Street Legal?

[Frapp]

I've searched every where: on this site, at other forums, Yahoo, Google, even the real shoddy search2.com...I can't seem to find anything regarding the laws of keeping your car street legal while modifying it's performance and outer appearance. Does anybody have a definitive source or know where I could find one? I'm looking into doing some mods to my car, but I'm not to thrilled at the thought of getting pulled over because I'm getting better gas mileage or something.

Thanks a lot! ^_^
Frapp

[LouisanaJeeper]

Online, vehicle specific forums help ot alot.

You can also visit the DMV, and they should tell you want you can and cannot do.

What did you have in mind?

[Jinx1309]

It really depends upon each state. Every state has varying laws on what you can and can not do. I would suggest as LouisanaJeeper did and check with your DMV. You may also want to check with a local law enforcement agency.

[Frapp]

Jeeper

I don't have a whole lot in mind for my car. I was thinking maybe a better exhaust / muffler, air filter...just some cheap and simple modifications to give my car some more "pep" (for lack of a better word). I.m not looking into making my car look like those out of "The Fast and the Furious", just enough to improve everyday driving performance.

Maybe later on when I get some money I'd want to put euro lights on my car to give it a different look, and maybe a reverse glow gauge.

[LouisanaJeeper]

GENERALLY...
You can switch out the muffler, tailpipe, etc as long as you retain some sort of cat. converter and muffler. As long as it is not uber loud, you should be fine. Do they have Smog tests up in Mass.? if so you will need to be able to pass that.

Lights... Personally, I think euro's look ghey..but if that's your thing...Police are pretty strict on these, expect ot get a ticket or at least hasseled by your local LEO for these. Same goes for black out lenses and such for headlights and taillights.

Air Filteration.. this varies from state to state a good bit. As long as the kit has a DOT/SMOG approval with it, you should be fine. These kits have a sticker that come with them saying they are street legal which is placed on the unit. I have fabbed my own air intake, but down here in louuuisianna they are not too strict on anything like this. I would ask around on this topic with the local guys.

what is a reverse glow gauge?

[Frapp]

A reverse glow gauge - Replacement speedomoeter/odometer (driver console) which glows a different color than stock. (The one I'm looking at would make the gauges glow a cyan blue rather than the stock white.

[medic]

guages should be fine, the laws usually are pointed towards the outside appearance.

for any mods, make sure it's DOT approved stuff...if the lights are DOT the LEOs may harass you, but it's a lot harder to make the ticket stick.

[LouisanaJeeper]

The gauges should not be a problem.