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California Engine Swaps; It CAN be done?!
Topic Started: May 14 2015, 03:34 PM (2,209 Views)
Mythstae
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So, having seen this thread: Picking up parts for engine swap; What do I need? I was really curious what was going on.

Everybody seems to basically think you "can't" do engine swaps in California.
The thread ended with Ephemeral Glade putting his engine up for sale, because:
Ephemeral Glade
May 12 2015, 06:47 PM
I was wrong the Swift was a 1991. Engine for sale on ebay. I am on the hunt for a '96-97 Esteem...
:ermm: What the heck does that have to do with anything??

So I started looking.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/replace.htm
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Engine Changes
Engine changes are legal as long as the following requirements are met to ensure that the change does not increase pollution from the vehicle:

The engine must be the same year or newer than the vehicle.

The engine must be from the same type of vehicle (passenger car, light-duty truck, heavy-duty truck, etc.) based on gross vehicle weight.

If the vehicle is a California certified vehicle then the engine must also be a California certified engine.

All emissions control equipment must remain on the installed engine.

Vehicles converted to 100% electric drive, with all power supplied by on-board batteries are considered in compliance with the engine change requirements. All fuel system components must be removed prior to inspection. For additional information contact the ARB helpline at (800) 242-4450
:O Fascinating! So you actually COULD do a Twincam swap, or whatever, in California... if the engine is the same age as, or newer than, your chassis...!
(Which is why Ephemeral Glade couldn't use that engine; his car is a 93, so the engine must be 93 or newer! :smackface )

Interesting side note, "emissions control equipment" includes the ECU. So be prepared for a wiring harness swap and/or splice.

Some other pages that talk about it:

http://www.performanceforum.com/wesvann/honda/cert/cert.html
Quote:
 
I think a lot of it is in the appearance that you present! I'm talking about both personally and the quality of work done on the car.
(See, evmetro, you'd be fine!)

https://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/emissions.htm
Quote:
 
We recommend you consult and know your own city, county, state or countries laws. If your vehicle requires referee inspection, you may wish to establish a rapport with a referee and discuss your plans and seek advice and approval from them.
(This page is about Jeeps, but that seems excellent advice!)

http://grannys.tripod.com/califlegalswap.html
Quote:
 
To play it safe, you'll want to pick up and read the state's engine swap pamphlet (available from the Bureau of Auto Repair)
(Oho! There is a pamphlet!)

http://www.ehow.com/list_7168251_california-engine-swap-laws.html
Quote:
 
If you own a vehicle that was made before California introduced its strict emission laws then your car is exempt. This means owners of old classic imported cars and vintage U.S. models do not have to comply with the engine swap laws for more modern vehicles. California calls these older cars "uncontrolled" vehicles. They include all foreign-made vehicles from 1967 and earlier, all U.S.-made vehicles certified in California that were manufactured in 1965 or before, and all U.S.-produced cars certified federally that were made in 1967 and before.
(Also fascinating!)
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So I Guess Swapping A Canadian Turbo 3 Into My California Geo Metro Is Out Of The Question, Right?
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Mythstae
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Richard Kaltenbach
May 14 2015, 10:08 PM
So I Guess Swapping A Canadian Turbo 3 Into My California Geo Metro Is Out Of The Question, Right?
Is your car a California Emissions model? Or just a generic Metro?
If it's Cali specific, then the replacement engine needs to be Cali specific, too.

Call the ARB helpline and ask! 1-800-242-4450
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Ephemeral Glade
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I have read quite a bit on this. The '91 Swift engine is the same engine as it was in '93. They are really not going to look at the numbers on the block. If it has a CA computer and all the original emissions stuff( plus stock or CARB approved intake and exhaust equipment), and you pass a smog test, your golden. Theoretically, I could have used that engine. As a practical matter finding the correct computer, fabricating a harness, etc. would have been tough if not imposssible.
You could install a Chevy LS7 if you wanted. You would need A LOT of welding stick, and those little pats of butter for the corners of the block.
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Ephemeral Glade
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The way to fool them is to swap the rest of the car out.
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ZXTjato
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bass heads

way to much work..... its easier to move and resister your car here. they will ask you some questions tho like

