engine swap law

[quiksilvia]

i bought a 2003 california vehicle code book today, and all it says about motor swaps is that you have to notify the dmv within 10 days so they dont think its stolen. i dont see anything that says that swaps are illegal. if it passes emissions and has all the smog equipment hooked up, or if it appears to be hooked up, then we should be ok. some cali guys help me out here

[lessthanjakejohn]

I believe that is true. but, You have to have a list of emmisions devices 20 numbers long

[theronin]

dude quik, its illegal. get over it. dont you think countless droves of people have tried to find loopholes?

*DISCLAIMER* THE SR SWAP IS ILLEGAL ANYWHERE IN THE US! end of story!

[lessthanjakejohn]

there not loopholes...its trying to be compliant with the law

[drifter_for_life06]

compliant or not, its just not legal, no more need for discussion

[SWIFT_DRIFT]

The SR is not on the EPA's list of legal engines. It has never and probably will never be on that list. It has nothing to do with your motor passing smog or not, the real fact is the engine is not legal to be in your street car in the first place.

[Shnitz]

correct me if this info isn't correct, but this is what i understand about this:

the engine SWAP isn't illegal, but the engine ITSELF is. for example, if you blew your KA, you could put in another KA, as long as it is from a vehicle newer than or the same year as your own, or even a 300zx engine, etc. but it isn't legal to put an engine in that was never legal in the US and have your car registered as a 240 (you can get it registered as offroad/race only, or as a kit car if you do heavy modification that gives you a lot of receipts which you have to present to the dmv and proves that it isnt just a modified 240)

[lessthanjakejohn]

You prove your point swift drift, but for example, a Chevy LS1 could be legal if its newer than the car, and has all emssiions equipment. Just not the SR...oops

[BadMojo]

but it isn't legal to put an engine in that was never legal in the US and have your car registered as a 240 (you can get it registered as offroad/race only, or as a kit car if you do heavy modification that gives you a lot of receipts which you have to present to the dmv and proves that it isnt just a modified 240)

I think you'd also have to worry about emissions laws in states like CA. Even if your car would pass a sniffer, you'd still fail the visual inspection.

Not to tread on Dead Horse Beating territory, but there's no reasonable way to have a street legal SR20DET.

Quiksilvia, I believe the part you read refers to swapping an engine from another vehicle of the same model. I *think* you can only swap in an engine that was available in that particular model of vehicle and is from the same or later model year car (in CA). So, if you own a 2003 4 cylinder Hyundai Tiburon, you could swap in the V6 from another 2003 Tiburon.

That's my understanding of the issue in CA. Anyone from CA care to elaborate and/or correct me?

[drifter_for_life06]

Just search and youll find it, i found out through local laws and asking around at the DMV. its really easy to find the answer