Connecticut: Registration, Inspection & Emissions

[Don]

Jay, agree with your thoughts on VIN verification. When I bought my pre-owned Cobra, which was originally registered out of state, the Anti-Theft unit at Wethersfield verified the out of state VIN after the inspection process had been completed, two separate Departments.


At the time, they also reviewed the Bills of Sale for the engine, transmission and rear end. Since the source was out of state, the Bills of Sale were also Notarized.

[Don]

With great assistance from the Support Services Dept of the CT DMV, I was able to obtain the number of Composites registered in CT by year. The recap does not include motorcycles, just Code 01 which is Passenger. Number does include all types of Composites such as T-Buckets etc. Included also are the spelling and abbreviation variations of " Composite "

The hard copy report was dated 10-01-2005 and an updated version will be available early in January, 2007. By viewing the existing printed report at the Wethersfield office, I did not have to request the data via FOI @ $0.25 a page for 600 pages:

1950 to 1960: 5
1961 to 1969: 17
1970 to 1979: 12
1980 to 1989: 74
1990 to 1999: 70
2000: 14
2001: 20
2002: 17
2003: 19
2004: 15
2005: 16 ( as of 10-01-05 )

2000 to 2005: 101

Total of 289

[JAN_AC_MKIV]

Hello all,
Well, the day has come, good news is CT recogniizes the Autokraft as an actual car with a valid VIN, temp plates are in hand !!

Bad News: First attempt at emissions was a failure, sort of. The gas station guy said it was faliling, he tried heating the engine up, no dice. He said to come back tomorrow morining first thing and we can work it again. The DMV emissions omputer has no Autokraft for 1988, so I had him run it as a 88 Ford Mustang... My motor is a hopped of Roush injected 302, with headers and straight pipes, they had NO issue with the noise.

He gave me a void test and said we can try again in the morning, besides freezing my ass off tomorrow morning, does anyone have any advice or tricks to make this car pass? I would totally pay a $500 fee to get it through if they offered it, I am a little stressed and won't sleep tonight.

I did buy this stuff called "guaranteed to pass" from Autozone tonight, supposedly an additive that burns clean?? Can anyone offer any advice or help? My temps are good for 9 more days.

Thanks in advance..

Jan

[Don]

Jan:

Might want to try an appeal to CT Emissions, contacts are:

http://www.ctemissions.com/contact.html

Looks like a Catch 22 situation. As a Composite, the emission standards would be those in effect in the 60's & 70's, not 1998.

Could be just an Administrative situation with CT Emissions, if the DMV recognizes the vehicle and year, then the appropiate emissions standards should be available. Maybe their database was not updated due to the rarity of the auto.

Did you ask why the default is to 1988 ?

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

I think you have to spend about $700 to get a waiver. The problem is that without a passing grade, they will not give you your reg. or renewal if you're already registered. The "mechanic in a can" is just a waste of money I think. Why did they give you Mustang emissions criteria? The Mustang has lots of smog control equipment. You should not have to compete with a car from Detroit.
I'm hoping that when I go for my inspection (ERA 718), they let me get away with 1966 (no emissions) criteria. I have a clean title from a '66 Galaxie conv. for the engine and trans. Too bad I couldn't get it registered as a '66 Ford.

[Don]

I had a State issued title from Wisconsin, no title company, along with a legal registration from Wisconsin as a 1966 Ford. All the VIN's matched and the 1966 Ford VIN was on the body. I also had a notarized Bill of Sale for the engine that it was a pre-1974 block.

CT would not accept the registration/title for the " Kit Car " and had to inspect/register as a Composite.

Still waiting for the new 2007 Composite Emission standards to be announced, which should have occured in June. Emissions is not part of the DMV.

With a grand total of 289 Composites of all types , as of 10-1-05, having been registered in CT since day 1.......impact on Emissions must be 00.0000001%

[Cashburn]

Originally Posted by Don

Still waiting for the new 2007 Composite Emission standards to be announced, which should have occured in June. Emissions is not part of the DMV.

Don,
Have you heard anything on this. I believe they are going to do an outright exemption...

[Don]

I never was contacted with any updates, a follow-up has been sent to CT Emissions and DMV. I will post any replies.

Subject: 2007 Composite Emission Standards ?
Date: November 11, 2006 2:33:56 PM EST
To: PublicRelations@ctemissions.com
Cc: Dan.Jalbert@dmvct.org

Hi

Earlier this year there was a reference that the 2007 Composite Emissions standards would be changed, are the new standards available ? If not, is there a planned announcement date ?

