99.5 emissions confusion

[breakit13]

Ok so ive been out of the loop for a while after I sold my 6.0 (thankfully) and got a nice 99.5 crew cab for a steal. Truck runs and drives great (no mods, yet). The problem lies with the fact im almost 100% sure this truck didnt come with a cat and the emissions techs at both ford and a emissions shop are saying it requires one. The information I have is the motor build date of 12/13/1998, the passenger side valve cover with no OC (oxidizing catalyst? ) notation and the exhaust which I presume is factory (diameter, bends etc) and the dealer not being able to pull anything off of the vin, the guy I talked to said its on a visual basis whether it had one from the factory. Im also in UT if that makes a difference. So am I wrong and misinformed about what I thought I knew about emissions or are the techs trying to get $500 out of me? Any input/help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Pocket]

Take it to another shop. Techs are trying to rip you off.

It CLEARLY says on the valve cover sticker if it's equipped or not with a cat from the factory. If the techs are going to ignore that, then they are going to ignore you when you tell them they don't know their ass from their elbow.

 

[breakit13]

Take it to another shop. Techs are trying to rip you off.

It CLEARLY says on the valve cover sticker if it's equipped or not with a cat from the factory. If the techs are going to ignore that, then they are going to ignore you when you tell them they don't know their ass from their elbow.

Thats what I thought. Thanks man

 

[Pocket]

No prob.

Most 7.3L's were not equipped with a cat from the factory. An emissions shop with employees that have a little experience would know this, or at the very least understand how to look it up. If not, then they are either 1) trying to rip you off, or 2) are so incompetent that they would probably screw up the test and fail even a perfectly good running truck.

 

[breakit13]

The sad thing is its a ford dealer who failed it. Im waiting on the service manager to call me back so I can ask him what the hell kind of shop he's running.

 

[breakit13]

So the service manager just called back and apologized profusely for his techs mistake "I'm incredibly sorry for this mistake, I should have had my techs look into the bilaws for this year of vehicle. Bring your truck by later and we will pass it. Again I cannot express how sorry I am." Thanks again for all your help man, hopefully this information will help someone else.