Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance MSDS Headers & state exhaust emission testing

Please help? This is an open question to anyone who already has MSDS headers installed.

Has anyone passed any state emissions test that has been tested with the MSDS headers installed?

Primarily I'm interested in PA emissions, but any info will be a help.

Thanks!

Dave Ford

Here's my take:

1) You have to get someone to inspect that is willing to "overlook" the fact that you removed two catalytic converters. No cats, no sticker. You won't even get to the sniffer if that's noticed.
2) IIRC, the precats are there mostly for cold start emissions control. The main underbody cat is what cleans the exhaust mostly when the car is at operating temperature. So, just make sure the car is tested hot, or gets driven in a spirited manner for 5 - 10 minutes before it gets smogged for cleanest results.
3) Plenty of people have passed smog tests with the "mystery mod", but I don't know that any were on the "loaded test" we have. Most likely they were idle tests.

However, unless you are in the following counties, you won't need the smog test anway: (Southeast) Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery (me), Philadelphia, (Southwest) Allegheny, Beaver, Washington, Westmoreland. Oh look, I just realized that the chassis dyno test is only for the SE counties, and the SW area gets idle tests. Lucky me. Looks to me that Warwick isn't in any of those counties, so you're off the hook.

Caveat: Make sure you have functioning MIL eliminators. In the future, a larger part of the SE area (probably you included) will be required to go through an OBD-II test. Basically, if you have any CEL codes or incomplete monitors you'll fail the emissions part of the test. It's only a pilot for now, but it's meant to replace the smog test for 96+ cars at some point in the future.

Check it out: http://www.drivecleanpa.state.pa.us/

Thanks, unfortunately I'm in Bucks County, Warwick Twnsp, not Warwick in central PA.

Your info is very revealing and appreciated.

It doesn't look good for the headers.

When I had my old Merkur, I took the cat out...
and it still passed our emissions test...just to
prove that our clean air rules are just another
tax grab up here....That's with the guys actually
looking under the car with those fancy mirrors...
I have 20 months before I find out what happens
with my MSDS headers on the car.....always make
sure the car has been running at temperature for
awhile before the inspection...and try some clean
gas ...we have 94 octance with 10% ethanol up
here in BC.

If you don't get caught on the visual you will pass with flying colors. "Somebody" I know passed the CA dyno emmisions test (15 and 40 mph) with no main cat. HC were up, but still like 20% below the failing limit. (FWIW, even though the car passed it was putting out avg. emmisions comparable to the 1977 vintage average.)

That car now has a new main cat with just the pre cats done, mainly to be kinder to the environment.

You will pass, I recently (Jan 2002) passed NJ emissions with my headers. The car hadn't properly warmed up and it still passed on the 25mph rollers. No problems, and the guys there were excited to 'drive' my SVT. :rolleyes:

some good, and inspiring, info here...anyone have New York experience or advice?

I know in most of upstate NY, they only have visual inspection. But then again, I know a guy who will pass me with open headers and no pipe.

Westcheter requires the treadmill test.
In order to do the treadmill test, the engine has to be running at least 20 minutes prior to tread mill test.

Unless the guy doing the test is a real pr*ck, you should pass without any problems.

I'm going in for my inspection in January, and I want to hear
what they have to say about the SVT Exhaust.

This is why my "wish list" doesn't include headers (when I get some real $$$ again). Now, if I move to Michigan ...