New Guy, Need Some Help With Emissions

[LT1CJ7Dude]

Hey all!

I'm new to the site and hopefully I will become more active soon!

My dad restored a 1980 CJ7 a while ago. The restoration included a GM LT1 V-8 out of a 94 Vette and the accompanying auto trans (for Sand dunes duty).

He sold the jeep 3 years ago, and now the guy who bought it wants to sell it back. My dad has since started another project and extended the offer to me (the guy's hard up for money, I'm getting the Jeep for a STEAL).

Here's the hairy part. The Jeep was built and has stayed in Michigan which is a non-emissions testing state. All of the existing emissions equipment is still on the motor minus Cats.

I'm new to Phoenix, so I'm not familiar with emissions. The website has nothing about what to do with a custom vehicle like this. Can anyone tell me what needs to be done to the Jeep so that I can pass emissions and bring it down here? Will just throwing a set of cats in the pipes do it? Any advice will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks guys, see you around the boards!

[WalterD]

Over 25 years old, have it registered as a colectible through your insurance company. Show proof to DMV and you don't need emission test.

[My Green Jeep]

Walt (WalterD) and I have a 1979 CJ7 and it failed
emissions... here is a link to the thread that we started
on it...

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=22937

We now have it insured as a "antique" and it does not have
to pass emissions while it is listed like this.

[LT1CJ7Dude]

I was really hoping to make it my daily driver though...I wonder if I could squeak by under the radar?

Would anyone know what it would take to register it normally?

[azdesertrhino]

According to what I read, the vehicle only has to be 15 plus years old.

Is the insurance less expensive? Did your regular insurance company issue coverage?

TIA



Walt (WalterD) and I have a 1979 CJ7 and it failed
emissions... here is a link to the thread that we started
on it...

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=22937

We now have it insured as a "classic" and it does not have
to pass emissions while it is listed like this.

[LT1CJ7Dude]

Anyone know what parts they will do the visual inspection on?

I checked with Insurance agencies about classic and if you drive more than 1000 miles a year you won't be covered. I understand that you can probably fly under the radar, but if you get in an accident, and you're over 1,000 miles...forget about coverage. Not cool for something I want to drive daily.

Anyone know how tight they are on the visual inspection outside of cats? I.E. Will I need a charcoal canister? The time is getting nearer for my Jeep to come and I want to make sure I have everything set to go before it gets here. Any help or suggestions of places to go for help would be greatly appreciated. I tried calling the state and they just told me I need everything but wouldn't give specifics. I did learn that it will have to pass smog as an 80 and pass visual as a 94

[mysunnshine]

You will need the charcoal canister for sure.They look for that to locate the tank vent line so thay can pressure check the tank. You might get away without an EGR if it's pumping 0's out the tailpipe.

[azdesertrhino]

What insurance companies did you check with? I checked with my regular company (Geico) and the I checked with Liberty Mutual with the help of Rox (My Green Jeep) and didn't even get to the point of mileage.

My rig is not a daily driver so I would qualify for the under 1000 miles but can't find an insurance company that understands the 15 year rule and type of insurance I'm looking for.

Thanks,




I checked with Insurance agencies about classic and if you drive more than 1000 miles a year you won't be covered. I understand that you can probably fly under the radar, but if you get in an accident, and you're over 1,000 miles...forget about coverage. Not cool for something I want to drive daily.

[Rioshilo]

I've got a tbi small block in my 81 with no cats and it passes great. About 1/10 the allowable numbers. I'd say take it through and see what happens. Not to hard to add some equipment to make it pass. I've put a few conversions through emissions lately and didn't have any major problems.

[AZJeeps TJ&XJ]

You will need the charcoal canister for sure.They look for that to locate the tank vent line so thay can pressure check the tank. You might get away without an EGR if it's pumping 0's out the tailpipe.

X2 on this, and add the cats back in. On something custom, if you went with a newer gen motor, you should have the newer emissions crap on it. Which most have a canister for the tank vents and then cats. If you have the canister in a high visible location with easy access, then they shouldn't give you too much greef on the rest.

[LT1CJ7Dude]

Cool, thanks guys. Rioshilo, how much grief do they give you on the visual inspection part? I'm not at all concerned with it passing the sniffer...the things runs perfect. It just doesn't have cats or a canister.

[OlneyJeeps]

Cats and canister are (in my experience) most important (if is efi); for years I took friend's CJ7 with YJ drive train through... when they started looking for air pump stuff, I informed was efi, so couldn't use that stuff... it passes sniffer so quick and clean, they never give me a problem

[Rioshilo]

They have only given me major headache for componets missing one time, and that turned into a nightmare... What was ok one time through to not have the next time they would say it was needed. And, the truck never actually had that componet from the factory.

It is hit or miss what they check for, they are usually idiots. They will look for the canister. They will do an evap test, and check your gas cap. If the vehicle originally came in 1980 with cats then it is supposed to have them to pass the visual. Like I said they may or may not check. If you have an OBD II motor that has o2 sensor after the cat then you would need them so that the motor would not set cat efficiency codes and would run good and clean.

[LT1CJ7Dude]

I'm not at all concerned about it passing the sniffer. It runs like a top, no smoking, and it hasn't thrown any codes at all (we installed a Check engine light)...I just wish it wasn't so hit or miss with the testing because it would suck to be stuck with a vehicle I can't register and scramble around trying to find all the parts even though it'll pass fine.

What all is included in the evap test, and it just has the stock style 80 gas cap...do I need a new one?

Thanks for the help guys!