http://sandiego.craigslist.org/car/129925507.html

 

Not too shab! Go get her Rod!

BTW... those are some huge *** vice clamps at the front of the car!

 

What all is onvolved in making a swapped motor legit like that? Does it just have to pass the smog specs for that motor as it was originaly? If it is legit that sounds like a friggin deal.

 

As long as it's the same year as the car or newer and has all the emission equipment in place it can be processed as a legal legit swap. You can have your entire car certified by the state by going to your local referee station for examination, testing, and BAR Vehicle Identification Label approval. Now thats only if the engine came out of some other kind of car. Example: A 1985 4 cylinder Mustang can have a 1985 or newer 5.0 swapped in without all the hassles listed above. In which case the engine still has to have all the emissions equipment installed but you dont have to go through the process of having the car certified. As long as the engine originally came from the manufacturer in that particular make. Another example is installing an L28ET into an original non turbo Z. Just swap it in and go. No problems. Now drop an LS1 in there or even a VG and now you've got problems. You can't just pop any engine in and go get a smog test. In CA it doesn't work that way.

 

That car is nuts..why does he mention buying it and crashing it in a movie? Is the guy crazy?
Im just happy I live in ohio where there are no vehicle checks or tests..

 

Well in the case of this 5.0 ZX, hes in San Diego California. Just so happens to be my home state as well. I'm curious as to what all was involved. I have future plans for swapped motor projects as well but if you can do something like that to a 76' or newer vehicle that opens up a lot of options. I cant seem to find anything about swapped motors or guidlines in the cali gov pages online either . . .

 

It's really not that big of a deal Apollo... The motor you're swapping in simply has to be a motor that was originall sold in a California Emmisions equipped vehicle. As long as that motor came in a car that was legally smogable in California, you can put it in any car. You have to go to the smog Refferee and get a special sticker like the one he has on that car. From that point on, that car is tested using the criteria for the vehicle the motor came from. In other words, he must now pass his smog test based on the acceptable numbers for a 1987 Ford (Whatever... probably a Mustang). If you put a VQ35 motor in your 280ZX, you would have to smog it based on 350Z emmisions standards... Simple. .................................................. .........................................Rod.

 

You just need to contact the DMV and they'll hook you up with a SPCNS Cetificate of Sequence. From that point you simply take that certificate down to a BAR referee station and they'll certify it. Two things to be aware of: 1) If the engine and it's components which are used during the swap total $5000.00 or more then you have to provide proof that you payed for everything. Less than that and you dont need any receipts or anything. 2) California only issues 500 of these certificates a year. So if they issue all 500 by may then you'd have to wait til the next year to reapply. Also, you have to keep that certificate for if/when you sell the vehicle. The next owner cant just take the car in and have it smogged. They have to have that certificate or go through the whole process themselves.

 

Thanks guys.