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how about laws in US?

Started by Rustico, June 27, 2010, 01:48:52 AM

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Rustico

i got a question, hope not to annoy anyone...
I was wondering about laws in US, for what i can see are pretty permissive for what concern engine modding isn't it?
For example here in Italy seems to live in medieval age, if you just change a screw you could have some serious troubles with law (from lot of money of penalties to vehicle confiscation  :-\ )

Viva l'Italia! (sarcasm)

motorcitydak

It varies state to state here. For example, in California the rules are quite strict although not as bad as it may be in Italy. You can swap motors in California but it must be with a more modern engine that can pass an emissions test for the year of the vehicle. I am sure there is more to those rules but I do not know them very well. I live in Michigan, rite by Detroit. Here, there is pretty much nothing saving what I can and cannot do. There are no inspections or emission tests. I can put what ever motor I want in any car. It can get 2mpg and run open exhaust with no smog pumps or catalytic converters. Im not saying that I want to run that, but I could if I wanted to
96 Dakota, custom everything 4x4, 5.7 HEMI
'68 charger project
[OO!!!!!!!!!OO]

Rustico

Quote from: motorcitydak on June 27, 2010, 04:25:42 AM
It varies state to state here. For example, in California the rules are quite strict although not as bad as it may be in Italy. You can swap motors in California but it must be with a more modern engine that can pass an emissions test for the year of the vehicle. I am sure there is more to those rules but I do not know them very well. I live in Michigan, rite by Detroit. Here, there is pretty much nothing saving what I can and cannot do. There are no inspections or emission tests. I can put what ever motor I want in any car. It can get 2mpg and run open exhaust with no smog pumps or catalytic converters. Im not saying that I want to run that, but I could if I wanted to

sweet... I hope that soon or later our government decides to move from this radically non-permissive laws, I mean, the car is mine, if i want to add some upgrades to it wh not? The most of the upgrades anyway (here in italy) regards "safety and control" like brakes, roll bar, torque bar etc. before going up with the engine... If you want to do something on your car, i mean something RADICAL, you must export the car in germany and re - immatriculate the car there as a "unique model", and it costs a LOT of money...

bull

"I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson

TruckDriver

In the state I live in (Wisconsin), 1996 and older cars are not required to do any emission tests. Another words, you can modify them any way you want with a few common sense limits (like hood scoop height, exhaust loudness, stuff like that). This state also offers "Hobbyist" licence plates for older cars and trucks. They let you do some serious mods to you car. Another thing about the emission tests here, is that most of the state counties do not even require you to have the test no matter what year your car/truck is. They are mainly for the high population counties. The county I live in doesn't have the requirement at all.
PETE

My Dad taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!" :P

Mike DC

Yes, there is a wide variation in the laws from one state to another.  

California is pretty strict, but only on vehicles made after about 1975.  With older vehicles the rules are pretty loose even in Cali.  

Many of the rural states have little or no laws about car modifications.  There is sometimes a basic safety inspection (they just demand working windshield wipers, brakes, running lights, turn signals, etc).  Many states also have been putting some restrictions on the newer cars like from the 2000s and late 1990s.  With cars from the 1970s and older we are almost totally unrestricted as long as the modification is not a big obvious danger to other cars.




Some states have restrictions on Nitrous Oxide.  

It is legal to carry the stuff in your car on public roads.  But the police often demand that the bottle not be "armed" and they issue big fines if you violate that.    

 

adauto

Quote from: TruckDriver on June 27, 2010, 09:40:38 AM
In the state I live in (Wisconsin), 1996 and older cars are not required to do any emission tests. Another words, you can modify them any way you want with a few common sense limits (like hood scoop height, exhaust loudness, stuff like that). This state also offers "Hobbyist" licence plates for older cars and trucks. They let you do some serious mods to you car. Another thing about the emission tests here, is that most of the state counties do not even require you to have the test no matter what year your car/truck is. They are mainly for the high population counties. The county I live in doesn't have the requirement at all.

