I guess you can say I've been hiding out for almost the last two years.

Generally, anytime I have a question, I just search, find the answer, and there's no point in me asking my own question, lol. So, haven't really found a purpose in posting until now.

All that aside, I just recently picked up a 1986 TA. She's not pretty (don't let the picture fool you), but has great potential. Traded away a car that didn't drive for it, so it worked out.



Herein, lies the problem. I knew it had an exhaust leak. I went to have that looked at, and discovered that it has no cat converter. I live in an emissions area, so that's a problem. Illegal to sell a car to a buyer who lives in an emissions area, without current emissions. Nevermind that it's a federal offense to remove the cat.

The previous owner said he'd cover the cost of the exhaust repair and the new cat, and the emissions test. Awesome. Looks like problem solved.

Until I start poking around the engine.



Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't all TPI cars come with the A.I.R. system, smog pump, etc?

And if so, that would make mine decidedly missing..... Unless I'm more blind than a bat, and just not seeing it.

However, after looking at GA emission laws (at the suggestion of a TGO member)....it mentions that they only do a visual for the cat. I thought they checked out the whole engine, but apparently, I am mistaken.

So, my question is multiple-fold:

Should I attempt to fix the exhaust, get a cat, and test it? If they only look for the cat, wouldn't it pass the visual?
And if so, is there any chance at all that it'd pass the sniff test?
If not, is it worth chasing down the equipment that I need, to get it to pass, or should I just see about trading it back?

And/or to any of these; can anyone recommend a sympathetic exhaust repair shop that does emissions? I'm on a very limited budget, having been unemployed for a few months. Just started a job, but don't have a lot to throw around.

And as a last hope chance, would it be more to my benefit to yank the engine, and swap it into my 1983 Z28, which needs an engine.....and is emissions exempt?

And finally....if this is the case, is there anyone in the north-west GA area that could help me with this?

Any advice....would be beyond appreciated.

 

they all had air and a pump, its probably been removed. It may still pass inspection with out them. Does the car have tubular headers? or stock manifolds? i cant tell in the pic

Replace the cat, no biggie

as for swapping the motor into the 83, the 83 may not require emmissions testing, but it is still required to have the emmissions components.

Hope this helps
-Phil

 

Is it me or does it look like the engine is leaning heavy on the passenger side?

 

Hi Phil;

Thanks for confirming that they all had AIR/smog pump. Is that just the case for all the cars/years? Or just the TPI? Or in other words, did my '83 HO also have it? (engine was in a million pieces when I got it, so I have no way of telling)

It has tubular headers.

Also, I should have clarified one thing. If I swap the engine into the '83, it will still be getting a cat installed.

I guess I'll go ahead, and have the exhaust fixed, cat installed, and at least see where she sits on the actual test.

And thanks for the help so far.

 

My '86 TA and '88 TPI Vette both have the AIR on it. My '98 Suburban had it too. I'm almost positive that your '83 had it originally also.

 

Given the options of:

1. Spend the money to repair the exhaust, cat, get it tested, and have the potential of it still failing.
2. Installing it into a vehicle that is already tagged and registered, because it's exempt (I understand it still needs emissions equipment, but this would allow me to drive a vehicle with a tag on it...and not get pulled over every few days)

Which would be the better option?

And how incredibly difficult would it be to swap the 305 TPI setup into my 305 HO car? The donor car is complete, so there's no worry about missing parts and having to hunt.....unless I'm mistaken?

Already looking at the engine swap forum....but most of what I've seen, just says to make sure you have as many parts as possible..... Or just save myself the headache, and see if the exhaust can be fixed?