TX Emissions Questions

[hank14]

Howdy,

My 87 FJ60 has an intake/exhaust leak. I replaced the I/E manifold gasket last year and the EGR J-tube w/ the SOR SS one. That improved performance, but I have a backfire when the engine's cold and pinging under load. Everything else is in good working order. I went to an exhaust shop today and he confirmed there is a leak between the intake an exhaust manifold and where the exhaust manifold collects to the exhaust flange downpipe.

I have another intake/exhaust manifold that I rebuilt and is ready to be installed on the cruiser, but I am considering installing a header instead and maybe even desmogging next year (24 years old).

We don't have smog tests in Hood County.

Questions:

1. At the exhaust shop, they have the signs up about tampering with your emissions system fines from Texas Environmental for $2500. Does this apply only to the cat. converter, or all emissions controls (EGR, smog pump, etc)?

2. If I decided to sell my cruiser to someone in a SMOG Test county, would it be a problem if it is not SMOG compliant but over 24 years old?

3. Who votes for a header vs. stock system? The muffler guy said my original, stock cat and muffler are still good, but if I add a header, I should replace them with a flow through design instead of the beaded cat.

 

[1911]

Questions:

1. At the exhaust shop, they have the signs up about tampering with your emissions system fines from Texas Environmental for $2500. Does this apply only to the cat. converter, or all emissions controls (EGR, smog pump, etc)?

Don't know this one for sure, but would hope that it only applies to vehicles 24 years old and younger.

2. If I decided to sell my cruiser to someone in a SMOG Test county, would it be a problem if it is not SMOG compliant but over 24 years old?

No problem anywhere in Texas; once it's over 24 years old it only has to pass the basic safety inspection, no matter where you live. My 1980 is de-smogged, and I live in a smog-test county (Parker).

3. Who votes for a header vs. stock system? The muffler guy said my original, stock cat and muffler are still good, but if I add a header, I should replace them with a flow through design instead of the beaded cat.

My experience with headers is that they always rust out eventually, even the fancy-schamncy ceramic coated ones. The last set I put on a Cruiser were on the 3FE in my FJ80, and they were the fancy ceramic coated ones. Lasted seven years and 100,000 miles but sure enough they rusted out. As long as you don't count on them being a permanent solution they're OK. Stock manifold in good shape will last a lot longer though. Oh, and your under-hood and floorboard temperatures will go way up, if that bothers you.