I'm trying to get my 57 to pass an emissions test in order to qualify for a collector plate.

I was wondering if the canister for the road draft tube ever has to be serviced? Do they plug up and create more hydrocarbons?

The hydrocarbon thing wasn't an issue back in the '50s, but there is a filter in that cannister that can get plugged.  Replacements are still available.  Where do they measure for hydrocarbons?

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

I  wasn't sure what was inside the canister, but if there is a filter and it's plugged it could

cause more tailpipe emissions. I'm not sure what you meant by where they check for hydrocarbons, but it's at the tailpipe with the sniffer,or in Vancouver where you have to pass

an emissions test just one time to get a collector plate. Thing is my HC is over 2000 ppm while

my CO is just .23%

You might consider installing a PCV system and lose the roadraft tube.Meanwhile you can open the canister by unscrewing the bolt.Filter can be possibly cleaned in varsol or buy a new one at parts store.

  

W/ high hydro carbon measurement, would leaning the carb just long enough to pass emission test help?

You gotta have the right tools and know how to use 'em.

TC - Austin, Texas

Lean you carb all you can and set idle up. Make sure engine is completely warmed up. You don't care how it runs as long as it passes.

Ol'ford nutCentral Iowa

56 Vic w/292 & 4 spd.

Did they have emissions standards in 1957? It seems a bit extreme to me that the car has to pass but I guess the law is the law.


Lawrenceville, GA

There probably weren't any emission standards in 1957 but the  emissions they allow today for that year of car are quite generous,( 950 ppm of HC and 4.50 % of CO). My car had over 2000 ppm and .23% CO, which sounds like alot of unburnt fuel from cylinders misfiring ( bad ignition)or incorrect float adjustment, something along that line I think, I hope. Anyway I've put new plug wires, cap etc. along with a different carb (autolite 2100) retarded the timing a couple degrees and picked the idle up to 1000 rpm and I'll retest it tomorrow.

John: Randy & I talked today by phone about his emissions problem. (my 57 was subject to the same test) I agreed that setting the idle up some might be a good idea. Up to 1050 RPM is aloud, but at that throttle level your into the power system of the carb, is that correct? Might that not be detrimental to the idle emissions readings?

Paul

Wow, even California doesn't test cars made before 1975 when cats were first installed. At one time we had to install PCV systems on all cars 1955 and newer. In the process nearly all the road draft tubes in Calif were destroyed. An unmolested one is about impossible to find here. That requirement was dropped about 20 years ago but a lot of 57 4bbl intakes were ruined also when the installed 2 big vacuum fittings in the port runners. I wonder where all that cast iron went when they drilled them on the engine

I know that retarding the timing and raising the idle will help. Leaning the idle mixture will help lower HC but as I recall it raises some other emission, NOX?

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