have to pass smog in AZ...help

[chaos254]

Ok, come March I have to get my car registered and inspected in AZ but I currently have my prochamber on the car, no smog pump and no egr... so basically to put it simply, i'm ******. So it looks like i'm going to have to go back to smog legal stuff so I won't have to deal with this crap again. I think i'm going to purchase a Magnaflow catted x-pipe and then I need all the smog tubes because I tossed them all when I deleted everything. Anybody know where I can get a smog pump and all the necessary tubes for the smog pump, without having to pay Ford a small fortune? Also does anyone know if I will be able to pass smog with the smog pump on, catted x-pipe and NO egr? Or will I have to put my egr back on as well?

I'm trying to spend as little as possible but my main problem is I do not have access to a garage or any major tools. My apartment also does not allow me to work on my car in the parking lot. So pretty much I am going to have to pay a shop to put everything on for me.

Also who has the cheapest magnaflow catted x-pipe?

Any help would be great. Thanks!

 

[JJ95GTID]

... so basically to put it simply, i'm ******.

The only thing I can think to do here is say hit all the Mustang websites for the "for Sale" sections as well as that "auction" site for the hardware you need.

But, you also need the EVAP canister for the gas tank fumes and the solenoid that diverts those fumes to the intake manifold.

Also, the cross over tube from the back of the heads, and the vacuum lines to the AIB and AID valves, and all that stuff that was in the inner fender, etc....

BASICALLY, YOU ARE S#$%ED!

You might be able to rig up a smog "air" pump with a tube to whatever mid-pipe setup you decide to get and hopefully get by with that.

BTW....Magnaflow is pretty expensive. There are other catted X-pipes that are much less $$$$.

The EGR valve is another thing I don't believe is essential to the emissions hardware. So, you might get away without it also.

Be sure to back off the timing to at least the stock setting of 10* and drive the car until it is up to normal engine temps before the test.

Also, remove the emissions sticker from the stock hood so the state employee at the smog check place doesn't have that to reference while testing your car.

I doubt anyone working the SMOG places in Phoenix know exactly how the 94-95 Mustang GT's emission hardware is configured.

Good luck.

 

[HISSIN50]

Nik 95 Cobra and Cjones are two Phx guys that come to mind who work in the car business. They might have some Maricopa-specific insight for you.

I would warn that if your new H pipe has fewer than 4 cats, you might flunk because you have fewer cats than came OEM (it doesnt matter how many stages you have total, they seem to only care about the number of housings).

For the treadmill (which you have to do IIRC), you will probably want the EGR functional.

The guys on 1320 should be able to help you out as well (with parts and info) since most of them are in Phx.

Good luck.

 

[chaos254]

all the smog/egr stuff that is in the fenders is still there. I didn't remove anything in the fenders. I did not remove any of the vaccum lines. They are just capped. The hardline from the back of the heads is still there but not the one from the h-pipe to the smog pump.

Now I really wish I had never removed any of the smog stuff. But I was 18 and stupid. So for all of you that are thinking about removing your smog/egr. Think hard before you do it!

I came up with the list I will need to pass...

1. catted x-pipe
2. smog pump
3. AIRD valve
4. AIRB valve
5. rubber lines from smog pump to the two valves and to hardlines
6. hardline that goes from rubber lines on smog to h-pipe
7. egr pipe(header to egr valve)
8. possible new egr valve(one of the reasons I deleted it in the first place)

 

[mo_dingo]

I do understand your predicament. Last year, I passed with flying colors (literally zeros in both categories) with my EGR not even connected!! The EGR, iirc, has a much larger impact on NoX emissions, which AZ does not test for.

There are 2 separate problems you need to consider. First is passing the sniffer. Second is passing the visual inspection. The two don't need to be harmonious, meaning you can make it "look" like all factory SMOG equipment is hooked up, but it really isn't. The techs at the emissions place really don't care about their job that much, to be honest. Only rarely will you find someone who really cares about their job. Furthermore, you can pass the sniffer without going through great expenditures.

Visual is the hardest for you, since you are missing so much OEM equipment. At the bare minimum, you need the EGR and smog pump, but not necessarily as designed. I took the exhaust inlet to my EGR and capped off both ends, put a make-shift tube between it and they couldn't tell it didn't work.

I also removed the diverter valves from the smog pump system, and plumbed the smog pump directly to the exhaust port on my mid-pipe, which pumps air at all times, into the exhaust. This makes clean air flow through the pipes, diluting the air/emissions content, which should be more than enough to make you pass, especially of you have 2 cats. I also removed the pipe behind the heads. I doubt anyone will notice that.

I wouldn't get 4 cats. Just get 2. If they give you crap for only having 2 cats, get some shields off of some cats at a junkyard and just tack weld the shields on to your exhaust. Appearances can be deceiving!!!

With 2 cats, a working smog pump pushing clean air through the system, and a EGR should be enough to do the trick. The trick is to make it look factory. Don't use bright/colorful plumbing. Darker the better, and the dirtier the engine, the better. Spray paint all hoses and clamps flat black. Clean engines are much more suspect IMO.

Good luck.
Scott

 

[94-302-vert]

Dummy it to look like it will pass and use some Guaranteed to Pass...