Does it run good? do you have insurance and is it safe. you answer yes they ring you up and 10 mins later you walk out done. they don't care if its a geo metro golf cart sand rail atv horse or bicycle, no fenders mud flaps or doors no problem. open wheel roadster no biggie no cat bald tires missing mirrors and clubbed baby seals on the hood nah still fine.
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Freeman
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The Family Man

Your car or newer and requires all the emissions and correct ECU, etc, from the year of motor you swap in. This is really big in the 'Honda scene'. If you wanted to drop a G13BB in your '91, you would need the ECU from the same model year and all the emissions wiring equipment that goes along with it.

Obviously cars that predate emissions are exempt.

Most people just register the car in another state with a friend, relative, or parent's address. While pushing the envelope of legality, it works.
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68custom


I lived in Fresno about 28 years ago, lots of guys building hot rods. once a year they had to have an inspection, some of these cars were pretty radical, tunnel rams, twin four barrels etc. One guy had a Cuda or a Challenger I forget which, but it was a 6 cylinder car that he had extensively modified. Basically a big block car with a 6 cylinder fender tag. I think his race motor was a 440. BUT once a year for inspection he would pull the motor and tranny and throw the 6 cylinder back in it so it would pass inspection! then he would swap the 440 back in. the things we do for fun.
Edited by 68custom, May 15 2015, 10:02 AM.
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Freeman
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The Family Man

Yup! I know plenty of guys that run turbo systems. They pull the system off, reflash the ECU for the stock coding, and get it checked. Then reinstall the intake, header, turbo, injectors, exhaust, etc and run the turbo for a year.

I also know even MORE guys that go to the shady inspection guy who charges twice as much. They pass.
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Ephemeral Glade
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There are some things I am just not willing to do. When I got that twin cam motor, I briefly considered swapping it every other year( when my smog check is due), but I am sorry, for me that's crazyness. Like I am going to zip tie the ecu to the firewall, or am I going to actually thread all that stuff back through the hole and mount it correctly every time? The other thing, for me was, the intent. the 1.6 will give me the kind of power I want, and it can just be smogged- end of story.
I guess I could buy another Metro in the same color as mine, register it as junked, and just put the licence plate on it when I want to drive the hot rod around. Ha-ha. I am getting too old and crotchety for all those antics. I think emissions fraud is a lot harder these days, in CA, unless you have exactly the same car in stock configuration to test.
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Freeman
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The Family Man

You can make an ECU adapter. You repin a connector from one side to the other side and plug it in with the new ECU. Quite popular with some crowds.

Worth it? No way. Not even close.
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evmetro


Ephemeral Glade
May 14 2015, 10:30 PM

You could install a Chevy LS7 if you wanted. You would need A LOT of welding stick, and those little pats of butter for the corners of the block.
I am not so sure that you can do this. I may be wrong here, but as I understand it, the engine you swap into your ride has to have the same or less smog emissions.
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Ephemeral Glade
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No, the only requirement is that the engine comes from a chassis that is the same year or later, and that it has all its original emissions equipment. Interestingly, you can't use truck engines for a swap. As I said, they really don't check the year of the engine block. They are more concerned that you are going to run a car with no emission controls. If I could have found a '93 or later ecu, know one would have been the wiser that the engine was from a '91.
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Ephemeral Glade
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The Honda guys are buying these JDM motors and getting them to pass smog by hooking up all the US emissions stuff, including the ecu. You could buy a federal engine and make it work if it had the right ecu, CA smog stuff, and it could pass the CA emissions for the year of the engine.
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evmetro


The referee inspections that I have been doing for my conversions have been very easy. The last one that I did for the 93 Metro, the ref asked me the nature of my appointment, and I opened the hood with out saying anything. He took a 2 second look, and told me to wait right there while he did the paperwork. He took about three steps towards his office, and then turned around and walked over to my fuel door and opened it up for a peek at my gas cap, and then headed for his office. A total of 5 seconds of inspection.

I may talk to one of the refs about using a chevy LS7. I would be interested running one of these or some other stupid overkill engine in a Metro, but have always ruled it out since CA has such a mess of smog regulations.
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