We also have Collecter plates here in Wisconson. And unless you get really crazy you can "get away" with allot of mods with those. If you keep things more "stock appearing".  Ahh the joys of living in a no emissions test county....  :smilielol:
Never too many! 70 Chally R/T Convert-70 GTX-68-69-74 Charger-68 Dart GTS

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SFRT

here in california, if its a pre 75 vehicle, and its got current registration, which is renewed by mail...you can pretty much do anything you want...and never be bothered. having a registered vin is the magic. all they care about is the numbers,really. In 20 odd years of buiilding nutty cars and bikes
only hassle I ever had was a bike that was too loud (straight pipes) which was a fix it ticket. swapped out the pipes, went to the policed station, got it signed off, then swapped the pipes back. it also seems around here ( bay area) the crazier your build, the more they dont even care. especially if your a 'grownup' with an 'old' car or bike.

modern superbikes and tuner cars is a different story. they do hassle you there. because those guys cause a lot of wrecks. but if you have a blown 572 hemi sticking out of the hood of something 'old', as long as your plates and reg are a valid, the cops are pretty much going to just smile and wave. they may pull you over to tell you about their GTX or something. (cop I know)
Always Drive Responsibly



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John_Kunkel

Many people believe that because their state doesn't have emissions testing beyond a certain year that it's "legal" to do as you please with non-tested cars. In most cases there are laws in the vehicle code that prohibit the modification of just about everything on a motor vehicle.
Pardon me but my karma just ran over your dogma.

Highbanked Hauler

  I know ignorance of the law is no excuse, but I have never heard anything involving old cars other than PASSING a safety inspection which  includes all kinds of things,enough to fill this page.
69 Charger 500, original owner  
68 Charger former parts car in process of rebuilding
92 Cummins Turbo Diesel
04 PT Cruiser

Rustico

Quote from: bull on June 27, 2010, 09:18:43 AM
"I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson
it was one of my favourite saying before last year cops suspended my driving license, now i'm still a little frustrated, but it's gonna be ok  :2thumbs:

Quote from: TruckDriver on June 27, 2010, 09:40:38 AM
In the state I live in (Wisconsin), 1996 and older cars are not required to do any emission tests. Another words, you can modify them any way you want with a few common sense limits (like hood scoop height, exhaust loudness, stuff like that). This state also offers "Hobbyist" licence plates for older cars and trucks. They let you do some serious mods to you car. Another thing about the emission tests here, is that most of the state counties do not even require you to have the test no matter what year your car/truck is. They are mainly for the high population counties. The county I live in doesn't have the requirement at all.
i'm not sure, but something similar should have here too, anyway, if i buy a restored charger, for example with a complete 440 new mopar engine (not restored, a new engine but with the same power), can it be considered as we call them in Italy "Hystorical Vehicule"? (on this kind of vehicules we pay no taxes  :cheers: )

Quote from: SFRT on June 27, 2010, 11:13:47 AM
here in california, if its a pre 75 vehicle, and its got current registration, which is renewed by mail...you can pretty much do anything you want...and never be bothered. having a registered vin is the magic. all they care about is the numbers,really. In 20 odd years of buiilding nutty cars and bikes
only hassle I ever had was a bike that was too loud (straight pipes) which was a fix it ticket. swapped out the pipes, went to the policed station, got it signed off, then swapped the pipes back. it also seems around here ( bay area) the crazier your build, the more they dont even care. especially if your a 'grownup' with an 'old' car or bike.

modern superbikes and tuner cars is a different story. they do hassle you there. because those guys cause a lot of wrecks. but if you have a blown 572 hemi sticking out of the hood of something 'old', as long as your plates and reg are a valid, the cops are pretty much going to just smile and wave. they may pull you over to tell you about their GTX or something. (cop I know)

damn, hearing all these beautiful things i'd like to be born in US  :brickwall:

i don't even know if i should say this, but here cops are the most ignorant human species (no kidding, one of these days i'll tel you the story of my driving license...  :flame: )

six-tee-nine

Hey I'm on the same side of the pond as you but it aint any better here in Belgium.

If I want to use my Charger for daily use (no "very restricted" classic car use) and let's say I put a set of Viper brakes under it then I'm in trouble at the annual technical inspection. Simply because it is not original. When it's not original then it is not allowed over here (that the car might be safer if of no matter)
If I stroke the engine up to say 700 horses without telling them its no problem. Simply because these cars are extremely rare over here and not a single moron at the tech inspection will know it.
shaving door handles or removing wipers of show cars means simply that you get dissaproved and you are no longer road legal. You can still drive the car but if the law enforcement catches you then you really are in deep s**t.......

Long ago I had a heavily modded 80's pocket rocket with adjustible coilovers and lots of other stuff. Every year I had a Full day of work to put it in a state to get it approved for another year and then back to show modus.........replacing suspension, steering wheel, wipers..........crazy.....
Greetings from Belgium, the beer country

NOS is nice, turbo's are neat, but when it comes to Mopars, there's no need to cheat...