First off, I'm a brand new member, so I'm excited for all the info you guys can pass on to me! I just purchased my grandpa's '78 F-250 from him after years of coveting it and will be receiving it this weekend. Needless to say, I'm rather excited! They say it will not pass emissions here in Phoenix, and have it registered at their cabin's address in Pine, where there are no restrictions. From what I understand, my options are getting classic car insurance so that I don't have any emissions restrictions, but there are limitations as to what I can do with the truck under those insurance policies. I could also drop the money to get the conversion parts so it will pass current standards.

What problems have you all ran into in this process? Are there other options worth exploring?

Thanks for the help,
Nick

 

If it was never tested how do they know it will not pass? What is missing? for 78 there was no cats on F250s and minimal emissions equipment.

Garbz

 

You could always run it through to see how it will actually do. What is it now $12? $25? Something like that. If it fails the first time, but gives you enough information to determine what is wrong with it, you can fix it and then take it back through. The second time is free.
As I understand it the emission exemption is not only the classic car insurance, but also the classic car license from the DMV.
Your third option is to register it at their location and not worry about emissions at all. The only thing, is if you get stopped and you show a driver's licenese address for in the valley, but the vehicle is registered to you but in Pine, they may question you about that.

 

Since this is old but I have a similar question, I'm going to hijack and not feel at all bad about it.

I've lived in Phoenix before but registered my vehicles in Wickenburg. I'm returning to Phoenix soon and plan to register them right, this time. I'm not too worried about passing a sniffer but am curious how Phoenix testing stations are about visual tests. Do they care about such things as long tube headers on an '01 F150, as long as the cats are in place? Would single cats per side pass (original is 2 per side). My old ('77) Jeep has an open air filter element. Yay or nay?

 

They don't care about visual at all, well at least in all the locations I've been too. As long as your gas cap holds pressure and you pass the sniffer test, you'll be fine.

Me on the other hand... I need my diesel in the Bronco and after calling they said no way can I get away with that because their stupid restrictions blah blah despite if I run biodiesel, it will be better for the environment anyways. Since I'll be leaving for the Air Force within the year or so, I'll be stationed somewhere out of state hopefully that doesn't require emissions testing. If they do, then I'll just have to leave my Bronco up at our cabin in Heber.