Being in SW Ontario, this was my first emissions test. I was a bit aprehensive, since after I'd bought the car 3 years ago, I noticed a lot of emissions paraphernalia missing that may have been there originally. I'd looked into trying to submit it as a "Hot Rod" because it supposedly had a bigger cam,, but the went and changed the criteria so only an engine block never available in that model year qualified. Anyway, the car passed in spite of all my worries!

Here are the results:

-------- ASM2525 test --- Curb idle
-------- Limit Read'g Result --- Limit Read'g Result
HC ppm -- 108 39 PASS --- 300 235 PASS
CO % -- 0.60 0.01 PASS --- 1.50 0.00 PASS
NO ppm -- 1161 1021 PASS --- N/A N/A N/A

Emissions control system inspection

EGR System - PRESENT *
AIR System - N/A **
PCV Syetem - PRESENT
Cat Converter - PRESENT
Fuel Evap Syetem - PRESENT ***
Thermostatic Air Cleaner System - N/A ****
Gas Cap Test - PASS *****
Fuel Filler Integrity Check - PASS ******


* Could have fooled me.
** My '83 didn't have this, but the exh. manifolds on this one had plugs.
*** I have a cannister from the wrecker's only connected to the fuel tank line.
**** The snorkels have valves, but no ducts to the exh. manifolds.
***** Bought a new cap recently since the old one leaked gas.
****** I'm sure my filler neck is cracked at the tank joint and leaks.

Anyway, I had put 2 litres of methanol in a 1/4 tank of gas, changed the oil and air filter and put in a 195F thermostat. Before the test I took it for a run to make sure it the thermostat had opened and hot coolant was circulating. (I'd also changed the belts so it didn't sound like something was broken.) When I got there, the tech was not back from lunch, so I chatted with the owner, who told me getting it good and hot was just "coffee shop talk" because they run the car long enough to do that. Getting it too hot can actually increase the NOx reading. So when the guy came in and backed it up onto the dyno, all I could do was watch through the glass and hope for the best. Worst scenario would be I'd have to park it for 3 years until it was 20 years old. So I was pleasantly surprised when another guy pulled up the report and said it passed. As you can see, the NO reading was close to the limit and there's copious HC at idle, but if I can repeat this in a couple of years I'm home free! Maybe it helped to have a clean looking car so he wouldn't assume there was something wrong with it and start looking for problems.

Okay, so here's my question: What are the emissions limits for the various 3rd gen engines? Maybe some of you can check the last emissions test you had. The reason I ask is that Karsten had his 1986 IROC tested as a Hot Rod because his ZZ4 is a 350 and I recall the emissions limits he was given were exactly the same as mine above. The only difference was they listed everything in the visual inspection, except for the gas cap, as "N/A". He doesn't have cats, but he didn't test a whole lot worse than I did, so maybe that's the advantage of FI over a carb. Anyway, I was wondering if the Hot Rod limits are no different than the stock LG4 (which is what my VIN would tell them I had, since the L69 is a mod), with the only difference being the systems inspection.

 

I had my 86 TA tested as a Hot Rod, even though it still had the LG4 in it. The emissions levels for the Hot Rod 350 cid motor where actually lower than the LG4. It was actually harder to pass the etest with the Hot Rod status, because the required levels to pass were lower (ie cleaner running) than if i had just let them test it as an LG4.

 

Okay, Kevin, I now remember you saying that on the TFbM list. Can you find those limits again? It seems odd that the limits used for my car would be the same as Karsten's Hot Rod limits. My report clearly says "Engine Size: 5.0 L". Would anybody know if the limits are published anywhere? I can't see why they would be secret.