TX State Inspection?
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: Cisco, TX pop: 2500
TX State Inspection?
I have a 76 highboy, and I went to get it inspected and was failed because i didn't have catalytic converters on my truck. It has hooker long tubes with 3" true duals into a pair of turbo mufflers dumping just before the rear axle. I assumed this was legal due to the year model being 1976 and the truck never being a Cali truck. Did it ever have a Cat? If it did, i'm screwed.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: Cisco, TX pop: 2500
That's what i was thinking. He told me that everything from 1968-on had to have a cat, and I saw it right there. But I thought it was 1986-on. Maybe the book had a typo or something, because i thought trucks didn't come with a cat til the mid 80's.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
First year of Catalytic converters were 1975 on the F-100 only.
The 1976, F-250 did not come with catalytic converters in any state, including california.
How old is the smog tech? 1968 on?? Unless TX made a retrograde law making you have them, it never came from the factory with one.
The 1976, F-250 did not come with catalytic converters in any state, including california.
How old is the smog tech? 1968 on?? Unless TX made a retrograde law making you have them, it never came from the factory with one.
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Spokane, WA
Universal Catalytic Converters for 49 States - JCWhitney
$68 a piece from JCWhitney if you "actually" need them
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,238
Likes: 21
From: Northern Illinois
That is because there was a GVW cutoff for catalytic converters in 79.
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 10
From: West Virginia
Everyone above is correct, your truck should not need catalytic convertors to pass in texas. Only certain areas in texas smog so you could always take it out of the city to a rural area where they don't do it at all. I'm surprised, most states cars older than 78 or so are emissions exempt.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Spokane, WA
Everyone above is correct, your truck should not need catalytic convertors to pass in texas. Only certain areas in texas smog so you could always take it out of the city to a rural area where they don't do it at all. I'm surprised, most states cars older than 78 or so are emissions exempt.
and NV "Vehicles registered with Classic Vehicle, Classic Rod or Old Timer license plates and driven 2,500 miles or less per year are exempt from emissions testing." I know CA isn't even as **** as this as '76 being their cutoff, and in WA the cutoff is a 26 years or older, plus you don't have to do emissions on vehicle that are less than 5 years old either.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
I live in Texas and was a state inspector until about 6 onths ago. I also own a 1977 F250 4x4 that I purchased when I lived in CA. It is an original CA truck doesn't have a converter and never did. The inspector is wrong! Contact DPS in your area and they will hook you up with a sticker, and probably refund your original $14.50. What I did is het a reproduction emmissions decal and slap it on the valve cover that clearly stated NON-CATALYST. 1977 400 AT Valve Cover Emission Decal Thats the one I put on and it puts any debate to bed every year.
81-f-150 is correct. Cats did come on 1976 and newer trucks but only half tons. If your truck is a real 3/4 ton 4x4 then the GVW is way too high to need a cat.
Good Luck! You are in the right.
81-f-150 is correct. Cats did come on 1976 and newer trucks but only half tons. If your truck is a real 3/4 ton 4x4 then the GVW is way too high to need a cat.
Good Luck! You are in the right.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Canyon, TX
Texas is all over the place. I had a 77 Bronco, which required cats, and got it in inspected with the sniffer in Houston at one place and they never disqualified for cats. Take it somewhere else. My 79 has the sticker that reads "no emissions controls" and if you need a bit of evidence get one next time you order some parts from a house. But that inspector is just dead wrong on your 76.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Plumber01, mine is also registered as an antique so I pay tags every 5 years. I do keep a current state sticker on it also because I drive it frequently (it's only $14.50 per year)
Catalysts of that era were strictly based on GVW. It's no surprise that a 79 F350 didn't require them but a 77 bronco did.
It was one of the major reasons that made me look for an F250 instead of F150.
For the orignal poster: if your truck is completely stock and you wouldn't mind DPS taking a look at it then contact them. If not, drive a county or two out of the city and have an inspector in a "safety only" county inspect it. Alot of times the guys in the city don't know a damn thing about old cars/trucks
Catalysts of that era were strictly based on GVW. It's no surprise that a 79 F350 didn't require them but a 77 bronco did.
It was one of the major reasons that made me look for an F250 instead of F150.
For the orignal poster: if your truck is completely stock and you wouldn't mind DPS taking a look at it then contact them. If not, drive a county or two out of the city and have an inspector in a "safety only" county inspect it. Alot of times the guys in the city don't know a damn thing about old cars/trucks
