I guess I've had a senior "moment" for the last four years.
I have been under the impression since I started this swap I had to supply a VIN # from the donor vehicle to the referee when I have the car inspected.
Well, I just got off the phone with a referee and he's saying he's never heard of such a requirement.
Knowing I can't take that statement to the bank (or to the inspection station), I'd like some input from those of you who have been through the process. Did you need a VIN? The only thing I can see the VIN would supply is the year of the donor car, which is included on the door sticker.
Anyone?
------------------ 1988 GT, 5-speed, white, beechwood leather, 3.4 DOHC 6-speed installation in process. Really. I am working on it.
It depends on the ref. BAR told me it was a good idea so they can confirm it was a California engine rather than looking for the VIN on the block. It also gave them something to punch into the scanner to make sure everything was working.
We gave them VIN, they said thanks and off we went.
Maybe they no longer care but if they do look at the block and it's not a California engine, you're on your own. They are so hell bent on keeping us from using non-California engines that they wanted something to confirm it was a California engine.
The refs I went to took the car and paperwork in the back and made me wait outside. I never saw exactly what they were doing.
Maybe you are on to something. It's been a couple of years for me. I went to state refs before they outsourced it to outside places like JCs.
[This message has been edited by TK (edited 07-08-2008).]
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10:36 PM
Jul 9th, 2008
Isolde Member
Posts: 2504 From: North Logan, Utah, USA Registered: May 2008
It fascinates me that they don't realize that in the course of swapping, we might put california parts in'on a 49-state block. Hey Calidiots, the blocks are exactly the same. Haven't they heard of globalization? The cam might be different, but I doubt it. Mostly, it's all in the engine control computer.
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01:30 PM
Doug85GT Member
Posts: 10062 From: Sacramento CA USA Registered: May 2003
According to the guidelines, you only need a California engine IF you are placing it in a California spec car. If your car is a Fed spec, then you can put a Fed spec engine in it and it will be smog legal.
I called BAR myself and asked if a Fed spec engine in a Fed spec car was legal. They said yes. If you are going to do this, I suggest printing out that page, calling BAR and getting a name. Bring the phone number, name and printout with you to the referree.
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02:27 PM
Fastback 86 Member
Posts: 7849 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Sep 2003
But then you need a Fed-spec car and engine, and you'll need to get the car registered in CA and probably pass smog, and I'm betting you'll need to do the swap before you try to register it in CA or they may say tough luck.
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09:08 PM
Jul 10th, 2008
sspeedstreet Member
Posts: 2306 From: Santa Maria, CA Registered: Dec 2002
But then you need a Fed-spec car and engine, and you'll need to get the car registered in CA and probably pass smog, and I'm betting you'll need to do the swap before you try to register it in CA or they may say tough luck.
Believe it or not, there are Fed-spec cars that are registered in CA. I have two fed spec cars myself. You don't have to do the swap before you try to register it. That would actually complicate things.
What I was getting at is if the OP's car is a Fed spec, then he does not have to worry at all about getting his car up to Cal specs. He can just put a Fed spec motor in it. It will still need all the Federally mandated emission equipment but none of the Cali spec stuff.
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11:09 AM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 25834 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
I do NOT live in California (I live in Florida), but I have had a few aquaintences who live there and have done engine swaps...
The rule, as I understand it is that they MAY need the vin to verify the "age" of the engine. Don't take this to the bank, but apparently they will not allow you to do an engine swap if the motor you are installing in the car is older than the one it is replacing. Like for example, one friend had a 1984 carbureted Mustang GT. He wanted to install a completely rebuilt motor from a 1988 LX (with what I guess they called the Cross-Fire Injection, not to be confused with CFI from the 80s GM v8s). In any case, he needed to be able to prove that it was a newer motor, and of course, he was required to include all original emissions equipment from the NEWER motor as well in order for him to be able to pass.
Seems to me... it's a lot of beaurocracy and unnecessary jobs / departments for a select few people who actually do motor swaps. Wouldn't it just be better to just make sure the car passes the emissions level set for that vehicle? If you can at LEAST meet the standard emissions level of the original motor, then you're not doing any additional harm. Chances are, anything you install now-a-days will be far superior.
For example... the old 1982-1984 carbureted V8 Trans Ams / Firebirds and Camaros (the LG4 engine) was horrible... it had like 145hp around that time (max was 175 in the end of it's life in 1987)... and absolutely stunk when it came to emissions.
You could take any one of those cars, remove the ENTIRE A.I.R. (Air Injection Recirculation) system, remove the smog pump that attaches to it, as well as the extra air tube that goes to the catalytic converter, remove the stock old piece of garbage pellet style catalytic converter, and install a set of brand new higher flowing ceramic catalytic converters... and I guarantee your emissions would drop at minimum... 30%. But... no... they don't like that. You need to keep the air pump functional and all the other garbage.
