Failed Emission Test

Steve Bisson · #1 (**permalink**) 10-27-2008, 08:14 PM

Took the Cobra in for it's emission test today and it failed.

HC (PPM) Cruise limit is 150. Cruise results; 146 PASS.
Idle limit is 220. Idle results; 1359 FAIL.

CO (%) Cruise limit is 1. Cruise results; 4.05 FAIL.
Idle limit is 1.2. Idle results; 4.19 FAIL.

Anyone know of a good tune-up shop in the Lakewood/Tacoma area?

SwiftDB4 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-27-2008, 10:22 PM

Are you aware that kit cars only have to meet 1969 standards? 900ppm HC and 6.0% CO idle. You are over the 900 HC some, but OK on CO. Contact Kerry Swayne 425-649-7101 (Bellevue ECY NWRO Programs). He handles kit cars.

mrmustang · #3 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 05:48 AM

What are your engine specs?
What carb is currently on the engine?

Bill S.

Jake · #4 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 07:18 AM

Steve,

Try Bill's Dyno Tune in Tacoma off 56th. They are in the phone book. I am very impressed with there service and prices.

Jake

Steve Bisson · #5 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 09:23 AM

Thanks Jake,

Bill's is also one of the recommended emissions repair facilities.

jwd · #6 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 09:23 AM

Sent you a PM

Jim

SwiftDB4 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 10:01 AM

Steve,
Can you let us know how things go? I'm trying to work with my local WA legislator to introduce a bill to exempt kit cars from testing. This is BS considering a lot of surrounding states do.
Dave Miller

Silverback51 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 10:05 AM

I went through this last month.

One phone call to Kerry Swayne and it was taken care of.

Just don't try to BS the guy. He knows cars and engines.

He did however call my car a "Filthy Pig"

if I remember right. It was bad, but he passed it.

Steve Bisson · #9 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 11:02 AM

Dave,

I called Kerry and he took care of the problem, however this is just a temporary solution. What happens when Kerry moves on and is replaced by someone who would not be as knowledgeable or sympathetic? As our cars are driven very few miles a year, compared to the average vehicle, our emissions are not that great a factor in the overall pollution problem. I will discuss this with Mike Carrell, my State Senator (who is a car nut), and see if there may be any support for exempting our vehicles.

John,

Kerry is very knowledgeable when it comes to engines and turning. He told me that a properly tuned engine will give peak performance and lower emissions. I mentioned that I needed a good professional tune and he highly recommended http://www.carbconn.com/. I was up there in August with a couple of club members and was impressed with their operation. I'll be going back up this spring and have them do a dyno tune.
As for Kerry's "Filthy Pig" remark.......you do have a Big Block.

jwd · #10 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 11:27 AM

Steve,

When I talked to Kerry 2 years ago, I asked him "what happens when you transfer or promote?" His reply was that he has gone as far as he can in his dept. and his next move will be retirement in 12- 14 years.

Jim

Michael C Henry · #11 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 11:54 AM

It has been my experience that idle emmissions get better with more RPMs. I have installed new primary metering blocks and reduced the idle metering orifices in the secondaries. All this was done after the waiver proscess. I have yet to have the car tested to see where it stands now. If you go through the standard proscess you have to spend a minimum of $150 with a certified emmissins repairer trying to improve your emmissins. My certified emmissions repairer said that soon he will be doing the retesting after repairs and issueing the waiver. I just went through the proscess for the last time for my 84 Cobra replica and my 84 Land Cruiser. My neighbor is occupied with HHO seperaters. You should see the result before and after.

jwd · #12 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 01:00 PM

Mike,

Why go to all the trouble and spend $150 when you can accomplish the same thing with a single free phone call?

