How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
07-11-2009, 03:26 PM
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How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
I want to do a full swap for a GSR in the future, but I live in southern california and I was told that I can't put a JDM motor into my car. So I have to get a USDM GSR. I was wondering, how do I know what type the engine is? Do they look different? This is the one I want to get.
http://www.hmotorsonline.com/shop/sc...age&item=30009
http://www.hmotorsonline.com/shop/sc...age&item=30009
07-11-2009, 03:30 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
You CAN put a JDM motor into your car, but it won't pass smog (not CA legal) which means if you get popped by CHP or sumthin your gonna get a ref ticket. I guess it doesn't really matter cause unless your get your car reffed with the new USDM GS-R you'll get a ref ticket too so... it's a loose loose battle. Unless you plan to get your USDM swap reffed?
07-11-2009, 03:38 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
oh, they will prolly pass the sniffer test but they won't pass a visual test. The smog tech can fail you on a visual test without ever taking a gas reading from the exhaust.
I don't know what kind of car hes putting it into but if it's a car that came with a SOHC stock from honda the the new DOHC engine must be newer than the car it's going into and have all of the smog equipment on it etc...
And like I said if it's not reff'd by BAR, the smog tech won't even touch it, and CHP will give you hell, they know what they are lookin at in Hondas now days. and if they don't (and they wanna bea$$holes, which they ususally are) they have a bible status book they will pull out and check the badge on the front of the block and make sure it is supposed to be in that chassi/year etc...
I don't know what kind of car hes putting it into but if it's a car that came with a SOHC stock from honda the the new DOHC engine must be newer than the car it's going into and have all of the smog equipment on it etc...
And like I said if it's not reff'd by BAR, the smog tech won't even touch it, and CHP will give you hell, they know what they are lookin at in Hondas now days. and if they don't (and they wanna bea$$holes, which they ususally are) they have a bible status book they will pull out and check the badge on the front of the block and make sure it is supposed to be in that chassi/year etc...
Last edited by EK2.0; 07-11-2009 at 03:44 PM.
07-11-2009, 03:40 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
I dont really know much about cars and stuff, so what if I drive my car around and it wont pass smog? Will the car get taken away if I get pulled over or something? Also if I get pulled over the chances of the cop asking if my car will pass smog seem pretty low I think he would be more focus on me speeding or something.
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07-11-2009, 03:41 PM
#8
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
I want to do a full swap for a GSR in the future, but I live in southern california and I was told that I can't put a JDM motor into my car. So I have to get a USDM GSR. I was wondering, how do I know what type the engine is? Do they look different? This is the one I want to get.
http://www.hmotorsonline.com/shop/sc...age&item=30009
http://www.hmotorsonline.com/shop/sc...age&item=30009
Basically all USDM Honda engines (relatively modern ones, including anything you would probably want to put into a 1992+ Honda) have a certain engine code pattern.
X00X0
LETTER NUMBER NUMBER LETTER NUMBER
In Japan most of the engines (there are the rare exception, but again, probably not on any engines you'd be interested in) follow a slightly different engine code pattern.
X00X
LETTER NUMBER NUMBER LETTER
So B18C1 would be USDM, but B18C would be JDM.
Other countries also use the same engine code pattern as the US uses, but the number at the end is usually different than the US engines.
It's never a bad idea to search online for an engine code if you're not 100% sure what it is.
07-11-2009, 03:47 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
I dont really know much about cars and stuff, so what if I drive my car around and it wont pass smog? Will the car get taken away if I get pulled over or something? Also if I get pulled over the chances of the cop asking if my car will pass smog seem pretty low I think he would be more focus on me speeding or something.
It all depends how by the book the cop wants to be. sometimes they're cool most of the time people end up getting tickets. if your lucky and it's something like an intake you might get off with a fix it ticket if it's a bigger thing like a swap, your gonna get a ref ticket.
Last edited by EK2.0; 07-11-2009 at 03:55 PM.
07-11-2009, 03:48 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
If you drive in CA and have a honda that looks all "racer status" they will pull you over for anything and then pop your hood and look around. if they see anything that isn't CARB approved (including swaps, intakes,headers even timing covers removed, PCV lines disconnected) little things can get you a ticket.
07-11-2009, 03:50 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
07-11-2009, 03:52 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
I've seen it done but it's alot of extra ****.
You can BAR ref a swap n then mod the internals to make it faster (it won't pass smog) but you might be able to get it by a cop if you get pulled over.
Fast cars and smog don't mix!
You can BAR ref a swap n then mod the internals to make it faster (it won't pass smog) but you might be able to get it by a cop if you get pulled over.
Fast cars and smog don't mix!
07-11-2009, 03:53 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
07-11-2009, 03:54 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
If you drive in CA and have a honda that looks all "racer status" they will pull you over for anything and then pop your hood and look around. if they see anything that isn't CARB approved (including swaps, intakes,headers even timing covers removed, PCV lines disconnected) little things can get you a ticket.
It all depends how by the bood the cop wants to be. sometimes they're cool most of the time people end up getting tickets. if your lucky and it's something like an intake you might get off with a fix it ticket if it's a bigger thing like a swap, your gonna get a ref ticket.
It all depends how by the bood the cop wants to be. sometimes they're cool most of the time people end up getting tickets. if your lucky and it's something like an intake you might get off with a fix it ticket if it's a bigger thing like a swap, your gonna get a ref ticket.
what the hell is "how by the bood the cop wants to be"
07-11-2009, 03:55 PM
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07-11-2009, 03:56 PM
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07-11-2009, 04:00 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
07-11-2009, 04:06 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
I guess you gotta take the risk if you want a fast car. Screw it im getting a JDM GSR.
07-11-2009, 04:09 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
I just thought that if you drove around a car that doesnt pass smog then it will get taken away. I use my EK for normal driving (to work and stuff) so I am kinda worried, so I don't think im gonna go overboard, im gonna keep the outside as OEM as possible.
07-11-2009, 04:13 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
It won't get taken away, but you could end up with a pretty expensive ref ticket.
I think if you keep the exhaust stock or OEM looking and the front plate and like a simple jdm look you'll be fine.
07-11-2009, 04:19 PM
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Re: How to tell if a motor is JDM or USDM?
