Hi HT!

Searching around the forums, I didn't find anything determinate about whether or not a B16A would qualify as an Engine Replacement for a 94 Del Sol Si. I understand that under the CA BAR rules, so long as i have the correct emissions equipment, dropping in a USDM B16A3 is no problem, and qualifies as an Engine Replacement and does not require a BAR sticker. Getting a period correct USDM B16A3, however, is getting increasingly difficult to find and expensive around me, and I would like to keep the car registered in California so no GSR or K Swap for me at the moment. Since my D16Z6 is starting to knock real bad, I figured now could be a good time to just do a B Swap. However, because B16A3s are getting more and more difficult to find, I do see various people selling B16A engines, which I am wondering qualify in California as an Engine Replacement, rather than an Engine Change, allowing me to not have to go to a state ref and BAR the car.

Putting aside actually passing the smog test, I am trying to gain some clarity for whether or not a B16A, coming from a vehicle newer than 94, qualifies as an "Engine Replacement" rather than a "Engine Change" for a 94 Del Sol Si, as from my understanding, the JDM engines rarely utilize the A# system, but are basically higher compression versions of the USDM engines? The CA BAR page says "An engine which matches a configuration offered by the manufacturer for that year, make and model of vehicle" which while I am assuming is only valid for USDM models, the B16A did come in the JDM del Sol SiR which if i squint makes the B16A an engine that matches A configuration for the Del Sol for the year of 1994, but I was wondering if anyone in CA knows whether that qualifies or not.

Would the engine just need to pass the visual test at the smog station since without staring too hard at the block, I would imagine that the B16A and B16A3 look quite similar once you attach the evap hose to the 16A? If it isn't and I do need to get reffed (which i would prefer not to do over a B16), does the JDM B16A even qualify as a Engine Change in California? I've read on different forums that the urban legend is that ref stations are just flat out refusing to BAR JDM engines.

Basically, if someone knowledge could answer the question of whether or not a B16A fulfills the requirements of "An engine which matches a configuration offered by the manufacturer for that year, make and model of vehicle" in California, replacing the standard USDM B16A3. Do non-USDM engines of the same exact model (i.e. EU D16Z6) qualify as "Engine Replacements" under the CA BAR guidelines? How loose / tight do you have to play with the guidelines before you get shipped off to the state ref?

Thanks HT!

 

BAR will no longe pass a JDM swap. It’s the first question they ask in the interview. Thank the Subaru crowd.

Otherwise, a USDM B16 swap should be easy as pie. The Del Sol main harness already has the vtec and knock wiring in it, so all you should have to do is plug in the B16 harness or add the knock wire to your D16 harness. Hardest part will be finding the obd1 P30 ecu.

 

Good to know that if I get sent to the ref I will fail, which makes me nervous. That being said though, would a B16A be automatically sent to the ref? There was someone in this thread https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-...swaps-3348238/ that mentioned that a B16A in a Del Sol might not even need to get BAR'd, since it might count as an Engine Replacement? Anyone with any knowledge about whether or not that is true?

 

I think you'd get get away with it pretty easily at a smog shop as long as you have all the right stock parts.

 

Do you have more info on the Subaru crowd comment?

 

Likely what will happen if you swap without having the engine “BARd”…

- You take it to a smog shop
- They punch in your VIN info and receive inspection instructions

Then (most likely)…

- Things don’t match the instructions, inspector scratches head, comes back to you and says they can’t test it.
- gives you a flyer on how to contact the referee and sends you on your way.

Or (less likely)

- Inspector recognizes you have the wrong engine in the car and it doesn’t have a BAR sticker
- Assumes you are undercover from the BAR, and refuses to test your car.
- Gives you a flyer and tells you do contact the Ref to get your car inspected.

or (least likely)…

- Inspector decides they don’t care, car has all necessary equipment and passes plugin anyway, and they send you on your way.

No one is necessarily going to “send” you to the Ref, except maybe a cop if you get pulled over doing something dumb and they want to stick it to you.Smog shops aren’t in the business of enforcement, they just want to keep their own noses clean and will snort the test if something is fishy.

