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MA Legal Mods

MassMan

MassMan

1/2 ton status
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Massachusetts
Well, my old hunk of junk is just a brake line install away from getting on the road (if nothing else breaks...), so I'm now concerned about the legality of the lift and lights (among other things).

We don't test emissions for older vehicles in Massachusetts, but there are strict laws regarding lift heights:

(edited out. I can supply the details if anyone's interested)

Source: General Laws of Massachusetts
www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/gl-90-toc.htm

Anyway, how I read it, I should be able to calculate the maximum number of inches of suspension lift and inches of tire size above stock by a simple formula:

(wheelbase) x (wheel track) / 2200 =

measuring, I get a wheel track (center of tire to center of tire on same axle) of 79.6" and wheelbase of 106.5", making 3.85" of lift and extra tire legal on my truck.

the maximum height of the bottom of the door must be:
(factory door height) +(max lift)+(max tire)

and finally, the horizontal plane (whatever that is defined as) must be no more than 2" off of level front to back

My questions:
1.) How do I measure the lift on my truck? It was advertised as having a 4" lift, but who knows. It's got what look like 3 or 4" blocks on the rear.

2.) What size tires did these things come with? Should i go with the largest factory option or the base model size if they are different?

3.) Does anyone have a stock blazer's door bottom height?

4.) My front sags like crazy with the huge push bumper/grille guard the PO installed. How much of a forward rake did the blazers come with? Was the body line level?

5.) There is very little covering aux lighting in the code. I have some old tractor halogens as well as some cheep-o "off road lights". I don't plan on using them on the road, but I certainly don't have covers for them. I see jeeps running exposed roof light bars all the time, which is much more conspicuous than on the bumper like I want. Should I just chance it, install them to face down/backward when not in use, or just skip extra lights?


Sorry for the long post. The reality of living in Massachusetts is hitting me hard:eek1:
 
Just looked into exhaust stuff after realizing that my truck is a bit "rumbly" with dual pipes and Thrush mufflers. It seams Mass went from a 102dB limit, where a cop had to test it with a certified meter, to a law banning any exhaust modifications that increase the stock volume of the vehicle. wow. It seems like the determination of what is "louder than stock" is in the hands of the police and inspectors, with no limits or guidelines. great.
 
I'd throw exhaust on it anyway. As long a it's not ridiculous, you should be ok. As for the lift, I ran around with a 6" lifted burb and never had a problem, and it had a bbc, headers, 2.5" duals with turbo mufflers. Only thing I got stopped for was barking second at full throttle.
 
Any hints for getting through inspections with a questionable set up? I've never hit upon an inspection station that was noticeably lax.
 
Where in Ma are you located? I wouldn`t worry about the lift, but if the ex is loud, it could be an issue. That truck is a visual insp only, safety check. Does the e-brake work? That truck should also have a cat.
 
no cat, just headers and mufflers. I'm out in western MA, and the truck won't see anything more urban than a run down the highway to get gas. The problem is that all these rural cops are bored and will pull you over just to have someone to talk to.

oh, and I replaced all the e-brake stuff and the rear brakes. It's the one thing that works perfectly.
 
It's been my experience that if you can make it look like it belongs that way, you're good to go. You can't drive like a jackass either. Does my truck "bend the rules"? Probably. But it doesn't look out of place. It's not too tall for it's size, the tires don't stick out past the fenders, and all my safety equipment is in place and working. I see much taller rigs on a daily basis. Even a stock F350 is about as tall if not taller.

I have been running my truck without issue for a while now. Daily driving and quite a few trips out to western Mass for wheeling. Passed by many cops, state and local, not a single second glance yet. Even with the loud exhaust. Louder than stock, yes. Very much so. But I've heard worse.

Any lights you add must have clean, unbroken lenses, and be in good working order. Whether you use them on the road or not.
 
Thanks, that gives me some hope. The truck sure does stick out with a camo paint job and patched sheet metal painted in silver rust bullet. I guess I'll just install the lights and leave everything else the way it is. I can always change things that don't pass inspection.
 
I worked at an inspection center in West Sringfield. Although I wasn't aloud to become an inspector being that I have a CT lisence, I know what the mostly checked:

All the light work. (One guy got busted for have clear sidemarkers instead of the factory amber ones.)
And the headlights need to be aimed properly.
No cracks in the windshield.
Front end is tight.
Seatbelts and safety equipment work. (including the horn)
E-brake has to hold the vehicle still up to about 1800 RPMs
They did come down pretty well on loud aftermarket exhausts, especially without cats.
Not sure what the did about lifted vehicles. Pretty sure lowered vehicles came through without any problems.
If it comes down to it, PM me and I'll contact them to see exactly what else you need to get through. I could even set you up with them and ask them to take it easy on you.

As said by 496: once your on the road, alot of its about how you drive it. My truck is pretty well illegal. Its crazy loud, tires stick out from the fenders, and its got extra lights. But I drive it easy and pass cops all the time and don't get any grief.
Good luck!
 
PM me and ill explain everything


Have my license and have been inspecting for almost 8 years
 
thanks man, i know all the ins and outs and loop holes...

been trying to get more lifted trucks on the roads for years, and helping people out
 
more power to ya, more people that will be lenient and understanding the better,

although there are some places that just always have a pole up their ass and think their badass because they have a station and dont let anything go... so you have to watch out
 
Thanks for the offer. I hope to have it ready to inspect by the spring, so I have a little time before I need to start pulling favors and such. The truck's parked in a large mud puddle full of ice, so I won't be climbing under it to do the brake lines any time soon. Obviously I'd prefer to be as legal as possible and pass without pulling strings, so anything of that nature will be a last resort.
 
POORBOY, may I ask who? Greenfield is a hell of a lot closer to me than Springfield. Not sure if the truck would make it that far...
 
i will gladly come out and check your rigs prior to inspection to make sure you pass
 
Watch out for shops that put cars on a lift and start checking ball joints, tie rod ends etc. one of my friends got hosed with an s10. They put in the system he needed ball joints and tried to get him to do the work there. They wernt bad at all, but we had to clean them up and put lots of grease in/ on them and he went to the shop and said he changed them himself.
 
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Some shops do that and those are the shops that are no good, and the shops that have a high fail rate....be aware and away from them
 
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