Texas Inspection Info.

[EricS76]

I was surfing and ran across the official TDPS vehicle inspection website. This little part is on cats. From the way that reads, sounds like you could get away without cats on any truck until 84. No matter the GVWR. Kinda tricky wording. The (if present) seems to say that it's not required till 84? The site's got all the inspection requirements for all motor vehicles, lots of good info.

"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."

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/insp...oc_nonemis.asp

[Chevyguy111786]

the way i understand it....only safety if your truck is older than 25 years....my 78 only has to have safety...12.50 rather than 40 bucks..and all they do is check the lights and horn and if you have insurance...it's great.

[N2TRUX]

I guess I need to check on that myself. I'm going to have to mod my exhaust and I wouldn't mind if the cat wasn't there.....

EricS76 I can't that statement that you posted. Here's what I did find-

Items of Inspection

05.02 Inspect Every Pickup, Panel, or Truck Under 80 Inches Wide For: (Listed in suggested order of inspection)

* Check for evidence of Financial Responsibility

1. Horn
2. Windshield Wipers
3. Mirror
4. Steering
5. Seat Belts
6. Brakes (system) Parking - (beginning with 1960 models)
7. Tires
8. Wheel Assembly
9. Safety Guards or Flaps (if four tires or more on rearmost axle)
10. Exhaust System
11. Exhaust Emission System (beginning with 1968 models)
12. Beam Indicator (beginning with 1948 models)
13. Tail Lamps (2); (1) if 1959 model or earlier
14. Stop Lamps (2); (1) if 1959 model or earlier
15. License Plate Lamp (1)
16. Rear Red Reflectors (2)
17. Turn Signal Lamps (beginning with 1960 models) (mea-sure if 1959 model or earlier)
18. Head Lamps (2)
19. Motor, Serial, or Vehicle Identification Number
20. 1988 & newer - inspect for window tinting or coating
21. Gas caps on vehicles 2-24 model years old.

[EricS76]

I went a little further in the site. If you go to the bottom of that page under inspection criteria. You have to select "pickup, panel or truck under 80". Then below that is a list you can choose what item to look up. That perticular one was "exhaust emissions system"

[TexasJeff]

Hey guys,

I have a '80 model 3/4 ton and it came from the factory with a cat on it but no smog pump, the guy that did my new exhaust told me if it were 25 years old (mine only 24) he would not need to replace the cat and run pipes from the manifolds all the way back. I am pretty happy with the cat and Dynamax
one in and 2 out muffler, truck has perfect tone at idle and running down the road and not to loud.

[88Jimmy4x4]

Is it legal/inspectable to just have the tailpipes dump after the muffler or do they have to exit the rear of the truck?

I live in a small town and they only do a visual/safety check, no smog testing...still just $12.50

[EricS76]

Basically they don't want you to have exhaust gasses going in the cab. If you run past the cab a little then dump you should be ok. The way they word the rules seems to say that it's up to the inspector to look at and see if he thinks any gasses can get into the cab, and pass/fail it off of that.

Here's the actual wording from DPS.

Inspect and Reject if:

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