Jim

Steve Bisson · #13 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 01:34 PM

Jim,

I certainly can't speak for Mike or anyone else, but for myself I would like to reduce my emissions as much as possible while maintaining the maximum performance level. I realize that my 1988 302 with cam and Holley DP is not going to be anyway near my 2008 BMW with EFI with respect to emissions, but I would like to think that if the Cobra was properly tuned and driven 3K miles a year it would be close to the 12K miles a year BMW in total emissions.
FWIW.

Steve

Silverback51 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Bisson

John,

Kerry is very knowledgeable when it comes to engines and turning. He told me that a properly tuned engine will give peak performance and lower emissions. I mentioned that I needed a good professional tune and he highly recommended http://www.carbconn.com/. I was up there in August with a couple of club members and was impressed with their operation. I'll be going back up this spring and have them do a dyno tune.
As for Kerry's "Filthy Pig" remark.......you do have a Big Block.

Now that's a low blow Steve.

Karry also recommended that I go up to Carb Connection next spring. I have already removed the air horns which made a big difference, and I'm planning on picking up some Quick Fuel primary metering block so we can fine tune it a little better.

And even after the Big Block comment,

I'm glad to hear you are all taken care of.

Take care,

John

jwd · #15 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Bisson

Jim,

I certainly can't speak for Mike or anyone else, but for myself I would like to reduce my emissions as much as possible while maintaining the maximum performance level. I realize that my 1988 302 with cam and Holley DP is not going to be anyway near my 2008 BMW with EFI with respect to emissions, but I would like to think that if the Cobra was properly tuned and driven 3K miles a year it would be close to the 12K miles a year BMW in total emissions.
FWIW.

Steve

Steve,

While an out of tune engine will have more emissions than a properly tuned engine, tuning for the least emissions will not result in maximum performance. You can't have your cake AND eat it too.

Jim

Great Asp · #16 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwiftDB4

Steve,
Can you let us know how things go? I'm trying to work with my local WA legislator to introduce a bill to exempt kit cars from testing. This is BS considering a lot of surrounding states do.
Dave Miller

In Missouri we worked with SEMA to delevop legislation to exempt any auto that does not travel more than 12,000 miles a year. That has worked out great for my 04 Cobra, which would not stand a chance of passing as it no longer has the cats.

Post your induction and motor specs, there should be hope to get you under the limits. My first SPF went in at 800/800, and I took it out on the parking lot, ran the idle screws down and retarded the timing until it would barely ran, rolled in and passed.

Crossed the street and re-set everything

Sorry you are having trouble. Our state wasted SO much money on testing only to learn hard lessons.

Eric

Steve Bisson · #17 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 07:37 PM

Eric,

Would you happen to have a web site I could go to to look at that legislation? I'm sure our legislators would like to review it.

Steve

Great Asp · #18 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Bisson

Eric,

Would you happen to have a web site I could go to to look at that legislation? I'm sure our legislators would like to review it.

Steve

SB 17 was the big bill passed. But there were other "Hot Rod" bills passed at the same time.

http://www.senate.mo.gov/07info/bts_...pe=R&BillID=69

The first paragraph, last couple of sentences.

Eric

More http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?id=60081

http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?id=61472

SEMA = Freaking Fantastic! (Join, today!)

PANAVIA · #19 (**permalink**) 11-01-2008, 01:39 AM

looks like it is running rich at idle. are you running a MSD 6AL >?

Ron61 · #20 (**permalink**) 11-01-2008, 04:45 AM

Missouri looks as if they have about the best registration for these cars that I have seen. Whatever you do, don't look at California as a guide as they would like to do away with all cars. The SB-100 is ok, but the 500 numbers per year are a joke as they are almost impossible for the outlying areas to get into Sacramento to get one because of the phone lines being busy and the fact many DMVs still don't want to mess with it. Very few of these cars are driven enough during the year to make any noticeable contribution to our emissions problems. A few people do drive theirs a lot, but due to our weather conditions up here we don't have that many days a year that it is nice to drive them. I wish all states could come up with a way that they would accept each others registrations, but that isn't ever going to happen.

Ron