Someone explain to me why skyline motors are illegal

[w1ngzer0]

I am sure the reason has been covered, but i see no logical answer behind it.

People drop Ls1's into any domestic you can think of from trunks to cars. people drop every honda motor you can think of from K to B to H lol...

Why can't you drop a RB25 or 26 into your 240sx when motorex has don't crash testing proving its perfectly fine. REALLY confusing.

[bcuz]

while the motor does help the cars structural integrity, crash testing has nothing to do with the motor being illegal. The problem is, is that the motor just wont pass emissions in most places.

Some states I believe have laws against installing foreign motors or something. Someone in california probably could explain better. But to make a rb pass emissions, a lot needs to be taken out of it, and that kinda defeats the purpose..

[w1ngzer0]

or you could do like what the Sti does and drop 5 cats near the exhaust manifold. X_X

[Altiman94]

I dont see why the motor can't pass emissions testing. Someone get their rb powered car to a sniffer and I wanan see some numbers.

[Hijacker]

the main issue as to why it's illegal is not emissions. that is only the icing on the cake.

a motor must one, be newer than the chassis to be used. Second, it must have been offered in the United States in its particular configuration.

[SeVa-S13]

Second, it must have been offered in the United States in its particular configuration.

Ding ding ding

I don't think my open downpipe RB would do well with emissions, so count me out of that science project. =\

[zombieman]

plain and simple, if the engine never exist in any nissan cars in america to begin with, then chances are, it won't show up on the computer for every category it needs to meet the requirement to pass smog. sure it can be made smog legal, but you'll still get hassle by the authorities either way.

[Neejay]

Ding ding ding

I don't think my open downpipe RB would do well with emissions, so count me out of that science project. =\

Just curious, how does the open downpipe sound?

[rico05]

Don't know about the RB but on my CA open dp sounded MEAN. BBBLLLAAAPPPP. WOuld set off car alarms off boost under 4k at 30 yards away no joke. I am so glad that my HKS catback got here

[SeVa-S13]

Well as much as I like CA's, no 4 cylinder will ever compare to the sound of an RB. I did set off an alarm across the street on Friday by revving it in glorious victory over a stupid ECU problem I was having at work. The sound hovers somehwere between a smoothly idling small black and a Ferrari V8, and the turbo is audible from blocks away at about 2250 RPM so it tends to draw attention. It's cool for now but attention is something I try to avoid so I'm looking to have a Y-pipe with an electric cutout worked into a 3" exhaust from the turbo back exiting from an as-stock-looking-as-possible muffler.

Greg, you ship to Hawai'i?

[Onizuka]

It heavily depends on the state. I have read the PA state law scripts a dozen or so times and the only state requirements are that it passes the sniffer and retains what ever emissions equipment that was standard on the receiving car.

Basically this means that as long as your car doesnt have OBDII your fine. I have ZERO emissions crap on my SR and the mechanics didnt even bother to check.

[mrflip69]

Who said it's illegal? What about all those Skylines being imported and legallized? After all, they are being registered in California of all places. Sooner or later, they WILL have to have an emissions test.

Nevermind the OBDII issue with the R34, but if you were to take the RB motor and do whatever they did (egr? etc..) to it, and put it in a 240sx, wouldn't that satisfy the requirements?

Stock, the motor should run clean as a whistle. Didn't it get 1st/2nd place on SCC's testing in one of their super car battles?

Someone should really call up ARB or a Smog Referee to clarify this. Aries' 240 with the LT1? should be legal under California law sans any internal mods. Same should apply to the RB since it is now offered (not produced... how many cars are emissions legal that have engines made overseas?) in a car available to USA.

[zombieman]

i believe, every place that sells you a engine that's from overseas mention "for off-road use only". of course we all know it will be for daily driving meaning it's illegal as it is, so we might as all don't give a crap.

i don't know if this applies to any other states. but in order for the engine to be legal in california, it have to comes from the same model of the same year or newer. now the skyline is by all means not a 240sx. so that mean wether skylines are becoming more legal for driving, the law still prevent us from putting it.

but we're all rebels right? putting illegal motors in different types of cars for daily driving.....hahahaha

[KDashy]

I believe you have to pass smog standards for whatever model your car is. so a RB will not pass when compared to stock KA smog standards

[JDMaholic]

a motor must one, be newer than the chassis to be used. Second, it must have been offered in the United States in its particular configuration.

