Texas State Inspection/Emissions Laws

[Lance Lutke]

I am possibly moving from Oklahoma(no inspection or emissions test) to the Dallas, Tx area soon. I need to get my '75 bronco ready to pass the inspection/emissions test. Currently I am running an explorer 5.0 with dual exhaust and no cats. The motor has a Holley TA carburator. The charcoal canister and gas tank vent canister are not hooked up. All of my lights and windshield wipers work but I do not have a horn. What all do I need to fix to pass in the state of Texas? I really appreciate any advice or tips you all can provide. Thanks

Lance

 

[mp]

You will need a horn. You do not need a reverse/backuop light. You will need functioning turn signals, headlights, and brake lights. You will need functioning windshield wipers. You will need 1 mirror, either door or rear view. If you do a search on the internet, you can find the entire list on the DMV Safety Inspection site.

You won't need an emissions test due to age of vehicle, so you are good to go.

Also, for my horn, I hooked up a switch temporarily under the dash until I get my new steering wheel and column. It is perfectly legal and passed inspection on my 77.

 

[Dr. Awsome]

I cant say for texas but in utah you need blinkers, headlights (brights/dims) brake lights, tail lights, a working horn, good brakes that don't pull, windshield wipers, no exesive play in the steering. Really all the basics you would think of. The ones they could get you on are a lift regulation here it's your frame rail under the driver seat can't be more than 22" off the ground on a leval serface. As well as mud flaps. the top 50% has to be covered either by the wheel well or a mud flap. Your tires can not stick out of the body as well. You have to have fender flares that completly cover the tire.

When you got down there go to your local safty/emitions testing place and just ask them to glance at you rig and see if there's anything blatently wrong. Most will be nice enough to do this. Also go to the local 4X4 shop and see if there are any places they take there rigs to. They should know a place that will pass anything on wheels.

Even if you fail you have should have a min. of 14 days to fix it before they can charge you again to get your rig tested.

 

[SaddleUp]

You will need a horn. You do not need a reverse/backuop light. You will need functioning turn signals, headlights, and brake lights. You will need functioning windshield wipers. You will need 1 mirror, either door or rear view. If you do a search on the internet, you can find the entire list on the DMV Safety Inspection site.

You won't need an emissions test due to age of vehicle, so you are good to go.

Also, for my horn, I hooked up a switch temporarily under the dash until I get my new steering wheel and column. It is perfectly legal and passed inspection on my 77.

In addition to the above list they required me to change my steering wheel to a full size one when I had my Barracuda inspected. Funny about the horn. I had problems with it and while I was fumbling with it it honked and that was all they were looking for. Your windshield also can't have any cracks. (Don't recall if any of the other windows can be though) You can't have any exhaust leaks and it has to exit from under the vehicle. (Can't recall if it needs to be behind the rear tires though) Oh, the ebrake needs to work as well. (Note: These were the requirements I recall back between '84 & '89. A lot could have changed since then)

 

[CrazyHorse70]

TX Inspections

I just moved here in Jan. and was failed for a license plate light not working. They did test drive it to check brakes and steering. I believe you have to have a working parking brake as well as the other things previously listed.

 

[Gummi Bear]

I just moved here in Jan. and was failed for a license plate light not working. They did test drive it to check brakes and steering. I believe you have to have a working parking brake as well as the other things previously listed.

It's likely that your ground isn't too good for the brake light. Clean it all up and it'll start working again.


It takes about 5 minutes to get mine inspected. I spend more time having a cup of coffee and shooting the bull with the guys up there than anything. ;D

 

[CrazyHorse70]

Brake lights were fine, the ground wire for the license plate light was broken in the tailgate. I just ran a new wire from the frame, up through the tailgate, to the light, and all was well.

 

[mp]

Yeah, e-brake was another one--had to buy new e-brake lines. And I had to splice my lisence plate light too. The safety inspection does not cover the steering wheel--not sure why you had to mess with that--maybe because it was so long ago? (I had an aftermarket Grant on mine).

I looked up all the regs before I went. Took me forever. When I got there, they had a pamphlet that had all the inspectable items with a checklist. Try stopping by a safety center--I'll bet they still have the pamphlet.

 

[SaddleUp]

Yeah, e-brake was another one--had to buy new e-brake lines. And I had to splice my lisence plate light too. The safety inspection does not cover the steering wheel--not sure why you had to mess with that--maybe because it was so long ago? (I had an aftermarket Grant on mine).

I looked up all the regs before I went. Took me forever. When I got there, they had a pamphlet that had all the inspectable items with a checklist. Try stopping by a safety center--I'll bet they still have the pamphlet.

