emission testing

I think you should check the code more carefully. What you are talking about sounds more restrictive than California. I think the only way they can expect your rod to meet current emissions standards would be if you were building it on a self assembled vehicle title which would be dated by the year of inspection so if I built a t bucket on this type of title this year it would be titled as a 2002 powell. In Ohio I would not be expected to pass a tailpipe sniffer test and I truly doubt that you would be. Here in Ohio (california too I think) if you build a rod from a vehicle 79 or older you do not need to pass an emissions test, or at least not to the standards of 2002. I am building a 57 chevy which is way pre emissions. If I had to pass a sniffer test at 2002 standards my car would need catalytic converters, a computer, air pump (smog pump) an O2 sensor in the exhaust and I do not know what else. No one not even California (the most restrictive emissions state) requires my old car to have all of these things. I think the emmissions law was to be a revolving law allowing cars once 20 or 25 years old to be modified