If you want the car to be a non-headache to get smogged every couple of years, you’re going to want to go to the Ref and get the sticker for the engine change. At that point, it’s really going to be no more work to do a GS-R or Type-R swap (USDM), so I’d say get whichever B series you can find in best condition at the right price for you.

 

I could imagine this would happen to anything other than a del sol where a b16 variant was factory. You could easily argue the engine is a replacement for an oem option. Same with the 99/00 civic.

 

It's a big "might".

You might not have a problem, but you might. The only way to guarantee you won't have a problem is to get the sticker, or forget the whole damn thing and put another crappy old Z6 in it.

The flipside is that, because of the reason you pointed out, it will be quite easy to BAR a USDM B16 in the car. I'd honestly just contact the referee before doing anything at all (including looking for an engine) to get the straight dope. They are the authority and have the final say on what passes and what doesn't. The rest of us are just sitting around guessing, regardless of experience.

 

Yeah it's all a crapshoot at this point.

 

Yeah, it also seems to be partly up to the whims of the Ref that you get. My guy was a stickler but was very clear and open about what would and wouldn't fly. The in-person Ref was similarly detailed but really cool, honestly.

Last year was my first time going to a normal smog inspection with my sticker. It was totally painless and super relieving not having to wonder if I was going to pass or not, or having to do some shady back alley deal to get a hot smog. 10/10 experience, do recommend.

 

Can you guys in CA not get historic/classic plates that circumvents emissions requirements?

 

Pre 1975 cars are exempt. We're working on it.

00+ are visual and plugin only. <00 OBD2 also tailpipe, but are set to be the same as 00+ soon. Everything else >1975 are visual and tailpipe.

 

A buddy of mine years ago rigged my smog renewal for 1999 GSR and every other year it comes back as a renewal I just go to the supermarket and use the DMV kiosk pay and get my tags, not sure how he pulled it off he is now disabled and cant speak (stroke)

 

I'm so jealous of that. I don't think it's even possible now with all of the biometric checks and everything. Guess you gotta keep that car forever

 

The best bet for this answer for as much clarity as possible, is to contact your local State Ref. and discuss with them options. Our local resources are different across the state so a clear cut answer is not easy. I've heard and seen a lot of things come through that left me confused.

General rule of thumb we've found:

Engine Changes must be USDM engines.
Engine Replacements can be JDM.

https://www.bar.ca.gov/consumer/smog...engine-changes

 

Clarity needed. From the BAR:

An engine replacement would be placing a B16A long block of any market into a Del Sol VTEC trim (that originally came with a B16A). ​​​​​​Engine replacements don't require BAR approval. It's not that JDM engines are necessarily allowed, it's just that there's no policing at this level.

An engine change is what OP is trying to perform - installing a B16A into a chassis configuration that didn't come with one. The referee gets to decide what is and isn't allowed to get swapped, and in the case of non-US market engines, they aren't allowed. A car with an engine different from what came in it won't pass a regular smog because it won't match the instructions that come up when a tech scans the bar code on the door jamb of the car. A smog tech doesn't get paid to make judgements. It either matches their instructions or it fails - unless it has that BAR sticker explicitly telling them how to inspect it.

 

What up? Sorry to say you will see the ref either way. Star certified as long as your swapped. To hopefully help you out.
i have a bard ef b18a using b18b emissions. If your dropping a b16a into a usdm chasis you have to have all the same emission components and parts from donor car. Meaning if your obd1 then that makes it P30. The only usdm cars with that motor was the del sol si 1.6l. Therefore the Intake manifold, and any other stamped part should say p30. This shows it is for a b16 and obd1. P30 ecu as well.
Now What I did well before my swap was made an appointment with the ref, paid my 18 bucks and asked that man every question i could and he printed out all the info for a 94 integra ls chasis i needed. As long as you know this guy is god and show you want to be legit he should give you all the info you need. Hope this helps. Best of luck! Also the jdm b16 with the higher compression will not pass smog. If you have ant to pass your gonna have to drop the compression via cometic head gasket.
Jsun

 

That's really good advice. You really should talk to them before a single wrench is turned or a part bought.