There's currently an S5 RX7 FC for sale in my neighborhood for $700 with a busted 13B. I've been looking for a summer project car and really like the idea of making an RX-7 sleeper, but I'm not going pour money into a car that won't be street legal. I was wondering if anyone has had V8 RX-7 registered and what were the standards are for getting it inspected and emissions tested (especially in Pennsylvania).

My friends and I need a car to throw a 350 at.

 

A 350 won't cut it.

The swapped motor has to be of the same model year or newer and retain all emissions related equipment (cats, EGR, etc.)

 

Would a salvage title or classic car registration be exempt from emissions standards? (assuming I could get either, emissions see,s to be the larger problem)

 

A salvage title has even more to get checked if the salvage hasn't been cleared by the dmv. It would have to go for salvage inspection. And classics I know in new york is exempt but a S5 is not close to being a classic. A way to possibly get around it is depending how close you are to new york register inspect it here 1995 and older are exempt. Im building a '86 lt1 turbo and its a basic safety inspection. Have my '89 vert and all they check is lights, horn, and e-brake and make sure its not a piece of **** rust bucket that could fall apart. New york might have crazy taxes but if you own 1995 and older your golden!

 

Each county in Pa. has a different emission test. Some have NO test.
I'm in Luzerne county where only the gas cap is tested.
I never have had to even open my hood on my FD/LS1.

If the car is driven less than 5k. miles a year it's exempt from emissions.

Buy a car with a valid title, register it and nobody cares what kind of engine it has.

 

An important note: The rule about <5k is true, but the car has to have been inspected, at some point, while titled in your name. For example, I bought a 2002 WRX with no motor and built the car up over the course of a year. I needed to get it safety/emissions inspected once it was done, even though I never drove it for a year, because I had never yet had it inspected in my name since acquiring it. If you buy a running vehicle, go get it to pass, then tear it apart. By the time your next inspection is due, if you have driven less than 5k, you can get by with a safety inspection only. No emissions.

I just picked up an FD with no motor. It's getting a 2JZ, so I'm going to have to deal with that PITA process all over again.

EDIT: Wait, that whole process was with my 1988 Subaru Justy, not the WRX. Same concept though.