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| California Engine Swaps; It CAN be done?! | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 14 2015, 03:34 PM (2,209 Views) | |
| Mythstae | May 14 2015, 03:34 PM Post #1 |
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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:
What the heck does that have to do with anything??So I started looking. http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/replace.htm
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! )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 (See, evmetro, you'd be fine!) https://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/emissions.htm (This page is about Jeeps, but that seems excellent advice!) http://grannys.tripod.com/califlegalswap.html (Oho! There is a pamphlet!) http://www.ehow.com/list_7168251_california-engine-swap-laws.html (Also fascinating!) |
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| Deleted User | May 14 2015, 10:08 PM Post #2 |
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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 | May 14 2015, 10:16 PM Post #3 |
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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 | May 14 2015, 10:30 PM Post #4 |
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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 | May 14 2015, 10:31 PM Post #5 |
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The way to fool them is to swap the rest of the car out. |
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| ZXTjato | May 15 2015, 12:50 AM Post #6 |
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bass heads
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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 | May 15 2015, 05:47 AM Post #7 |
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The Family Man
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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 | May 15 2015, 10:00 AM Post #8 |
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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 | May 15 2015, 11:00 AM Post #9 |
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The Family Man
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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 | May 15 2015, 11:52 AM Post #10 |
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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 | May 15 2015, 12:01 PM Post #11 |
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The Family Man
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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 | May 15 2015, 12:01 PM Post #12 |
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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 | May 15 2015, 12:07 PM Post #13 |
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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 | May 15 2015, 12:12 PM Post #14 |
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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 | May 15 2015, 12:39 PM Post #15 |
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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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Welcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.

What the heck does that have to do with anything??
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...!
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7:51 PM Jul 10