N8PHU

Greetings all,

I posted this here because it is state specific (MD)...

I have never taken a car thru Maryland inspection and I wanted t o know how hard they look at your ride.... I mean do they look at your V.I.N. and go "Well, this was a V6 car, now you have a V8 in it... You fail.."

My situation is I have a 2.8L in the car I am building and want to drop in a 350 setup into it, but don't want to cause problems for myself. I want to drop the 350 into it, pass inspection and be done, not have to get the 2.8 running, pass inspection, then put the 350 into it...


It might seem like a silly question, but it is one I need answered...

Thanks,

OneBadZ4U

I can't be 100% on any of the answers but I can get pretty close.

First off, it all depends on who you go to as to how they will look at your car. I work in Rockville, my shop doesn't do State Ins. We send them down the street to a Korean Shop. When I had my RS inspected three years ago, I had an very bad engine knock. It passed after a few minor brake repairs. Most tech's don't care about engine swaps. But if you do swap the engine, I would try to make it look as if it belongs. Don't just cut everything out and expect the MD inspector to not queston it. I would also remove the Emissions Label. But it should pass MD State Inspection.

You know what? I'll do you one better. I'll ask the English Speeking MD Inspector down the street from me what the true protocall is(he's a little tough on the inspections). I'll ask him your question. I'll post you the answer tomorrow.

Now, once passed you will be mailed an Emissions Inspection Request. You will have to take the car to the VEIP. Now, this is straight from the Redland Road VEIP Manager's mouth. They don't check to make sure the engine in the car matches the VIN. As of now. All that matters is that the car passes emission. However, OBDII cars will have problems if they can't communicate with it correctly.

Later

OneBadZ4U

Ok, just spoke to the guy. Basically it's like I said. He said, "It won't fail MD Inspection just because of the engine swap." He did indicate that it could fail if the exhaust didn't have a converter or was run poorly. He also added, much like I said before, make it look right. Try to keep emissions and/or make it look clean. Don't do a hack job! Well, there's your info.

N8PHU

ONEBADZ4U,

Thanks for the info... I really appreciate it.

The wife looked under the hood of the car and said "Your not going to leave that dinky motor in there, are you? You should drop a V8 into it." Gotta love a woman like that.......

I didn't want to get the V6 running and then go thru the pain later to drop a V8 into it. I will look for all the stuff that normally belongs under the hood with the v8 and install it.

Thanks !

camarogirl18

iTrader: (2)

only thing i can say is GOOD LUCK & MD INSPECTION IS A PITA!!!

z28kindaguy

Not if you know the right people.

but my 'source' moved.

ES87iroc

Md inspection is pretty easy for the most part, it's officially just a "safety" inspection. There is nothing on the state form for engine inspection outside of the power steering belt/emissions gear.

Pull that old 6cyl and insert it into the nearest dumpster.

twysted87

find someone very lenient to inspect your ride the guy i took my iroc to ,really let me have it. a whole piece of notbook paper full of repairs, like an idiot i did all of it and took it back there, because i didnt need an appointment

twysted87

msi sux

blyth18md

Inspection isnt bad at all. Just a saftey inspection really. I have a scan of my sheet on what they check. I'll post it up...

z28kindaguy

Seems like that's your only option. If you would've taken it somewhere else you would have to pay the inspection fee all over again.

Kevin, I can't send PM's to you now.

blyth18md

OneBadZ4U

Just something maybe you all didn't know. The MD inspectors have a little bit of flexability in things they can fail a car for. They do have that sheet which they must follow, but there are other "technitions Discretion" items. Mainly, if the car looks like a turd, smells like a turd, drives like a turd and sounds like a turd it aint going to pass. As mentioned some are lenient and some are hard. The Inspectors are policed by the MD State Police. So if A: they pass a car that shouldn't, they will have to answer for it if someone finds out or B: fail a car because they are to hard on it, you can talk to the MD State Police Officer that over sees him for options.
Unfortunatly there is no 100% answer to passing the inspection. The best think is to make a good impression. Clean car, no oil covering the bottom of the car. A clean interior, not perfect just not all trashed up. Engine bay that looks decent. One other thing I wouldn't do, don't paint all the interior plastic pieces bright yellow or red. It looks like crap and techs usually think the owner is rigging his car. Not that they fail it on looks, you just want to start them off with the right idea. The idea that your car is still ok to be on the road. And obviously the mechanical safety issues need to be ok.

