redDAinteg

Okay so I'll shorten the whole story. I got pulled over in Feb. and got sent to the referee for my engine swap. It is a JDM GSR b18c in a 92' DA integra. The engine is OBD1 and the Car is Factory OBD1 also. Have all the stock smog equipment, stock intake and exhaust manifold, US p72 ecu not chipped.

The car passed on the dyno with flying colors. All the smog equipment passed no problem. So the referee comes and tells me after a phone call that he can not pass me because as of last october 2008, JDM engines are no longer legal in US cars no matter if they pass with all factory equipment. He told me that they only started enforcing it last monday.

So to say the least I am just going to wait until my court date and explain to the judge that I did not know the law changed and ask what my options are, I heard of other people paying a fee and being fine afterwards. Anyone know anything about this ? Any help ?

fishieman

Cali getting more strict day by day. DAMN.

If JDM motors are no good, probably won't be a demand for them anymore if you can't use them in CA.

That sucks man.

I got my B18C OBD I reffed back in 2007. Direct drop in, plug all smog shiet in, just need USDM ecu and GSR cat and I was good to go. It did better on the smog machine than my D15B7.


Call another REF station and verify if its true.. I couldn't find anything on google.
Good luck with it. Fill us in with what happens next.

ALLxMOTOR EG

I also would like to know.

redDAinteg

Yeah, I was under the impression everything would be good to go also. But the Referee told me that my options are to swap back the LS and do the inspection like that, or talk to the judge and ask if there are any other options other than swapping the engine and/or selling the actual car.

I'll keep everyone posted, because this means no more swapped hondas UNLESS you have a USDM engine which we all know are more hard to come by a good clean one as opposed to a low mileage JDM one. This also means less business for places like HMO for cali clients at least.

Alanicious

iTrader: (1)

wow justin... the ref talked to me about this a few months ago. i didnt know they were going to actually enforce it.

xander1100

i thought that as long as you replaced the items that differed between USDM and JDM that you woudl be good?

Alanicious

iTrader: (1)

not anymore as of last monday.

vega_ROCKS

keep us posted on this man
I got a ref ticket in Feb. And was about to head to the ref to get this taken care of before my court date as well.

fishieman

Go to court.
- You did pass visual, and the smog.. bring the paperwork
- Cross your fingers, claim hardship.
- and pray.

xander1100

god CA ref sucks ***

redDAinteg

Yeah, my court date is in 4 weeks. I will bring all the paper work and explain that I heard no rule change of engine exchanges and tell them I was working under what "I thought" were the current rules and regulations and explain I did everything legal that I was suppose to do. I will also claim that it will cause financial hardship(down time and money).

...Then see my options.

dungsta

damn all that trouble for jdm goodies...gl with you

VTEC_PRODUCTION

what kind of bullshit input on a thread is this? loser dude


anyway all i can suggest is either A)move the **** out of california or B) join the military.

ekb16

iTrader: (1)

i wonder how come the ref. i went to never mentioned anything about this..i past wit my jdm gsr swap in march if this year

vega_ROCKS

I believe because they didn't start inforcing the rule until last week monday

vega_ROCKS

just read this info
thought I should pass it on
I'll be heading down there next week to confirm and possibly get my carb sticker

patdow1

Good to know I was just about to buy a Civic catalytic converter for my swapped Civic. I"m now gonna look for a GS-R converter instead.

Thanks

vega_ROCKS

nvm in the information i posted above. it doesn't follow through for jdm motors

redDAinteg

I need to do some research on paying a fine and/or a fee to the judge instead.

vega_ROCKS

let me know how that goes. I have to either swap a new motor or go to the ref before the 18th May which is my court date CHPD suck

I drive my car almost everywhere every now and again for the past 2 years only been pulled over once and its by chula vista PD

ekfanboy

I born and raised in cali...if it wasn't for my job and family roots i'd get the hell out of here. We're overtaxed and over regulated. bleh.

Adankid

keep us posted, im interested.

cause i have a story like that too.
this is mine,

its a long one, but i'll make it short.

i drive a 99 civic with a 94 gsr.
that is illegal in most states.

to put an older engine, into a newer chasis.

the chp told me to not drive my car and to make an appointment with the ref, but when i got my state ref ticket, the ref was out of business.

so i waited for my court date, and all i had to do was pay a ticket.

and i was on my way. i still drive this vehicle just because its my only way to get to work and back.

vega_ROCKS

Your problem is not that hard
All you really need to do is swap your b18c1 bottom end for a 99-01 b18c1 bottom end. Use the same head and make sure whatever intake manifold you are using is equivalent for the GSR swap
only one I can think of is the original or a skunk2 with is bar legal for the b18c1.

I don't know if cops know about this whole thing. I'm pretty sure they are just going ot keep handing out ref tickets. The most they can do is impound your car and you pay the fine, towing and impound fee's and get it back as far as I know. If they do more then that I don't know

Adankid

how do they figure out the year of the block?

because the head is stamped with the year, i dont see any year stamp on the block.

vega_ROCKS

the vin plate on the block...if they look @ that. But I have never been to the ref so I don't know for sure how they figure the year off the block.