Ya, It's been a long time. It wasn't an issue with it being aftermarket but rather with it's size. I think it was about 13" in diameter. I changed it setting in the inspection center and the guy knew I was going to put it back on as soon as I left. I also got failed for the exhaust. Can't remember if it was exiting under it or in front of the tires though. I ran flex pipe out the back and was then failed for an exhaust leak. I think it took 4 trips before I finally got it through.

 

[Skuzzlebutt]

Here's your Official, Texas sized Check List!

 

[Lance Lutke]

Thanks for all of the help. With all of this information I believe I need to put a horn on, fix my ebrake, and redo my exhaust. Does anybody know what exactly they check on the exhaust system? The checklist that Skuzzlebutt provided had these items:
10. Exhaust System
11. Exhaust Emission System (beginning with 1968 models)
I'm guessing number ten is checking for the quality of the exhaust, but what do they check for on the exhaust emission system? Am I correct for saying that mine being a '75 Bronco that it does not need cats? Right now mine dump right under the rear seat. Does anybody know if it has to exit a certain place? Thanks for all the info so far.
Lance

 

[broncotime]

I'm doing the same move (from Tulsa, OK to DFW area) in the next 60 days, so post how it goes and maybe I can fix something before I take it to get checked. From the list posted earlier, my only concern is my exhaust which is identical to yours in that it ends under the back seat.

I'm looking forward to possibly getting out on some of the LEBC trips after I get moved in, hope to see you out there. YeeHaa!

 

[CrazyHorse70]

Not sure if you need cats or not. If your fuel gauge says "Unleaded Fuel", then I'm sure they will look for cats. On the exhaust emmision system I think they are looking for the heat riser tube from the exhaust to the air filter. The inspection guy gave me a lot of hastle about not having the original set-up to get warm air to the carb. I pointed out to him that I was running an aftermarket fuel injection system, and that the choke was now electronically controlled, thus there was no need for the heat riser tube/hose. We discussed this back and forth for a while untill his boss finally came into the conversation and saw my point. The earlier comment about finding a place that is not so strict is right on. The guy doing my inspection was on his first week of doing them, and only knew what was in the book he was given in training.

 

[66roadhorse]

Check into licensing it as a classic, or an antique. Our 66 roadster is licensed antique and doesn't go through an inspection at all. My 70 Torino has 70 plates, they cost $85 for 5 years and once again no inspection. Check with the DMV for the different options and you might not even have do worry about it.
As far as emmisions go it is only if it was factory installed. My dad has a 71 Mustang Convertible, and they did not do an emmisions check (Brazos County). Also the emmisions depends on where you live. In Harris County (Houston) it is required, in Travis County (Austin) it is not.

 

[Lance Lutke]

Thanks for all the help guys. I will have to look into exactly what a '75 bronco had from the factory. I do not even know what type of exhaust it had originally (dual, cats or not etc). Thanks

Lance

 

[pimpkin]

In the state of Texas, no matter what county your in, on a car that's 25 years old or older all you need is a safety inspection. Light's, horn, turn signals, brakes, etc...
They won't look at exhaust or emissions.

 

[SaddleUp]

a 75 would require cats. And it would be my guess that the exhaust would have to be routed behind the rear wheel out the side.....but then again its Texas. The state where having a open container is ok %) ;D

Unless the laws changed again open containers are no longer allowed in Texas. They did away with allowing open containers back in the mid to late 80's at about the same time they raised the legal age to 21. Right around 85 or 86 if I recall right. They did it under pressure from the federal level because they refused to give them any highway funding unless the laws were changed. The funny thing was that while the open container was allowed many counties had public consumption laws. Meaning you could not drink where anyone could see you. I was also fortunate to live in a county where alcohol could even be sold when I was there.

 

[Gummi Bear]

They've never questioned mine, and it's a 76, and I don't have any cat's either. As long as your exhaust system is in place, and no major leaks (they can't hear it) you should be OK.

I don't have any of the emissions stuff in mine at all. No smog pump, charcoal canister, none of that stuff.

 

[70 sport WA]

# 11 might be an issue for you seeing no cat converter on that '75.

Can only speak for myself, but when I lived in Houston a few years back I had a 77 with no cats (dual exaust) and never had problems over multiple years. The sniffer always came back very clean... maybe the places I went would only look for equip when it failed(?)

 

[SaddleUp]

your right, I remember that action now....I was kinda making a joke. ;D

I know. ;D I just didn't want anyone to see it and get the idea that it was still ok. I don't think they would find it very funny sitting on the side of the road with red and blue lights flashing behind them.