Catalytic Converters

[86Sub]

I have an 86 3/4 ton Suburban with a 454. It is stock and did not come with a catalytic converter.

I just transfered the registration from CA to North Carolina. They require an inspection here in NC after you register the vehicle. They failed it because it didn't have a catalytic converter. I told the person at the inspection station that it never had one and the 3/4 ton trucks did not require them in 86. He went on to tell me that without one he wouldn’t pass it.

I have never failed a smog inspection in CA. The last inspection in CA it had to be run on the dyno and it had far lower emissions than the average for that year. I know in CA they look at everything and if it was supposed to have a cat they would have failed it.

I talked to a local Chevy dealer and they didn’t know, but they said that that year vehicle doesn’t need to be tested for smog just safety, so I will be able to get it inspected, but I just wanted to know if anyone has a same year truck with a cat.

I even talked to the parts department and had them look up the part number for the cat and they said they were only listed for a 305 or 350 not the 454.

[idmetro]

I've got the 1/2 ton version with a 350 and it did come with a cat. My experience with emissions inspections is that there is considerable variance from one station to another in how they interpret the rules. My suggestion would be to take it to a different inspection station and see how they treat it.

[86Sub]

Originally Posted by idmetro

I've got the 1/2 ton version with a 350 and it did come with a cat. My experience with emissions inspections is that there is considerable variance from one station to another in how they interpret the rules. My suggestion would be to take it to a different inspection station and see how they treat it.

You are correct the 1/2 ton with the 305 and 350 did have them. The 3/4 ton 454 did not.
I got it passed today at the Chevy dealer. They copied the page from the manual that shows that it did not come with a cat.

I am going to go to the first place today and demand my money back, if not then I will report them to every agency that I find.