For those in MA, crusher car question

[Mat1asBEV&ICE]

Hi. I'm new to the forum. I will be building a Roadster in the coming year.

I am having a bit of trouble finding a crusher to register for emissions exemption in Massachusetts. Where is a good place to search for cars? Secondly, I assume the vehicle has to run, correct? Otherwise I would not be offsetting emissions.

Thank you,

Matias

[Tooth]

I'm nearing the mid point of my build, or so I think. Been keeping an eye out for one as well. Needs to be registered and titled in MA. I think within the year before it's destroyed. So, yes needs to be a running driving car. Hard part is finding one that is cheap enough, and that you'll be able to sleep at night for destroying. I've come across a couple that I just couldn't justify destroying for no good reason.

[Mat1asBEV&ICE]

Same here. I can find cars but they are $4K and up. I don't want to spend that kind of money just to crush it. :) Remember it needs the same number of cylinders and equal or greater displacement and registered for at least one year.

[CaptB]

Egad! What draconian rules.

[Mat1asBEV&ICE]

I was told TX and FL are the strictest/most difficult. Haven't looked into it myself. It's somewhat of a pain but it makes sense if you want emissions exemption. The other route is getting a donor but then you need the cat too.

[chmhasy]

Is it possible to have the car registered and titled in Maine, then transfer the title to Ma?

[michael everson]

You can’t do that because MA requires you to abide by there rules regardless if the car is already titled. Just went through this myself.
Mike

[cob427sc]

Best place I found was to become "friendly" with one of the junk yards that take in older cars for scrap. They occaisonally will have people bring in old junkers just to get rid of them and can provide an acceptable title for a small fee.

[Dgc333]

Doesn't the vehicle have to be 1970 or older in order to qualify?

[john42]

In New Hampshire we get titled as a 1965 and can even get antique plates. I wonder if you register/title in NH and then move to MA what happens? Cause as far as the DMV is concerned it's a 1965...

[Jeff Kleiner]

Doesn't the vehicle have to be 1970 or older in order to qualify?

Pretty sure it's 1974 or earlier.

Jeff

[cnutting]

Another option, if you aren't commited to a coyote, is to use a pre-1974 block. I went that route, 65 date code block with all new internals. Full emissions exemption.

[Mastertech5]

The salvage inspectors when you go to get you state VIN MUST be able to verify that the block is not stolen. Meaning you must have a receipt and VIN from the vehicle it came from originally and they must be able to run it to see if it is clear. The numbers must be on the block it the manufacturer put them on. Some didn't start till the late '60s. I stopped at the Bridgewater salvage inspection garage at talked to the Troopers about it on a visit to FFR. I ended up going with GMs 50 state emission compliant E-Rod LS3. A crate motor with a Calif. Air Resorces Board certification is one option. I was almost up to the price adding everything I wanted to do to a SBC, with machining and all the parts. I spent 2 years looking for a crusher that was suitable. The biggest problem was to find something with a big enough engine in it to cover what you want to use. Good luck, really!

[GoDadGo]

You can’t do that because MA requires you to abide by there rules regardless if the car is already titled. Just went through this myself.
Mike

Steve's Stupid Question:

I know you've built a ton of these cars, probably over 200 by now, but could you buy a running car (Age Appropriate) from another state and register it in Massachusetts, then drive it around a year or two prior to stripping it to be used a s a crusher?

[michael everson]

Yes you can do that. Must
Be 73 or older v8.

[GoDadGo]

Yes you can do that. Must
Be 73 or older v8.

Maybe we (The Factory Five Community) can bird dog Donor/Crusher Cars for our pals in Massachusetts.
I'm sure we cast a pretty wide net if we each cover a 75-100 mile radius from our homes.
I am willing help, but NOLA is off limits because we have issues with jackings & murders.
Any place else I'm willing to go if someone needs finding a car they want to crush.

Thanks Mike!

[Cobradavid]

I was told TX and FL are the strictest/most difficult. Haven't looked into it myself. It's somewhat of a pain but it makes sense if you want emissions exemption. The other route is getting a donor but then you need the cat too.