.................thanks


Don

Not included in the follow-up e-mail :

With only 289 Composites of all types registered in CT as of 10-01-05 and guessing at another 20 ( + or - ) in 2006, it does seem the Administrative effort and cost has a negative return.

For discussion purposes, the Composite drive season is probably from April 1 to mid November. Using a 7 month drive season, 309 Composites X 2,500 miles per year ( avg ?), the impact of the Composites on CT emissions has to be less than 0.0000001%

CT Composite Registrations:

1950 to 1960: 5
1961 to 1969: 17
1970 to 1979: 12
1980 to 1989: 74
1990 to 1999: 70
2000: 14
2001: 20
2002: 17
2003: 19
2004: 15
2005: 16 ( as of 10-01-05 )

2000 to 2005: 101

Total of 289

[Don]

Jay:

No reply from CT Emissions or the DMV Co-ordinator on 2007 composite emissions other than the automated acknowledgement :

From: PublicRelations@ctemissions.com
Subject: Thank you for contacting the Connecticut Emissions Program
Date: November 11, 2006 2:34:06 PM EST
Reply-To: PublicRelations@ctemissions.com


Thank you for contacting the Connecticut Emissions Program with your concern. We will respond to your e-mail shortly. If you need immediate assistance please call our hotline at 1-888-828-8399. Thank you for contacting the Connecticut Emissions Program.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

I don't expect miracles in Weathersfield, but at least the title is from CT. If nothing else, they shouldn't hassle me over the eng. & trans.

[Cashburn]

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

I don't expect miracles in Weathersfield, but at least the title is from CT. If nothing else, they shouldn't hassle me over the eng. & trans.

What about sound level?

[JAN_AC_MKIV]

Hello all,
Just wanted to follow-up, that registering an Autokraft in CT was no problem, also for emissions, turns out they tested it wrong as a mustang, after fixing in the computer as an Autokraft, all was well. For insurance, I went with Midwest Classics as mentioned on Club Cobra, Robbin is a great guy with a spectacular price. So far, all of the CT cobra owners I have met have been real helpful, wish the season could last longer.

Regards,

Jan

[Don]

Jan, Congratulations, nice to hear all went well.

What is the current approach at Wethersfield regarding the dB level of the side pipes ?

Any unusual comments by the DMV Inspectors ?

[JAN_AC_MKIV]

Don,
Since the AK is a legit 50 state DOT car, no inspection was needed, my car has twin straight pipes, so noise was not an issue.

Jan

[Don]

Previous Connecticut Threads on the topic, most recent to oldest :

CT. Registration Trailering

CT Inspections

CT DMV Inspection Changes & Emission Standards

Connecticut: Establishing Auto Title in Trust Accounts ?

Connecticut inspection

Connecticut Insurance

CT Emissions Test Results for Composite

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62502

Cobra Emissions Testing: New CT System

CT Emissions Start Up

Registering a Cobra in Connecticut

CT registration

CT Law: Plates & Muffler

Connecticut Registration

New Connecticut Emissions Program

Front License Plate: CT

Connecticut Muffler/Noise Law

..........there may be others

[Don]

General reference regarding the registration of non-factory autos:

http://www.streetrodderweb.com/registration/

Specific reference to CT:

http://www.streetrodderweb.com/regis...onnecticut.pdf

[Don]

Jay, just to let you know I did not receive a reply from either DMV or Emissioins on my Nov 11th inquiry regarding 2007 Composite emissions standards.

[Cashburn]

It's only December We just have to accept that as a 20 car per year operation it will get little to no attention from the powers that be. However with a straightforward and realistic process it would be a much larger pool ... if you know what I mean

[Don]

Cross reference to a separate Thread regarding 2007 Composite emission standards:

Latest Ct Emissions Requirements

[Cashburn]

Let's play "read and follow directions" for kicks and see how this whole thing is a cycle of sorts...

We are to register these as 2007 model year. Given that I look at the CT Emissions site and read:

Exempt Vehicles

There are some exemptions to the program, particularly newer models, many older vehicles, motorcycles and other specialized vehicles:

* New vehicles that are four or less model years old (as of 1/1/06 model years, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007).

Source: http://www.ctemissions.com/testsite1/exempt.html

So where does that put us?