'75 CJ5 Emissions Help

There were a lot of changes in 1972, and again in 1976. The chassis and front clip were lengthened in 1972 to accommodate AMC's inline 6 cylinder engines.

Trying to put the 258 cid inline 6 into a 1970 Jeep would require a lot of work - you'd have to push the firewall back to fit the longer engine. I would strongly advise against it.

In the day, the Buick V6 was appealing to Jeep because it is short, and will fit in the short Jeep engine compartment. In 1972, the Jeep engine compartment was lengthened a lot. V8 swaps into a '70 are possible, but today almost everybody uses the V6s because they fit so much better.

If you are thinking they are both Jeeps, so the drivetrain should be easy to mix and match, you are mistaken. If you found a '72, '73 or '74 Jeep to swap into, then you'd be ok, but swapping this engine into a '70 would not be easy or straightforward.

Sorry to be so negative, but that's the situation.

 

You have opened the can of worms.
Since the Jeep originally had the 304 and the engine has been replaced with a 258, there are problems.
Generally, when the engine is replaced, it must then meet the emission standards of that particular engine of that year.
Emission regulations have made engine swaps extremely difficult.
It would probably be a lesser pain to find a 304, install that with the proper emission equipment and call it a day.
Obviously the garage technician is not too familiar with the regulations or the requirements for the '75 258 engine.

 

It is this exact quote that initiated my response in that, if the inspector doesn't know what it is supposed to be, how can he fail you?

I know this is water under the bridge at this point...but it just bothers me that regulations are made, but not properly enforced, thereby costing taxpayers huge sums of money to try to overcome a government bureaucracy nightmare.

 

Just a comment for consideration ... if you think your Jeep is marketable in its current condition, you might consider selling it. It seems that areas of PA are the only part of the country where any of this matters, so the PA emissions regs should not impact selling to someone from out of state. Before I looked it up (in response to your question), I thought that CA had the most burdensome emissions regulations for old cars... but their cutoff is 1976. In CA, you would have no inspection.

It's pretty awful that the regs in PA have put you in this spot, but for me, it would be easier and cheaper just to buy a different Jeep that's at least a year older. Either that, or look for a Jeep that's newer and already meets the emissions regs. JMO.

 

Or do what my buddy did here in Georgia (where the limit is 25 years old)...he didn't register the vehicle until it was the right age to not have emissions....if you have another vehicle to use until then.

 

The interesting thing to try in PA is the parts waiver. If the emission parts are no longer available, you must document from 3 different sources. The only thing wrong with this is the fact that the waiver is only good for the current year, and actually costs more than the emission test. They can force you to spend up to a certain amount, and at that time they will give the exemption, but if the components are missing, there is no dollar amount to reach the exemption limit.
Also, there is a provision to exempt a certain model year once the number of vehicles in the model year reach a certain percentage of the vehicles on the road, but it appears that this will never happen.
Think about it, how many '75 vehicles of all makes are still on the road?
When you consider the average of the cars on the road, the '75 is ancient.

 

Please don't misunderstand, the mechanic was trying to be helpful. It makes sense that when he plugged in my vin the machine told him I needed the cat, egr, etc, as you helped explain. And it is my own fault for being ignorant to what emissions components I should have had all these years. It is the PA rules that bother me.
Once your Jeep turns 26 years old you no longer have to pass a traditional emissions test. The listed tests are a gas cap test and a visual anti-tampering check. However, all vehicles, even brand new ones, are exempt from the prescribed emissions tests if you put less then 5000 miles on in the previous year. Now, the funny part is if you look in the PA Safety Inspection Code, it requires vehicles to have a working odometer - until they turn 26. So... why wouldn't they just say no emissions after 26?

As far as bringing my current set-up into spec, I think I am stuck. I didn't realize before but the 304 chart shows air injection. I don't see this being easy to install on an '89 I6. I think the best plan for me is probably to live by the 5000 mile rule until laws change, better or worse. Unless, of course, I find a deal on a '72-'74 with a clean title!