Emissions and catalytic converters

The 'green' side ofme is making an appearance. So speedster replicas have catalytic converters fitted to comply with emission standards ?
For example, the Intermeccanica has a new engine, so does it comply with emission standards ?

If one got a speedster based on an old engine, could one add a catalytic converter to get to make it emission friendly?

Or am I talking rubbish???

With fuel injection, an electronic ignition and a CD box even a high performance VW motor can run fairly clean. With dual carbs it can be done....trial and error with different jets.

Adding a catalytic converter will increase engine running temperatures. I suspect that is why engines equipted with them usually need oil coolers.

I don't know about that; after all, with VW air cooled motors we're talking '30's technology so I think trying to make them comply with modern emission standards is pushing it a little. Just my humble opinion.

My 2332 with dual 48s passed our local emissions tests with no trouble. I did lean out the idle circuit. I have no catalytic converters.

Having been part of the team that installed the Hamilton Test Systems vehicle emissions test sites all over the state of Arizona, years ago, I would be very surprised if a properly set up and tuned VW engine would NOT pass a standard, current emissions test, with or without catalytic converters. They would have to be jetted very close to a 14.7 mix and run the valve lash a little looser, but they should pass BOTH the idle and 50 MPH tests.

If it's running Electronic Fuel Injection, I would expect it to be a slam dunk.

However, I've seen a LOT of Spedsters that seem to be running pretty rich (mine included) and THOSE would have a harder time unless they were re-jetted. The accelerator pump stroke won't matter much, but the idle and main jet balance would.

gn

ok, has anyne taken a look at the INtermeccanica engine specs at www.Intermeccanica.com ? would these engine get through an emmisission test of:

2500 to 3000 rpm
CO<=0.3%
HC<=200ppm
Lambda between 0.97 and 1.03

450 to 1500 rpm
CO<=0.5%

Cheers,
Jeremy

To pass that tight of CO% test your carb air/fuel mixture will have to be pretty close to perfect. You'll basically have to hook the car up to an emissions tester while you tune the carbs. The HC shouldn't be too hard if your ignition system is all in order and the air/fuel mixture is on. But you have to understand that no engine from the early 70's or earlier was designed to burn that clean. Federal standards for 1970 model year cars CO% was something like 3%. So if you do happen to tune that motor to burn that clean chances are that it's running too lean and therefor will overheat easier so you should tune it back after the test.

See my post up above about the emissions testers for the State of Arizona. We installed that stuff 8/76 - 3/77 when I was working at Hamilton Test Systems in Connecticut.

After we were up and running in the first week (testing to the 1975 standards back then), in comes this guy with a 68 Barracuda, 340, six-pack carbs, hot cam, rumpa-rumpa exhaust. We look at each other and say, "THIS should be good!"
We did three tests: Idle, 20mph and 50 mph, both moving tests done on a floor-dyno. The Cuda passed everything.

Next in line was an old duffer with a 1930 Ford Model A Cabriolet - gorgeous car, completely stock. We told him he was exempt from the emmissions testing, but he wanted to do it anyway. We then asked: "Can this thing DO 50MPH?" "Of course it can!" the owner said (in a huff, I might add).
We ran the same three tests. The "A" passed the 20mph AND 50mph tests (by a wide margin, if I remember) but failed the idle test. He said that he could adjust the mixture screw, but found that it was rusted/corroded in position and wouldn't move so we didn't bother for fear of breaking something. I'm sure if he played with it for a few minutes he would've made it.

I was always surprised what passed and what didn't. I had a 1946 Ford Coupe back then, 59 A/B Flathead, bored out over 150 thousandths, stroked, hot cam, Edlebrock intake, dual Stromberg 97's with modified power valves (due to poor vacuum due to the cam), Kong ignition, etc. It would consistently pass everything for 1975 except the idle test (it was always rich at idle - kinda like my current Speedster!!)

gn

As a prior owner of a Corvair for 250,000 miles and now a speedster, I've been a student of air cooled for a few years. Have you noticed that EVERYONE (including a lot of new motorcycles)have stopped using air cooled engines? Back in early 70's it became apparant that emission standards were not friendly to the higher and more variable operating temperatures experienced by air cooled engines. Porsche, even with their high buck solutions, eventually went to water cooled. With today's fuel injection controlled by on board computers, it is probably possible to design an engine to generate high horsepower and still be water cooled, but I don't see anyone entering this arena. That should be a message.
I admit my wheels are not a daily driver, so I just drive it fast and turn it off. That keeps total emissions down doesn't it?

Ooops, that should have been "high horsepower and AIR cooled and still pass emissions . . ."