[V8] V8 Avant FS

[urq]

. let's see, they look at the sticker under the hood and try to match what
they see on the sticker to what they see in front of them.  They go by the
master book from CARB . which stipulates that 1990 V8Qs have a functioning
MIL . even though it is well documented that only the California certified
cars have the MIL light connected.  It is allowable to assume stupidity .
but sometimes stupidity works against you.  I had a "smog pro" want to fail
my urq because nothing was connected to the fitting on top of the wastegate
. even the sticker under the hood showed no connection . fortunately for me
the MOTORS manual for the urq labeled the fitting as a vent . 

 

If you can't "sneak" it past the "smog pros" then you get to go to the
referees . referees aren't stupid.  They know how to read and decode engine
numbers . and what equipment goes with a particular engine.  I've heard that
if you do a proper job the referees aren't that difficult to deal with . but
they aren't likely to bend the rules.  

 

The State of California runs sting operations to catch "smog pros" who are
not doing a thorough job . I know a guy who used to do auto repair and smog
checks . he got busted a couple times on sneaky mods and decided to get out
of the business.  He was the kind of guy I like to have working on my car .
I hear others like him have gotten out of the business too.  

 

My newest car is the '91 V8 . which doesn't have much in the way of OBD .
newer cars get the OBD-II connector hooked up to the emissions check
equipment . I don't know how much gets validated in this process . it may
just be checking for codes . 

 

To respond to Kent on the 5-speed conversion . that is something the "smog
pros" wouldn't even know to look for.  A lot of people worry about bringing
an out of state car into California . as long as the car is reasonably
stock, there's nothing much to worry about.  California has to allow out of
state cars to come in without requiring additional equipment.  The equipment
the car has needs to be working though . 

 

Steve Buchholz

I wonder how many states, local authorities or even local mechanics would
actually know enough to catch the engine swap, let alone deem in
'unregisterable'?  If done neatly and no one is grinning stupidly in the
corner, it would most likely be assumed to be a stock engine.  Where would
they catch it?  OBD?  I guess emissions would show a need for a 6 and they'd
find 8...just tell them the engine includes a dealer spares kit ;)  I'm sure
some states are worse than others, but I know I'd have no issue in MD or PA
taking that car through - it's a factory engine so it's not like one of the
MANY MANY MANY 240 series Volvos with Ford V8s in them and those go through
inspection.

How different is this from a 3.6 - 4.2 swap, or one of the 5.0 Miatas, or
all 8 billion ricers with engine swaps?

John

 

 

-----Original Message-----

.... not everyone has such an "aw shucks" arrangement ...     I know I
certainly wouldn't appreciate buying such a car and then finding  that I
couldn't register it due to an illegal engine swap.    Steve Buchholz
-----Original Message-----    One of the nice things about being in Maine,
and being on pretty good  relations with my wrench, is that inspections and
emissions are not an  issue.  Outside of Cumberland and York counties there
is no such thing as  emissions.  In addition to that, my wrench is my
inspection station, so  inspecting the car would be no issue.    <<<SNIP>>>
Roger    -----Original Message-----    One problem I see arising from your
proposed swap Roger, is that your   stating off with a chassis that's newer
than the motor you want to swap in.   Big no no, and wont get by inspection
or emissions(if applicable) While you   are allowed to swap out motors ,
they must be from same year or newer   car(  Your best bet would be to start
out with an abh, and stuff that into a    100/s4. Good luck. BTW, there is
already a  97 S6+ here CT , so it can be   done.