Also interested in knowing what happened with this. I got my LS1 swap BAR certified and it took two visits to accomplish. That was going from a '99 V6 Automatic F-body to a bone stock '01 LS1 Automatic from an F-body (I made sure that it was 100% to the books before going). My referee said that 80% of his books state that a 2001 LS1 F-body is supposed to have EGR. So, I knew that mine met 100% of GM Factory F-body minimum standards, yet the referee's information was inaccurate and he and I had to consult GM's service database to provide proof that the other books he owned were wrong. If you find a Referee like that or worse than that, your best bet is to try and find another BAR station to go to. If the swap is done nice and neat (looks factory) it's a bonus for you and for the referees, since they can (and have, I'm sure) failed swaps depending on how messy and untraceable emissions components are.

 

I took the car to the referee in San Bruno last week, who was supposed to be relatively cool. When I pulled the car up he asked what I had in it and I told him. He looked at me like I was speaking another language Then he had to call his boss because he had never seen anything like this before.

Long and short of it is he said it could not be BAR certified because the engine was facing rearward instead of forward as it was originally in the donor car (camaro). After he tells me this, he asks if he can take pictures because the guys in Sacramento think it's cool and want to see it.

Three hours of driving for nothing. So now I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I may look for a smog guy who will ignore the fact that there's a V8 in the engine compartment.

 

Go to another referee... It's not like they can deny you from attempting to get it certified. I got a modified exhaust ticket, and one of the referees said he would take pictures of my car once it passed because he was all about proper documentation. I went to a different station.

So, if another Referee says that he won't certify it because the engine is facing rearward (seriously... WTF?) then it's time to register it elsewhere and/or find a smog guy...

I can't believe that ****... The fact alone that he had to "call his boss" (other Referee's would just check their computers and books for accurate info and do their job) would make me go to another station.

 

I would have told him to get pics of my ***** to show his stupid friends...good luck man, and awesome car!

 

This is the only official documentation I've seen:

http://www.bar.ca.gov/80_BARResource...uidelines.html

Obviously, they're only guidelines, not a comprehensive set of requirements.

If you try again and run into trouble, maybe you should try to get them to show you their rulebook and point out what portion you're violating. I wonder how much is open to interpretation.

 

Exactly. I still have not seen any defined rule book, just those guidelines. I don't see anywhere in those guidelines that an engine has to be mounted forward to rear (again, WTF?), or that a transmission has to be original to the donor car type so that it meets the same fuel economy standards (but they do recommend it - it is not listed as noncompliance if you don't).

 

Yeah, the engine facing rearward thing was just stupid. What he said was that the donor engine would have to be configured so that it could go back into the original car. Of course, since the exhaust faces rearward in the 996 it's not possible. Nevermind that it has no impact to emissions which way the exhaust exits the vehicle. They even said, "all of the equipment is there!". I'm like, no kidding you goofs.

lol - trust me, I thought about saying something.

I told the guy that I went by this guideline - no dice. But I think you have a good point and I may try that approach with another station - make them prove why it can't be done based on their own rules.

 

Ah, that's what I was thinking. I was about to reply to ZexGX and quote a section of the guideline's I referenced above:

I wasn't sure what that meant exactly, but the explanation you got from them clears it up a bit.

Just fab up an exhaust that exits at the front of your car, get it passed, then put back the correct exhaust =)

 

Any updates? I'm guessing swapping an LS1 into a early pre-smog car would avoid alot of hassles?

 

Ditto. Any updates?

Pretty much. I don't know any cops that bother people with engine swapped pre-1975 vehicles (that is the year cutoff).

 

there was a guy here in arizona trying to get his ramcharger emission tested. they swapped a 5.9 cummins in it and now arizona wont title the truck cause emmisions goes off what powerplant is suppose to be in there, its stupid cause im 100% positive it would pass. I think any car you should be able to do a motor swap to and have it put on a sniffer test, if the SOB passes then title it. I dont understand why states are starting to put the kabash on motor swaped cars. If it passes your emissions then it should be road legal period.

Hope this can get resolved so it can be road legal soon.

 

I want to know if this passed too. I"m doing a swap now and want to know what stations to go to and which to avoid when I'm done. I'm using the same transmission, but don't want any stupid little thing stopping it. I can imagine them saying that the engine is at a 5 degree tilt now, but it came from the factory at a 3 degree tilt, so no pass.

 

Bump for an awesome build...

 

Hey guys,

No progress with this and unfortunately no way to smog legally in CA. Not sure what I'm going to do with the car - may throw it on ebay for someone to buy in a state with less stringent laws.

We'll see.

 

Where in CA are you and how much were you going to sell it for?

 

Any pictures of this?

 

hate california sometimes

 

Yeah, thats why I crossed the border........

 

Here is some info taken directly from the DMV. I would try to bypass all the bs of the referees and register in a county/zip code that does not require a smog....just my 2 cents. Hope this helps...don't get discouraged as you have an awesome ride...

Which counties require a smog inspection for the registration renewal?

Counties that Require a Smog Inspection for Vehicle Registration Renewal
Alameda Butte Colusa Contra Costa Fresno
Glenn Kern Kings Los Angeles Madera
Marin Merced Monterey Napa Nevada
Orange Sacramento San Benito San Francisco San Joaquin
San Luis Obispo San Mateo Santa Barbara Santa Clara Santa Cruz
Shasta Solano Stanislaus Sutter Tehama
Tulare Ventura Yolo Yuba
There are six counties that require smog certifications within certain Zip Codes only. These counties are:

El Dorado, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Sonoma.

 

Any update?