kind of feels like a T-Rex on the prowl.

[Gary S.]

Here is an update on the subject,which has been discussed before at various times.This is my personal experience.
Took my car to the muffler shop,for a new system from the manifolds back.My car never had a catalytic converter,from when I bought it in 1996.I'm the 2nd owner.The shop guy was pretty hesitant about it,as there was no converter.I had him duplicate the system that was on the car,which was a straight dual exhaust,no crossover,with glasspack mufflers.My splitter tips were in too poor shape to be re-used.
Took the car last week to the station to get a safety inspection.The man didn't look real hard under the hood.He did stop the inspection when he saw no tips on the exhaust.Said I had to have that on there,so the exhaust extended visibly beyond where the passenger compartment ended.
Ordered the correct tips from Performance Years,and took them to the muffler shop today and had them installed.Very happy with the appearance.
Took the car back to the inspection station.He did verify that the exhaust was complete.Did a standard safety inspection-horn,brakes,turn signals,etc.Again,didn't inspect real hard under the hood.Looked at the power steering pump and made sure that it wasn't leaking,made a comment about the canister being present (the lines aren't even all hooked up),and didn't do any disassembly of the air cleaner/hoses etc.
I've got the standard factory parts on there,with the hose coming up from the right side valve cover and into the breather assembly,etc.He looked only casually at that,then closed the hood.The intake manifold is a 1969,and the engine is a 1971-neither of which was any issue whatsoever.
The car did not need to be emissions tested because of being 24+ years or older.
Inspection cost $12.50.
Now I've got all my plates and stickers,the car is legal,and it is back on the road after about a 5 year hiatus,and I'm very happy.
So it appears to me that if your car is running well,and you have most of the factory stock pieces on it,then it isn't going to be all that closely examined.He made sure it was basically safe to operate,is what I gathered from all this.
It sure feels good to be driving a Trans Am down the road again.Kind of feels like a T-Rex on the prowl.

[Ryche400]

I took mine in last year, and had pretty much the same results. Just make sure everything works. I pretty sure the guy gave me a break, cause the car had headers, and a chrome air cleaner. Even though I had an original looking air cleaner in the trunk, (just in case). Everything else was "legal".

[ChrisTransAm78]

I walked in and walked out...the kid was so wanting to get out of there and happy to drive it he did not seem to care one bit...

[Verdoro 68]

Way back in 1991 my car failed TX inspection because I had a piece of bailing wire holding the tail pipe to the bracket. Seemed silly to fail for that at the time. I don't know why I didn't just pony up the $2 for a muffler clamp.

I also remember my friend's '68 SS396 failing inspection because it had an open element air cleaner - which was standard issue for his car. He had to find an original snorkle-type air cleaner to pass. I suspect it all depends on where you go and who you get to do the inspection.

Ironically, I've never had to have my car inspected or smogged while living in California. When I got the CA plates the DMV lady just came out to verify the VIN on my car. She didn't even check to see if the horn or the turn signals worked.

[mikeb]

Back in 1985 was when the first round of emissions stuff started in texas. I know this because I still have the 1984 inspection sticker on my windshield I didn't pass inspection for 1985 (79 T/A).

They threw the book at me. I had just installed a fresh 455 (the OEM 403 was long gone as was all of the emissions stuff). So, I suddenly had a "race car".

It's kind of ironic now that I probably could get the thing to pass running the same exact 455 it had in 1985 with a bit of work here and there. I really don't want to tag and insure it and drive it on the street now so it'll remain a "race car".

My dad got hassled with his 69 grand prix. He had an open element air cleaner & headers and he had to have an operative "heat stove" to pass inspection A piece of generic heat stove tubing clamped to a header tube and routed into the air filter were enough to satisfy the inspection guy.

[radioguy]

If you are careful in selecting your inspection station you can usually get away with more. I bought a 68 Bird a couple of years ago from Oklahoma. Brought it to the DFW area. Got the lights and horn working and took it to a Kwik Kar where the owner has several old caddy's and fairly regular classic car shows. They have never even opened the hood. Standard brakes, lights, horn, wipers. Slap a sticker on and pay my $12 and I'm out the door.

Doug

[tininjun67]

I didn't even know they checked emissions equipment! They do sniffer tests here?! I've got a '65 chev p/u. No fenders on the front, open air filter. One time the guy saw the lic. plate light was burned out. This was at dusk with the sun shining on the back of the truck! talk about eagle eyes. I've got a friend at a jiffy lube, he check my ins papers and hands me the sticker. He also knows I take good care of my truck though.

[Chris C]

I've got a '97 Sonoma that I've had for about 3 years now. I have never had a sniffer test on it. In fact the last time I had it inspected (June '04) the guy slapped a sticker on it that expires in June of 2006!

[Skip Fix]

They are supposed to do a "visual" on all cars for correct emissions equipment older than 24 years. If you don't have the radiator core sticker I would guess most guys would be lost.Newer cart here need the sniffer.

I had one guy not even try to look at mine without all the vacuum hoses.Took it to another shop and no big deal, but he knew the car was rarely driven.

[Rholmes]

Effective 0CT/04,no safety inspection required for automobiles with a production date 35 years or older here in NC.
OF course my county property tax went up 4% on both my 68 and 69 GTO's

[Gary S.]

I was in the Air Force at Alamogordo,New Mexico,from 1981-1983.
If memory serves,all it took to be able to drive a vehicle in New Mexico at that time was to get your sticker,which was only about 4 bucks.
They didn't even bother taking a look at it-if it rolled under its own power,you could drive it.

[bjohnsontx]

I just got my 73 Formula inspected at an oil change shop. It has California emissions since the car was purchased and delivered in SoCal. No problem or comments at all.

However, I had a hard time getting my 73 TA to pass inspection because my emergency brake did not work.

[Skip Fix]

Try getting those darn ratchet rear disc brakes to actually hold the car in drive and not drag all the time!

[Ryche400]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Skip Fix:
Try getting those darn ratchet rear disc brakes to actually hold the car in drive and not drag all the time! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
thats why I have my E-brake cables disconnected..... For the 20 years Ive been driving, I dont think Ive ever used them on any car..