Engine swaps illegal if from different manufacturer? (Cali)

[AE86Lover]

I know having a engine swap to a newer engine is legal, but would anybody know if it's illegal to have a swap like this done from a different manufacturer?

For instance, taking a S2000 engine and putting it into a Corolla. Or putting a Nissan SR5 motor into a Toyota Corolla...?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[imported_Tick]

Why would it be illegal?

 

[Sluggo]

Originally posted by: Tick
Why would it be illegal?

Emissions, there would not be a simple way to make any imaginable computer/engine/car trio from different manufacturers work together on any late model car.

Early model car...no problem

 

[Goosemaster]

I thought it had more to do with government crash tests and such......

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
I thought it had more to do with government crash tests and such......

He should see the police car video about what's illegal

 

[notfred]

It's illegal if the engine wasn't available in the car originally. Basically, the only legal engine swaps in California are doing things like putting V8 mustang engines in Mustangs that were originally V6s, that and replacing the engine with a newer one of the same model.

So, unless there was a factory Corrolla produced with an S2000 engine, you can't legally put an S2000 engine in a Corrolla.

Edit, apaprently I'm wrong. Technically, the engine jsut has to be as new or newer than the one you're replacing, and then it's legal, but still a big pain in the ass.

 

[NutBucket]

Actually, there should be no problem as long as you convert the Corolla to OBD2 with a S2k ECU and run the complete OEM emissions system found on the S2k. Good luck with that

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: notfred
It's illegal if the engine wasn't available in the car originally. Basically, the only legal engine swaps in California are doing things like putting V8 mustang engines in Mustangs that were originally V6s, that and replacing the engine with a newer one of the same model.

So, unless there was a factory Corrolla produced with an S2000 engine, you can't legally put an S2000 engine in a Corrolla.

Sorry Notfred, simply not true

 

[boyRacer]

It's been done but yes it won't be street legal.

 

[pray4mojo]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Actually, there should be no problem as long as you convert the Corolla to OBD2 with a S2k ECU and run the complete OEM emissions system found on the S2k. Good luck with that

excuse my ignorance but why would that be hard?

 

[NutBucket]

Example 1:
1990 Honda CRX w/ 1995 B18C1 swap

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: pray4mojo

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Actually, there should be no problem as long as you convert the Corolla to OBD2 with a S2k ECU and run the complete OEM emissions system found on the S2k. Good luck with that

excuse my ignorance but why would that be hard?

Basically you'd have to rewire the car...at least the engine and most of the dash harness.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: notfred
It's illegal if the engine wasn't available in the car originally. Basically, the only legal engine swaps in California are doing things like putting V8 mustang engines in Mustangs that were originally V6s, that and replacing the engine with a newer one of the same model.

So, unless there was a factory Corrolla produced with an S2000 engine, you can't legally put an S2000 engine in a Corrolla.

Sorry Notfred, simply not true

Explain?

From super street magazine:

Keeping your engine swap legal is very important. Examine your state's vehicle code or contact the DMV to see what's legal and what's not. In California, the law says that an engine must be of the same year or newer as the car and be California emissions-legal. To avoid any hassles, it should also be of the same engine type that was originally available from the factory in that particular body style.

This is the only "exception" that I know of:

If the engineering office fails your vehicle and you think it should pass, you can always run it through the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for a full Federal Test Procedure (FTD), but that can cost you several thousand dollars, and your vehicle may still fail.

I've heard that getting an engine from a different model of car to actually pass is nearly impossible, even if it's technically "legal".

 

[pray4mojo]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: pray4mojo

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Actually, there should be no problem as long as you convert the Corolla to OBD2 with a S2k ECU and run the complete OEM emissions system found on the S2k. Good luck with that

excuse my ignorance but why would that be hard?

Basically you'd have to rewire the car...at least the engine and most of the dash harness.

oh cmon plenty of people do that

 

[thedarkwolf]

Aren't alot of mazda rx7s driving around in Cali with chevy LS1s in them?

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: notfred
It's illegal if the engine wasn't available in the car originally. Basically, the only legal engine swaps in California are doing things like putting V8 mustang engines in Mustangs that were originally V6s, that and replacing the engine with a newer one of the same model.

So, unless there was a factory Corrolla produced with an S2000 engine, you can't legally put an S2000 engine in a Corrolla.

Sorry Notfred, simply not true

Explain?

