Catalytic Converter Avoidance

[Flick]

I live in the Vancouver, BC area where cars are subject to Air Care testing. Can I avoid using a catalytic converter? I'm building a Factory Five kit using a '95 5L.

[cobrajeff]

That would be difficult to tell without actually trying it out and testing. If your local emissions testing requirements only require passing a "sniffer" test, and not an "equipment" test, it may be possible. In some areas, if the cars passes the sniffer, it doesn't matter if it has a "cat" or not.

I had an '85 McLaren Capri 5.0L that had an "off-road" (no cats) dual exhaust system on it - it regularly passed Michigan emissions tests (the Michigan test did not include an equipment inspection IF the vehicle would pass the sniffer). The balance of the emissions systems were intact on the car. It was slightly modified with underdrive pulleys, K&N filter, true dual exhaust, gears, and NOS. I sold the car to my Brother, who lives in California. He had to put cats back on it, and it still passes emissions, even out there.

If you use the '95 engine AS IS, and do not change to a hotter camshaft, you could probably pass. I think keeping the stock cam would be the key to passing emissions without cats - if you put in a hotter cam, bigger TB or injectors, etc., you will probably get into trouble (or need cats to get the emissions back into spec).

regards,

Jeff

[Flick]

Thank for your reply. We don't have sniffers here. We have to do the full equipment check. Based on the info I've received it looks like I'll need cats, unless I register out of town and try to side step the requirement, but then that effects your insurance if you're operating in an area other than what you declare on your policy.

Terry

[Steve R]

Flick,
EXCELSIOR! YOU FATHEAD!