My 1979 Bronco with a 460, 7 inch lift, 38 inch tires, and dual exhaust with what looks like 3 to 4 inch pipes. I have no CAT on my bronco. I bought it without one. Here in Raleigh they do emissions system checks along with safety. I do have to big mufflers on the the bronco but am worried that they are going to fail because of no CATS and the 460. I was told that i cannot buy used CATS from the junkyard and actually kinda worried they wouldnt work anyways. Does anyone know if actually need them to pass because it is a 79. Will it even pass with the big 460. If anyone knows where i can get some cheap CATS to fit the Bronco that would be cool or even of how to pass inspection with or without them with no problem.
Joseph

 

I hate to say this, but the best answer you're going to get is by visiting the inspection station, itself, and asking. Go before your truck is due. Technically, your Bronco not having the cat is not really the issue, as there were some (if not all) of that year that didn't have them. What will be the problem (if there is one) is the 460, as they were not offered in the 1/2 ton trucks in '79 (the 400M was the largest offering, I believe). Moreover, true dual exhaust wasn't offered, so (by the book) you have another problem. The inspection station may have no issues with your truck, at all, or it may have several. Maybe they will allow you to pass by adding catalytic converters to pass a sniff test - if your truck burns clean enough to meet '79 Bronco standards (for the 351M or 400M?) maybe they'll pass it. At any rate, I wouldn't consider buying cats from a salvage yard - they're probably half stopped up. Check out the 'net for some deals on high-flow cats, if you need them. J.C. Whitney, Catco, or your local exhaust shop are all good sources for them. (Around $80.00 each seems to be the going price). Good luck! I hope you don't need to turn many wrenches to get through this one, but I'd save time and misdirection by going straight to the station testing your truck. Just for good measure, you may go to another, afterwards, to see if you're getting a consistent message.

 

You can check your gas guage. If it says "unleaded fuel only" then your Bronco had cats at one time. You can also check the decal under the hood if there is one. It will say "catalyst"

 

I'd say come on over to Greenville and get it inspected. They don't do the emissons test here, not yet any way. If interested, I'll tell you where to go. Where they won't put it on the rack, etc. avrecon84(No Email Addresses In Posts!)