The Garden State

[Rob_R]

Chaplin,
I became aware of the engineering inspection and that 1 area they focus on is installed pollution equipment for the year of the motor. When I found that out, I looked at my alternatives. I had a new 351 based 392 stroker that had to be replaced. The oldest 351 is '69. In order to play by their rules, I asked what equipment was required for that motor. The first response was to see what Ford said was required. I would not accept that answer. I stated that I merely wanted to abide the rules and I wanted to know what was their source of information for the rules they enforce. I was told to call back a day later. The answer was a PCV valve only. I did not ask for the acceptable levels of various pollutants. I have been told by several sources that there is a significant jump in requirements from 67 to 68 model years. There is another nasty jump from, I believe, 71 to 72. I am not positive exactly where that early 70's jump is.

I chose to abandon the 351 based motors only to rid my car of any significant pollution requirements. I think a '69 351 would be fairly easy to keep on track during inpections. Be careful, the early 351 motors had a different deck height than the later years. I purchased a '66 428 so as to avoid worrying about sniffer tests. With the '66, your eyes may tear from the exhaust, but it will still pass.

I do believe that with regular inspections, just about any year vehicle is subject to the sniffer. Only the target levels change. Some Diesel trucks are exempt.

Let me know if you have any more insight on the process.

Robert