Ford Repair: 90 MUSTANG 5.0, flo master, catalytic converters

Question
STEVE,
I HAVE A 90 5.0 LX.I'M TRYING TO GET COLLECTORS
PLATES FOR.CAR ONLY HAS 18,000 MILES ON IT.
THE ONLY MODIFICATION I'VE MADE IS A FLO-MASTER
EXHAUST SYSTEM.THE VEHICLE WON'T PASS E-CHECK.
SO NOW I CAN'T GET PLATES.THE STATE OF OHIO WANTS
RECEIPTS SHOWING 5,000 W/OF MODIFICATIONS.I WILL
NOT DO THAT TO THE CAR.DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS
W/O HAVING TO CHANGE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AGAIN?
      THANKS,
          JOE

Answer
Joe-

  If you've gotten rid of the catalytic converters, that'll be your main problem.  If it was a Flowmaster cat-back you should still pass with flying colors.  I know quite a few people who've bought catalytic H-pipes solely for use during emissions testing.  They run the uncorked exhaust all year until it's time for emissions testing and throw the H-pipe with cats back on.  Now legally I can't recommend that you do that...it's just what people I know have done.  It's a pain to be sure, but better than failing I suppose.  If you do have the original converters on the car, they may be clogged and in need of replacement anyway.  Bassanni offers a great new metal substrate converter that flows better than ceramic converters (almost as good as no cats at all), but you'll have to pay a pretty good price for the quality.  Hope this helps.

Steve