Being in FL, I'm not real familiar with CA requirements, but what's the deal with engine swaps? I have a buddy in Sacramento who thinks he can't use any engine unless it's the same vintage of his car. It's a non-HAMB 1973, but I guess the same question would apply to earlier HAMB-worthy cars as well. So what's legal, what's not, and what are the rules for older smog-exempt cars like his? Could he put a 2000's engine into his car?
I appreciate that, but this group is very knowledgeable and it's a legit question. So how about if it were a 1963? Or a 1932? Just trying to understand the rules.
dmv.ca.gov mentions any gas vehicle older than 1975 or older are exempt from smog Inspections. I would ***ume he would be good. Just skimming the page on motor changes, I guess anything post 1975 has to have the same or newer engine. If its original California certified it has to be replaced with one. And emission standards goes off the engine being put in. So he would have to meet the factory emission standards for the 2000 motor if it did apply to him, I guess?
If the 1975 and older are smog exempt then who will know what has been done? Are there other 'inspections' that would catch the swap?
Taxifornia is specifically vague…yes, here we know if you want to play with a cars engine make it before 1975 to be relatively safe if the they don’t change their mind. Yes you can put carb legal parts or complete later “new” swaps into newer vehicles and be clean with a referee. What can be enforced (the laws still stands) is the 66-75’s ( I can’t remember if it’s back to 1961) must remain with the emissions controls they had when stock. It’s not today but it could. This wouldn’t affect HAMB vehicles but there are a lot of cars in that group with no AIR pumps on 572” engines. Just in preparation any pre 61 car in Cali that has added a PCV system actually meets what the law would specify for that era. Most do it for the smell and unpleasant vapor but it is what was required in the state starting in 1963 to retrofit ALL cars I order to register them.
This thread will probably get shut down or deleted as it pertains (or doesn’t) to the HAMB, but have your friend look at the BAR link posted above and call them as well. I’ll leave it at that
I kind of think it does pertain to HAMB friendly vehicles as older vehicles in Ca. such as are discussed here, would fall into this category as well.
The rules I received from the the state when I asked, were all emission controls of the ch***is and all emission controls of the motor must be retained. I was talking to them about swapping a 71 Plymouth 340 into a 71 Datsun 240Z. I was going to make a 340Z
I don’t think any body cares. Put any motor in any car that doesn’t need to be smog checked. Who’s going to open the hood and report you.
Well, no it doesn’t pertain to the HAMB era. See I can take a blown BBC and put it in a ‘65 Ford. There are no inspections like back in the day. If that ‘65 Ford can be registered and it’s been on non op for 40 years, just pay the fee to get it registered and move along. Gets way more complicated when dealing with current vehicles and upgrading to newer technologies, but we’re not gonna talk about that, right?
That's the key to the whole deal. 1975 and older aren't subject to the bi-annual inspections, so unless someone reports you, or you voluntarily take your car in for a smog inspection, they won't know. So, you're safe even if the law that Jimmy Six quoted is still on the books. From 1975 on, you can install a different engine, but it has to be '75 or newer and it has to have all of the pollution control gear that that engine had from the factory, including the cats. I believe that you then have to submit the car and paperwork to a BAR referee, and they establish what specifications the smog test stations will use as test criteria from then on.
I’m sorry, and maybe I miss read the OP’s post, but I think the concern was in Ca. you have to install the original type power plant in the same model year. I think that’s his friends concern anyway. If I’m reading that right. If that were the case my1930 SBC Tudor wouldn’t be allowed in Ca.
Some people just believe everything they hear and take things too literally. There are rules here in California but they are workable for the most part. I'm thankful that we don't have annual inspections like some places do.
1974 and down you are good to go! Just finished putting in a LS in friends 74 Nova . Really wish they would move the damn needle up to at 1979 or 80.
Anything '76 and above needs an engine from a '76 or later vehicle and it must be from the same family (Ford, GM, etc.) Pre-'76 it'd be best to register the car as the actual year of the car. It doesn't have to be running. In fact, DMV doesn't even need to see it. The trick is to go through a professional registration service. They use an obscure vehicle code, 4604(d)3 I believe, to byp*** any fees or late penalties. When I did my '54 Ford, I used a reg service. No paperwork except a bill of sale (written on a napkin). Car had been out of the system and sitting in a field for 20 years. It cost me less than $400. $275 of that was the reg service fee. One phone call, 2 emails and a pic of my VIN tag was all it took. ***led as a '54 Ford, in my name along with it being on non-op. Best $400 I've spent on that car! Here ya go......... https://www.peninsularegistrationservices.com/
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