ok im planning on buying a 89 crx si. the whole longblock has been changed to a single zc with about 40k miles (im not sure what year) everything else is still stock only the long block as been changed and its got a new cat converter. my question is will this motor still pass the california smog???

 

no one knows?

 

the sniffer test - possible
visual test - it should, when i got mine smogged the guy said its not a problem its just the stock replaced engine that came from japan(which it is). depending on the smog guy, the stupid one might think its a racing engine, but a smart one will know better, so you might have to find the right smog guy

edit: also if you tell them its a 1.5L engine rather than a 1.6L the maximum out put of the emissions is more, so it is allowed to emit more smog. its not much, but its what got mine to pass with bad rings.

 

you shouldnt have a problem. mine passed with flying colors. there basically the same exact motor

 

Visually, I can't imgine a problem. The SOHC ZC is really just an A6. Nobody is going to question it, since nothing will look like it doesn't belong there. The only possible problem might be the actual emissions testing. I know that the SOHC ZC DOES have a bigger cam. And this COULD cause problems. If you also have the ZC ECU this could also cause problems. But I would just take it in anyway. I think there is a REALLY good chance it will pass.

 

technically, its not, and to people that says that it should pass, technically it should'nt. I understand its basically the same, but the facts still remain, its a motor not offered in America, technically if someone passes you with that, they are doing something illegal.

 

i passed smog w/my single cam zc

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by a2nchinaman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">technically, its not, and to people that says that it should pass, technically it should'nt. I understand its basically the same, but the facts still remain, its a motor not offered in America, technically if someone passes you with that, they are doing something illegal.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You haven't spoken to a referee about the non-VTEC SOHC ZC before have you? It's listed as a perfectly legit replacement motor for 88-91 Civics. I went to the local ref to try and obtain a BAR label years ago and he told me it's not needed. I told him that I tried to smog it and no one would touch it, he then told me to go back and have the smog tech at whatever station I went to look at his handbook/list of legal replacement motors for my car and it'll have the ZC listed. I went back, told him to check his book or whatever, and sure enough he found it, smogged my car, passed.

 

The SOHC ZC (non-vtec) engine is allowed in the US as a direct replacement engine as long as all the required smog devices and plumbing remain the same - ie not messed with.

CARB and BAR both recognize it as a Japanese direct replacement. So if you are using it with a JDM ecu, nocat, or other items bypassed - no it should not pass.

But if it is installed exactly as the A6 it is replacing, you will not have a problem passing.

EDIT - ^ he beat me to it, lol.

 

Yeah, but you got the key points in , SOHC ZC using the USDM OBD smog equipment is the key. And as mentioned above, it's been said that the cam is slightly bigger so if you want a little bit more piece of mind then swap to a US spec A6 cam.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 24TEN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I told him that I tried to smog it and no one would touch it, he then told me to go back and have the smog tech at whatever station I went to look at his handbook/list of legal replacement motors for my car and it'll have the ZC listed. I went back, told him to check his book or whatever, and sure enough he found it, smogged my car, passed.</TD></TR></TABLE>

So when you went for the first smog check, did you actually TELL them that you had a ZC? It sounds like it, since this is not something that they would dig into unless they have a good reason to do so. Anyway, you have to remember the Golden Rule when it comes to smog tests on modified cars: don't volunteer unnecessary information that could end up working against you.

 

Yes, I was up front about it. And actually I had a DOHC ZC so I got the complete break down of what can and can't pass when it comes to any ZC motor. I tried my luck with the DOHC ZC and told the tech at the smog station to look in his book. He said he found SOHC ZC but kept mumbling under his breath that he couldn't find DOHC ZC. I was firm with him and told him the referee said this is OK so he gave in and smogged my car LOL.

But fact is, SOHC ZC is for use in USDM civics with the appropriate smog equipment.

DOHC ZC is through 1989 Civic/Integra with the appropriate smog equipment (mine is a 1991 ).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 24TEN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yes, I was up front about it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You can't be 'up front' when it comes to smog testing. This will only result in failing. When you bring your car in for a smog, it is best to act like you don't know what is under the hood. It is best to act like you bought the car that way, and don't suspect that anything is wrong. Now don't get me wrong. I'm all for clean air and having a car that runs clean. But if the State of California is going to be so thick-headed about rules regarding what you can and can't have which have dubious air quality benefits (at best), then why should you feel the need to be completely up front about what you have?

 

I was up front about it because my friend who is a smog tech by trade told me the DOHC ZC swap is BAR-able (sorry for the made up word LOL). He actually went to school and did his ASE certs with the local ref. What he didn't know, which is what the ref explained to me, is that even though the DOHC ZC motor was produced through the mid 90s and used in different markets, it's closest relative is the first gen Integra motor which was only used through 1989. So he explained to me that because of that, they can only consider it at newest a 1989 regardless of if it is actually newer than that. Then you apply your general rule of thumb when swapping motors and you get 1989 Civic/Integra as the cutoff for using this motor legally.

Keep in mind this was 2001, it's 2008 and I still daily the car with the same motor and setup and has passed cleanly ever since. The only downside is that it never passes visual legally/legitimately because of the year difference.

If I wasn't up front about it, I wouldn't know what I know today. There's a few posts the come up from time to time regarding the legality of any and all ZC engines and I'm always happy to share what I know and save someone else from any hassles or headaches when possible. Having said that, if someone would've explained all of this to me prior to the purchase of the engine, I wouldn't have bought it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 24TEN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was up front about it because my friend who is a smog tech by trade told me the DOHC ZC swap is BAR-able (sorry for the made up word LOL). He actually went to school and did his ASE certs with the local ref. What he didn't know, which is what the ref explained to me, is that even though the DOHC ZC motor was produced through the mid 90s and used in different markets, it's closest relative is the first gen Integra motor which was only used through 1989. So he explained to me that because of that, they can only consider it at newest a 1989 regardless of if it is actually newer than that. Then you apply your general rule of thumb when swapping motors and you get 1989 Civic/Integra as the cutoff for using this motor legally.

Keep in mind this was 2001, it's 2008 and I still daily the car with the same motor and setup and has passed cleanly ever since. The only downside is that it never passes visual legally/legitimately because of the year difference.

If I wasn't up front about it, I wouldn't know what I know today. There's a few posts the come up from time to time regarding the legality of any and all ZC engines and I'm always happy to share what I know and save someone else from any hassles or headaches when possible. Having said that, if someone would've explained all of this to me prior to the purchase of the engine, I wouldn't have bought it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I forgot about the visual inspections. Thank god my Civic Si is an 89 model
For you 24TEN

I passed smog with my SOHC ZC in July of 2007 with no problems. The ref even knew it was a replacement but was perfectly legal

 

Just keep in mind that the 1989 reference is only in regards to the DOHC version, the VTEC and non-VTEC SOHC ZC are direct replacements for the D16A6/Z6, not sure about the Y8 but maybe someone else can confirm that one.

 

no offense but california sucks!

 

I dont have emissions where i live its great

 

my '90 hatch passed with a sohc zc that had a bad cat and a bad O2 sensor (it was literally at the legal limit for No2, i more PPM and i would have failed haha) so you shouldnt have a problem

 

wtf?! i didnt now that u legally cant put a different motor in ur car and emision test it. do they even check for a different motor? if i drop a stock b16 in my car and have a stock 2 1/4 exaust with a muffler they wudnt get suspious will they? i mean i have a cf hood too but that shudnt get me kicked out for emissions right? damn that wud b [freak]ed up..

 

That would depend on your state requirements and what they check. Most of what is being discussed applies to CA testing and visual.