Im wanting to start working toward a turbo build becuase my engine is peaking at to 100k mark and i think it would be a good time to get the ball rolling, my problem is, wouldnt i fail emissions on the visual check because its "not factory equipped" ???

 

Yes, if you have a visual inspection you will fail, because there are no smog-legal turbo setups for thirdgens, except the 89 Turbo Trans Am V6.

 

well to my knowledge everybody has a visual correct?

 

If you can figure out how to have AIR tubes on at least 1 header and into the CAT and a working EVAP canister, you should be able to pass the visual still. You aren't required to have AIR tubes on both headers so a single turbo should be possible.

Personally, I'd be afraid to take a turbo car into the emissions station near my house. Those idiots almost got a stock 305 TBI car to come off the rollers once. I'd hate to see what happens when they put a car with real power on the rollers and don't chock the wheels correctly before applying the gas pedal.

 

You could also Have a dumby motor on the side for emissions. Have it set up to where all you would have to do is a quick swap and go. It could work for the every 2 year thing. You could get a complete engine from Pick-n-Pull in Chandler for about $100 (with core charge). Should mount right up and go. Good Luck with it!

Chris

 

Uhm, where did you read that? The car comes with AIR tubes on both sides so you are required to have AIR tubes on both sides.

Not every area has a visual inspection. Some have tailpipe test only.

 

My reply is based on AZ emissions testing not CA. Different rules apply. In AZ, you can get away with 1 set of AIR tubes (0 if you hit the right testing station). The only hard and fast rule for the emissions test in AZ for a 3rd gen is it has to pass the sniffer test and the gas cap pressure test. Once it passses those, they may or may not even do the visual portion depending on how they feel that day. My 92 did not get a visual done last time around because it was near quitting time but they marked the paperwork like it had.

And ODBII cars are an even bigger joke in AZ. If it doesn't throw an engine code on the computer scan, they don't even open the hood or put it on the rollers for a tailpipe test.

 

We can argue this all day long, but AIR pipes on both sides came that way from the factory, so FEDERAL law trumps state law and says you must have them. If your emissions checks are different, they shouldnt be. But that's just my experience, your mileage will vary.

 

True, Federal law says I need it but they don't inspect to that level in AZ even though they are supposed to according to their own departmental regulations. What it will take to pass a visual in AZ is just enough to say the equipment is still on the car. It might not even be functional since they don't check that aspect. (example: the shell of a cat welded around a pipe instead of an actual cat). As long as it blows clean, enough of the equipment is there to say it is still there, and the equipment appears to be functional, the car will pass regardless of how large a federal clean air act violation it really is.

ODBII cars are even more relaxed in AZ. There isn't a visual at all despite regulations saying a visual is supposed to be performed after the scan is done. If a code scan on the ECM doesn't show any emissions relevant codes and the SES light isn't on, the car passes. As long as the ECM is clean, you can remove all the emissions equipment and still pass. This doesn't mean you aren't in violation of the intent of the state and federal laws, it just means you didn't get caught.

So, yes, you are right. There are Federal laws saying I need to retain everything but the reality of the way the inspections are done in AZ says I only need enough to make it look like the equipment is still there.

 

I've never had a problem with emmissions out here.

I've always gone to the station on greenfield/mckellips(i think).

I took my 89 5.0 Mustang up there with no smog pump, no cats, no charcoal canister etc..Absolutely no emmissions crap on the car. I put some denatured alcohol in the gas tank before I left. Car passed with flying colors and they didn't say anything about the emmissions stuff not being on the car.

 

You should edit that location so the station doesnt get in trouble. You never know who's reading this.

 

I doubt they will get in any trouble. None of the stations do a very thorough visual check. When I went through last year there was a Nova in the next lane with a parachute on the rear bumper, full slicks on the rear, and a 6 cylinder engine under a 4 inch cowl hood. They didn't appear to think there was anything strange about it.

CA may actually be concerned about the environmental impact of cars but in AZ it appears to be all about revenue generation by making you take your car through the motions.

FYI: The Nova normally runs a 540 BBC with a very large nitrous shot. The owner swaps it back to the original engine every year for the test because he doesn't want to know how badly the BBC would fail.

 

well i went to one and the little jerk off failed me because i was missing "factory equiptment" and it was just that little metal sleeve from the manifold to the intake for recirculating air. THen i fixed that and came back for my retest and he put my car on the rollers, then jumped em right off, my experience with emissions is less than desireable and if i spent the money on a turbo set up i wouldnt want to chance it on who wants to be lazy that day ya know?

 

Last month I was failed on visual because my timing was set at 0 (where as it should be 6 bdtc) and for having a locking gas cap (I learned that I had to have an emisson approved gas cap as it was also part of the emisson system). Never mind that actual emisson test results passed with flying colors. Luckily I had a new gas cap in the storage compartment and my mechanic was a block away as I was able to have him reset the timing. I went back to the Smog Control station a couple of hours later and passed this time around. I don't fault the guy at the Smog place as this is his living and if he gets caught he could lose his license and his way of earning a living!

I'm going to be doing some upgrades on the engine of my car in the future and I'm going to do the most I can within the letter of the law here, so that I can pass the Smog check. I just don't want to go to the headache of trying to pass smog checks just to get a few added HP. I'd go learn what you can legally do to your car for your state (per your DMV) and do it! That's just my opinion on the topic.

 

well i was wondering because the guys down at street to strip did that turbo on the S10 and i wanted to see what was stopping me form having that done on mine, because a turbo does not come stock on an s 10 lol so would HE fail the check?

 

Its not his fault your car was missing parts, its your fault. He is just doing his job.

Its possible he pays someone a lot of money to smog it illegally for him.

 

its fairly doubtful he pays someone to smog it and i hardly see how a piece of timfoil wrapped on a coil of wire is grounds to fail somebody

 

All AZ emissions testing is done by inspection stations run by DEQ. Some stations are easier to get through than others.