Legal 240sx swaps
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AshNazg
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Legal 240sx swaps
What eingine swaps are legal for the 240sx? Anything to add some more power but not have to worry about major smog problems, etc.? I'm in California.
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jrc90240sx
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Not fully sure on Cali Law, but Utah you can only have a engine from the same model car, and from either the same year or newer placed into the car. so say you have a 90 240sx, you could swap in any later S13 or S14 engine into your car, but you would not be able to swap in a 89 engine even though its the same thing.
That doesnt mean they inforce that law, as there is no vis on the safty/emissions test, i have plenty of friends that pass the emissions test with SR or CA and they dont care. Know if i had a small block in there i am sure they would say something.
That doesnt mean they inforce that law, as there is no vis on the safty/emissions test, i have plenty of friends that pass the emissions test with SR or CA and they dont care. Know if i had a small block in there i am sure they would say something.
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jrc90240sx
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jrc90240sx
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hybrid_flyer
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jrc90240sx wrote:So in cali you couldnt swap in a KA24de from a 95 into a 89 if you keep all the emissions from the 95?
I am just glad i dont live in Cali, i would rather live almost anywhere but there because of the laws you have.
yes you can do this swap as long as the 95 enigne was an avialable option for the 89 model...dont know if it was or not but thats how the law works.
...sigh... You can swap any California/CARB certified motor into your 240sx.
If the same year as your car, no problems. If newer, you have to pass smog regulations (both visual and sniffer) for the year of the motor. If older you have to pass smog for the year of your car.
You will have to have all required emissions devices installed on your car when you attempt to get it smogged. You'll also have to become friends with a smog Ref. When he's happy, he'll give you the paperwork necessary for future smoging trips.
As stated, the motor has to be supplied in Cali, and have all the Cali emissions equipment. It's not as draconian as people here make it seem, but very few will go to all the work necessary to make it legal.
If the same year as your car, no problems. If newer, you have to pass smog regulations (both visual and sniffer) for the year of the motor. If older you have to pass smog for the year of your car.
You will have to have all required emissions devices installed on your car when you attempt to get it smogged. You'll also have to become friends with a smog Ref. When he's happy, he'll give you the paperwork necessary for future smoging trips.
As stated, the motor has to be supplied in Cali, and have all the Cali emissions equipment. It's not as draconian as people here make it seem, but very few will go to all the work necessary to make it legal.
Nope. The motor can only be the year of the chassis or newer, and also has to be a motor that was available from that chassis.
For instance you can not take the triton's v8, as long as it is to code, and install it into your 240. There are othert things that have to do with the engineering of the car, like for safety. The 240's chassis was probably not structurally reinforced to hold on to the motor had you get into and accident it could fly right out of your hood. There are so many things involved it is too hard like okayfine mentioned no one really wants to go through all the effort.
For instance you can not take the triton's v8, as long as it is to code, and install it into your 240. There are othert things that have to do with the engineering of the car, like for safety. The 240's chassis was probably not structurally reinforced to hold on to the motor had you get into and accident it could fly right out of your hood. There are so many things involved it is too hard like okayfine mentioned no one really wants to go through all the effort.
Certification StandardsMake sure the engine and emission control configuration on exhaust - controlled vehicles are certified to the year of the vehicle or newer, and to the same or a more stringent new vehicle certification standard.
http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/St...4.htm
http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/St...4.htm
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driftdoper
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threelongyears
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Three:
About Kentucky,
I just registered an SR powered 240 from out of state in Kentucky.The Sheriff gave the car a casual once over then took my fee money.
And handed me the paper to go inside the DMV office right next and get it registered.
I magine it would be even easier with an in-state car.This inspection was for out of state cars <only> according to DMV.
Also we no longer have VET inspection in Jefferson County.
I imagine if I moved to CA I would just get new tabs in Kentucky once per year (or less, as they also give you the option for an extra $15 to extend the registration until 12/2005, which I took).
