So I'm eyeing a beast of a '78 and it currently stocks straight pipes. I'm not from Florida so I'm not caught up on vehicle regulation. Tired looking the information I need on the DMV website and through google but come up with nothing that I needed so I'm wondering if straight pipes are legal here. I don't care to much for the noise, but it suits the truck and I like it for that.

Also, this Bronco lacks a top and a tail gate (Which I love) and I was also wondering if this too was legal or not.

I will be using this beast as a DD (Giving the F150 to my younger brother when he turns 16) since I ride motorcycles on decent days, so I figure I can't go wrong. This beast will also be used in mud and trails so the mods wont go to waste.

If anyone has a full refernce sheet on vehicle regulations I'd love to read it since she's running 39.5s and is lifted a good ways. (I've seen bigger and taller so I figure I'm in the clear on this.)

Thanks for any of your time, and here's a pic of the goods.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v424/Palustris3/Me%20and%20Odds/Other%20things/98531536_337832841_0.jpg

FL has NO inspections... cats and all that BS are SUPPOSED to be there but no one will ever check, and you won't get in trouble for a 'Loud" truck, provided you don't wake up people at night in residential areas and they complain. I had a 85 lincoln towncar w/ a 5.0L (302) with pipes that just came out behind the front wheels and nothing else and never got in trouble until the neighbors bitched, and then I just didn't be a jackass at home and they didn't do anything. You are good w/ the tires and lift...I don't have official info but my grand cherokee (yes an extra 2wd heep that my mom drives) has a 2 inch lift, 33's, 5% tint, header w/straight pipe to a flowmaster 40 and is LOUD, never had any trouble. My old f 250 diesel (stolen boy do I miss it) had no windows other than the windshield, a pushbutton ignition, and blew enough smoke thru its plain ole pipe to rival James Bond's best escapes and never had issues... my beater camry ( I wanna lift it and do some custom dollarstore 4x4 work to it) has no exhaust (manifold exit) and sounds like a weedeater on crack and I drive it everyday in traffic lined w/ cops, with illegal cheapo window tint thats too dark. you will be fine go for it...! I assure you, I am a hoodrich engineer and have done a LOT of illegal crap to my beaters... I never have had to spend a night with bubba the big gay inmate and haven't been fined, well at least not due to illegal mods... what the piggies don't now won't hurt em.
-Mike

Yeah your fine you runs run whatevr tire sizes and bumper heights you want,

you'll be fine. just fix that body up a bit, it needs some lovin

Yeah your fine you runs run whatevr tire sizes and bumper heights you want,

Sarcasm?


Thanks for the replies, I plan on fixing the body and sealing it off, to throw Camcoclad onto it. I hear it's great by a few hardcore wheelers, and I enjoy the look of it. I thought about a coat of paint to bring color to the beast, but seeing as she may come in contact with scratches, I doubt that'll happen. She'll be pretty soon..

Thanks again for the information. I guess the only way to see if I get into trouble is to find out first hand..

she looks like a great trail rig. is that what your bringing to the meet??

Yeah your fine you runs run whatevr tire sizes and bumper heights you want,


44's largest tire you can run street legal
bumper height must be 26" front 24" rear

but... if you are a lil over it's not like they'll bust out the yardstick, theres a Big ole' Dodge Dumrango lifted high enough that I can stand under it that rides the mall here, it's a 4x4 w/ disconnected front driveshaft...big tho...

If its gonna be a daily driver you might want to consider putting some sort of muffler in it. Advance sells cherry bombs pretty cheap. Just cut a section out of the exhaust long enough for the mufflers and clamp 'em in place

good idea, they get loud, especially in the mornin' when people are sleepin and your tryin to be quiet, tho I like my retarded weedeater camry w/o one

Cops dont give a shit where i live. i got two buddies that run 46's that i wheel with they only get pulled over so the cops can look at there truck.

Nice. I do believe I'm legal then, in height aspects. Pop in a muffler and get to work on finding a steer box for her and I'm set to freelance the city.. Gotta get that tire fixed..

Gump, if I get her tended to by then she'll be there. Apparently though, I own several places money so I'm thinking she'll be passing on this trip. Hospitals find you very easily..

See ya on the 16th.

but... if you are a lil over it's not like they'll bust out the yardstick, theres a Big ole' Dodge Dumrango lifted high enough that I can stand under it that rides the mall here, it's a 4x4 w/ disconnected front driveshaft...big tho...

i saw that thing last time i was in bradenton. it was featured on the cover of 4wheeler or 4wheel and off road. coilovers in all four corners, trian.4-link all around, 49" IROKs, pewter silver color, right?

Yep, That'd be it, big as hell, but it's a gayrango....still I'd take it.....whatcha doin' down it my parts jrd? :toothless

i got LOTS of family down there. grammaw lives one block over from the bay, aunt and uncle split time between holmes beach and rubonia, gramma's sister lives between the road heading to the beach and cortez road, got an uncle out in myaka

What you need to watch out for are small municipalities, in South Florida sherriffs deputys generally won't bug you unless you are doin some thing stupid. But all the little towns and stuff have some a-holes out there and their only job is goin after traffic that goes past the entrance to their community. They'll get you for the silly stuff (in my experience).

i got LOTS of family down there. grammaw lives one block over from the bay, aunt and uncle split time between holmes beach and rubonia, gramma's sister lives between the road heading to the beach and cortez road, got an uncle out in myaka


Then next time you come down here you need to lemme know, to meet up sometime and graba bite to eat at a local hooters er sumthin', so I can lose confidence in my truck by looking at yours...

