Question For Pennsylvania Cobra Owners

[Tom-In-Ohio]

To get a permanent emissions exemption in PA (Pittsburgh area),
how old must the engine block be ??? Specifically, would a 1978 351-W block be exempt ??? Thank you.


Tom

[mr bruce]

Easiest way is don't excede 5000 miles per year. You're in a grey area. Special Constructed Vehicle regs, say on page 4, quote"Engine-Must have emmision controls based on OEM's chassis model year".Sounds like it's open to interpretation to me.Get MV-426(02-01) from your local notary/ messenger service and try to figure it out.

[Tom-In-Ohio]

mr bruce,

It is definitely a grey area. Since emission controls (including catalytic converters) were in full force by 1978, I need to know how the bureaucrats will view the exemption eligibility of a 1978 block. I guess the $64,000. question is, how will they interpret the current laws as they apply to this engine ???


Tom

[Jack Zupan]

I just got my SPF registered in PA. Bruce gave a direct quote from the MV 426. I don't think the engine determines the emissions requirements but I'm not positive. However you are emissions exempt if you drive less than 5000 miles a year. There are some people who go over that but for most people that is a lot of Cobra miles in a year. At least in this part of the country.

Jack Z.

[Tom-In-Ohio]

Thanks, Jack.

If the 5000-mile limit takes precedent over the engine, then getting an exemption should be relatively easy.


Tom

[bnewell]

whats up Tom.....you don't live in PA????

Brian

[chopper]

FWIW, it's not a matter of getting an exemption, per se. The way the law is written, as long as you don't exceed 5000 miles per year, you don't have to comply with the test. Of course, you still have to go down to an emissions center and pay your money, but they put the sticker on without having to take the test. The wife's 1991 Toyota MR2 got the same treatment; as long as she didn't exceed 5000 miles per year, the car didn't have to comply with the emissions test. At least, that's the way it was when I left PA about three years back.

[klayfish]

Yup, <5000 miles per year is the way to go. Then you don't have to worry about any "grey" rules or what year the block is. ANY car in Pa that can document sub-5000 miles per year is emissions exempt. Works perfectly for me.

Steve

[NeedAntiVenom]

Tom,

In PA emmisions are tied to the chassis model year. For specially constructed vehicles that is the year the chassis was manufactured - that means current year usually. It is not the year the chassis copies, e.g. 1966.

First time registrations are, according to code, exempt from emmisions tests, in following years you are exempt provided the mileage is less that 5000 miles per year. If you exceed that, you can still get an exemption but you have to spend a minimum amount trying to correct the problem before you can get the exemption.

Here is the PA emmisions code section for subject vehicles:

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/06...bchapBtoc.html

Hope this helps,
Jim

[Tom-In-Ohio]

Brian,

I'm not moving to PA, if that's what you're thinking.


Thanks to all for the helpful info.



Tom