When I registered a fully legal ( or almost) car in KY a few weeks later I casually asked about the "thouroughness" of the inspection and he said: " We mostly just look to see if the car looks safe and roadworthy car and that evrything works. car looks as good as your I dont even bother to check as this is obviosly in good condition."
Hope this info helps.
Fred..
About Kentucky,
I just registered an SR powered 240 from out of state in Kentucky.The Sheriff gave the car a casual once over then took my fee money.
And handed me the paper to go inside the DMV office right next and get it registered.
I magine it would be even easier with an in-state car.This inspection was for out of state cars <only> according to DMV.
Also we no longer have VET inspection in Jefferson County.
I imagine if I moved to CA I would just get new tabs in Kentucky once per year (or less, as they also give you the option for an extra $15 to extend the registration until 12/2005, which I took).
When I registered a fully legal ( or almost) car in KY a few weeks later I casually asked about the "thouroughness" of the inspection and he said: " We mostly just look to see if the car looks safe and roadworthy car and that evrything works. car looks as good as your I dont even bother to check as this is obviosly in good condition."
Hope this info helps.
Fred..
okayfine wrote:...sigh... You can swap any California/CARB certified motor into your 240sx.
If the same year as your car, no problems. If newer, you have to pass smog regulations (both visual and sniffer) for the year of the motor. If older you have to pass smog for the year of your car.
You will have to have all required emissions devices installed on your car when you attempt to get it smogged. You'll also have to become friends with a smog Ref. When he's happy, he'll give you the paperwork necessary for future smoging trips.
As stated, the motor has to be supplied in Cali, and have all the Cali emissions equipment. It's not as draconian as people here make it seem, but very few will go to all the work necessary to make it legal.
yep
your year or newer pritty much. Though i don't know of any newer engines worth droping in really.
California is a honda and domestic owned state
In cali you can put in any motor you want, BUT you have to take the car down to the DMV and have it registered as a "kit" car and that bypasses smog and some other junk. But from what I have heard its not exactly easy to get your car classified as a kit car but it is an option if you REALLY REALLY want to put whatever engine in it.
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ShifDown96240SE
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Ubernoober
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For Cali:Its not "kit car" and it doesn't allow you to bypass smog. It is more properly termed "specialty vehicle" but that term sometimes isn't even used. I have heard "swap car" used.The new powerplant must have all the original factory equipment (including ECU and all emissions accessories) and be of an equal or newer year than the chassis the powerplant is going into. The trick then is to make an appointment with the Cali Smog Referee (rather difficult, though not overly expensive) and have him test and judge the vehicles emmisions compliance. They will then issue a special sticker that you apply over or beside the barcode of the chassis VIN. The new sticker and barcode become the item the smog computer reads and will then spit out the correct emmisions requirements for your powerplant. The test will then continue as normal.
If you read carefully and think it through it really isn't that bad. The trick is to choose the right engine swap. As an example... a KA into another chassis = pain. The problem comes from the plethora of emissions gear on the engine. It makes for a complicated install. Don't forget that the transmission gear sensors are tied to the emissions performace of this engine also.
Compare to a 1999 and later Ford 4.6 modular ( I only do this because I am moderately familiar with it). Entire emmisions control equipment consists of catalytic converters. The rest is due to inherent clean burning design. The swap would simply be fitting it and wiring it into the new car. Of course, this engine is twice the size and 50% heavier than the compact and light 5.0
Here's the ultimate example of a crap swap and not just because the engine sucks... a 1979 Ford 2.3L. Actually a german engine if I remember correctly, but in the US, so covered with emissions garbage you couldn't see the engine for the pile of (incredibly small and fragile) vacuum lines all over this thing. Add to that EGR a smog pump and other sundry stuff and you could barely fit it into a bay that could normally hold a V8. What a fustercluck.
Lastly, the engine of choice has to have been certified for California use. In simpler terms, it must have come from a vehicle that was certified for sale in California (no RB, SR-DET). No out-of-state swaps if the package differs from the Cali package, though any engine 1997 and newer was built for 50 state legality.
