I am currently trying to get the bar sticker for my 1993 CX that has a 1994 B18C SiR-G motor in it. I called the local smog referee, and he told me that they can tell the difference between the USDM and JDM exhaust manifold.

I currently have the the complete JDM exhaust manifold, but I have been trying to find a USDM manifold in fear that the referee would really be able to tell that mine is JDM and not USDM.

Here is a picture of a 94 USDM GSR manifold, I don't have any pics of a JDM.



Feedback/experience with CA smog referees welcomed.


[Modified by 93SSPHatch, 11:20 AM 1/8/2003]


[Modified by 93SSPHatch, 11:21 AM 1/8/2003]


[Modified by 93SSPHatch, 11:21 AM 1/8/2003]

 

 

Thanks for the resizing, I still don't know how to do that

So I am assuming that no one has any idea what the differences are? Maybe this is a good thing and there really isn't any dramatic differences!

 

I am thinking about doing the same thing with my motor, and have been looking around for a stock gsr manifold, because the header i have on my car is from something other than a gsr, and the intake i have is for the 92-95 civic, not the gsr motor, and I guess those things actually matter to the ref

So, on that note, I am wondering if the gsr manifold has to be from the same year engine or not? I know mine is an OBD-1 and I heard the OBD-2 has sensors on it or something, do you think the ref would fail me if i put an OBD-2 manifold on my OBD-1 engine? Dont all the aftermarket headers have room for the sensor anyway? (they usually say 94-2000 I think...)

 

THey might actually care, but who really knows. The best way to find out is to call and speak to an actual ref., that is what I did. The ref. will tell you everything they are looking for, and what you cannot have.

I think I am going to try and use my JDM exhaust manifold that came with my engine, and just put the heat shields over it and see if they will not notice.

 

The ref was probably bluffing. I doubt he knows the difference. He probably said that to scare you into compliance Just put some Heet brand gasline antifreeze in your gas tank before the smog test and you will come out smelling like a rose.

 

I have a JDM integra Si and that USDM GSR manifold looks exactly like mine, i'll get some pics tommorow, the only difference there would be is that my stock 2-1 section is 60.5mm diameter and therefore has the 2.5" collector, but the 4-2 section looks identical.

 

93SSP, unless something has changed recently, I think the manifold will be the least of your worries, in that you are trying to smog a JDM engine. From what I understand, there is no way to get a BAR stick for JDM motors, even those that were sold in the states as well. Supposedly, they have a list of all the block serials for USDM motors, so if your serial does not fall in that range, they won't pass you regardless of whether the other components are compliant or not.

 

That my friend is a fallacy! Read this thread and you will be enlightened. I spoke with a CA smog referee on Tuesday, and IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET THE BAR STICKER FOR A JDM MOTOR. There are only a few criteria that need to be met which are listed in this thread: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=375500

Mugenracer: I appreciate the response, I would GREATLY APPRECIATE it if you could post up those pics. Like I said previously, I have come to the conclusion that I am going to take my chances with the JDM exhaust manifold. My new concern is whether or not my car will actually pass the emissions part of the test. Any suggestions?

 

* UPDATE *

I just got home from work and I pulled my 1994 JDM GSR exhaust manifold down from the rafters and compared it to the 1994 USDM manifold shown in the picture. The referee was right! There are differences between the two manifolds. Unfortunately I don't have a digital camera, but here are the differences that I see:

1. The writing that is on the first cylinder pipe on the USDM manifold does not appear on the JDM manifold. Instead, the JDM manifold has the writing on the number two cylinder pipe. The writing on the USDM manifold is nothing similar to the writing on the JDM manifold.

2. The hole placement for the heatshield is different. The upper left and right holes are similar, but the bottom two holes are flipped on the JDM.

3. When looking at the USDM manifold, the number 4 and 3 pipes are mushed together, while on the JDM manifold, these pipes are all seperate from each other. This trend continues with the rest of the pipes. On the JDM manifold none of the pipes come into contact with each other until they all meet where the downpipe begins. On the USDM manifold, one can see that all the pipes mush together before they finally meet at the downpipe.

Since my JDM exhaust manifold didn't come with a heat shield, I don't have the option of trying to cover up these minor differences. Even if I did have the heatshield, I wouldn't want to run the risk of the smog referee taking the heat shield off. The differences may be subtle, but when comparing a picture of a JDM exhaust manifold to a USDM exhaust manifold, the differences are definitely evident.

Some may say that the referee couldn't tell the difference between a JDM and USDM manifold, but since their job is to look at engines all day long I am not going to run the risk. Plus, the referee did tell me that they had pictures of what a JDM manifold looks like, and I don't think I will be calling his bluff. I would rather do it right the first time and have a USDM manifold, rather than having to pay $30 the first time and not passing, then having to pay another $30 the second time with a USDM manifold.

To each his own, but I will choose to hunt down a USDM manifold.

After thought: I could always get a JDM heatshield and use some JB weld in the holes so the ref. couldn't pull the shield off. Then again, the nut configuration on the JDM heatshield is different. Oh well.

 

Good Luck dood!

Atleast You did your homework

 

Personally i think the ref is refferering to the JDM ITR 98+ 4-1 header. They can easily tell the difference between that and the USDM one. As for the other style, if you use the US downpipe i highly doubt he will even consider failing you for that. It will pass emissions just the same. Also 94-95 GSR US header has no O2 bung on the header, 96+ GSR has a bung on the header. Hope that helps you out.

 

93SSP, thanks for the link! I had no idea that they were allowing JDM motors now, that's excellent news. I may do a swap after all...

 

My motor did not come with the JDM heatshields. I have already purchased a 1994 USDM GSR exhaust manifold with downpipe and stock FPR. I am well on my way to "BAR sticker" heaven.

If the referee does have pictures that show the difference between the JDM and USDM headers, they will easily be able to tell the difference between the heatshield bolt pattern difference. I DON'T WANT TO CHANCE IT. I would rather do it right the first time, rather than having him fail me for something as silly as the JDM exhaust manifold. To me, it just isn't worth it.

I am going to try and see if I can't get someone to take a picture of the JDM header, so I can post it up next to the USDM header. This way you guys will be able to understand what I am talking about.

 

No problem buddy. I thought the same way as you did, until I took the liberty to actually call the smog referee and find out for myself. I also owe credit to Spade and Rodrez who also shared their experiences with the smog referees.