I've run into a few problems with the 1982 MSE that I bought. I found out that the factory q-jet needs a rebuild (floats are bad, it dumps fuel with no air, had a good mechanic try to tune it to no avail), a few sensors on the intake need to be replaced, vacuum lines are bad, intake manifold leaks, carb-intake gasket is blown, gas is in the charcoal canister, fouls plugs because its constantly dumping gas, etc.

The biggest problem is the car is currently not inspected (last inspection was 1999) nor is it even safe to run. I have an aftermarket intake, carb, distributor, from the "git kit" for this car but none of these components are street legal. It kinda doesn't make sense to rebuild the stock q-jet because the car was originally built by mecham racing to have the performance parts on it, and I rather not go to the trouble trying to get 30 year old parts to work properly for one day. So right now I'm at a loss of what to do because I want to drive the car but keep hitting roadblocks at every turn. I'm not going to install the headers on the car, I'd already put a new exhaust with a cat on it.

I've come up with a few options:

1) Re-register the car as an antique (no inspection/emissions). Downside is the car has to be perfect cosmetically, be approved by PA, and it really limits the usage (only can be used for shows and the occasional drive). I have a daily driver but would like to drive the car to work on occasion so this might not be an option.

2) Re-register it as a classic. I've heard I might get away with it not having the stock intake and carb this way but also heard it might be checked as well. The laws seem to be kinda vague for classic registration.

3) Re-register the car in NJ (shore house in Wildwood, NJ). I'm not familiar with NJ laws but I always see a ton of classic and modified cars driving around the beach?

3) Find an egr equipped manifold or see if the Holley will work with the stock manifold. Or somehow get a carb/intake setup that is street legal. I found a performance manifold from a 1986 Z28 with an egr port for cheap, maybe I can use the Holley on it and plumb a pcv system to the Holley? The car just has to "look like the stuff works" according to my local inspection station.

4) Rebuild the stock q-jet, replace lines, hoses, gaskets, and hope it works. I really don't like this option because few people know how to properly get a CC Quadra jet to work properly and I'm tired of dumping money into trying to get to run with stock components. I'm in nearly a grand just attempting to get the car to run in stock condition, including a new exhaust system, failed inspection, frustrated mechanic fees, and towing bills. I was told by the exhaust shop not to bring my car back until the problems are fixed to finish the welds because it shot flames out of the tail pipes and nearly set the manager's hat on fire.

5) Install the aftermarket parts, get the car to run then sell it. I really want to drive this car but if I can't do it legally then there is no point of owning it any longer. I'm pretty upset that the current laws have made it so difficult to own this car but then again I don't have much of a choice.

Thanks for your help and time.

 

1. Regardless of what you do, the failed vacuum lines and intake leaks are going to have to get repaired. For the cost of a few feet of vacuum hose and some intake gaskets and coolant the majority of your problems could be fixed.

2. The saturated charcoal canister (EVAP) is a symptom, not a problem. Once the vacuum lines are repaired and everything is working as intended, the canister will purge. Eventually the canister will be restored if you keep a new (replaceable) filter element on the bottom of the can.

3. Rebuilding the Q-Jet is easy. Parts are still widely available. That's not much of an excuse. When you install the rebuilt carb, the base gasket problem will also be solved. If you are at a loss for a Rochester-savvy mechanicn in Philly, there is a shop in Bucks County near Wrightstown that can help you, or you can box it and send it to me in Illinois with a blank check, or you can learn to do it yourself in about two hours.

4. You WILL be able to get the engine to run properly without an EGR, and other than visual, may even be able to pass a sniffer test.

5. Once you have it running right, you can install the Holley if you like and try to tune that to run as well as the Rochester. You can decide at that point whether to sell it (at a higher price since it runs) or keep it.

 

Vader has made some very valid points for you.

As far as my personal experience with emissions/inspection things in PA:
1) To register the car as a classic, what I was told from a notary was you will have to pay a $99 one-time registration fee (this was a couple years ago when I asked, the price may have gone up), the vehicle must be at least 20 years old, you will have to send in four pictures of the vehicle, front/rear, and driver/passenger sides. The vehicle has to be in good condition and be stock looking.
Once the car is registered as a classic, it is exempt from emissions testing but is still required to have the annual PA safety sticker, and I believe an "exempt" emission sticker.

2) Judging from your comment about how the smog equipment "just has to be there and look functional", your county sounds like mine. Visual emissions inspection and gas cap pressure test, yes?
If this is the same as my county, which sounds like it, if the vehicle is driven less than 5000 miles annually, it will be exempt from the visual emissions inspection. However, I believe the first time the vehicle is inspected/registered in your name, it must have an initial emissions inspection. Check in to this, as any local inspection station should be able to tell you. You'd essentially have to get the car up to par for the first inspection, then go easy on the miles and you can add whichever parts you prefer.