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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - US Emissions Legality

I've caught the bug, and bought the V8 Power book and video, and am convinced that I need to start with a rubber bumper car built after Sept. 1976. However, the newer a car is, the more likely it is that major changes will run afoul of US emissions regulations. How have those of you that have built V8 conversions handled that issue? Also, does anyone know of web resources that explore legality issues by state or jurisdiction?

Thanks!
Emery DeWitt

I believe the individual states are responsible for enforcing federal emmissions standards. I'll relate to you how I approached it in my state in the hope it will be similar to yours.

Before I started my conversion, I found and contacted the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and talked to one of thier staff engineers about my conversion plans. I can only assume there is an equivalent organization in your state.

The state engineer said they didn't care how many cylinders the car had, but at emmissions inspection time it had better have all the emmissions equipment that was listed in his data base. In my case (a '77 B) that was a charcol canister, EGR, air pump, and a cat. If the car could pass the equipment inspection and the emmissions test, I could regisiter the car.

The cat and the canister were no problem, but getting an airpump mounted and plumbled to the headers was going to be difficult. An EGR didn't look too difficult.

I had the opportunity to pick up a fuel injection system on the cheap and decided this would be a good way to skirt the emmissions by getting the engine to run extreamly clean.

Before installing the fuel injection, I again talked to the ADEQ and asked what I would have to do to pass emmissions and get my car registered. I told the engineer my plans to put on the fuel injection and his question to me was; "Is the fuel injection system at least of '77 vintange and do you intend to install all the associated emmissions devices that went with the system, like the EGR and the cat?" I said I was planning on installing a factory FI wit all the ancillaries. He instructed me to get an emmissions inspection and bring the results to him. He told me I'd fail the equipment inspection, but if I passed the actual emmissions test he'd modify the database that associates my cars VIN with the emmissions equipment list so that on my yearly equipment and emmissions test I wouldn't fail. After he changed the database, I again went to the inspection station for a re-inspection and the car passed.

Having said all that, most people who do engine swaps around here just make sure they have at least the appearnce of all the emmissions equipment for their year of car. For the most part, the $8/hr employees at the emmisions test station don't know what type of motor your car is supposed to have (and most don't even know what an MG is) but they have been trained to locate and identify smog equpment they find on the database for your VIN number as you pull into the test faclility.

I live in Phoenix, which is in Maricopa county. Countys with large city almost always have some type of emmission test program, as Maricopa county does. If you have property in another more sparsley populated county, they may not have a emmissions inspection requirement at all. (This was my next strategy; register the car in the county where my cabin is and there is no test requirements.) It's done all the time, but they are especially wary around here for people who are trying to skirt the emmissions requirement. They wanted me to have a mailing address at the cabin (I didn't) and produce a water bill with my name on it before they would register the car!

I'm sure not everything that I did here is applicable to your state, but I've related the details in the hope you would find something useful.

Phil Dooley

Emery, it is VERY easy to put the rad. plates in a 74.5 to 76 B, if that is what it takes to get the feds off your back. My first conv. was a 74.5 G.T., then a 72 & yes it is good to start with a rubber bumper car to start with, but I will not put a cat. under my cars just for the feds.so I am only doing early non. cat. cars for me. I have a 4.2 rover with late hot wire F.I. that fits under the hood very nice & I do 25 m.p.g. on 87 oct. at 65 to 80. I am not that far from you if you would like to come down & see what is going on with M.G.V-8s, I have 6 here at the shop at this time
Glenn Towery

Emery: In Maryland, I've been told that if you don't pass the inspection, you are only required by law to spend an additional $250(bring a legitimate receipt from a registered repair person) on repairs, then, if it still doesn't pass, that is it. They have to register the car. I've never personally had the problem. You might check Pa. laws. If you have the same rules in Pa and decide to go this route, you could install everything and leave out the cats. Then, if you fail, you could install the cats.
Bob Fish
rcf@dmv.com
ROBERT FISH

Emery,
Every state is different in it's enforcement of EPA regs. Some states have a rolling 25 year exemption, some states use static years for enforcement, etc. Also, local inspection stations could be highly variable in enforcement.

WEB Links:
For PA: http://www.drivecleanpa.state.pa.us/

Summary and Links:
http://www.sema.org/consumer/fedleg/
http://www.sema.org/consumer/fedleg/drivingforce/
http://www.car-stuff.com/carlinks/govt.htm

Other state examples:
NC: http://www.dmv.dot.state.nc.us/enforcement/emissionsinspections/
IL: www.epa.state.il.us/air/vim/guide/index.html
OH: www.state.oh.us/odps/division/bmv/bmv.html
CA: www.dmv.ca.gov/faq/faq.htm#SMOG

Future Wildcard: Possibility that 1990 Clean Air Act Anti-Tampering Section might be interpreted as including installation of greater number of cylinders as originally offered.
US Clean Air Act, 1970,rev 1977,rev 1990.
http://www.epa.gov/region5/defs/html/caa.htm
TITLE 42, CHAPTER 85,SUBCHAPTER I,PART A - AIR QUALITY AND EMISSION LIMITATIONS, Sec. 7522- Prohibited acts.

