Connecticut: Registration, Inspection & Emissions

[philminotti]

Don-

I want to thank you for all the time you have put into trying to clarify the regs in this ridiculous state!

I think I'm just going to build by motor and deal with the ramifications later...
When in doubt, bury your head in the sand!!

phil

[Don]

Bob in CT:

It would be interesting to know the number of vehicles registered as Composites by year for the past years, since day 1. Bob or anyone, is there a way to obtain the data, only an annual total by year which would not include any personal info ? Then compared to all other means for generating emissions.

With the CT weather, maybe 5 to 7 months of driving,and limited weekly usage ,the miles driven by Composite owners must be an extremely small portion of all miles driven within the state. A guess would be less than 00.1 %

[Don]

Phil, glad to assist, having the Cobra Registration Forum has allowed for an easier method to consolidate everyone's input, including those that have recent experience as mine is dated back to 2000. Just knowing what the regulations are is a head start.

Progress is being made on publishing the 2007 emissions standards for Composites, see below:

From: Dan.Jalbert@dmvct.org
Subject: RE: Composite Emissions Standards
Date: August 15, 2006 10:41:27 AM EDT

Cc: PublicRelations@ctemissions.com

Don

Composite regulations are specified by DEP , the regulation number is 22A-174 , when the new Composite regs come out DMV will notify CTEMISSIONS and you as well

Dan

[Don]

After some research and replies from various CT Depts:

Regulation: 22a-174-27

Title: Emission standards and on-board diagnostic II test requirements for periodic motor vehicle inspection and maintenance


http://dep.state.ct.us/air2/regs/mainregs.htm

http://dep.state.ct.us/air2/regs/mainregs/sec27.pdf


When the revised 2007 emission standards are published, appears the 22a-174-27 regulation will be updated: Had not been aware there was a change from 2005 to 2006

"Composite motor vehicles: For 2005 and earlier model year composite motor vehicles, the maximum allowable emissions shall be 4.0 % CO and 800 ppm HC. For 2006 and later model year composite motor vehicles, the maximum allowable emissions shall be 1.2 VOL% CO and 220 ppm HC "

" Note: Starting January 1, 2007 newly completed composite vehicles will need to have an engine that will meet new composite vehicle emissions standards. The standards that will be in effect are equivalent to the two-speed idle standards for 1980 and newer passenger cars and light trucks or 1988 and newer engines from trucks in the 8501 to 10,000 lb. GVWR range. Composite vehicles classified as 2006 model year and older will continue to be subject to existing standards which are approximately equivalent to the two-speed idle standards at a level somewhere between that for 1968 and 1973 vehicles."

[Vince Calenda]

Does anyone know the nystate requirements?

[Bob In Ct]

Vince:
Put a thread under "Long Island Cobras". Somebody there should know.

Bob

[Don]

Regarding a CT registered Composite sold to a CT resident:

Questions to the DMV:

*** If a Connecticut registered Composite with a CT DMV VIN is sold
to another party in CT, does the Composite have to be inspected again ?

*** If the answer is yes to the above, new inspection is at
Wethersfield or at a local DMV office ?

*** Does the age of the Composite influence the inspection
requirement , more than or less than 10 years old ?

Reply from the DMV

" Yes the vehicle will have to be inspected, please contact our Inspections Unit at 860-263-5448 "

Guess only, if the inspection is done with the previous owner's plates just prior to the sale, would eliminate the need to trailer the vehicle to Wethersfield ?

[Bob In Ct]

Do you really think the DMV will allow you to go through inspection without the flatbed? Why makie it easy or reasonable?

Bob

[Don]

I wanted to verify the answer on CT owner to CT purchase of a Composite, received via e-mail. Spoke with Inspector Larry Merill @ the number below. He stated that a new inspection is NOT needed. The intrastate sale/purchase of a Composite is handled like any other auto, no difference. The Composite must have a CT DMV issued VIN

Copy of the e-mail:

"From: DMV.PhoneCenter@dmvct.org
Subject: RE: Composite Registration: CT existing owner to new CT owner
Date: August 30, 2006 10:46:21 AM EDT

Yes the vehicle will have to be inspected, please contact our Inspections Unit at 860-263-5448 "

Bob, now the trailer wil not be needed

[Cobrabill]

"Note: Starting January 1, 2007 newly completed composite vehicles will need to have an engine that will meet new composite vehicle emissions standards. The standards that will be in effect are equivalent to the two-speed idle standards for 1980 and newer passenger cars and light trucks or 1988 and newer engines from trucks in the 8501 to 10,000 lb. GVWR range. Composite vehicles classified as 2006 model year and older will continue to be subject to existing standards which are approximately equivalent to the two-speed idle standards at a level somewhere between that for 1968 and 1973 vehicles."

Here it comes-the beginning of the outlawing of our cars.


