Are cats required in NC

[rob67]

The 78 I may be getting had cats when new. I think it would breathe better with dual exhaust. If you start talking about having to have cats, it doubles in cost. I know there is no sniffer test below the 96 model year, but is there a visual test below that?

[PRattenbury]

My parents had a 78 and it didn't have cats. I don't think trucks were forced into the cat thing till later. One way to tell for sure is look at your gas gauge. If it's a UFO, you had a cat. Not sure about the laws for inspection in NC. Sorry if I jabbered and gave you no help...

[Buick455]

Just ask a service station or two where they do inspections and see what their check list consist of. In some states just modifying the exhaust is illegal. I got a ticket for duel exhaust on my Dodge Ram and it just passed inspection. The inspection station was only looking at the exhaust to make sure there was no leaks as they could care less what it sounded like. Note: the cop actual looked under the truck to see that I had chambered exhaust system.

[nbpro]

not unless you have mice .if It is 35 years or older.looks like no
http://www.dmv.com/nc/north-carolina/emissions-testing

[rob67]

I know it had cats when new because there is this big sticker on the drivers side visor telling all about them. I looked at a dual system at Summit and it was about $200 bucks. If you need to add cats to that then it is another $150 plus the hassle of fitting them in.

[78 Chevyrado]

in 78, if your GVWR is 6000lbs or lower, it came stock with cats. only trucks with a GVWR of 6001lbs and up came without them. if there's no visual inspection, you'r all clear. a lot of place dont mess with you any more if its over 25 years old.

[78 Big10 454]

Be glad you don't live in California...

[big10ratrod77]

it all depends where you get it inspected man. people raised cane everywhere i got my 77 inspected couse it didnt have a cat but its a big ten which means it dosent have a cat, so i ended up going to a man out in the sticks who will just cut on you lites and honk your horn and call it safe. im in the same boat with my 79 and i talked to the guy that dose my exhaust and he said the cat just had to be under there. yet my buddy just got duel exhaust on his 94 ranger and he had both of the cats were removed... i dont think that would be legal. but what i wanted to do was have a quick disconect cat so the day befor i get it inspected i can drop it in, in like 10 mins and yank it off when i get home thats the best way around it for now ide say.

[Josh]

There is a visual inspection. We are required when inspecting any vehicle presented to us to verify all original emissions equipment is still present. Nothing states we gotta check and see if it works just that its there and doesnt look to be tampered with. This includes AIR injection, Cats, EGR, etc.

Anyone who inspects it and gives you a sticker can face up to a $500 fine and 6 months suspension of their inspectors license if they pass it with anything not correct....

[dman1982]

i was wondering the same thing about cats...im just not going to get them....mines a 84...you can find someone that will inspect it...just has to be one of those backyard places that have a inspection tag....np know a couple

[Prerunner1982]

It's required in all 50 states regardless of whether they inspect for it or not..... since it is a federal requirement.

That being said, we do not have inspections here and I have not heard of anyone getting a ticket for such a violation. I don't think most officers would know the specifics on what requires a cat and what doesn't.... unless they are a gearhead like us.

[dman1982]

yes very true....so im not going to worry about it too much here lol

[nbpro]

There's an exhaust shop here in town that I've been dealing with for over 20 years. When we put the headers on the truck, didn't have a welder at the time. So I figured I'd take it over and let them weld it up. We were going from single exhaust to dual, so we just cut the cat and disposed of it. Well, when we got it over there, he told me he could not put the exhaust system on by law if the vehicle was equipped with catalytic converters originally without replacing them. So we have a welder now, and did the exhaust system ourselves. And I called around several other shops and got the same answer.

[rob67]

Sounds like it is illegal. I will probably just wait 3 years until it is exempt from inspection and do it then. It may take me that long to convince the wife to let me get it anyway!!

[78 Big10 454]

Originally Posted by nbpro

There's an exhaust shop here in town that I've been dealing with for over 20 years. When we put the headers on the truck, didn't have a welder at the time. So I figured I'd take it over and let them weld it up. We were going from single exhaust to dual, so we just cut the cat and disposed of it. Well, when we got it over there, he told me he could not put the exhaust system on by law if the vehicle was equipped with catalytic converters originally without replacing them. So we have a welder now, and did the exhaust system ourselves. And I called around several other shops and got the same answer.

Same here in California.

[Seven9er]

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[camshaftgsxr]

Or... You could find a set of cats off a different car that will fit your truck and are old or empty (camaros and such) and gut it out and weld it over your pipes bada bing bada boom everybody happy inspector looks and sees cats and you don't have the pain in the ass to replace them after two years when they clog up
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[Seven9er]

unless they do a sniffer test where you actually need them. I know Onslow county does the sniffer, thats on the coast Jacksonville area.

[dman1982]

very true 79er...but they only do the sniffer on vehicles 96 and newer...thats why im not going to run them

[Seven9er]

ahh, I never really looked into it. I almost had to do my mustang which would have failed big time but I blew the motor instead. Now the car is in my buddies back yard in Maysville.

[dman1982]

im guessing a easy find if i ever want a mustang...i see mustangs all the time on lys without titles...might wanna check on that lol

[Seven9er]

haha yea they are all over on there. Now I just seen my car last weekend. And im pretty sure he would shoot anyone that enters his yard. And its under a 7 ton tarp, like all the vehicles hahaha. and i still have insurance on it so if it gets stolen I wouldnt be thaaaaaat upset hahaha.