I can't speak for FL. My roadster is registered and titled in the great state of Texas as a 1965. No emissions testing or exemption required. None of this go-buy-an-old-car-and-crush-it-before-you-can-drive-your-car "emissions off-set" nonsense either. ;)

I'm running a 4.6 SOHC mod engine with cats, so I would be able to pass emissions if I had to.

David

[CaptB]

Tennessee has to be the easiest, go in with the MSO and receipts, pay the tax/title fees. No inspection. I've already talked to the tag agency and I'm about to go write a check.

I'm sure that we can be on the lookout for whatever year model you need here in Tennessee. There are a lot of hoopys around here that would probably work.

[Mat1asBEV&ICE]

Another option, if you aren't commited to a coyote, is to use a pre-1974 block. I went that route, 65 date code block with all new internals. Full emissions exemption.
Sorry, just circling back on this. So if I get a Coyote then I don't need a crusher? Thank you.

[cob427sc]

My understanding is that if you use a coyote you need a crusher. If you get an old 289, prior to 65 I believe, then you don't need a crusher. You still have to go through some obstacles but end up with a release allowing you to not have to meet emissions. I recently did this with my 33HR, however I used a 1958 Buick Nailhead engine allowing me to get around the crusher/emissions issue.

[Mat1asBEV&ICE]

My understanding is that if you use a coyote you need a crusher. If you get an old 289, prior to 65 I believe, then you don't need a crusher. You still have to go through some obstacles but end up with a release allowing you to not have to meet emissions. I recently did this with my 33HR, however I used a 1958 Buick Nailhead engine allowing me to get around the crusher/emissions issue.

Thank you for the insight. Would MAC be a good source to discuss these different options? If not, who should I call?

[Mat1asBEV&ICE]

Maybe we (The Factory Five Community) can bird dog Donor/Crusher Cars for our pals in Massachusetts.
I'm sure we cast a pretty wide net if we each cover a 75-100 mile radius from our homes.
I am willing help, but NOLA is off limits because we have issues with jackings & murders.
Any place else I'm willing to go if someone needs finding a car they want to crush.

Thanks Mike!
I would love to take you up on that offer if it's possible. The requirements are 1973 or older with a V8 and at least 351 cubic inch (for my application). Needs to be "drivable". :)

[Dgc333]

FWIW, I ran into a guy last Sunday at a car show with a 33 hot rod that he had just finished (this is in Mass). It was powered by a Blueprint sbc 383 with Sniper EFI. Anyway he had a July 23 inspection sticker on it and I asked him how he got by emissions testing.

He said it was exempt from emissions testing because it is registered as a 33. He showed me the Massachusetts registration form. In the model year field it said 1933, the make field had FFR and in the model field it said Replica. Not sure how he did it, he thought that the person waiting on him at the registry made a mistake.

I also ran into another guy at the local cruise night with a Cobra. He purchased it out of RI and transfer the title and registration to Mass and he is exempt from emissions testing.

I have also talked to a bunch of guys that just don't bother getting their cars inspected and a number of them have been driving them for several years like that and have not had any issues.

[cob427sc]

MAC would be the best people to speak with. My 33HR was registered in Mass as a 1933 Model 40 Ford only because the people at the registry of motor vehicles could not figure out how to load the vehicle description and assigned VIN into the computer. After almost 2 hours, they loaded the info as if it was real 33 Ford and issued me the registration.

[Mat1asBEV&ICE]

I have also talked to a bunch of guys that just don't bother getting their cars inspected and a number of them have been driving them for several years like that and have not had any issues.
Woah, curveball. I didn't think about that. I will have to ask around.

[Mat1asBEV&ICE]

MAC would be the best people to speak with. My 33HR was registered in Mass as a 1933 Model 40 Ford only because the people at the registry of motor vehicles could not figure out how to load the vehicle description and assigned VIN into the computer. After almost 2 hours, they loaded the info as if it was real 33 Ford and issued me the registration.
If you don't mind me asking, which RMV did you go to? I'll try the same place when the time comes (I won't mention your car, of course).