N8PHU

I wonder if this thread wouldn't make a good sticky? That and maybe we could get some input from other areas (VA, DC. Etc...)?

Legal Disaster

iTrader: (6)

ok so you are saying that i need my interior in the car inorder to pass inspection? right now it's all gutted out. i want to tag the car in a week or so and get it inspected quickly thereafter, to enjoy the weather while we can. if needed i guess i'd go ahead and order some new carpet for it.

On a side note if anybody wants to buy my previous flame red carpet send me a pm. oem and in perfect shape

Megaracerx2

1st.. you do need an interior...my car wouldnt pass untill i got the peice of plastic with my gears on. (p-n-r-d-3-2-1-)


and secong...ispection is one of too things....knowing the right people...or paying the prices....mine would have cost 1400 to pass....or $150...with a guy i know...


just saying....md inspection is a pain.

1991 Formula

i just got my car inspected monday and i went from tbi to tpi well since some things got moved around he had to call the imissions place and get a list of stuff but if i was missing a EGR or something he can fail the car but everything on my car is in perfect working order it passed first try just had to remove the 20% window tint lol

Marc 85Z28

iTrader: (3)

Technically a visual inspection of all original emission components is part of the MD state inspection. However, due to the fact that some cars came with EGR, some without, and some were difficult to see (same goes with AIR injection), many inspectors will not take the time to lookup what it should be equipped with. Some won't even open the hood! Hell, even during the emissions check they rarely if ever open a hood.

Steve86TA

iTrader: (57)

LOL that should make all other drivers here feel safe There is a reason its called a SAFTEY inspection
$1400,that must be a real POS

Megaracerx2

Nope, actually its not.


just expensive parts.. ($400 Odometer plus install- $800 rack and pinion wich got replaced and then they "found" another 700 dollors worth of stuff not on the original inspection papaers)



so, yeah, everyone watch out, dangerous vehichle around...what with my no odometer and what not.. :roll:

Steve86TA

iTrader: (57)

I bet with those prices you wont be going back there.I didnt think they could "find" more stuff after they already did the inspection.As long as you were in the time frame and mileage allowed?Looks like they just figured they were really going to give it to ya.

frederzick

Just out of curiousity, though this doen't have to do with MD inspection, more so with MD emissions. I have heard from several sources, none confirmed that you can now get away from the emissions inspection since the f-body is no longer manufactured, though this would mean you would end up with classic or hot rod tags which you can only drive on weekends and a limited amount of miles, (doesn't matter in my case, car doesn't move mon-fri and is driven less than 5,000 miles a year). I have been unsuccessful at getting any where with the DMV web-site has anyone gone through this, I have a 1991 Z-28. I know 25 years and older is allowed, but the descreasion on discontinued models is my question.

Marc 85Z28

iTrader: (3)

I hope you're not talking about a 3rd gen...
$800 for a part that doesn't even exist on your car? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Megaracerx2

Nope. on my 300zx.

BigDog99

Has anyone bothered to notice that the original message was created in Dec 04? Just curious.

Megaracerx2

i knew that

1badz4me

By rule of MVA under Historic Vehicle you can get historic tags due to the fact the Camaro is no longer produced the car has to be 20-24 yrs old or is a make that the manufacture no longer produces ,visit Registration - Special Use Vehicles

frederzick

I found that information on my search of there web-site, but what supporting documentation do you need that it is discontinued? Plus it says in the application form that it has to meet all of the criteria in column 3 starting with 20-24 model years old, 1991 doesn't cut it.
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My car is only 15 model years old. Any one ever go through this with the MVA yet? I appreciate your help so far.

Legal Disaster

iTrader: (6)

i've had my iroc for about a year and a half and never got around to getting the car tittled in my name until about a month ago, after speaking with the main lady in the tag/tittle section of the dmv she told me that it's not the model that needs to be discontinued, but the make. she said that if i had some sort of document from GM stating that the camaro is no longer in production and I have a rare one, I May have a shot, so in otherwords, she shut me down for getting historic tags until my car is 25, alittle over 4 left to go. I'm still going to tag it, just not yet until I deem it ready, probably sometime next year if I'm lucky.