Legalities of Engine Swaps
Thread Starter
Contributing Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 578
From: Arizona
Make this a Sticky and Re-name it
NO ENGINE SWAP FROM JAPAN IS DEEMED LEGAL IN THE US! That's right, no SR20DET, CA18DET, RB20DET, RB25DET, or RB26DETT swap is legal in a 240SX. These engines were not produced here and are only legal in Skylines (the RB series) that are imported and legalized here in the states. If the engine wasnt in that car, then it cant be swapped in(IE, 13B, 2JZ and etxc.)
Now, as far as emissions are concerned: will these engines pass smog? Yes, most of them will. The RB engines I know do for sure...I've taken Skylines and had them pass the sniffer....now, all you CALIFORNIA folks - STOP ASKING US IF THESE SWAPS WILL PASS YOUR REGS! They won't...visual inspection fails...hell, everything in California fails, it's a GAY state when it comes to car laws. If you find a shady smog guy, he'll pass your car for $100, $200, $300....whatever he charges! Same in other states where you have to have smog registrations.
These swaps are done every day in every state and people get away with it every day. Please don't make another thread asking if this stuff is legal...it's all right here for you to read.
Night
Now, as far as emissions are concerned: will these engines pass smog? Yes, most of them will. The RB engines I know do for sure...I've taken Skylines and had them pass the sniffer....now, all you CALIFORNIA folks - STOP ASKING US IF THESE SWAPS WILL PASS YOUR REGS! They won't...visual inspection fails...hell, everything in California fails, it's a GAY state when it comes to car laws. If you find a shady smog guy, he'll pass your car for $100, $200, $300....whatever he charges! Same in other states where you have to have smog registrations.
These swaps are done every day in every state and people get away with it every day. Please don't make another thread asking if this stuff is legal...it's all right here for you to read.
Night
Last edited by -HyJynX-; Feb 9, 2004 at 01:17 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 167
From: GILBERT, AZ
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT ENTIRELY TRUE. IF YOU DEEM YOUR CAR AS A REBUILT/CUSTOM BUILT VEHICLE AND GO THROUGH ALL THE SAFETY/EMISSIONS TESTS YOU CAN RUN ANY ENGINE THAT MEETS THE STANDARDS. YOU WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH TOUGH TESTS BUT IT WILL BE A TOTALLY LEGAL CAR.
Contributing Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,109
From: Pasadena,ca
Originally posted by PROJECTRB240SX
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT ENTIRELY TRUE. IF YOU DEEM YOUR CAR AS A REBUILT/CUSTOM BUILT VEHICLE AND GO THROUGH ALL THE SAFETY/EMISSIONS TESTS YOU CAN RUN ANY ENGINE THAT MEETS THE STANDARDS. YOU WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH TOUGH TESTS BUT IT WILL BE A TOTALLY LEGAL CAR.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT ENTIRELY TRUE. IF YOU DEEM YOUR CAR AS A REBUILT/CUSTOM BUILT VEHICLE AND GO THROUGH ALL THE SAFETY/EMISSIONS TESTS YOU CAN RUN ANY ENGINE THAT MEETS THE STANDARDS. YOU WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH TOUGH TESTS BUT IT WILL BE A TOTALLY LEGAL CAR.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 167
From: GILBERT, AZ
THATS UP TO YOU..... YOU CAN GET THE CRITERIA FROM THE DMV OR THE DOT. THIS IS HOW ALOT OF THE HOTROD GUYS LEGALLY INSURE THEIR 427 POWER FORD MODEL A'S AND STUFF LIKE THAT. YOU CAN DO THE SAME WITH ANY CAR IT JUST TAKES TIME AND ALITTLE EXTRA MONEY FOR A COMPLETELY LEGAL CAR.
Originally posted by Sil80guy
Gotta Love not having Emissions here and some other places!
Great Sticky Guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gotta Love not having Emissions here and some other places!
Great Sticky Guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
U can also apply for the pre-1974 vehicle (classic car certification???) to legalize a RHD conversion OR a JDM S14 or S15 here in CA... Imma have to do this b4 I do RHD conversion... *forks out huge wad of cash to DMV*
Contributing Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,109
From: Pasadena,ca
Originally posted by PROJECTRB240SX
THATS UP TO YOU..... YOU CAN GET THE CRITERIA FROM THE DMV OR THE DOT. THIS IS HOW ALOT OF THE HOTROD GUYS LEGALLY INSURE THEIR 427 POWER FORD MODEL A'S AND STUFF LIKE THAT. YOU CAN DO THE SAME WITH ANY CAR IT JUST TAKES TIME AND ALITTLE EXTRA MONEY FOR A COMPLETELY LEGAL CAR.
THATS UP TO YOU..... YOU CAN GET THE CRITERIA FROM THE DMV OR THE DOT. THIS IS HOW ALOT OF THE HOTROD GUYS LEGALLY INSURE THEIR 427 POWER FORD MODEL A'S AND STUFF LIKE THAT. YOU CAN DO THE SAME WITH ANY CAR IT JUST TAKES TIME AND ALITTLE EXTRA MONEY FOR A COMPLETELY LEGAL CAR.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 167
From: GILBERT, AZ
NOPE BUT WE DID IT IN HAWAII WITH A FORD MUSTANG THAT ORIGINALLY HAD A 4CYL IN IT AND WE PUT THE NEWER MUSTANG 4.6L OHC ENGINE IN. WE HAD TO GET THE TITLE CHANGED TO REBUILT/CUSTOM AND GO THROUGH FOURTH DIFFERENT TESTS (SAFETY, ROAD WORTHINESS, EMISSIONS, AND VISUAL INSPECTION). THE CAR PASSED AND IT WAS TOTALLY LEGAL TO DRIVE AND INSURE. IT WILL BE THE SAME FOR ALL CARS OR AT LEAST IT SHOULD BE.