If you just read the Fl statutes page on vehicles it is clear what is allowed as bumper heights, max suspension lift allowed, exhaust decibles allowed, etc. I cant do you research and eventually you will come across a cop, fwc, or dot office that will ticket you. When Fl had emissions laws your vehicle could be impounded if you had no cats, not sure what it is now exactly.

Ok, so I found this information in the Florida Driver's Handbook. Gives me some decent information, and I'm assuming on the Equipment not permitted section that the minimum lights was only informing the front of your vehicle, so a light rack is legal. Guess I need a muffler..
Anyway, to save anymore confusion for anyone else that may have the same questions later on, I figure I'd add the information here.


Brakes:
Your car must have two braking systems. Each must be able to stop the car alone. The parking or emergency brake should be strong enough to hold the car on any hill. Your brakes must be able to stop your car within the distance shown on the chart on the right.
Braking Distance
You must be able to stop your car within the distance shown by the black cars when you use the foot brake. For safest driving, keep your brakes in such good condition that you can stop within distance shown by the white cars.
It is important to note that the graph below illustrates the braking distance AFTER YOU HAVE APPLIED YOUR BRAKES. To this must be added a REACTION DISTANCE, which is the distance you travel from seeing the danger to putting your foot on the brake pedal. Since 3/4 second is the average reaction time, a motorist will travel 11 feet for each 10 m.p.h. of speed before hitting the brake. At 50 m.p.h. this distance would be 55 feet!


Lights:
Your car must have the following lights:

Bright (high-beam) headlights which show objects 450 feet ahead.
Dimmed (low-beam) headlights which show objects 150 feet ahead.
Two red taillights mounted on the rear, visible from 1,000 feet.
A white light that makes the license plate visible from 50 feet (The plate must be kept clean).
Two red stoplights. They must be seen from 300 feet in the daytime, and must come on when the foot brake is pressed.
All vehicles, including animal-drawn vehicles, must have at least one white light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the front. They must also have two red lights visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear, or one red light visible to the rear for a distance of 1,000 feet and two red reflectors visible from all distances from 600 feet to 1,000 feet.

Other Equipment Standards

Horn: Your vehicle must have a horn which can be heard from a distance of 200 feet.


Windshield Wiper: Your vehicle must have a windshield wiper in good working order for cleaning rain, snow or other moisture from the windshield.


Windshields: Must be safety glass and may not be covered or treated with any material which has the effect of making the windshield reflective or in any way non-transparent. It must be free of any stickers not required by law.


Side windows: May not be composed of, covered by, or treated with any material which has a highly reflective or mirrored appearance and reflects more than 35% of the light.


Rear windows: When the rear window is composed of, covered by, or treated with any material which makes the rear window non-transparent, the vehicle must be equipped with side mirrors on both sides.


Directional signals: You must have electrical turn signals if your vehicle measures more than 24 inches from the center of the top of the steering post to the left outside limit of the body, or when the distance from the steering post to the rear of the body or load is greater than 14 feet.


Tires: Your tires should have visible tread of at least 2/32 of an inch across the base with no worn spots showing the ply. Smooth tires on wet roads contribute to thousands of serious crashes.


Mirrors: Your car must have at least one rearview mirror which gives a view of the highway at least 200 feet to the rear.

Keeping your Car in Good Condition
No matter how well you drive, you are not safe unless your vehicle is in good condition. If it is not, you could have a serious crash.
Brakes: Check to see that the pedal stays well above the floor when you step on it. If the car pulls to one side when you use the brakes or you hear any scraping or squealing noises, your brakes may need to be repaired.
Lights: Replace burned-out bulbs and clean lenses often. Dirty headlights can cut your night vision by one-half. Burned out signal lights or brake lights mean you can't tell other drivers what you are doing. Keep your lights adjusted so that you don't blind oncoming drivers.
Windows and Windshields: Keep the glass clean, inside and out, to reduce glare.

Equipment Not Permitted
You may not have on or in your vehicle:

Red or blue emergency lights. These are for emergency and law enforcement vehicles only.
A siren, bell or whistle.
A very loud muffler or one that lets out smoke.
Signs, posters or stickers on the windshield or windows (except those required by law).
A television which the driver can see.
More than two spotlights, cowl or fender lights, fog lights (in front), or other extra lights (in front).
Headsets worn by driver while operating a vehicle.
Bumper Height Requirements
Owners of automobiles and pickup trucks are required to have both front and rear bumpers mounted within certain height levels. Height limitations are governed by the new shipping weight of the vehicle; not the modified or altered weight. The maximum allowable heights between the pavement and bottom of the front and rear bumper, as provided by Section 316.251, Florida Statutes, are:

Cars with a net weight of less than 2,500 pounds - 22 inches front and rear;
Cars 2,500 pounds or more but less than 3,500 pounds - 24 inches front and 26 inches rear;
Cars 3,500 pounds or more - 27 inches front; 29 inches rear;
Trucks under 2,000 - 24 inches front; 26 inches rear;
Trucks 2,000 pounds or more but less than 3,000 pounds - 27 inches front, and 29 inches rear;
Trucks 3,000 pounds or more but not more than 5,000 pounds - 28 inches front; 30 inches rear.


Please Do not Tamper
It is illegal to tamper with, remove, or cause not to work, any pollution control device on your vehicle. Those who do are guilty of a first or second degree misdemeanor depending on the offense.
Tampering with emissions control devices damages your vehicle and can cause the following:

Increased air pollution.
Lower gas mileage and less vehicle efficiency.
More maintenance costs.
Respiratory (breathing) difficulties.