Hello, just bought a Honda Civic year 1999 hatchback (ek i believe) last year, and I recently did an engine swap with a JDM 1997 GSR motor(stamped on the head, 9 | 7). I heard that you have to go through this process called "Bar'd" which makes the engine legal in California. However the engine swap law states "The engine must be the same year or newer than the vehicle.", my engine is a 1997 GSR in a 1999, would I run into a problem with the 2 year difference?

If I run into a problem would I have to re-do my engine swap to a year of 99+?

I am new to the honda scene, and so I was wondering if someone can help me out by answering these questions.

 

Yeah a 97 engine in a 99 isn't going to fly.

 

it basically goes by the generation of the ecu .. provided the ecu ur using is the same for that gen .. ie 97-01 u should be fine

you will be bar-ing it as a 99 or newer .. ie 99-01

 

If they know how to check the date stamp code you will fail. Make sure your ecu is a 99 or newer ecu and it has no check engine lights and has all emissions hooked up just like a stock 99 gsr.

 

That is a generic law and is basically meant for an actual year change that is resulting in a different engine. Any BAR tech will know that that 97-01 engine is "functionally the same".

As long as the ecu you're using is the same across that gen you will be fine. I'm not a major b18c1 expert so I'll leave it up to you to research that part.

 

Loophole and touchy subject, he's using a JDM engine. Some places will let that slide, others won't. It can work to your advantage if you know where to go and what works. Other than that, "holmesnmanny" pretty much summed up everything I have to offer.

 

Not 100% on this, but since your previous d16y7 was OBD2B, you must run an OBD2B usdm gsr ecu. Anything emissions-wise that's in a 1997 Acura Integra GSR's engine bay, you WILL need for your car in order to pass. All sensors must be changed over from the integra, etc.

I've been to BAR refs in santa rosa, CA and los angeles, CA and both didn't look up my engine code to see if it was a USDM engine. Just make everything the same as a 1997 USDM acura integra gsr and you should be fine.