To CAT or not to CAT, that is the question...

[Lister]

I am looking for comments from other 911 owners in AZ on their experience in getting through the visual emissions inspection without a CAT installed on the car.

I bought a 1978 SC last year and did not notice that the CAT had been replaced with a bypass pipe until after I got it home. The rest of the exhaust system was still stock. The emissions test was due a few weeks later and I figured, what the heck, I will try to pass without it. The technicians spent a good deal of time digging through manuals looking for who knows what, but much to my surprise I did pass with flying colors!

Now the dilemma. I just got my hands on a used set of SSI's and am debating on whether or not I should wait to put them on until after my next test in a few months or should just take my chances again?

One additional consideration is that last year a new AZ law was passed to exempt older cars from emissions, that are insured as collector cars with mileage limitations. This is what I already have for insurance so I am covered. The only outstanding issue with this is that AZ is waiting for the EPA to make a ruling on whether they will allow it or not and it may be a number of months before that happens.

So I guess I am wondering if the lack of a CAT on an older 911 still passes the visual inspection more often than not?

Let me tell you I am very tempted to get them on this weekend!

[charleskieffner]

364 days a year.........NO CAT! 1 day in feb.........STOCK OEM CAT! PERIOD! if they catch you..........you may have to spring for brand new CAT! they are just like cops.........the more tickets they write or smog polluters they catch the more stars next to their name. what is it 6 bolts and 2 gaskets. jack car up/ replace for day. following day contribute to depletion of ozone. remember to put anti seize on bolts.

[TerryH]

Had my car for 18 months before I realized the cat was empty. Passed CA emissions a few times already. The gutted cat stays on the car for visual.

[Jeff]

I say take Chucks advice. I'm not sure which station you are going to but, when I get mine tested they always tap on the front hood so they can see the engine;-). I think they are fairly clueless when it comes to 911s.

As far as the SSIs, put them on this weekend and come play with us next weekend. Here is a link...
Arizona Pelicans

[Lister]

Chuck - if it was only swapping the CAT in and out, it would be a no brianer but swapping the entire exhaust system in and out twice over the next couple of months is a little more work. Not to mention the risk of messing up the studs. The other thing is I don't even have a CAT, it was not on the car when I bought it so in a way I am pressing my luck whether I go to SSI's or not. Just looks a little more stock in its current configuration.

Jeff - I haven't decided if I am going to track this car or not. It is a very clean, low mileage, original car (at least until I put the SSI's on) that I am a bit protective over. Also I already run my Lister replica in the ProAutosports track events and we have one coming up Thanksgiving weekend on Firebird main. I know you can't get too much of a good thing but there are only so many weekends and I don't think my wife wants to spend all of them at the track. Now if I could get her out on the track in this car it would be a whole lot easier.

[Jeff]

Lister, Understand completely. You guys should come by the BBQ, it will be around 4pm the saturday of the track day, so you can meet some of us local Pelicans.

[charleskieffner]

if i had any luck w/emissions it would be NO LUCK EVER! everyone of my vehicles they go over w/ fine tooth comb. mirrors underneath, if not on their knees looking under it. gas cap checks,vin checks etc. my 85 surburban has a crate built to hilt 454. its a 3/4 ton 4 x 4. it never had cats from factory. beat me up on smog pump,gas cap ,cats, headers, blah blah. its always supervisor time. no matter what vehicle i have. the 911 was a pain. i passed no problem, but its always under the microscope.

i go to 40th and thunderbird. if any problems i go to gregs auto in tempe on mary street(hunting beer drinking puedners) for my chevies and then go to 56th and washington smog sation. same thing there as far as microscope.

if i were you i would check with other folks in az that have same year car, and see what they are doing to pass. az. is as bad if not worse than kalif. as far as smog. they loose big federal bucks everytime smog alert posted. the days of doing it out of maricopa and pima counties will soon be over in future. for now if you dont pass and have a cabin somewhere in another county register it there. but be sure to change drivers lic. to same place as where you get it registered. otherwise huge freeking fine!

[Lister]

I had good luck at the station on Greenfield in Mesa last year so I will likely still go there, but they still looked it over pretty extensively and is why I was amazed to pass without the CAT.

AZ is not quite as bad as some other states. My Lister replica is registered as a 1958 and has not emissions requirements, even though the engine was manufactured just a couple of years ago. Also like I mentioned they did pass that law that hopefully will get through the EPA and will allow older collector cars to be exempt.

I had thought about registering in another county and have some family in Prescott but think in the long run it would be better to just do the work and make the car compliant for the test and then swap it back. Its actually even worse in Vegas, I know somebody there who has his car registered in AZ since he could never pass in that state. But to do this he also had to get the car insured in AZ as well since they check that there also. Don't ask me what will happen if he has to make a claim if it got stolen form his house in Vegas.

[charleskieffner]

i think in the long run your best to follow the law and then change back. it is a pain, but being a native, the smog is worse than years ago. i figure since mines a hanger queen, im only opening up the ozone a few miles each time i drive it. no big deal..........hahahahaa good luck and post a pic.

[FenderGuy]

Originally posted by C U L8R
I'm not sure which station you are going to but, when I get mine tested they always tap on the front hood so they can see the engine;-). I think they are fairly clueless when it comes to 911s.

I'm with Jeff on this one...the guy opened up my front hood and checked for the engine, the other guy he was working with pointed towards the rear....clueless would be an understatement on this one

[Lister]

Chuck your wish is my command...

[Lister]

and another...

[Lister]

...and one last one.

[charleskieffner]

lister nice car nice detail. what color is that? was that oem color? call jim patrick and bend his ear. he has stated they have gotten a few cars thru smog w/pretty racey exhaust setups.

[Lister]

Well Christmas came early!!!

Looks like that EPA ruling came back with a positive result and in about a month my car will be exempt from emissions testing. I already have the collector car insurance on it.

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/160644.php

Chuck - sorry I never replied to your last post I had not visited this thread until now. Definitely the red accents are not original of course. Not really sure about the base color, its the way I bought it but I do think it may have been repainted at some point in time. Need to do some investigation one of these days to see.

[dorschman]

Fly by negative. The pattern is full Maverick.

[Lister]

dorschman - I have no idea what your comment means in regard to this topic. Must be in reference to the Top Gun plate I in the photo above that came on the car when I bought it from the PO. He was a pilot for United. Its been a long time since I saw that movie but I seem to recall in the comment may have been when returning to the ship and one of them was having a problem and Maverick wanted to stay up with the other plane but was forced to land since he was low on fuel. Is that it? or was it when he would buzz the tower just for fun? now that may make some sense to me.

[dorschman]

It was in reference to when he wanted to buzz the tower and they told him no. He did it anyway and the tower commander spilled his coffee on himself.

I looked like the questions about the cat were answered so I thought I would poke a little fun. When I bought my car there was a Grateful Dead sticker on it. No offense to their fans but it is not my music and I immediately removed it from the car. I took a little ragging at work about it though.

that's a very nice looking car.

[Joeaksa]

Glad to hear this as my car has not had the cat on it for years and is registered at my place in Prescott. Would rather bring it back down to Phoenix and this may help.

Most inspection guys take the heat exchangers to be a CAT so it passes the visual.

Joe

[randywebb]

No problem -- I, and many others, immediately put Grateful Dead stickers on our cars...


Yet Another Boring Hot Rod Rgruppe Car - Part V, Exterior & Paint