virginia car inspection

clayadkins · #1 (**permalink**) 07-10-2002, 03:30 PM

I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED A 98 CLASSIC COBRA KIT AND HAVE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET IT INSPECTED. I LIVE IN VIRGINIA AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME I HAVE TO HAVE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ON MY CAR. IT HAS A 98 302 SVO FUEL INJECTED ENGINE. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING I KNOW OF. PLEASE IF ANYBODY FROM THE STATE OF VIRGINIA HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS OR CAN TELL ME HOW THEY GOT THEIRS INSPECTED PLEASE EMAIL ME. THANKS

hiwave · #2 (**permalink**) 07-12-2002, 01:04 PM

THEY HAVE YOU BECAUSE THE YEAR OF ENG BLOCK.
BUT THEY CAN MAKE A PIPE W/ CATS IN IT

AC Cobra · #3 (**permalink**) 08-28-2003, 06:09 PM

Contact the State of Virginia's Division of Air Quality in Richmond. Asked to speak with someone from Mobile Sources. That group usually sets the emissions standards for vehicles. Most states have an exemption for "kit cars" or "special fabricated vehicles" because there are so few. Ask to get a copy of the exemption notice.

mjwahl · #4 (**permalink**) 08-29-2003, 08:15 AM

Clay: The key seems to be what year the car is titled/registered as. Most of the folks down this way seem to have managed to title/register their vehicles as "65 roadsters" and thus only have to meet inspection standards for 1965, or they have chosen to register them as antiques (with the resulting Virginia use limitations) and don't have to have them inspected at all. Your ability to do this depends on how the vehicle is described in the MSO.

Mike

Kerr · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2005, 01:45 PM

i live in va as well. find some one on the mustang boards that has stock header, buy then put them on to get inspected then swap back later if you watn. Or just go get a high flow cat, cheap one

from jegs or summit. weld it on.

tfarhood · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-2005, 03:19 PM

Regardless of the year on the title, if you list that it is garaged outside of the "emmissions required" counties, it won't need emmissions inspection. Only a few counties in Virginia require emmissions. If you own property or have a relative elsewhere in the state, say it is garaged there. It can still be titled at your home address. The location that it is garaged dictates inspection.

tfarhood · #7 (**permalink**) 03-10-2005, 04:24 PM

Clayadkins, I just looked up Ferrum, VA on the map. You guys don't have emmissions tests on cars down there do you? If you don't have emmissions tests, then take your car somewhere else for inspection. The guy you are dealing with doesn't know that he can pass a safety inspection without cats. Hell, I live in Fairfax County, and my car passed safety in a flash. Lights, horn, seatbelts, wipers, that's it. I asked if they would inspect without removing the wheels due to the clearance of the lug nuts on Halibrand style wheels, he said no problem. I also said that his jack probably wouldn't fit under the car properly; he said no problem again. Find another inspection station. If you do require emmissions, refer back to my previous post.

hssss · #8 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006, 12:21 AM

I live in Giles county where they don't have emissions inspections, at least not the sniffer. I was failed on a 78 Tbird that I had installed a 460 and the cats kinda fell off when I made the new exhaust. The car was failed the next time because they do a visual inspection and the cats had to be there. There is nothing saying that they have to function, that is not part of the test. I am building two cars that I would like to register as what they look like not the build year. I have heard both ways. The first is a 41 Willys "Gasser" PU that at least part of the time will have an 871 blown 383 chev that there is no way it will pass any kind of emission inspection. The other is a 392 powered Lotus 7 which I would prefer to register as a 59 Lotus America, if you squint real hard it will kinda look like one. I would be very interested in any info I can get about how several registered thier Cobras as 65 Roadsters.