Hello all -

I will be moving from Michigan to Texas in April.. have some questions.

In Michigan, we are not required to have a yearly state regulated inspection on our cars. From my understanding, you need to get your car looked at once a year in Texas, and it must meet certain state requirements..

my one issue ( and question ) among many is.. for those of you who no longer have your CAT's on the car... how do you pass the yearly inspection?

im not sure what all else they look for, but my car is pretty modified. Below is a list of my modifications.. is this going to be an issue ?

Engine :
Switzer built head
Crower rods
Wiseco Severe Duty Pistons
HKS 272 cams
HKS adjustable cam gears
ARP rod bolts
ARP head bolts
AMS FMIC
AMS LICP
PPI ported intake
PPI ported Megan racing SS o2 housing
PPI 65mm Throttle body
Switzer ported Forced Performance 20GLT "GREEN" turbo w/ HD waste gate actuator
Switzer ported stock exhaust manifold
Switzer custom intake
Switzer Catch can
Hallman PRO Manual boost controller
Tial 38mm BOV
JUNBL turbo back exhaust ( NO CAT )

Ignition/Fuel :

HKS DLI Ignition
1000CC Injectors
AEM EMS
255 Walbro fuel pump

Trans (less then 600 miles)
Shep stage 2 rebuild with all new internals
Exedy Twin HD Clutch
Shep LSD built Transfercase

the car is running on E85 also ( if that matters at all)

any suggestions from you Texas Evos would be a great help

Tara

 

You should stop by the South (mostly North Texas) forum, we're friendly and can help you.

The inspections here check (among other things, these being the most failed items):
- odb system says everything is OK. If you have a CEL or SES you will not pass. This is assuming you're in a smog county (tell us where you're moving to).
- tires not bald
- tint's not too dark
- insurance card looks valid

 

you will need a cat to pass and also you ses light cannot be on. they hook it up to a computer and read your codes and you will fail if you have some. i took it to a cool place and they let me slide on a few things. might want to post this question in the "Southern" forum to get a better response

 

im moving to the Dallas area.. specifically Plano... can i grab the site for the South (mostly North Texas) forum ?

Someone also suggested to me to talk to Boost Logic or some performance shops.

So... what do you guys do, switch your CATs every year before inspection? ugh pain ... lol

Also, what if i have the AEM stand alone computer? Willl that be able to hook up to their computers for them to check?

 

You'll never be able to pass with an aem ems even if you put a cat on. However, there are ways around that, I'm just not at liberty to say how . I think if your not located in the major cities, inspection is far less stringent.

 

She'll be in Plano... so she'll need to be able to pass the odb test.

Most places do a visual cat inspection (if they do one at all). If you can put the heat shield on the test pipe it looks like a cat

Let us know when you get here... we'll be sure to get you out to a meet: https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/so...cs-thread.html

 

**** - but what about the AEM issue?

 

Texas is pretty easy. You gotta work pretty hard to find a place that connects anything to your car (maybe in Dallas / Ft. Worth they do that). Some places will check for a cat, others don't bother.

Just put on a cat, grab your insurance, and drive up to McKinney or something. Or do as KevinD suggests.. it's possible they "know" someone - Knowing someone is the easiest method.

 

ok, now let's say i "forget to put the cat back on" and inspection is like you need one.. what is the process then?

They tell me i need it, i put one on ( maybe my stock one) and get it reinspected? God my car is tuned and everything for the exhaust it has.. i dont even know if it's a good idea to drive it to the inspection place with a stock one on there

 

There are inspection places all over the place, so it's not like you have to drive 50 miles (unless that's where your friend works).

There are a couple state inspectors on here than can tell you the process, but I think you get a free reinspection within a week or 10 days if you fail.

 

good to know. I think i will figure out some places where u all take your cars and go where is most recommended...

I just renweed my tabs and stuff in MI, so i may not even register my cars down there for a few months anyway.. thanks for all ur help guys.. ill have to look up some meets to come to.. i dont know many people in TX yet.

 

I think were missing the most important part. Your car has an aem. That means they cannot even scan for obd2 codes, which means in Dallas/ft worth you can't pass emmisions even if you put a cat back on the car. If you stick with the aem, tv only way you'll be able to pass is to find someone who is an inspector and "convince" them to pass you.


Alternatively, you can put a stock ecu on your car, put a cat on, and drive it for 75-100 miles without throwing a code, then you'll be able to pass anywhere without a problem. After that if you remove the stock ecu and go back to the aem you'll be fine for a year

 

a lady with a evo? sweet, if you were in ft worth i could help you out..

i bet your car is pretty quick, how much power does she put down?

 

i already called her danny... lol