P.S. If you register out of state and move to Cali, you are required to register the car in Cali after a grace period of 3 (or was it 6?) months. No exceptions.And a "kit car" would be once built literally from a kit. An example would be the "Factory Five" Cobra kitcars. The maker of the kit has to certify the roadworthiness of the chassis (kit) before it is legal for the road in Cali. Some are, some aren't.
If you read carefully and think it through it really isn't that bad. The trick is to choose the right engine swap. As an example... a KA into another chassis = pain. The problem comes from the plethora of emissions gear on the engine. It makes for a complicated install. Don't forget that the transmission gear sensors are tied to the emissions performace of this engine also.
Compare to a 1999 and later Ford 4.6 modular ( I only do this because I am moderately familiar with it). Entire emmisions control equipment consists of catalytic converters. The rest is due to inherent clean burning design. The swap would simply be fitting it and wiring it into the new car. Of course, this engine is twice the size and 50% heavier than the compact and light 5.0
Here's the ultimate example of a crap swap and not just because the engine sucks... a 1979 Ford 2.3L. Actually a german engine if I remember correctly, but in the US, so covered with emissions garbage you couldn't see the engine for the pile of (incredibly small and fragile) vacuum lines all over this thing. Add to that EGR a smog pump and other sundry stuff and you could barely fit it into a bay that could normally hold a V8. What a fustercluck.
Lastly, the engine of choice has to have been certified for California use. In simpler terms, it must have come from a vehicle that was certified for sale in California (no RB, SR-DET). No out-of-state swaps if the package differs from the Cali package, though any engine 1997 and newer was built for 50 state legality.
P.S. If you register out of state and move to Cali, you are required to register the car in Cali after a grace period of 3 (or was it 6?) months. No exceptions.And a "kit car" would be once built literally from a kit. An example would be the "Factory Five" Cobra kitcars. The maker of the kit has to certify the roadworthiness of the chassis (kit) before it is legal for the road in Cali. Some are, some aren't.
14.5drift wrote:None. If you want any C.A.R.B. cetified power you will have to consult greddy for that one.
I've posted this before, swaps are legal as long as they meet the CARB rules/regulations
- Same year or newer engine (your car will have to pass smog for that year & as far as carb is concerned your vehicle is now the same year as the engine).
- Must be from a vehicle in the same/similar weight class
- If the car has an existing CA Certified engine you can only swap a CA certified engine into it
- If the car has an existing US Certified engine you can swap a US or CA Certified engine
- The engine must be made & sold for/in the US
- All smog / emissions devices must remain intact & operating correctly
So stop saying that there are no swaps, because you make yourself look like an idiot.
SR20DETs are not allowed here.. I'm assuming only the newbs will say there are no other engine swaps because they think Nissans only other engine is AN SR20DET POWAHHHHHHH!
Do some research before you post.
14.5drift wrote:Well then I guess I am an idiot then,
could you be so kind to offer some engine codes that would be worth it?
300ZX TT engine would be fun would it not?
It depends on how much time and money you have. They can all be worth it.
But no you're not an idiot.. ive just seen like 3 or 4 ppl say that now and it was buggin me
<3 S14.5
vg30dett and vg30de were both sold in the us so obviously you could swap it in with a little effort and $$$. That is why no one mentioned it. We are talking about illegal swaps of engines not sold in the us. The sr20det, ca18det, most of the rb's unless you get it through motorex or another LEGAL importer. don't start calling people names it is a sign of ignorance.
98s14inaz wrote:vg30dett and vg30de were both sold in the us so obviously you could swap it in with a little effort and $$$. That is why no one mentioned it. We are talking about illegal swaps of engines not sold in the us. The sr20det, ca18det, most of the rb's unless you get it through motorex or another LEGAL importer. don't start calling people names it is a sign of ignorance.
The original question was:
What eingine swaps are legal for the 240sx? Anything to add some more power but not have to worry about major smog problems, etc.? I'm in California.
What ones ARE LEGAL, not which ones are illegal. Don't tell people they are being ingorant with out reading the first post, it's a sign of ignorance.