Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: SF Bay Area, CA, USA
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
Originally Posted by arb.ca.gov
Replacement Engines
Entire engines can be replacement parts. As with any other replacement part, the engine must be identical to the original. If the replacement block or engine is obtained without emissions equipment, all the equipment from the original engine must be installed on the replacement block.
If the engine is not identical to the original then it is not a replacement part, instead it is considered an engine change.
Engine changes are a modification that must meet certain requirements to be legal (please see "Engine Changes").
Japanese Replacement Engines
Used engines imported from Japan can be used as replacement engines as long as the engine being used has been identified as functionally identical to the original engine. Please refer to the engine importers catalogue to determine if a replacement engine is legal for installation in your vehicle.
Engine Changes
Engine changes are legal as long as the following requirements are met to ensure that the change does not increase pollution from the vehicle:
* The engine must be the same year or newer than the vehicle.
* The engine must be from the same type of vehicle (passenger car, light-duty truck, heavy-duty truck, etc.) based on gross vehicle weight.
* If the vehicle is a California certified vehicle then the engine must also be a California certified engine.
* All emissions control equipment must remain on the installed engine.
Entire engines can be replacement parts. As with any other replacement part, the engine must be identical to the original. If the replacement block or engine is obtained without emissions equipment, all the equipment from the original engine must be installed on the replacement block.
If the engine is not identical to the original then it is not a replacement part, instead it is considered an engine change.
Engine changes are a modification that must meet certain requirements to be legal (please see "Engine Changes").
Japanese Replacement Engines
Used engines imported from Japan can be used as replacement engines as long as the engine being used has been identified as functionally identical to the original engine. Please refer to the engine importers catalogue to determine if a replacement engine is legal for installation in your vehicle.
Engine Changes
Engine changes are legal as long as the following requirements are met to ensure that the change does not increase pollution from the vehicle:
* The engine must be the same year or newer than the vehicle.
* The engine must be from the same type of vehicle (passenger car, light-duty truck, heavy-duty truck, etc.) based on gross vehicle weight.
* If the vehicle is a California certified vehicle then the engine must also be a California certified engine.
* All emissions control equipment must remain on the installed engine.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/replace.htm
top of the page says last reviewed October 7, 2008, and I don't remember when this change was first talked about.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Northern Virgina, USA
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
sounds right. i work for advance auto part. a store that any of you west of texas would only have heard of unless you have come east.
anyway almost everything enines included in my computer says "not legal for sale or use in california"
hell, everything causes cancer in the state of california. i think its better for my health to stay away from that place...lol
anyway almost everything enines included in my computer says "not legal for sale or use in california"
hell, everything causes cancer in the state of california. i think its better for my health to stay away from that place...lol
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From: Looking for SloMofo....
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
My understanding was that nothing has "changed" but that they just "clarified" what they had meant all along. That being that Japanese engines are only legal in direct 1 to 1 replacements, and only with all the USDM smog bits, just like before. If you are changing the engine at all then it must be all pure USDM hardware though and through.
It also means that the only thing the ref does now is a visual inspection and slap you a sticker, you need to now take it to a regular smog station to get it smogged.
.
It also means that the only thing the ref does now is a visual inspection and slap you a sticker, you need to now take it to a regular smog station to get it smogged.
.
And Refs will continue to run smog checks to ensure that the emissions equipment is working properly.
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
thats gay. you can drive a diesel and not worry about emissions? sure, blow that black smoke all over the road, thats fine. but, if you want a fun import good luck!
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 329
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From: SF Bay Area, CA, USA
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
exactly, if it is not functionally identical, as per the engine importers catalog, then it must be Cali certified. If it is listed in the catalog then the certification clause dose not apply because it is considered a "replacement" rather than a "change"
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 176
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From: Orange County, CA.
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
everything is illeagal in Ca and it's all about money. We vote them in, then we pay. I was born here, and lived here all my life(63 years). Really sick of trying to get around the system. Now I just build/drive old, smog exempt cars, but even that is coming to an end too.
66 Moris Mini (cooper), JDM B-16, 1200 pounds.
65 carbon fibre, Cobra Roadster, 427 Fontana Alloy small block, 620 HP, 1800 pounds
59 chevy El Camino, 283, all stock, wide whites
Next, 68 Moris Mini, 1300 6 speed sequential Hayabusa in back, 200 HP, 900 pounds
all smog exempt.
