emissions on a 1986 chevy truck in texas

[86 silverado short]

This question is for all those truck owners in texas. I have a 1986 1/2 ton silverado. What is the rule on emissions when it turns 25 years old. Does it need catalatic converters and or smog systems still. I`ve been told yes and no ?Please help.

[kevindtimm]

It has to pass visual (and they'll throw it on a dynamometer to get idle and 2K/3K CO/HC readings)

IOW, it's gotta pass.

[jdurant]

I don't know, because I've always been told different stories by everyone too. Now that I have an 82' I guess I'll find out for sure in December.

My suggestion: Move up here to Liberty County. They do a visual inspection(sometimes), but no smog. But I think things are starting to change here because they are shutting everyone down. There is only one place to get an inspection in Dayton now.

[gchemist]

25 years was the exception for emissions. Does your county have OBD testing? My understanding is that it must have all original equipment.

Any 84 and later truck needs a cat for sure. Other stuff is almost inspector discretion.

No cats on my 83.

[kevindtimm]

One thing I forgot (remembered after reading jdurant's post) is that it depends upon your county. I live in Collin (N of Dallas) and because we're in the metro, we have to pass smog and visual for vehicles that age. I know this because my son has an '86 300zx.

So, the interesting thing is : it depends upon the county that you live in. And, you can't go to an adjoining county for inspection, it's where it's REGISTERED that matters

[mhicks]

I live in Parker which is part of the 5 county Metroplex which requires the smog testing. I have a '73 and it is exempt completely. They drive it and check the brakes and then the lights and that is it. Don't know about newer ones.

[Jonboy]

Anything 24 years old and newer is required to pass emissions testing. If it is not OBD II, it will have to run on the dyno. in an emissions testing county. I think it is Houston metro, DFW metro, El Paso metro, Austin and San Antonio metro counties. The metro areas keep spreading, so you may want to check the TX DOT website.

[Slonaker]

No emissions testing in San Antonio...yet. I keep hoping that the truck will hit 25 before it comes here.

Slonaker

[86 silverado short]

So on vehicles 25 yrs and older you DON`T need a cat. installed. Anything 24 yrs. and newer you do. I hope I`m `understanding this right. So my 1986 silverado will have to go through emissions for 2 more years. Thanks for the help.

[scurry]

Only a visual in Jefferson County.

[aggie91]

Here is the offical information from the Tx DOT site...

General for Type of Vehicle:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/insp...classsubmit=Go

Exhuast System...
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/insp...ejectsubmit=Go

More information can be found here:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/insp.../item_insp.asp

From what I read, if your truck is a 1984 or newer, it must have the cat(s) in place and functional. BUT, it is only a visual inspection for counties other that those listed on the last link...

[friscocrownie]

I looked at the links above (thanks for posting), and one thing I noticed was that it listed a check for belt on the air pump, I don't have a belt on mine now, is there a reason to add it? I thought it was only for CA emissions, but if not guess it's one more item for the to-do list

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by 86 silverado short

This question is for all those truck owners in texas. I have a 1986 1/2 ton silverado. What is the rule on emissions when it turns 25 years old. Does it need catalatic converters and or smog systems still. I`ve been told yes and no ?Please help.

They call it a safety inspection. We get it done all the time next door for our customers.
They get picky about them to at times. Working Seat belts, no missing lug nuts,(not even one) everything must work even your license plate lights. No emission test. We are in Harris county (HOUSTON)

Mike

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by mbgmike

... No emission test. We are in Harris county (HOUSTON)

Mike

The emission test is only for vehicles 24 year old and newer. If you getting it by without it on vehicles newer than '83 in Harris County, then your lucky and don't let the state catch you...

[harnalien]

i got tired of trying to figure it out, i am registering my '84 as an antique next year, no inspections, and 5 year registration. i live in tarrant county. i don't drive it that often, and when i do, of course it will be for routine maintenance or on my way to a show.

[joeymarkgraf]

Move to Oregon. 90% of the state has no emissions laws. Plus we have no sales tax. If we could just get rid of the hippies....

[Square84]

im in wichita county they only check the lights horn and e brake. no poppin the hood no gettin under the truck you pull in honk you horn flash your lights they stick a sticker on it.

[mckpaul]

I ask about it when I got mine inspected last week, since this should be my last emission test. The guy said next time it will be just the lights and horn and other basic safety stuff. Guess we'll see in about a year. I'm in Harris county, out on the edge of Houston.

[JonnyTechMech]

Allow me to put a twist on this question. What did some of you do about inspections when you’ve replaced the Gen I (305 or 350) with a Gen II (LT1) or Gen III or IV (LS1, LS6, LQ9, LM7 or LS2, LS7 etc? I would imagine that rules would become more strict cause I’m sure it will require 02 sensors for these engines to run properly and all of them had a CAT converter in their original host. So scrutiny of the exhaust might come onto play. That is, IF they bother to look under the hood.

I’m at the 21 year mark on my GMC, which is still under the swap knife wrench.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

It would pass here in Beeville. No emission test BS, they just check the horn, lights, and drive it around the block and you're done.

[TexasJeff]

I live in the Houston area, and have to do the emmission testing. I talked with the guy that does my inspections, and did the exhaust on my truck. ANYTHING 25 years and older just requires the saftey portion of the inspection, none of the emissions.