Possible relocate - emissions question (1 Viewer)

[Vincenzo]

My wife and I are possibly doing a relocation (work related) to the Phoenix area within 6 months or so. I don't want to jump the gun (or jinx myself) just yet and request membership. We have been to the area and loved it and would like to get into trailing (nothing extreme). We are already avid mountain bikers and beer makers.

I do have an emissions question though and am hoping a fellow LC owner has experienced this out there. I have 83 FJ60 with a 4BTA Cummins, I know the AZ DMV website said diesels are exempt, does that include engine swapped vehicles? How does your state look upon them? The vehicle is registered legally in TX.

Also have a 72 FJ40 that is being restored (not original as I purchased it with 242cid and 4L60E)

Thanks for the help

 

[yotadude520]

Nice 60!!

So I'm not sure why/where it says diesels are exempt in AZ. My dad has a 2002 F-250 with a 7.3L and we have to do emissions every year.

Arizona is relatively lenient with engine swap emissions. I once knew a guy a few years back with the same setup you had. FJ60 with a 4BT and H55 and it was registered and driving around so I assume it passed emissions. I've got a buddy who used to work in the emission testing place so I'll ask him and see what he says just to be sure.

 

[Living in the Past]

Being older than twenty-five years we have a classic car registration. Your exempt from emissions but has restrictions. Not sure if a engine swap would be a issue or not. I have a second home in a non emissions part of the state and keep and register my old cruisers there.

 

[Vincenzo]

Yotadude, I read that wrong. Looks like it needs to be done yearly, my apologizes. Glad to here though that diesel swapped vehicles will be ok.

 

[tucson_sailors]

Nice 60!!

So I'm not sure why/where it says diesels are exempt in AZ. My dad has a 2002 F-250 with a 7.3L and we have to do emissions every year.

Arizona is relatively lenient with engine swap emissions. I once knew a guy a few years back with the same setup you had. FJ60 with a 4BT and H55 and it was registered and driving around so I assume it passed emissions. I've got a buddy who used to work in the emission testing place so I'll ask him and see what he says just to be sure.

Depends on where you live in AZ whether you have to take your vehicle to emissions. Maricopa and Pima counties have mandatory physical testing (tailpipe or OBD) if you live in the immediate vicinity of either Phoenix metro or Tucson, or if you admit to DRIVING into either for work purposes. I ran into that about 30 years ago with an Austin Healey that I owned, that was registered in Santa Cruz county but I worked in Tucson. Since a 1970 british car was never built with anything even remotely like emissions control, I was gobsmacked that I had to take it in. Don't expect much has changed here, I recall that I read that the 1968 and newer rule never changed, whereas most states have rational rules that limit it to a rolling window of 25 years or so.

My rig is registered up here in unincorporated Avra Valley, just west of the emissions control requirement line. Since I don't work in Tucson, no need to take it in. Just pay the additional "tax" thats listed on my registration each year, but not the addtional 12.75 or whatever the emissions centers charge as well as having to detune and then tune to make the CO and Nox requirements.

Living in Phoenix, expect that you will have to pass emissions. Since there were greaser 60's in that model year, you might get to use that set of standards, but since they were never legally imported into the NA US market, they might not allow it.

Best of luck, pretty rig!

Glenn in Marana

 

[Vincenzo]

Tucson_sailors, thanks for the input. We'll be in the Phoenix area, so looks like emissions will have to be done. I know it doesn't have any kind of emissions/smog equipment on it as here in TX we do not do emissions on diesels, just a $7.00 safety inspection.

Does anyone know if it will need emissions/smog equipment, or is based on the engine itself?

I have also read that collector car insurance may make it exempt in Phoenix? Any truth to that?

Sorry for so many questions, I am not up for selling the 60 and want to get any info i can on this.

Thankfully it is not a daily driver.

 

[yotadude520]

Glenn in Marana is right on the money. Collector car insurance will void any emissions requirements.

The problem with collector car insurance is that some companies have mileage limits which might be okay if it isn't a daily driver. BUT the problem you will run into with those policies is that they will allow no off-roading whatsoever. They get very skeptical when they see anything lifted come through on a quote. Even going on a dirt road with some rocks is enough for them to decline.

If I were you, I'd give Southwest Motor Vehicle Center a call. They're a 3rd party MVD here in Tucson who I've been using for years and are excellent to talk to. They'll be able to answer all your questions with a phone call and no crazy hold times.

(520) 722-2006

 

[Vincenzo]

Glenn in Marana is right on the money. Collector car insurance will void any emissions requirements.

The problem with collector car insurance is that some companies have mileage limits which might be okay if it isn't a daily driver. BUT the problem you will run into with those policies is that they will allow no off-roading whatsoever. They get very skeptical when they see anything lifted come through on a quote. Even going on a dirt road with some rocks is enough for them to decline.

If I were you, I'd give Southwest Motor Vehicle Center a call. They're a 3rd party MVD here in Tucson who I've been using for years and are excellent to talk to. They'll be able to answer all your questions with a phone call and no crazy hold times.

(520) 722-2006

Thanks. USAA has collector car insurance with up to 7500 yearly miles. I'll give them a call and see what they have to say. Once we get closer to moving i'll give DMV a call.

Appreciate everyone's input, hopefully we'll get good news soon on relocation.......

