emissions snag

[less frustrated]

Does anyone have ideas on how to get a U20 with solexes modified to pass emissions? I tried to transfer title from my name to my Trust's name and The Lovely Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles said no-can-do without passing emissions. Even though it is currently titled antique with registration as an antique. Very limited usage but I'll be a scofflaw if necessary. Any cute tricks? I've put way too much money in it to use it as a boat anchor.

[redroadster]

You cannot even set a chainsaw to 4 cycle since 12
73 was the big crack down . The hot rod magazines ....I got a subscription in mid 72 karkraft .... couldn't wait to learn how to rotrod a car engine at 13 , opened it up nothing about it in the magazine asked a friend that had piles of the magazines , he told me emmisions regs prohibit any mods ....you need to be certified as a carb or fuel repair service place with gas anylizer test gas technian to legally do it
Big fine if they would catch you and jail time , it's the same as odometer rollback 10 yrs felony , ya can't even smooth the idle screws out

There's a co2 and a hydro carbon limit if it's below that it should pass putting a catalytic converter on fixed the unburned gases , but not the co2

[eye]

Did you research the Delaware law to make sure that older vehicles have to pass emissions? Sometimes you just happen to get the wrong person having a bad day. I'd make sure it is law first and then go from there. Doesn't sound quite right, but I may be wrong.

Do the local street rod guys all have to take their old cars to DMV to get inspected?

[notoptoy]

The question is WHAT emissions standards you need to pass, are they appropriate for the year of Manufacture or are they expecting you to pass current standards? You can tune it as lean as possible for testing then reset the tune after. Conversely you could install SU's and tune it as lean as possible and see if it will pass, again restoring the parts after passing.

[todd lorber]

OK this sounds bad, but are there any other roadster owners in your area?
Back in the day my friend and I had to do this with our 1200's; his car would pass and mine would not, so we swapped license plates and I stamped a piece of aluminum with my VIN and stuck it on his dash. Then my car did pass.

[Gregs672000]

It also is going to depend on what cam it has. You also can't just lean it out, as that only addresses hydrocarbons and not Nox. Leaning hydo makes Nox increase, so they need to be balanced and at the rpm they are testing at. I've watched this on an older engine exhaust analyzer a friend had for tuning carbs. The good thing is the carbs are much more tune able than an SU, but it's going to take some effort, jets and expertise I feel. You might be able to clean it up some with a wideband O2 set up as a guide, but I don't know what emissions levels you would be at by aiming for example at a 14.7 to 1 ratio (will that mix meet emissions standards?), and that takes some time and jets to dial in.

Be sure it's well tuned to begin with, clean filter, valves adjusted, flow balanced etc. I wonder if an aftermarket spark box (MSD) might help at idle with hydrocarbons?

In WA State I think you get three tries or you have to spend x amount of money on repairs. I'm also hearing that they are doing away with emissions testing here because its been successful, the new cars are pretty clean and they're going to aim the funds elsewhere.

[Gregs672000]

I agree, search laws and see if there's a way around it...

[Alvin]

Did you research the Delaware law to make sure that older vehicles have to pass emissions?

As Eye mentioned, check with your DMV. Every state is different, but if you visit your DMV online there is a clear outline of emissions testing and antique vehicle registration. It might save you the hassle.

Delaware Emissions Inspection:
https://dmv.de.gov/VehicleServices/insp ... _emissions

Vehicle Year Type of Inspection
1967 & Older passenger vehicles--- No Emissions test performed
1968 – 1980 vehicles--- Idle Test
1981 – 1995--- Two-Speed Test

Idle Emission Test– The DMV technician places the probe into the tailpipe to begin test. This test takes approximately 1 minute to complete.



Antique registration details:
https://www.dmv.de.gov/VehicleServices/ ... le_antique
"Delaware titled vehicles with Antique status are exempt from further inspection"

[david premo]

You should be able to tune it to meet emission standards and pass. It will not run very well while it is jetted that way, but I understand that they are doing it in Canada or were doing it. So yes you can get it to pass emissions.
Dave

[redroadster]

Does it have oil smoke ?

[Gregs672000]

That's good info that Alvin posted, and should give you hope that it can be adjusted to meet standards at idle. Hopefully the cam overlap is not to serious. I think it likely that you'll want to take it to a shop with an exhaust gas analyzer who can adjust it to meet what they monitor. Like I said, I don't think you can simply lean it out and pass all standards, but I may be wrong. I just recall watching as the two meters would fluctuate until he found the right balance. If you're not familiar with these carbs (like setting air flow balance etc) then find a shop that's use to working on multiple carb systems. Porsche, Alfa and other such shops likely are, or someone locally into old school Z cars etc.

[redroadster]

Pull a good sized vacuum line off when you hit the shop lot