Happiness

[22229stingray81]

I took my Vette to get an emissions test today.. I was very worried... I drove it for 30 miles before just to try and burn off all the hydrocarbons . 2 years ago when I had it tested I spent almost $400 getting it to pass... and they didnt set my adjustments back (disconnected fast idle!!).. So I get to the gas station/emissions testing station that I have carfully picked out (checked up on mechanic). He asks me what year and i say '81 and he goes "oh.. thats too bad.. thats the cuttoff.. we have to fully test it for everything" So that gets me nervous already.. apparently in va if its an '81 or newer you have to hook it up to the dyno and fullly test for all pollutents . And after 25 years you dont have to test at all.. so I guess I got the short end of the stick.. an '81, and not exempt because its not a "classic" yet.. anyways.. he actually knew what a fast idle was and knew to let it warm up, and how to turn it off by depressing the throttle (if I had a dollar for every guy who didnt know why it was reving to 2,000 rpm on its own....). So then he hooks it up and puts it on the rolling dyno... after 5 minutes I ask him how its going and hes says "wow... it passed everything.... and really well too... you must take excellent care of this thing.. we get stingrays in here all the time with catalyic converters removed and vacuum leaks.. but yours.. pured like a kitten and passed with no problems, very strong running engine" (I have 124k on it by the way). He was almost as excited as I was! So there really is no point to this story but I just wanted to share my joy with you all... and taking care of your "baby" certainly does pay off. Thanks for listening.

-Tatortot

[sixty9vette]

Excellent! Fortunately, here in NC, they just do a visual and the sniffer. They don't test individual components for proper function, so as long as they can see it, it passes. Still have to get by the sniffer though...

[rich95]

Yeah, You have to love living in Virginia. I just bought a 95, I'm dreading my first emissions test :(:(
rich95

[22229stingray81]

Hopefully it wont be too bad since its a '95. What part of alexandria ya from? Im in mt. vernon.

-Tatortot

[rich95]

So am I. I live about a mile from the Woodlawn Stables off of Mt. Vrn hwy.
rich95

[22229stingray81]

Rich95,

I am about 2 miles from the stables and about 1 mile from the actual mount vernon estate. I hope I see ya on the road sometime.. Ill be the one waving!!

-Tatortot

[GerryLP]

Tatortot,

I am glad that your vette's emission went very well. I love that feeling when things work out -I can relate to your happiness... :Twist

[chockey]

Congrats thats awesome. :upthumbs

I'm not looking forward to when they start doing testing here in New York State, right now it just a look see if all the parts are there and the converter isn't plugged.

Chuck :w

[Tom Bryant]

There are a few countys in Ohio that have testing but most of the state doesn't including where I live.

:J :upthumbs :J

[Nut]

Tatertot,

Go get some paperwork from your VA DMV and see if there are any loopholes or qualifications that you may be able to "spin" to the DMV folks and get Historic or Street Rod tags. Got my Historic tags this summer on my '81 from the DMV over here in the Peoples Republic of MD. Sayanara emissions tests forever. Hello no-cat-dual exhaust. Congrats on your passing.

Btw..... I had removed my AIR pump and had a 2-stage cat over 15 years ago and she had passed the MD sniffer every 2-years.

Looks like we'll all have to hook up soon. Bowie is only 45 min from Alexandria and I love Old Town.

........... Nut

[DDLS1]

You just got to love Kentucky................

1. No state/county vehicle safety inspection
2. No emissions testing
3. No excise tax when registering, $25 flat fee for tags annually

The down side is that you may not want to buy a used car here since nobody is really looking anything over..........ever

[Nut]

Hey Dale...... and it hasn't even started snowing yet. :D

.......... Nut

[22229stingray81]

Nut,

Wow that sounds great. I havent actually gone to the dmv and asked all the questions but I have looked into it some. Apparently I hear in va that if you have antique or classic plates you have a mileage restriction on how much you can drive it every year, and god knows I cant have that, I gotta cruise when I want! I dont know if that is actually true but I have heard it from a few vette owners. Definatly worth looking into though.. ooh no catalytic converter... true duels.. im getting chills! Thanks everyone for the positive feedback.

-Tatortot

P.S. Yes we must get together!

[Tom Bryant]

A mileage restriction for classic or antique plates is common in most states. It is done to discourage using a car registered as a classic vehicle for daily transportation. This is because in some states you only have to buy a classic plate once and may not even have annual registration renewels. The idea being that these vehicles are hobby vehicles and not intended for regular service.

One other thing. It depends on what your classic plates look like. For example if I lived in Wisconsin I wouldn't care if the plates were free one would never be on my car. Royal blue with red letters. :puke I can't imagine any car that plate would look good on.

Sorry WI folks but when I worked up there I couldn't believe it the first time I saw that plate. Most states have nice looking collector plates.

Tom

[22229stingray81]

Good point tom, here in va they look nice though, they have a black background and white letters and it says "antique" above. Im going to try and avoid this all I can though cause I couldnt stand the mileage restriction, even if it means I have to keep paying for everything as if it were a newer car. Thanks for the info.


-Tatortot

[DDLS1]

Tom,

I hear ya......Kentuckys "Antique Auto" plate is just plain gross. White background with bright green lettering and a picture of what looks more like an Amish wagon than an automobile. Like you said, "if they were free" I still wouldn't want it my corvette.

I almost forgot that one Nut........and "NO" snow, just got to :love it.

[Tom Bryant]

Dale,
It's been flurrying all day. Can I come live with you? :gap

[Eric]

Tatortot,

Nut's just rubbing it in cause dang Maryland folks get it after 20. There aren't any loopholes here in VA so it's 25 years or nothing. Luckily for me, the 25 year law went into effect the month I bought the 71. Prior to that, 25 years got you antique plates but anything 69 or later got emissions tested.

The restrictions on antique plates are strict in principle but many juristictions overlook most of them. I'm too paranoid though and don't want to risk it. Here's a link to the DMV rules about vintage plates. (http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/citizen/vehicles/antique.asp) I like my plates the way they are anyhow, since they are vanity plates and have my CAC handle on them:upthumbs!

[DDLS1]

Sure Tom.......got lots of room!!! Just getting ready to start my garage project could use the help:L

[Tom Bryant]

:j WORK??? :j

[Nut]

Regarding the 1000 mi restriction, Antique has that "stipulation". However, how they gonna know how many miles I put on it? As for insurance, as long as I claim the correct driven miles (which I do; 7500 per year) they are happy and I'm not in jeopardy of losing my insurance in case of a mishap.

......... Nut

[Evolution1980]

Here's where everyone tells me how demented and sick I am. My car doesn't need e-checks anymore because I qualified for Collector Plates. But out of sheer curiosity, I'm taking my car next spring to have it e-checked! HAHAHAHA :L :L :L :L
For $19.50, it'll be a good laugh to see what I'm spewing. Actually, I'm thinking it may not really be all that THAT bad. My engine is still relatively new and runs great (but then again, it is a GM350, so it'll be running great for the next 30 years!)
Look over to the left to see what I'm running for engine and exhaust...heheheh :D

Actually, I'm sitting here thinking about this now... WHAT IF...???
What if the car actually DOES pass the test? I wonder if I could start some movement based on the fact that these newer engines don't need all that AIR crap loaded on 'em as long as they are maintained...hmmmm... Oh well, not likely to happen, but just a funny thought that crossed my mind...
;stupid