I have a b18c1 head, ported and polished and ready to put onto my ls bottom, but I heard from a friend that doing so is not street legal in California. Do you guys know if this LS/VTEC swap will pass smog in California? I have read many posts but the emission issue has never been brought up. If for any reason the swap is NOT legal, what's the best way produce power while making it legal in CA? The car will be daily driven, and I want the fastest street legal car possible. So far I have i/h/e, onsoku spark plug wires 9.5mm, strut/tie bars, exedy racing clutch and a short shifter on my 96 rs (soon to be converted to obdI with hondata), and I was wondering the expected dragtime/whp. Haven't dynoed yet. Thanks a bunch.

 

apparantly...
it's pretty tough passing a regular swap...
let along an lsvtec
i myself have already given up finding a way to get it "legally" passed
hook ups is an alternative option i presume

check it
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=385337&page=1

 

A hybrid built motor like a LSVTEC or CRVTEC will not pass in CA because they aren't a factory built motor like a B18C1 or B18B1. There is no way to my knowledge that you could make it pass the visual, although with proper tuning it "could" pass emissions. You mentioned converting the 96 RS to OBD1, this also will not pass. The only way you could pass and stay legal is to go with a US spec 96+ full longblock and stay OBD2. I suggest finding a matching C1 bottom end for your head.

 

Go buy and ls motor. Smog it. Then throw on the ls/vtec setup.. keep all your stock ls stuff for trips back to the smog shop

 

Uh, correct me if I'm wrong but the rs motor and the ls motor are exactly the same without added options (sunroof, abs brakes, powerlocks, a/c), making it lighter and imo, faster? And why wouldn't an OBDII to OBDI conversion pass emissions? I don't understand. Please clarify.

But anywho, thanks for the replies regarding LS/VTEC, looks like I'm gonna have to find another method of upgrading my teg, would turbo be a better replacement for the LS/VTEC or would all motor NA be best? (Keep in mind, the teg is gonna be daily driven) And if so, what type of turbo is legal in CA? I know the Greddy Bolt on one is, but I'm not sure if the T3/T4 turbonetics is carb exempt. Or should I just forget turbo and go all motor and perhaps get Crower 62404 cams (I heard they were borderline for street legalness)? I'm a bit confused, and not sure what my next upgrade should be. Thanks again for your inputs.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rsintegra &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Uh, correct me if I'm wrong but the rs motor and the ls motor are exactly the same without added options (sunroof, abs brakes, powerlocks, a/c), making it lighter and imo, faster?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes they both have the same B18B1 motors.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rsintegra &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And why wouldn't an OBDII to OBDI conversion pass emissions? I don't understand. Please clarify.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Because you are back-dating to older parts/electronics. That's basically no different than using an older motor than your chassis, all parts must be the same year or newer. Going by an emissions standpoint, newer is usally better for lower hydrocarbons, added pollution controls, etc. but at the same time performance starts to take a nosedive.

 

you can not be fast and pass smog in Ca. the best thing to do is to keep it looking carb legal so you dont end up at the smog ref. I mean really the cops cant really see stuff like cams,ECU, gutted cats. I kinda think most cops wouldent event trip on the Vtec head because most of them arent honda heads and wouldent reconize it. just dont roll around with the 200mm duel crome exhust and stage 3 racing flames arcoss your **** and you should be good

 

oh wow...so what I would need for a street legal car in Ca is to go all motor? Because, like you said, the cops really can't see your ecu, cams and pistons and stuff. So I am thinking of going all motor if that's the best case. I am thinking of Crower 62404 cams (or if anyone knows any better cams out there for a b18b) which, on the crower website says that it is 3/4 racing, and I heard from some folks here on honda tech that it is streetable if done correctly (how do you tune it correctly?) but I'm not sure if it'll be that legal with the setup I have now (i/h/e, etc). Or would it be faster if I went for a legal turbo like the Greddy bolt on? I know I'm asking for a lot to make it legal, but I really appreciate all of your comments and opinions.