66 Moris Mini (cooper), JDM B-16, 1200 pounds.
65 carbon fibre, Cobra Roadster, 427 Fontana Alloy small block, 620 HP, 1800 pounds
59 chevy El Camino, 283, all stock, wide whites
Next, 68 Moris Mini, 1300 6 speed sequential Hayabusa in back, 200 HP, 900 pounds
all smog exempt.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 439
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From: Manhattan Beach, CA, USA
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
That's right, yo! Recently my 2 homies just got pulled over by the popo, one has a ZC and the other one with a JDM D16a. Both of them just got a State Ref. ticket.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 5,365
Likes: 2
From: 60ft garage, CA, USA
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
everything is illeagal in Ca and it's all about money. We vote them in, then we pay. I was born here, and lived here all my life(63 years). Really sick of trying to get around the system. Now I just build/drive old, smog exempt cars, but even that is coming to an end too.
66 Moris Mini (cooper), JDM B-16, 1200 pounds.
65 carbon fibre, Cobra Roadster, 427 Fontana Alloy small block, 620 HP, 1800 pounds
59 chevy El Camino, 283, all stock, wide whites
Next, 68 Moris Mini, 1300 6 speed sequential Hayabusa in back, 200 HP, 900 pounds
all smog exempt.
66 Moris Mini (cooper), JDM B-16, 1200 pounds.
65 carbon fibre, Cobra Roadster, 427 Fontana Alloy small block, 620 HP, 1800 pounds
59 chevy El Camino, 283, all stock, wide whites
Next, 68 Moris Mini, 1300 6 speed sequential Hayabusa in back, 200 HP, 900 pounds
all smog exempt.
Nice list of projects too.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 222
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From: San Antonio/Ft. Hood
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
Hell yea I remember those days with my dropped hatch. I live in Texas now and no one gives a f*** with what you have. I passed my inspection without an intake at all. Good luck Cali, and I wanted to move there next...not so much anymore.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 176
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From: Orange County, CA.
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
How could I get a ticket for removing smog equipment that the car never came with? In those days, all you needed was a PCV valve, if that. That's why old hot rods don't get smog tickets. You don't even need seat belts or turn sigs if the car didn't come with them. Hell, I don't have street tires, windshield wipers, horn, turn signals, front plate, or plate lights either on couple of my street cars. But then I am 63 and don't drive them much.
Then,I think front wheel drive cars are kind of lame anyway, especially for drag racing, but that's what Minis came with; I guess you can't always get everything you want.
Movin to Panama, where the Cops are still crooks, but they don't lie about it; thats how they get paid, and when you get busted, it's for a good reason...........Time for my happy pills now.
Then,I think front wheel drive cars are kind of lame anyway, especially for drag racing, but that's what Minis came with; I guess you can't always get everything you want.
Movin to Panama, where the Cops are still crooks, but they don't lie about it; thats how they get paid, and when you get busted, it's for a good reason...........Time for my happy pills now.
Last edited by ramco; Aug 5, 2009 at 11:10 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Manhattan Beach, CA, USA
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
No, no, no! Lemme clarify it. My first homie from LBC with the CRX have the ZC DOHC got pulled over, popped the hood and got the State Ref. ticket first. Then, my second homie from Downey with the '98 Civic Coupe JDM D16a, called me up and got a State Ref. ticket, too. And that was 1 month from each other. The ticket that they got has the sticker like this...
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 9,865
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From: Oregon
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
one nice thing is that the price of itr egines has taken at least a $500 hit since this law passed. you NEVER use to see of the ship long blocks going for $2200-2500 shipped
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 439
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From: Manhattan Beach, CA, USA
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
cool man thanks...i went to the state ref back in 2006 to get a exhaust db test done and the ref didn't want to test it because i had a zc dohc in it...all he gave me was a receipt that said that the test couldn't be done due to zc block...i just went the next day to chp and they signed it off for free...i guess there really cracking down now and just wanted to know about the zc sohc because thats the one im gonna swap in my ef2...!!!
Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
stop driving a civic/integra - cops just automatically harass you no matter what you're doing, that's been my experience. At a stop light, getting pulled over *yay for police, hella do their job protecting and serving*
here is some definitive information: [url]
AFAIK - nothing has changed to BAR your motor other than it can't from from an SUV (i.e. CRV) and if it's a JDM motor, needs a US counter part (i.e. JDM B18C-r = B18c5, but if you have b16b, no legal counter part in US = motor not BAR'able unless you change out of a few key components that deal with smog/emissions test; which you still have to do with a JDM B18c (gsr or type r)
here is some definitive information: [url]
AFAIK - nothing has changed to BAR your motor other than it can't from from an SUV (i.e. CRV) and if it's a JDM motor, needs a US counter part (i.e. JDM B18C-r = B18c5, but if you have b16b, no legal counter part in US = motor not BAR'able unless you change out of a few key components that deal with smog/emissions test; which you still have to do with a JDM B18c (gsr or type r)
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Re: Jdm swaps illegal in ca?
Cool! I want a jdm H22A in my prelude REAL soon. What did you do to make it legal? Swap any manifolds or anything? The whole idea of the jdm engine having a usdm counterpart puts me at ease because i know theres an h22 for usdm and jdm. =]
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