[DW66]

I run my veteran license plate and hope for the best. This is my second season and I just renewed my plates for two more years. So far so good.

[cob427sc]

I went to the RMV in Yarmouth. They were totally lost in trying to load the correct info into their computer system and finally the office manager just loaded it as an original 33 Ford, never mentioning anything to me. After 2 hours I just wanted out of there and didn't realize what they did until I got home.
The issue with running without a sticker is possible as I occaisonally have done this. Problem is the newer cruisers have a photo scan hookup to their on board computers that read your license plate and tell if the vehicle is not inspected. I had this happen when stopped after dark by a cruiser behind me. I asked how he knew and explained how the system works. Cost me $50 fine and then the inspection fee which has to be done in 3 days. Cop told me he could have had the car towed.

[Mat1asBEV&ICE]

I went to the RMV in Yarmouth. They were totally lost in trying to load the correct info into their computer system and finally the office manager just loaded it as an original 33 Ford, never mentioning anything to me. After 2 hours I just wanted out of there and didn't realize what they did until I got home.
The issue with running without a sticker is possible as I occaisonally have done this. Problem is the newer cruisers have a photo scan hookup to their on board computers that read your license plate and tell if the vehicle is not inspected. I had this happen when stopped after dark by a cruiser behind me. I asked how he knew and explained how the system works. Cost me $50 fine and then the inspection fee which has to be done in 3 days. Cop told me he could have had the car towed.
Thank you, not getting an inspection did sound too good to be true. I'll need to find a crusher, which has not been easy (without spending many thousands of dollars).

[jwebb]

I went to MAC and provided the casting number on the block to validate pre-74, and ran the VIN stamped in the 351W block and traced it to a 69 Cougar XR-7. Didn't have any trouble with the MA State Police registering.

[Tooth]

So, is it 74 or older or 73 or older? I'm a year into looking, but there are cars if I decide 4K is worth throwing away.

[Dgc333]

I went to MAC and provided the casting number on the block to validate pre-74, and ran the VIN stamped in the 351W block and traced it to a 69 Cougar XR-7. Didn't have any trouble with the MA State Police registering.

Did the pre-74 block get you an exemption from emissions?

FWIW, I had gone to the state police salvage title center in Raynham to get a better understanding of the title process in early 22 before I had gotten my kit. I was told that as long as I had a receipt and certificate of origin for the kit, plus receipts for the engine, tranny and rear end I would be good. He said because it's a Factory Five kit their inspection is a formality unless I had done something stupid. He then said once titled I could register it like any other vehicle. He said he had no involvement with inspection/emissions.

[Mat1asBEV&ICE]

So, is it 74 or older or 73 or older? I'm a year into looking, but there are cars if I decide 4K is worth throwing away.
I can confirm it is definitely 73 and older.

[jklapp]

I have my crusher car and am wondering about what is next. I found the form I think is necessary TTL108 - Junking or Scrapping a Motor Vehicle (https://www.mass.gov/doc/junking-or-scrapping-a-motor-vehicle/download). It looks like I have the junk yard sign this. What do I then do with the form? Do I sent it in as described at the top of the form, or do I take it to the MAC when I take my FFR for inspection?

[Mat1asBEV&ICE]

I have my crusher car and am wondering about what is next. I found the form I think is necessary TTL108 - Junking or Scrapping a Motor Vehicle (https://www.mass.gov/doc/junking-or-scrapping-a-motor-vehicle/download). It looks like I have the junk yard sign this. What do I then do with the form? Do I sent it in as described at the top of the form, or do I take it to the MAC when I take my FFR for inspection?
Call MAC at 508-452-8536, they are very helpful.

[chmhasy]

Best place I found was to become "friendly" with one of the junk yards that take in older cars for scrap. They occaisonally will have people bring in old junkers just to get rid of them and can provide an acceptable title for a small fee.

I wounder if the community would set up a connection with the junk yards so when a old junker comes in the junkyard does the paper work on the junk then post the available crushed car for a small fee. It would help save money for the builder and make some money for the junkyards and we are not wasting nice cars to be crushed.