Street Legalizing a race car

[ForcedInduction509]

I dont really know if I should be posting this in this forum but I seen some old muscle cars ('69 Camaro, '71 Challenger, ect.) that are selling for cheap on ebay but they are used for drag racing only and cannot be used in the streets. I was wondering if these cars can be made street legal again without taking out any engine or suspension modifications it may have (this one guy has a '70 Nova that was a drag car and now he uses it as a daily driver), and if it can what safety equipment is needed for it to be usable in the streets?

Thankyou ahead of time for any imformation provided

[ForcedInduction509]

Heres an example of a car:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=98062&item=4549865 262&rd=1

[Igovert500]

Um, I didn't check the link, but lots of things can make it not street legal. You would have to check with your local PD to see what their requirements are.

But generally, exhaust is one issue. Tires and wheel setups are another. You need functioning lights, blinkers, etc. I'd talk with the owner and see what all they did to make it race-worthy..and then go from there in the opposite direction...because much of what they modified will have to be replaced. On the other hand...barely anyone I know has an actually fully 'legal' street car. I know mine has illegal tint, no cats, and a few other issues. It really depends on how rigid your state inspections are and what your local cops care about.

[ac427cpe]

check with the department of transportation.

[ForcedInduction509]

Originally Posted by ac427cpe

check with the department of transportation.

Or I can do that, thnx for mentioning that to me.
The way I look at all this is that I can take a already great body and engine car (mainly muscle cars '60s-'70s) and legalizing it. People tell me thats the way to go since Im on a budget.

[drdisque]

well, the main problem with that car is that the torque converter is probably so stiff that it will chirp street tires whenever you hit the gas. Thats why it has the slicks on it. There are DOT Slicks that are street legal though that would probably work. Other than that as long as you get the lights set-up right then I see no reason why that car wouldn't be street legal, but being comfortable to drive on the street or not is a completely different matter.

[AlmostStock]

Like already posted it depends on what was done to the car to race it. Many have full roll cages with just one lightweight (uncomfortable) seat and Lexan windows that don't even roll down. Racing "spools" that lock both rear tires together suck while going around corners. Some have small fuel cells that may not even have a gauge. All the original "unnecessary" wiring may be long gone. These kinds of mods are not much fun on the street and can be expensive to change back.

[curtis73]

We need to know where you live. Extreme differences between states.

My 66 bonneville wouldn't pass PA state safety inspection because the steering used non-factory parts. In California, the same car can be registered for the street with not much more than a phone call because its older than 1976. Huge differences.

In CA, I can buy a pre-1976 car, gut it, drop in a 1000 hp engine, and never have to notify the DMV. Of course, safety equipment, lighting, and noise regulations must still be obeyed, but its street legal if it retains seat belts, DMV approved lighting, and DOT tires. Since it never will be inspected, who cares if it even has a suspension. ... and trust me, the lighting is optional based on what I see on the roads here in L.A.

Contrast that to PA where I couldn't register an 87 El Camino because it had too much rust in the body. PA has strict yearly safety inspections which include a check of the brakes, lights, rust, tire wear, and even suspension wear. My 66 bonneville had spherical heim joints on the steering and no one would even look at it in PA. Here in CA, I could use duct tape to steer my car and no one would ever know or care.