What if you told the state to consider your car for exemption from emissions testing because your OBD2 car is now running OBD1 Engine and/or ECU. For example, what if your your engine blew, and you spotted a great deal on OBD1 engine, so you decided to swap it in. Because in IL OBD1 cars no longer have to pass emissions. At that point just the body is OBD2, but the car is essentially OBD1. Any thoughts or anyone figure out a work around esp. in IL?

 

I know in CA it is illegal to swap an engine that is older than the car so in CA it would not be legal.

 

whatever year the car was manufactured in, you will have to adhere to the laws that govern that year vehicle.

 

IL does not have that exception. (from what I've heard, read and asked about)
OBD2 cars have to pass OBD2 testing.

They don't care if your car actually runs better with the tuned OBD1 ECU.

It's not difficult to get an OBD2 ECU to work right... just takes a little time and the right "test only" setup.

 

Actually that's the federal law and not exclusive to California. Many states do not currently enforce it, but if you take a chance and the EPA crushes your car, don't come crying to us.

No, you can't swap an OBD1 engine in your car and tell your local DMV, "haha, I'm exempt." I suggest you give them a call and pretend that you've already done that. See what they say.

 

in illinois, there are ways. like others said, yours is just the wrong way.