Cam E.O. emissions legality
That is not true at all. You are allowed to do it, but it must be completely stock and can not be altered with a cam or heads and such. It will need to go to a referee to certify (costly) and the engine needs to produce less emissions than the one it is replacing. Hence why truck engines are not legal to swap into passenger cars.
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From: Norcal
That is not true at all. You are allowed to do it, but it must be completely stock and can not be altered with a cam or heads and such. It will need to go to a referee to certify (costly) and the engine needs to produce less emissions than the one it is replacing. Hence why truck engines are not legal to swap into passenger cars.
What about putting a newer engine in an old school, pre 1974 car?
That is not true at all. You are allowed to do it, but it must be completely stock and can not be altered with a cam or heads and such. It will need to go to a referee to certify (costly) and the engine needs to produce less emissions than the one it is replacing. Hence why truck engines are not legal to swap into passenger cars.
If it was a option for that model then the ref will give you a sticker. ie: putting a v8 into a v6 option car as long as the motor is the same year or newer
For LS-series sake, GM never made a production 500ci engine in any platform, hence why you were denied. You need to use production parts (the LSX block will not qualify, as it is for off-road use only and GM did not submit it for CARB EO) if doing a swap. Or if you are making the block, it needs to under go CARB EO certification. Now if it was a BBC in a (say) C5/6, then the engine is older then the platform, so it would also be denied. CARB wants only newer cleaner engine being used on older platforms, so a 1993 RX-7 with a 2002 LS1 will gladly pass, if the engine is bone stock and retains the cats in the OE location and the OE calibration.
If we are talking legally here, it will need to meet or exceed 1974 emissions for that engine/vehicle combination. Although it is not required to be inspected (smog checked) every other year any more. Only vehicles older then 1964 do not need to meet emission requirements. So you can put any modern engine in a 1974 Nova (for example) and it will be certified. So long as it is factory stock. 
For LS-series sake, GM never made a production 500ci engine in any platform, hence why you were denied. You need to use production parts (the LSX block will not qualify, as it is for off-road use only and GM did not submit it for CARB EO) if doing a swap. Or if you are making the block, it needs to under go CARB EO certification. Now if it was a BBC in a (say) C5/6, then the engine is older then the platform, so it would also be denied. CARB wants only newer cleaner engine being used on older platforms, so a 1993 RX-7 with a 2002 LS1 will gladly pass, if the engine is bone stock and retains the cats in the OE location and the OE calibration.
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Verdad Gallardo If we are talking legally here, it will need to meet or exceed 1974 emissions for that engine/vehicle combination. Although it is not required to be inspected (smog checked) every other year any more. Only vehicles older then 1964 do not need to meet emission requirements. So you can put any modern engine in a 1974 Nova (for example) and it will be certified. So long as it is factory stock.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Fairfield, Cali
I thought the engine swap just had to be of the same year or newer?
I know of a FD RX7 with an LS1 transplant that got the ref sticker and I'm sure it wasn't an available option back then,
To the OP, I belive the AFR 205's have an EO #, build a forged short block thow some AFR's on it, then put a smog legal blower
I know of a FD RX7 with an LS1 transplant that got the ref sticker and I'm sure it wasn't an available option back then,
To the OP, I belive the AFR 205's have an EO #, build a forged short block thow some AFR's on it, then put a smog legal blower
Actually, it doesn't have to be the same year. Example: IF i had a Camaro 88 IROC Z and wanted to put a LS-1 then I would need to convert everthing over.. Such as: All EMMISSON COMPONENTES.. Like EVAP,02 sensors, TWC cats, ETC... Now if you just wanted to put a new motor that was offered that year.. Example: 88 IROC Z.. for that year they had 350 or 305. So you could put either motor in and it would be fine as long as it was offered that year which is 88..
If you could do this swap I'm sure Mallett would have gotten an EO for their LS2 Solstice. Try applying for an EO and see how far you get through the government bureaucracy.
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From: Fairfield, Cali
In california the last year for exempt vehicles is 76".. So anything prior than that you can do whatever you want. The reason being is that we don't smog those vehicles (they are exempt from the smog program) so they don't have to be certified by the state inspection.!!
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From: Fairfield, Cali
You're still not going to get an EO for it. You might pass the inspection sites, but CARB won't issue an EO for a package like that. You're right though. You would have to swap ALL EMISSIONS COMPONENTS. Seeing as how the fuel tank is an emissions component, how are you going to put a fuel tank from a 4th gen in a 3rd gen as well as every other EVAP component. How would you put full, unaltered exhaust from a 4th gen in a 3rd gen. The list goes on of how many parts could you possibly get to work, and it is in a similar platform F-body to F-body. How in the world would you get a fuel tank from an F-body to work in an RX7. That's the caveat that CARB uses to make it impossible.
If you could do this swap I'm sure Mallett would have gotten an EO for their LS2 Solstice. Try applying for an EO and see how far you get through the government bureaucracy.
If you could do this swap I'm sure Mallett would have gotten an EO for their LS2 Solstice. Try applying for an EO and see how far you get through the government bureaucracy.
When you do a engine swap it doesn't need to be CARB approve or have a EO #... Thats why we have referee stations in cali so they can inspect the swap and make sure it was done correct. The Bar Label they put on the vehicle states that it is totally legal for use in califonia..!! And that overrides the EO..
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From: Fairfield, Cali
Well I don't know about that.. The only thing I do know as being a Smog Tech.. Is that if you do the engine swap and it get a bar label, then its certified to drive on the street.. Thats how its done in cali, and we have the most strictist smog laws out here.. I see you are from Katech, when you guys did that 500 street attack motor did you guys get a EO or a Carb # for it?
Well I don't know about that.. The only thing I do know as being a Smog Tech.. Is that if you do the engine swap and it get a bar label, then its certified to drive on the street.. Thats how its done in cali, and we have the most strictist smog laws out here.. I see you are from Katech, when you guys did that 500 street attack motor did you guys get a EO or a Carb # for it?
The Ref will not know what your compression is, if your pistons are forged, if your cam is a higher lift, if the cam is a "EO" cam, if you have 243 heads instead of 241 yeads, (i.e...LS6 instead of LS1). If the motor is same year or newer, has all applicable emissions equipment from the donor car, (including a CARB EO gas tank or original equipment tank from donor car), passes visual and tailpipe inspection, and idles / runs within acceptable parameters, it will pass the BAR and get a certified smog legal swap sticker. One thing though....you cannot put a truck motor in a passenger car. No LQ9 or LQ4 for example. It has to be from a passenger car, same year as your vehicle or newer, with all applicable OE equipment pertaining to california and federal smog equipment. They will run the number on the block and verify what type and year vehicle the motor came from. But factory heads from another motor will most likely go un-noticed
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From: Fairfield, Cali
Dam that sucks... I don't know why they make is so hard for us Car guys to enjoy our cars.. I mean as long as its passing the sniffer, they shouldn't give a rats ***..!!! plan and simple.. But I guess they have there reason.. I think its called BS..!!! Don't get me wrong I'm all about performance and low emmissons it just sucks when you finally get something right they wanna denie you... Well good luck Katech with that Motor I hope you guys get it all straight out And keep up the good work..
Dam that sucks... I don't know why they make is so hard for us Car guys to enjoy our cars.. I mean as long as its passing the sniffer, they shouldn't give a rats ***..!!! plan and simple.. But I guess they have there reason.. I think its called BS..!!! Don't get me wrong I'm all about performance and low emmissons it just sucks when you finally get something right they wanna denie you... Well good luck Katech with that Motor I hope you guys get it all straight out And keep up the good work..
