Building Stroker - Need to pass MA Emissions

[winstontj]

Thats pretty much it. Before I start building this SOB I want to know about Mass emissions. I'm planning on running a cat (for inspection at least) but what about a 2.8L with a 292 cam? I can put the stock chip back in & run good gas. Any ideas about MA requirements or how a fresh 328 will fair at the station?

Its not going to stop me from building it but if you guys say to run a 288 & 9.5:1 over a 292 & 10:1 maybe I'll make a few changes so I wont have the headache every year of swapping exhausts, chip & even injectors???

Thanks...

[Jon325i]

Seeing that your state has adopted my states' (California) emission standards as far as testing and maximum allowable 'stuff' from the tailpipe is concerned, I know a motor like what you have in mind would be laughed out of a testing facility. To build up a smog legal M20 stroker would require a lot of careful planning and it would likely have to be a more conservative set-up (compression, cam, etc.). This is why dropping in a twin-cam six makes more sense for people like us. You get more power, torque, factory build quality, and it should pass smog with flying colors. It sucks to be us but that's how it is unfortunately.

If you want to learn more, click the link:

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2004/rpt/2004-R-0089.htm

Jon

[Sean]

Just get a really really clogged cat, and switch exhausts, drive there, and take the test. LOL :D

[winstontj]

Do you know where I can find out info on rules like what gets grandfathered in, etc? I have a ton of VIN's and can register the car as an older year. Are 25+ year old cars exempt or at least allowed to drive if they do not pass?

Also does anyone know about double cat converters or anything else to do? I know I can run premium or even unleaded race fuel with denatured alcohol (50/50 or even 60/40 alcohol to fuel)... Will that be enough to pass? I'm going to run a header but I would invest in a really good cat converter setup and switch it in every year (or even run it if I could make decent power) for inspection.

Any thoughts or help is greatly appreciated. I can't really see a 24v swap in my future any time soon.

How much would a 288 and 9.5:1cr change things? Also how much difference would the 288 vs 292 and 9.5 vs 10:1 cr have on power?

[egk2]

Build the car the way you want to and pay a garage to pass it.

No offense to all you tree huggers.

I ran in my old e30 a 282/272 dual pattern camshaft and 10:1CR, in my opinion it was too much, it pinged even with ultra in it.

If I could do it all over, I would do a twin cam swap, less headaches, m20's are a pain in the arse.

[FredK]

http://www.vehicletest.state.ma.us/depregs.pdf

The exemption is not rolling; if the car was manufactured prior to 1984 you can get an emissions testing exemption.

Your car must pass the emissions requirements for the year the car was manufactured. For a car made in 1989, it must conform to the standard for cars made between 1984 and 1990:

2.0 HC, 30.0 CO, 3.0 NOx, which is a little bit more than for cars made between 1991 and 1995.

S52. DO IT!

[winstontj]

Build the car the way you want to and pay a garage to pass it.

No offense to all you tree huggers.

I ran in my old e30 a 282/272 dual pattern camshaft and 10:1CR, in my opinion it was too much, it pinged even with ultra in it.

If I could do it all over, I would do a twin cam swap, less headaches, m20's are a pain in the arse.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm worried about a disaster passing only after I spend 2/3 of a 24v swap... I'm going to take your advice because there are plenty of guys on strictly eta and other places that pass fine. Even in RI I had to just conform to the model year the car was built.

I'm not going to ask what garage I should go to... :-)

Why do you say that 282/272 @ 10:1 was too much? Would I be better off going down to a 288 from a 292 and 9.5/9.8:1 over the 10-10.5 I am looking at? Most fresh solid motors run pretty clean if you build them right... I Hope! but I do not want to deal with pinging forever just because I wanted to say I have a 292 with 10:1cr.

FredK do you have a s52 that you want to sell me for less than my total m20 build? Didnt think so :-)

[FredK]

I think there's an emissions exemption that you can apply for if you've tried everything in the book to curtail your emissions--i.e. making sure everything is tuned up, and you have a fresh cat.

If you can, through receipts, prove that you spent $$$$ to be able to pass emissions, you can get a waiver from an inspection station specifically registered to referee such a thing. I read it on the DMV test website somewhere... I'd call around and see what's up with that program if you want to go about doing it legally. Also, I think you only have to pass the sniffer every 2 years, IIRC.

[Turf1600]

Winston - you going to MS it? Make a file for stoichiometric and have an extra exhaust with a HUGE cat....

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

Build the car the way you want to and pay a garage to pass it.

No offense to all you tree huggers.

I ran in my old e30 a 282/272 dual pattern camshaft and 10:1CR, in my opinion it was too much, it pinged even with ultra in it.

If I could do it all over, I would do a twin cam swap, less headaches, m20's are a pain in the arse.

[winstontj]

Pat I decided on most of the build specs today. 86mm X 9.8:1cr, 288 cam, +1mm I&E valves, still searching for prepped rockers over billet, going to order from IE as soon as I can talk to him, Going to default to Jeff on the final say on cam choice (maybe the 272 or dual profile Schrick cam). Going to try and avoid running a standalone - hope that Split Second & chip will work.

Going to try a two stage cat from a newer Honda or Toyota to pass the sniffer... I'll rig up something either perm or just for the test then swap it out.

I hope that in a good state of tune the car will actually burn clean and not need to worry about emissions... but who knows. I'm going to build what I want and deal with the law later. I will have thousands in receipts for emissions improvements so this year I will pass with a stock M20 then two years from now hope for the best!

[swimstarguy]

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35636

Hope it helps.


~Zar4

[winstontj]

Thanks - I know all about denatured. What I'd really like is for someone to give me tips on either tuning or engine building that will get me to burn fuel completely so that my car runs normally without violating emissions standards. if I wanted to pass I could just throw a cat on and pass... tear it off, then drive around with the headers. I want to pass and drive that way and not lose power by doing so...

Yeah tell me to go piss up a rope cuz it's not possible.... I'll find a way I hope...