Ford Crate motor not Emission legal??

Emissions are different from state to state. Some like CA, are very strict, others have no testing at all. That is why it is not emission legal. If AZ only does a cniffer test, it should pass easy with cats.

Being emissions "legal" and passing the local emissions test/getting an emissions sticker are usually 2 entirely different things. For suppliers selling parts, claiming it to be emissions legal usually involves the part having gone through the testing required to get a CARB (California Air Resources Board) number. It's quite expensive for a manufacturer/supplier to do this, and in most cases it's easier for the manufacturer/supplier to simply mark their parts with the "This part intended for off-road use only and is not to be used on any vehicle driven on public roads...." blah, blah, blah -- words to that effect, and then let the buyer take the risk on how the part is gonna be used. Ford Racing has changed their catalog recently - if you look at the last few years catalogs, fewer and fewer parts have the 'emissions legal' stamp. So when they say their crate engines aren't emissions legal, it means you can't legitimately look your emissions inspector in the eye and say you've got CARB certificates for all the parts in the engine. However, many areas don't ask you - they just run a sniffer. And if you pass the sniffer, you get the sticker. In that case, you may 'pass emissions', but you wouldn't be emissions 'legal' because the parts used in the engine aren't qualified for it. In some places there's just a visual inspection - if the inspector doesn't know much about the vehicle, they may just look for cats, air pumps, egr, stuff like that - and if it's all there to their satisfaction you get a sticker. Once again, depending on the inspector, you may get a sticker, but not be legal. Some places do a visual and a sniffer, and they have inspectors who know quite a bit about the way these cars are modded. They may ask for CARB numbers on certain parts - or ask you what you've modified inside and out - and if the parts you used have CARB numbers. Some folks supply numbers from parts, even though they've actually got a different part in the car (how are they gonna check to see what cam you've got?) So you see, it's all over the board.

What FRPP is really telling you is that they're not gonna take any liability associated with whether that engine is emissions legal, will pass any type of emissions test or has emissions legal parts in it. They're leaving all that risk up to the buyer. As to whether their B-cam, X-headed motor will pass with all the emissions stuff hooked up (cats, air pump, egr) -- I have no idea because I don't know what the testing criteria are in the Phoenix area. Your best bet is to understand exactly what the techs in Phoenix are looking for (and it can vary from person to person and testing station to testing station, state to state, county to county), and to find other folks in your area with a similar engine and see what they did to pass the test - and exactly where and who did the inspection on it. Billy-Bob might've passed it at Station A when Vern, his sister's cousin did the inspection with a wink; you go to Station B, and get inspector Bubba who caught you in a bar with his wife the night before and the outcome may be different. You see what I mean - there's not a one size fits all answer to any emissions issue/question. And once again - just because they passed the test and got a sticker doesn't mean they're emissions legal. And just because you use all emissions legal parts doesn't guarantee it'll pass the sniffer - state of tune is critical too. Aren't you glad there's a straightforward answer?

1981 through 1995 vehicles receive the dyno tailpipe test but...

If the technician believes that the vehicle's emission equipment has been tampered with they may do a visual inspection of the vehicle to assure that all emissions equipment is installed and operating.

See http://www.adeq.state.az.us/environ/air/vei/tech.html for details.

ford motorsport sells the motor also with an E303 cam which is emissions legal. It makes 5 less horsepower and sounds just about as lopey as the engine with the B-cam. Take my advise cause I own a Ford Motorsport gt40 crate motor, you would be better off buying a d.s.s. longblock. It would cost you about the same and you get forged internals. It sucks having a supercharger and not being able to safely run more boost due to the cast pistons that come in the Motorsport engine. Also with the D.S.S. motor you will have a lot more choices of heads and cams.

Actually, the 340HP Ford crate motor IS the E-cammed version; the 345HP version is the B cammed version. And notwithstanding the fact that a particular camshaft has a CARB number, I don't think Ford Racing has/offers/claims a CARB certificate for the whole crate engine regardless of cam choice - more parts have been changed than just the cam of course.

mustangdaren said:

ford motorsport sells the motor also with an E303 cam which is emissions legal. It makes 5 less horsepower and sounds just about as lopey as the engine with the B-cam. Take my advise cause I own a Ford Motorsport gt40 crate motor, you would be better off buying a d.s.s. longblock. It would cost you about the same and you get forged internals. It sucks having a supercharger and not being able to safely run more boost due to the cast pistons that come in the Motorsport engine. Also with the D.S.S. motor you will have a lot more choices of heads and cams.

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I am interested in a D.S.S. motor, but i thoguht they werent emissions legal?

If it will be emissions legal or not will depend on what heads and cam you order it with and if you reconnect all the factory emissions hardware. If you want it to pass the sniffer you will have to use a mild cam like the steeda cam or the E303 to be for sure it will pass. I am sure there are some other cams that will pass emissions out there also. It's not like they are going to tear your motor apart to see what components you have. They will look for the emission components, hoses, smog pump, catalitic converters and put a sniffer in the tail pipe. If you pass the sniffer your good to go. If you are lucky to live in a area like me you don't even have to worry about passing a sniffer test. I have had my FMS motor since 1995 and had no problems finding a place to get it inspected.