From super street magazine:

Keeping your engine swap legal is very important. Examine your state's vehicle code or contact the DMV to see what's legal and what's not. In California, the law says that an engine must be of the same year or newer as the car and be California emissions-legal. To avoid any hassles, it should also be of the same engine type that was originally available from the factory in that particular body style.

Basically the only real stipulations are as follows:
1. Has to be the same year or newer motor relative to the chassis
2. The motor has to be certified for California Emissions
3. Must have all the OEM smog equipment that originally came on it, mechanically and electrically.

Additionally, OS recently inquired to a Smog Ref about the legality of swapping a 1JZ Supra engine (twin-turbo) into a Lexus SC300. Smog Ref told him as long as all the smog equipment is there it would be fine assuming it passes on the rollers.

EDIT: Reference an earlier post in this thread: text
Reference 2: 302 into an RX-7

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Example 1:
1990 Honda CRX w/ 1995 B18C1 swap

I've read about what notfred was saying as well but from what your link it seems like they only check for emissions. Do you know if they'd have no problems if the engine was of a different make?

I know there's a bunch of miatas rolling around here with LS1s and whatnot...

 

[NutBucket]

That's right bR. There are some swapped Hondas like the one I used to have with BAR stickers as well, not to mention GC Subys running around with WRX engines.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: notfred
It's illegal if the engine wasn't available in the car originally. Basically, the only legal engine swaps in California are doing things like putting V8 mustang engines in Mustangs that were originally V6s, that and replacing the engine with a newer one of the same model.

So, unless there was a factory Corrolla produced with an S2000 engine, you can't legally put an S2000 engine in a Corrolla.

Sorry Notfred, simply not true

Explain?

From super street magazine:

Keeping your engine swap legal is very important. Examine your state's vehicle code or contact the DMV to see what's legal and what's not. In California, the law says that an engine must be of the same year or newer as the car and be California emissions-legal. To avoid any hassles, it should also be of the same engine type that was originally available from the factory in that particular body style.

Basically the only real stipulations are as follows:
1. Has to be the same year or newer motor relative to the chassis
2. The motor has to be certified for California Emissions
3. Must have all the OEM smog equipment that originally came on it, mechanically and electrically.

Additionally, OS recently inquired to a Smog Ref about the legality of swapping a 1JZ Supra engine (twin-turbo) into a Lexus SC300. Smog Ref told him as long as all the smog equipment is there it would be fine assuming it passes on the rollers.

EDIT: Reference an earlier post in this thread: text
Reference 2: 302 into an RX-7

I've been told otherwise, and despite knowing plenty of people with 351s in mustangs, I never knew a single one that was actually CARB certified as legal. But then, the 351 looks pretty much identical to the 302 so most smog places don't ever know the difference.

 

[NutBucket]

I guess if I had kept my Honda I would have gotten the certification as I put a Prelude engine in it. Luckily I found a cool smog guy who ignored the visual since the car passed the dyno no problem.

 

[Vic]

NutBucket pretty much covered this. It's not illegal, but you'll probably never pass emissions. They big question is: why would bother with such a difficult swap? Toyota makes excellent engines. Drop a 2ZZ in there.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Actually, there should be no problem as long as you convert the Corolla to OBD2 with a S2k ECU and run the complete OEM emissions system found on the S2k. Good luck with that

Naw, you just get the whole front clip from a S2k, and put all the electronics into the Toyota. Not a lot of fun, but certainly MUCH more feasible than trying to fit the Corolla parts to the S2k engine and get the computer to talk to it.

Originally posted by: Vic
NutBucket pretty much covered this. It's not illegal, but you'll probably never pass emissions. They big question is: why would bother with such a difficult swap? Toyota makes excellent engines. Drop a 2ZZ in there.

Why wouldn't you pass emissions, if it's the same engine with the same emissions systems on the same computer? Changing the transmission is suddenly going to make it fail emissions?

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: jagec
Why wouldn't you pass emissions, if it's the same engine with the same emissions systems on the same computer? Changing the transmission is suddenly going to make it fail emissions?

Good luck with the ECU re-wiring.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: jagec
Why wouldn't you pass emissions, if it's the same engine with the same emissions systems on the same computer? Changing the transmission is suddenly going to make it fail emissions?

Good luck with the ECU re-wiring.

Why in the world wouldn't you just use the S2k ECU?

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: jagec
Why in the world wouldn't you just use the S2k ECU?

Of course you would. But it doesn't exactly just pop right into the Toyota's wiring harness.