Remember, all regs are ever-changing.
Robert Milks

Thanks to all of you for your replies! Robert Milks' link to "drivecleanpa" turned up a folksy example of an emissions test, with this useful bit of info:

"Some of my customers won’t have to take the new emissions test because they drive less than 5,000 miles a year. Antique and classic cars are also exempt so we don’t even have to worry about them."

I'll try to find out exactly how PA defines "Antique and classic cars" and report back if I get the info. I don't even live in an emissions test area, so I can't drop by a test center and bug them for info - I just want to make sure that if I build a V8, I can continue to drive it if Lancaster starts testing someday!

Ain't the web grand?


Emery DeWitt

As promised, I went looking for the official definition of an antique or classic car in PA, and found the legalese below. I think any MG would qualify as a "classic", and most of them are old enough (> 25 years) to be "antique". I would suspect that fitting the classic car plates might have some insurance benefits, if one is going to drive the car as a toy rather than daily transportation.

Here's the text from www.state.pa.us. I have no idea if the statute has newer modifications than this:

HOUSE BILL
No. 1385 Session of 1987


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INTRODUCED BY HASAY AND HUTCHINSON, MAY 26, 1987




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REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MAY 26, 1987




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AN ACT

1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, further providing for antique vehicles; and
3 providing for collector vehicles.

4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. The definitions of "antique motor vehicle" and
7 "classic motor vehicle" in section 102 of Title 75 of the
8 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended and the section
9 is amended by adding a definition to read:
10 § 102. Definitions.
11 Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
12 provisions of this title which are applicable to specific
13 provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
14 used in this title shall have, unless the context clearly
15 indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
16 * * *
17 "Antique motor vehicle." A motor vehicle, but not a
18 reproduction thereof, manufactured more than 25 years prior to




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1 the current year which has been maintained in or restored to a
2 condition which is substantially in conformance with
3 manufacturer specifications and appearance.
4 * * *
5 "Classic Car Board." The Pennsylvania Classic Car Board
6 established under section 6116 (relating to Pennsylvania Classic
7 Car Board).
8 "Classic motor vehicle." [A self-propelled vehicle, but not
9 a reproduction thereof, manufactured more than ten years prior
10 to the current year and, because of discontinued production and
11 limited availability, determined by the department to be a model
12 or make of significant value to collectors or exhibitors and
13 which has been maintained in or restored to a condition which is
14 substantially in conformity with manufacturer specifications and
15 appearance.] A motor vehicle, but not a reproduction thereof,
16 which was manufactured more than 15 years prior to the current
17 year and which has been maintained in or restored to a condition
18 which is substantially in conformity with manufacturer
19 specifications and appearance, and which, because of limited
20 availability, is determined by the Classic Car Board to be a
21 model or make of significant value to car enthusiasts or
22 exhibitors.
23 * * *
24 Section 2. Section 1340(b) of Title 75 is amended to read:
25 § 1340. Antique and classic plates.
26 * * *
27 (b) Use of plates.--It is unlawful for any person to operate
28 a vehicle with antique or classic registration plates for
29 general daily transportation. Permitted use shall be limited to
30 participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades,
19870H1385B1605 - 2 -




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1 occasional transportation and similar uses. Occasional
2 transportation shall mean no more than two days a week except
3 during the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
4 Section 3. Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:
5 § 6116. Pennsylvania Classic Car Board.
6 (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established within the
7 Department of Transportation a special committee to be known as
8 the Pennsylvania Classic Car Board whose duty shall be to
9 establish, revise and keep current a list of automobiles which
10 shall be classic cars under the provisions of this title.
11 (b) Membership.--The Classic Car Board shall consist of the
12 Secretary of Transportation, one person designated by the
13 President pro tempore of the Senate, one person designated by
14 the Senate Minority Leader, one person designated by the Speaker
15 of the House of Representatives, one person designated by the
16 House Minority Leader and ten residents of Pennsylvania
17 appointed by the Governor to serve on the board. The ten
18 residents should have some familiarity with classic cars,
19 collector cars or antique cars. The terms of the initial
20 appointees to the board shall be two years for nine members,
21 three years for three members and four years for the remaining
22 three members, as designated by the Governor. Thereafter, all
23 appointees shall serve for a term of four years. Any vacancy on
24 the board shall be filled by the Governor for the unexpired
25 term. Members shall be eligible for reappointment at the end of
26 any term.
27 (c) Meetings and expenses.--The Classic Car Board shall meet
28 at least twice every year in Harrisburg. Members shall not be
29 entitled to any compensation but shall be reimbursed for all
30 reasonable expenses and travel incurred in the performance of
19870H1385B1605 - 3 -




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1 their duties.
2 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

















Emery DeWitt

This thread was discussed between 28/12/2000 and 01/01/2001

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