Texas state exhaust laws for our trucks

[texanidiot25]

While my headers fit right up to the pipes on the truck, I want to have a pair of barely legal set of pipes for fun and track use that are as minimal as possible that I can use with the extra header collecter & flange. Now, I thought since our trucks were exempt from most all of the emissions laws, and talking to a few people, I'd have a plan. Some say they have to dump atleast past the cab. Others say the doors. Some say no mufflers, some say a "muffler".

Would like to have an online source to print out and carry around as well. Google has been useless.

[eseaton]

This is what I have found so far, I know 95 and newer are supposed to drop behind the rear axle, we are supposed to have mufflers, but as far as I know dropped behind the cab is the legal way.



Inspection/Rejection Criteria


20.15 Exhaust System. Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with muffler in good working order and in constant operation.


Muffler defined: Muffler is a device consisting of a series of chambers or baffle plates or other mechanical design for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and/or turbine wheels for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from a diesel engine, both of which are effective in reducing noise.


The exhaust system includes the manifolds, gaskets, exhaust lines, mufflers, resonators, tailpiping, and supporting hardware.


Motor vehicles cannot be equipped with a muffler which is perforated or which was perforated and has been repaired, either by a muffler repair jacket or by patching or in any other way. In those cases where a muffler is perforated at the time of an inspection or has been perforated and has been repaired previous to the inspection, the muffler must be replaced or the vehicle rejected.


Some pickups are equipped with a camper or hard shell cover and are sometimes used for the transportation of passengers. The tailpipe should discharge the exhaust at the rear or sides. This truck modification will be considered as a passenger compartment.


The entire structure of a motor home-type vehicle is considered a passenger compartment. The cab only of all other truck-type vehicles is considered passenger or luggage compartment.


If the vehicle is equipped with lake pipes or similar devices, such pipes or devices must be securely plated and bolted or capped.


Dual exhaust systems may be modified to single exhaust systems and single exhaust systems to dual exhaust systems, provided the modification does not violate requirements concerning exhaust emission systems.


The catalytic converter will be considered as a part of the exhaust system on all vehicles prior to 1984 year model and will be inspected only visually (if present) for leakage. On 1984 and later model light truck and passenger vehicles, the catalytic converter will be checked for presence and leakage. Flexible tubing which meets the requirements listed below may be used anywhere in the exhaust system.


NOTE: Inspection of exhaust systems covers the discharge of exhaust fumes and is not concerned with the noise level.


1. Inspection Procedure. The exhaust system shall be examined visually while the engine is running to determine efficiency of the system.


2. Inspect for and reject if:


a. Vehicle is not equipped with a muffler.


b. Any joint is loose or leaking, including manifolds. Does not include minor leakage at exhaust control valve (manifold damper or heat riser valve).


c. Manifold is cracked or broken causing leakage.


d. Holes, leaking seams, or patches on the muffler, resonators, exhaust pipe, tailpipe, or catalytic converter.


e. Exhaust system is not secured to the vehicle by mounting brackets designed for exhaust systems (wire is not acceptable).


f. Any brackets are loose, broken, or missing.


g. There is excessive vibration of exhaust line.


h. Any part of the exhaust system passes through the passenger compartment.


i. The tailpipe is broken, pinched, or eroded off to the extent to allow exhaust fumes to penetrate into the interior of the passenger compartment.


j. The tailpipe fails to discharge exhaust from the rear or sides or top of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.


NOTE: Holes in the exhaust system made by the manufacturer for drainage are not cause for rejection. The tailpipe must direct the exhaust fumes out from under the passenger compartment.

[Longhorn Man]

I had to contest this part of the TX inspection, I had pipes that exited 6 inches past the cab, and had no turn downs or anything. After the old guy doing the inspection read it again, ha pessed me with the short cherry bimbs and pipe exiting under the bed.

[mr48chev]

I must be getting old because I get tired of the constant drone and concussion of exhaust exiting under the truck.

The pipes on my 71 are loud but exit in front of the rear wheels and are livable on road trips which I do quite often.

[texanidiot25]

My exhaust dumps over the axle. This is just for a pair of.. loud pipes.

[matthufham]

get antique plates and never get it inspected, then do whatever you want. i went that route and have no collectors on the headers, just 4 tubes aimed at the ground per side. loud as hell! it's not something i drive far or regularly.

[texanidiot25]

Last I read there are lots of restrictions with them, like mileage and insurance coverage. It's going to be a daily driver, so I can't sacrafice insurance in the pursuit of F-U loud. Unless I'm missing something about these magical plates.

I guess I could go find some mufflers off CL and gut them and run a straight pipe through and look legal.

[Tx Firefighter]

All of my vehicles have antique plates. The interpretation is very liberal. You can, for instance, drive the vehicle any time to or from a repair shop. I'm a part time mechanic, I am always in the midst of some repair or another on the things. If I was ever asked, I'm driving it to a frineds house to work on it.

They never ask about mileage at any time. I have one vehicle that I have registered as an antique three times in a row now (15 years) and never even had any issue with anyone about it.

My commute is 100 miles a day, so they get driven a lot.

[matthufham]

yea don't do what i suggested since you drive it a lot. i would suggest a pair of earplugs if you wanted it that loud or a doctor visit every few months.