It figures Ct would have something to do with it.

[Bob In Ct]

Don:
Which is it, do we need an inspection or not?

My other concern is that you're giving the DMV ideas.

Bob

[Don]

Two different answers from two different DMV sources, might want to give more credibility to the Inspectors reply. Your guess is as good as mine. The Inspector mentioned having the CT DMV issued VIN is the determining factor.

It is important that anyone contemplating a purchase within the state knows the rules, i.e. no surprises. Highly doubt an inquiry gives the DMV any ideas, seems up to this point they have done fine by themselves. How else would the rules for inspection be obtained ?

[Cashburn]

I would imagine a sale of a CT VIN'ed car in state would be a simple transfer. The action that triggers the inspection for a car brought into the state is the VIN verification (necessary for any vehicle purchased out of state and registered here).

I do not doubt that DMV centers further from the Weathersfield core could potentially overlook this process though.

[Don]

Jay, agree with your thoughts on VIN verification. When I bought my pre-owned Cobra, which was originally registered out of state, the Anti-Theft unit at Wethersfield verified the out of state VIN after the inspection process had been completed, two separate Departments.


At the time, they also reviewed the Bills of Sale for the engine, transmission and rear end. Since the source was out of state, the Bills of Sale were also Notarized.

[Don]

With great assistance from the Support Services Dept of the CT DMV, I was able to obtain the number of Composites registered in CT by year. The recap does not include motorcycles, just Code 01 which is Passenger. Number does include all types of Composites such as T-Buckets etc. Included also are the spelling and abbreviation variations of " Composite "

The hard copy report was dated 10-01-2005 and an updated version will be available early in January, 2007. By viewing the existing printed report at the Wethersfield office, I did not have to request the data via FOI @ $0.25 a page for 600 pages:

1950 to 1960: 5
1961 to 1969: 17
1970 to 1979: 12
1980 to 1989: 74
1990 to 1999: 70
2000: 14
2001: 20
2002: 17
2003: 19
2004: 15
2005: 16 ( as of 10-01-05 )

2000 to 2005: 101

Total of 289

[JAN_AC_MKIV]

Hello all,
Well, the day has come, good news is CT recogniizes the Autokraft as an actual car with a valid VIN, temp plates are in hand !!

Bad News: First attempt at emissions was a failure, sort of. The gas station guy said it was faliling, he tried heating the engine up, no dice. He said to come back tomorrow morining first thing and we can work it again. The DMV emissions omputer has no Autokraft for 1988, so I had him run it as a 88 Ford Mustang... My motor is a hopped of Roush injected 302, with headers and straight pipes, they had NO issue with the noise.

He gave me a void test and said we can try again in the morning, besides freezing my ass off tomorrow morning, does anyone have any advice or tricks to make this car pass? I would totally pay a $500 fee to get it through if they offered it, I am a little stressed and won't sleep tonight.

I did buy this stuff called "guaranteed to pass" from Autozone tonight, supposedly an additive that burns clean?? Can anyone offer any advice or help? My temps are good for 9 more days.

Thanks in advance..

Jan

[Don]

Jan:

Might want to try an appeal to CT Emissions, contacts are:

http://www.ctemissions.com/contact.html

Looks like a Catch 22 situation. As a Composite, the emission standards would be those in effect in the 60's & 70's, not 1998.

Could be just an Administrative situation with CT Emissions, if the DMV recognizes the vehicle and year, then the appropiate emissions standards should be available. Maybe their database was not updated due to the rarity of the auto.

Did you ask why the default is to 1988 ?

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

I think you have to spend about $700 to get a waiver. The problem is that without a passing grade, they will not give you your reg. or renewal if you're already registered. The "mechanic in a can" is just a waste of money I think. Why did they give you Mustang emissions criteria? The Mustang has lots of smog control equipment. You should not have to compete with a car from Detroit.
I'm hoping that when I go for my inspection (ERA 718), they let me get away with 1966 (no emissions) criteria. I have a clean title from a '66 Galaxie conv. for the engine and trans. Too bad I couldn't get it registered as a '66 Ford.

[Don]

I had a State issued title from Wisconsin, no title company, along with a legal registration from Wisconsin as a 1966 Ford. All the VIN's matched and the 1966 Ford VIN was on the body. I also had a notarized Bill of Sale for the engine that it was a pre-1974 block.

CT would not accept the registration/title for the " Kit Car " and had to inspect/register as a Composite.

Still waiting for the new 2007 Composite Emission standards to be announced, which should have occured in June. Emissions is not part of the DMV.

With a grand total of 289 Composites of all types , as of 10-1-05, having been registered in CT since day 1.......impact on Emissions must be 00.0000001%

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

I don't expect miracles in Weathersfield, but at least the title is from CT. If nothing else, they shouldn't hassle me over the eng. & trans.