[Healeys] Emissions Compliance in New Jersey

[Atkinson, Robert]

The State of New Jersey has changed it's regulations so that cars older than
25 years are no longer eligible for "Collector Vehicle" status, a status which
requires no emissions compliance but limits usage to no more than 3,000 miles
per year (which is not a problem for me).  As a result, the Motor Vehicle
Commission has refused to renew my Collector inspection sticker for my 1966
BJ8.  My status choice now is: 1) "Antique" status, which has no emissions
inspection but requires the infamous "QQQ" plates and theoretically limits
usage to parades and club events, or 2) regular license plates and satisfying
emissions standards.

So, as soon as the DVM refused the renewal, I decided to see if my 1966 BJ8
(with electronic ignition) could pass the emissions inspection (theoretically
against some 1966 standard), fully expecting it to fail, which it did.  My
questions:

1.  Is it at all possible that an Austin Healey can pass an emissions test in
New Jersey?

2.  The "failure" was in the "idle" test with the following results:

 *   Hydrocarbons parts per million: tested 1476 versus standard of 1400
(seems pretty close)
 *   Carbon monoxide (CO) percent: tested at 10.15% versus standard of 8.5%
(not sure if that is close)

I'd appreciate some suggestions on how to reduce both "hydrocarbons" (which I
presume is largely unburned fuel) and CO.

My first (only) thoughts:

 *   Increase idle speed
 *   Adjust carbs to leanest possible mix

Any other thoughts?

It doesn't cost me anything to retake the emissions test (other than time), so
I'd like to be able to go through inspection, make some screw driver
adjustments in the inspection station parking lot and go through again and
again until I "pass."

Thanks

Bob Atkinson