Are straight axles illegal in some states?

I'm having a "discussion" with a guy on another forum about g***ers. He says putting a straight axle under a car that did not origionally come with one is illegal in some states and you won't p*** inspection. He specifically cites putting a straight axle under a '55 Chevy in NH wouldnt p*** safety inspection. I was under the impression that as long as it had brakes, and was a sound install, it was OK. Who's right? Thanks.

 

I figure it could be technically illegal. A friend of mine lives in Virginia, and he can't register his 81 chevy truck because it has suspension modifications (air bags).

 

Tennessee doesn't have inspections.

It never occurred to me that it would be illegal.

hmmm...interesting thought.


I don't see why it would be illegal though. Its akin to taking a straight axle OFF of an old pickup and replacing it with a camaro clip.

If its o.k. to go one way.....why wouldn't it be o.k. to go another way?

In other words. If its illegal to put a straight axle under a car, then it should be illegal to put IFS under a car.

 

Tingler, my thought exactly, then all the old cars with IFS swap are to be potentially not able to register?????

 

the real question is do you really think some schmoe at an inspection station is going to know if a 55 Chevy had a straight axle or IFS? I'd bet not.

 

Exactly. They know to look for lifted or lowered trucks. They wouldn't know what the **** they were looking at.

"Yeah, it came like this, it's the New York City special, for going over potholes and snow. Very rare."

 

yeah im pretty sure if you do a good job and make it look like it belongs there they wouldnt give it a second thought

 

Alabama only requires a brake light insurance and no inspections. Register it in another state that is more lax than yours, Use a rented po box in that state to recieve your renue notices.Or you could call it a kit car.

 

my guess is it's more of a ride height issue

 

It's not the axle but how high the bumpers are in VA. ****s if you got a big truck or a tall g***er. Although it's a pretty high number for a car like 33 or 35 inches from the bottom of the bumper to the pavement. Va is pretty strick on most stuff. Big on safety (not that it's bad mind you). Some A-holes don't take care of their cars.
Rod

 

I would say they would not know the difference, case in point.
I have been stopped four times with my 65 Mustang for no tag light. It was there but the rear bumper had been hit and you could not see the taglight. On three of the stops, they finally determined that the car was built before you had to have tag lights? The fourth deputy told me to get it fixed.
Since then I have replaced the rear valance and bumper and you can now see the tag light.
Go figure, 75% of the ones that pulled me had no idea.

 

In hot rodding,...

"You got to have balls."

 

Read up on how Smoky Yunick thought about rules. Learn.
And--shop around for your official opinions. 99 bureaucrats who say "no" and one who says "yes" equal "yes." And--it doesn't matter whether that last one said "yes" because he was smarter and more knowledgable than the others or because he was too dumb to understand the question.
Also, all sticky questions at the DMV should always be asked and relentlessly pressed at two minutes before closing time. Be sure the clerk fully understands that he is not going to get supper until he says "yes"!