 

[DSRTRDR]

it is not impossible to get a 40 smog-legal in Phoenix - there are even shops out there that still know carburetors . . . (plus, Kurt sends the rebuild kits in, like, 2 days)

visual inspection is not done on vehicles older than '75, so it doesn't matter whether it has the OEM smog equipment or not - it needs to pass the tail-pipe emissions test, though (which is a whole lot easier when your engine is actually really really warmed up - takes a lot longer than most people think, so don't go to the station a few minutes after just leaving the house - BTDT)

I just went through the classic car insurance option recently: no wheeling, no suspension modifications - so, not for us

 

[murf]

I have an engine swap in my FJ40. I live in Phoenix and have Hagarty classic insurance. this way I avoid having to do emissions and the restrictions are easily met by me. I also like with Hagarty that you can obtain a stated value for your rig which is worth it alone. You pick how much you want to get paid if your vehicle is totaled and not have to accept a crazy blue book low ball from a regular insurance company. they look at it like a 30 year old beater rather than a classic, hard to replace vehicle.

 

[Living in the Past]

Depends on where you live in AZ whether you have to take your vehicle to emissions. Maricopa and Pima counties have mandatory physical testing (tailpipe or OBD) if you live in the immediate vicinity of either Phoenix metro or Tucson, or if you admit to DRIVING into either for work purposes. I ran into that about 30 years ago with an Austin Healey that I owned, that was registered in Santa Cruz county but I worked in Tucson. Since a 1970 british car was never built with anything even remotely like emissions control, I was gobsmacked that I had to take it in. Don't expect much has changed here, I recall that I read that the 1968 and newer rule never changed, whereas most states have rational rules that limit it to a rolling window of 25 years or so.

My rig is registered up here in unincorporated Avra Valley, just west of the emissions control requirement line. Since I don't work in Tucson, no need to take it in. Just pay the additional "tax" thats listed on my registration each year, but not the addtional 12.75 or whatever the emissions centers charge as well as having to detune and then tune to make the CO and Nox requirements.

Living in Phoenix, expect that you will have to pass emissions. Since there were greaser 60's in that model year, you might get to use that set of standards, but since they were never legally imported into the NA US market, they might not allow it.

Best of luck, pretty rig!

Glenn in Marana

AZ did have a twenty year rolling emissions years ago. Had a few years of that on my 68 when I only had one home in Phoenix. That quickly changed. Moved back to 67 and froze it. That includes 67. Been over fifteen years since my 89 FJ62 was moved out of Maricopa county and can't remember if that was every year or every two years. I do remember my 68 FJ40 was yearly and always passed. Both are running original engines. Remember a few years back someone was having issues getting their diesel converted cruiser thru emissions. Not sure but possible which is newer is the emissions required. So if you have a 2005 engine it would have to meet those standards. Never had to deal with this so not sure. Seems it also who is behind the desk. AZ does not have any safety inspections. It no longer does any type of inspection on out of state vehicles. So if you register it a non emissions part of the state your vehicle could be Tee Boned and runs down the road at a angle. No lights or wipers and pretty anything else and AZ will gladly register it with proof of minimum insurance.

 

[Vincenzo]

I have an engine swap in my FJ40. I live in Phoenix and have Hagarty classic insurance. this way I avoid having to do emissions and the restrictions are easily met by me. I also like with Hagarty that you can obtain a stated value for your rig which is worth it alone. You pick how much you want to get paid if your vehicle is totaled and not have to accept a crazy blue book low ball from a regular insurance company. they look at it like a 30 year old beater rather than a classic, hard to replace vehicle.

Murf, is yours a diesel conversion? I did see that Hagarty is a good option for insurance, my other concern is that it is an SOA and will that constitute as a 'lifted' or 'raised' vehicle keeping it from being insured?

4BTA engine info build date is 10/8/1996 which puts it at approx 18 yrs old. Engine rebuild at 75k, has an additional 44k on it, cruiser has 162k original miles. Inspection facilities here in TX have it as a diesel but TX titles/registration do not state if a vehicle has a different engine type/swap.

 

[murf]

Murf, is yours a diesel conversion? I did see that Hagarty is a good option for insurance, my other concern is that it is an SOA and will that constitute as a 'lifted' or 'raised' vehicle keeping it from being insured?

4BTA engine info build date is 10/8/1996 which puts it at approx 18 yrs old. Engine rebuild at 75k, has an additional 44k on it, cruiser has 162k original miles. Inspection facilities here in TX have it as a diesel but TX titles/registration do not state if a vehicle has a different engine type/swap.

not diesel, Injected V8. They never asked to see it or a picture of it. I think I had to fill out some description boxes but that was it.

 

[Vincenzo]

not diesel, Injected V8. They never asked to see it or a picture of it. I think I had to fill out some description boxes but that was it.[
/QUOTE]

Good to know, thanks for the help

 

[Cdaniel]

I've avoided the emission ordeal in Phoenix for several years by having classic car insurance. American collectors insurance accepted my FJ40. Being 1966 or older is the only other exemption. "Classic vehicle" plates do not exempt you from emissions.

 

[splitshot]

Last I recall, all they do for diesels is an Opacity test (soot emission). At least that was the case with commercial vehicles.

 

[blatant]

I have nothing to add except i want @yotadude520 truck!

 

[yotadude520]

I have nothing to add except i want @yotadude520 truck!

Thanks for the compliment blatant!!

 

[Vincenzo]

I've avoided the emission ordeal in Phoenix for several years by having classic car insurance. American collectors insurance accepted my FJ40. Being 1966 or older is the only other exemption. "Classic vehicle" plates do not exempt you from emissions.

This looks like the route I may have to take. We will just have to wait and see when the time comes. Thanks for the input