I failed miserable, did the GTP trick and almost passed, so I pulled the spot and passed flying colors... this with EGR blocked off and 2 old high flow cats...

 

[Nik_95Cobra]

AMP may have the used parts you're looking for. They rented out their salvage yard land down the street from us so that's not there anymore, but their AMP store may have some leftover parts or takeoffs. Might hit up Guero on here too, I got his old stock h-pipe that I use for emissions, he may have some other stuff laying around and he's a cool guy.

 

[Purple1995Pony]

factory quad cats are not mandatory. they don't last long enough to work right in any older, higher mileage cars anyway. they need to be replaced and as long as the state doesn't have any laws against aftermarket exhaust parts, you're good to go with high flow cats.

oh... and make sure your MAF sensor is clean too!

 

[HISSIN50]

factory quad cats are not mandatory.

This is simply incorrect.

 

[Guero]

highperformancestangs.com has good members in there that could help out....Its local to... I wish I could help but If I knew I way around emission I would have plates on my car lol!

 

[Zero Signal]

I'm not sure if it helps but I did manage to pass with the EGR disabled but with a fake tube hooked up (as Scott mentioned). The smog pump was running though. My primary cats were gutted since I had to removed them once they fell apart. I've heard of people passing with the cat shields tacked on to the h-pipe but I'm not sure about that. It could be worth a shot since you only lose $11 or $15 or something if you fail which is cheaper than a junkyard h-pipe.

 

[Purple1995Pony]

This is simply incorrect.

maybe where you're from but you would be simply wrong in Massachusetts and probably a lot more states....aftermarket cats are legal here and they don't have to be factory quad style

 

[HISSIN50]

maybe where you're from but you would be simply wrong in Massachusetts and probably a lot more states....aftermarket cats are legal here and they don't have to be factory quad style

Because your local laws [or enforcement of said laws] are flexible doesnt negate Federal Law regarding the modificaton of emissions equipment. I live in AZ (where it is a county issue, not state BTW) and deal with this crap personally.

 

[Purple1995Pony]

you're absolutely right. "tampering" with or removal of automobile emissions equipment is illegal according to state and federal laws here in Massachusetts. every vehicle is required to meet the standards in the federal clean air act

Maybe you could read the Federal Clean Air Act Title II - Emission Standards for Moving Sources under Part A, Section 203 "Prohibited Acts" to understand the laws better.

"Nothing in paragraph (3) shall be construed to require the use
of manufacturer parts in maintaining or repairing any motor
vehicle or motor vehicle engine."

 

[JJ95GTID]

I feel that if a vehicle is capable of passing all test that the government uses as a measure of pass/fail for emissions, the vehicle's emisions equipment, original or otherwise, should not matter.

 

[BlackVert]

i have some of that stuff ... if you want it, email me at [email protected]

 

[HISSIN50]

you're absolutely right. "tampering" with or removal of automobile emissions equipment is illegal according to state and federal laws here in Massachusetts. every vehicle is required to meet the standards in the federal clean air act

Maybe you could read the Federal Clean Air Act Title II - Emission Standards for Moving Sources under Part A, Section 203 "Prohibited Acts" to understand the laws better.

"Nothing in paragraph (3) shall be construed to require the use
of manufacturer parts in maintaining or repairing any motor
vehicle or motor vehicle engine."

It's not a question of where the parts are sourced from. Maybe I misunderstood you before - my impression was that you were saying that he could go from four cats to two cats and have absolutely no issues. That sure aint so around here.

You can certainly use aftermarket cats (the state even provides a list of suggested/approved cats) but you still need to have 4 cat housings, plain and simple. Said another way, you have to keep the same number of cat housings as originally came with the car.

 

[chaos254]

Blackvert: thanks, I think i find a guy locally that has all the parts I need. I'll let you know if it falls through.

JJ95GTID: i agree... why does it matter how you pass as long as it does. The egr/smog systems on our cars are 12 years old. If 2 cats can do the work of 4 it shouldn't matter

Hissin: so basically, with any catted x/h pipe I go with other than factory. There is still a possiblity that I might fail the visual.. hmm

Modingo and zero signal: thats good to know I won't need the egr. I guess i'll rig something up like you did. I have the blockoff plate on and the hole in the header capped with a big nut so I guess I'll just run some kind of metal tubing between the two.

I really don't want to put the stock h-pipe back on because i dont have one, dont want it that quiet and I can't keep swapping h-pipes like most people so I'd be stuck with it on for a good while.

I just checked on summitracing for these:
Magnaflow catted x = $499
BBK - $390

I've heard Magnaflow uses really good cats. Is it worth the extra $100? I want something that is good quality and sounds good. Dont ever want to have to mess with this crap again lol.

thanks for everyones help

 

[HISSIN50]

Hissin: so basically, with any catted x/h pipe I go with other than factory. There is still a possiblity that I might fail the visual.. hmm

I would rather say that any aftermarket catted H with less than 4 cats has the possibility of failing the visual.

Magnaflow (Carsound) cats are nice IMHO. They're what I buy when needing a cat.

 

[BlackVert]

pypes makes high flow cats too and they are not expensive. mine cost 69 each from summit