Before tearing it down, I'd squirt some oil into the bad cylinders. If the compression comes up it's rings.
Just to make sure it's loosing the compression from the head gaskets up.
I've never seen, or even heard of, Feds pulling over or inspecting vehicles for emissions.
Even when I've worked at Federal or Military Installations.
Have you?
I moved the Squares and F-s around so that I could clean up. Dang "daylight savings" has us dark before 6PM now; what a stinker.
You mean not having daylight savings don't you?