I want to swap NOW but, I want it in a daily driver in california.
1. Can I put in a JDM and pass smog? If so, what do I need to do?
2. Has anyone heard of a 2.2 being legal in California?

 

as far as i know there are two basic requirements for swaps in cali.
1)motor must be of same year or newer than the car
2)must be a usdm motor

i believe that there is a list of motors that are legal, when a shop sees that the motor isn't stock, they'll look it up on their list. When they can't find b16a or b18c.... on the list they'll tell you to go to the smog ref. and all he'll do is not smog it cause he'll find out its not a usdm motor.

there is a chance that if you take it to a lazy shop that they might not check well enough. if they don't know much about hondas or really care about the rules they might not even tell that there is a difference, or might not care. And that way you could pass smog--but thats a longshot.

other than that you can pay somebody to smog it. seems like everyone in the "import scene" has a "friend" who can smog just about anything as long as the price is right. I'm sure your local shop "knows" someone. but it'll cost ya $150-$300 each time you need to smog it.

i know a guy down here in so cal who is currently trying to smog a jdm b16a in his g2 integra. I'm not sure whats going on with it right now, but i hope to find out soon.

 

KIT, I am curious....plus, you only have to smog every two years

I don't care about US or J spec, I just want the engine soon ya know?

 

cops are also a problem. There is always that one cop that knows too much and will recoginize a jdm motor and will check the smog on it or somthing like that an dbad things happen. So its all about whether you want to risk it or not or just get a del sol or civic si engine. that or go with a GSR. I would get a GSR

 

Which engine in particular? I know a guy who put a JDM B18C in his car and just told the ref "It's from a GS-R". B18C, B18C1... I don't think they care.