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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 'Clean Air Act'

Will you get fined by "changing or altering" the pollution control devices because of the "Clean Air Act"? I took a look at the "clean Air Act" but it seems to be addressing manufacturers issues except for the max fine of $2500 for an individuals in violation. Anyone know of a fine or penalty happening?
Bruce Harbison

Bruce. I believe that I have answered your question under another post. The one about Weber carbs.

The first question is:

Do you have an emissions testing requirement in your area?

If the answer is "Yes":

You need to contact the state agency with responsibility for conducting emissions inspections.

If the answer is "No":

Why do you care?

My experience is that the factory SU carbs are very easy to keep in tune and are an excellent system. The factory Z-S carb is not. The Weber DGV is a much easier system to tune to keep emissions low. That, it would seem to me, is the desired outcome of any exercise.

I recently took one of my 79B's through the emissions testing process with the following results:

Idle standard (HC) 220 Idle reading 52
Idle standard (CO) 2.20 Idle reading .07
Loaded standard (HC) 220 Loaded reading 43
Loaded standard (CO) 1.65 Loaded reading .08

All of this with a Weber DGV on an engine which was tuned up and is in good condition. Far better than the performance of any Z-S carb that I have ever tried to get through the testing process. That is why Arizona, and California, allows such changes to be made.

Les
Les Bengtson

You are correct Les, I should have posted your answer when I started the new thread. Thank you for the added detail that is very helpful. I was fishing for other folks stories on removing / switching out emission systems. I did not find much on a search so perhaps a separate thread will be enlighting. I am in the slow process of adding HS4's to my '77 midget, the cat was fried and the air pump was seized.

Here in Austin we have emissions testing but when I have asked emissions stations about my dual SU carb plans I have received two sets of replies. "Its a '77 and we don't care about what is under the hood, you just have to pass the safety checks, no sniff". Alright this shops for me! OR "Federal law states that you are not allowed to tamper with emission controls...bla bla bla". Thanks I'll be taking my business to another shop.

And so I was curious what others have ran into with "THE LAW"
Bruce Harbison

Hello Bruce,

Technically speaking, under Federal guidelines, you are NOT allowed to modify or remove factory installed emissions equipment. That said, people do it all the time - especially on OLD cars. I think the bureaucracy does recognize the difference between constantly driven family vehicles and older classic cars, which is why Texas does does not test emissions equipment on vehicles over 25 years old.

Up here in DFW area (which DOES have emissions testing), my '77 Midget still has a full complement of functional emissions equipment and a Z-S carb. The people that work at my testing facility don't seem to care. My '72, on the other hand, has a Weber carb, lacks the air pump (not functional), the air manifold (fractures), the check valve (replaceable via Moss), and the catalytic converter. My charcoal canister vapor recovery system remains intact. These things are all very noticeable, but again, the tester's don't give them a second glance. I understand some facilities are different - the testers will require the equipment to be in place, even if it doesn't work, can't be fixed/replaced, and they don't test it. Odd that...

Both of my Midgets are registered as regular use vehicles (others register them as antiques, which places certain restrictions on their use). They do check ALL of the lights, tires, brakes, mirror(s), and wipers.

Cheers,

Glen

G. D. Phillips

Unless you just make it an issue, most shops arrent going to care, if it looks really altered they will just fail it...no fine and tell you to get it fixed, older carbs with carbs....its really abbout safty


Where your going to get the $10,000 dollar fine and 3 years in the federal pen. is if you make a highly effectiant hydrogen fuel cell, then smack the feds with it in the face like a dead fish, showing signigant fuel savings and added hourse power, and really sticking it to them about how stupid they are while at car shows, public events and media outlets....afer all there is a reason a car built in 1971 got 16 miles to the galllon, and the same car today just with all the modern tech gets 19miles to the gallon....its called 42 cent tax on every gallon...having cars get 80 miles to the gallon would cripple the fedral government.

So if you do devolop a fuel saving induction system or even a barn burner...the feds perfer you keep it to yourself...then your fine....unless it blows up and kills several people then they will come down on you also.

prop
Prop

This thread was discussed on 12/02/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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