So does this mean that a KA-T setup is illegal, as it is not in it's origninal configuration. Or are you taliking about transversly mounted FWD vs. RWD.Also so I have an 89 240 and an RB20 would likely be from a newer year. If I were to run like a megasquirt and new O2 sensors(I was kinda hoping to do this anyway, WBO2) and use a new cat then I think I would be able to be tune it to meet emissions. So my question is what do they do?Do the look at the engine to see if it is the right model, how would they know? Sorry but I'm from Indiana and go to Purdue here in Indiana so I don't really know about these things. I tried to look on the website(I think it was CARB) but it just seemed confusing.

[KDashy]

GReddy makes a CARB legal turbo kit for the KA(although only for the S14), its technically its just a modification of a smog legal engine.

I don't beleive there's any way to get an RB into a 240 legally, You'd have to know someone at the place you're getting it smogged.

[SmithSR]

If we're just talking about smog, then sure, all you need to do is have the engine dialed down to pass the sniff.

Vehicle inspection rules vary by state. In WA(SR passed smog this last week) there is no mandatory underhood inspection for cars that pass the smog test.

So in this instance, if you managed to get the engine to run at emission levels at or below that of the KA, then you'd have a smog legal car, with the RB engine. Not EPA legal though..

[mrflip69]

If you read the vehicle code carefully on CA's DMV site, you will see no mention of "model" in an "engine change" which is what we're going for. Engine swaps/rebuilds are what must be from the same model, year/newer...

Engine changes on the other hand are what make the LT1 in Aries' car emissions legal if he swapped the required equipment over. V8 swaps are commonly done to Trucks & SUVs and are completely CARB legal as long as they follow the proper procedure. Why would a car be different?

Again, if you take a look at the definition of "engine change", the only requirements mentioned are if the vehicle receiving the swap is a CA sold vehicle (which would require an engine from a CA model... not federal), same year or newer, and comes from a vehicle in the same CLASS. Class does not limit the 240sx to 240sx. It could be from a BMW, Ford, Chevy, whatever... with class being defined as passenger vehicle, light duty truck, suv, etc.

Now this is how I understand the law. With all the reading and research I have done (still haven't called referee), I truly believe it would be legal. State Referees issue owners who meet the requirements on an engine change a new sticker detailing the engine model and so forth. Haven't you seen the CARB/Smog legal hybrid Hondas?

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/St...4.htm

[driftercs13]

In Georgia, which has about the same inspections as Cali, it is illegal to swap any motor that was not available in the model of the car. So an RB, SR, CA , or whatever motor you want to put in there besides the KA from that year or newer is illegal. As goes with any Honda or other make of car. There are loop holes for certain cars like 99 or 2000 civic can have a b16 but that is because the si came with the motor. THe motor can be made to pass emissions standards but upon a visual inspection it will fail. A KA-T will pass a visual as long as it has a proper CARB EO #. Same as any civic or other car. It is not always the emissions part but the visual inspections that fail cars. P.S. I'm certified emission inspector for Georgia, so as much as I hate to say it I fail cars all day long for issues like this. It is my side job.

[atcq110]

Where i use to live in new jersey I had no problem getting my sr through inspection. I just popped out the test pipe, replaced it with a stock cat. No visual inspection was ever done. They do not pop your hood in NJ.

[PantherRacer]

Oh Well, I will never have any problems poppign an RB or SR into any car....AAAH the joys of living in the Bahamas....

you guys have made me re-realize my dream!...I'm gonna get a 180SX and pop in the RB!!! of course that ain happenin' any time soon

too bad you can't put an RB in a bluebird.....

[matt6669]

nj does pop the hood or atleast they did with my wrx

[hybrid_flyer]

In Georgia, which has about the same inspections as Cali, it is illegal to swap any motor that was not available in the model of the car. So an RB, SR, CA , or whatever motor you want to put in there besides the KA from that year or newer is illegal. As goes with any Honda or other make of car. There are loop holes for certain cars like 99 or 2000 civic can have a b16 but that is because the si came with the motor. THe motor can be made to pass emissions standards but upon a visual inspection it will fail. A KA-T will pass a visual as long as it has a proper CARB EO #. Same as any civic or other car. It is not always the emissions part but the visual inspections that fail cars.

Ok I am supposed to have my California Emissions License but am just to lazy to go take the state test. Ok driftercs13 has got it right. Just because you can put an engine into a vehicle that doesnt mean its legal. In California ANY crate motor is illegal. basically whatever you pull out, you have to put back in. Same model, unless the engine you want to put in was available for that model year car. Yes it does have to do with emissions, but it also has to do with keeping some kind of control on what is out there on the road. Since the state can tell you if you can drive, why couldn't they tell you WHAT you can drive?? Think about it

[mrflip69]

Ok... to you guys that are "inspectors", have you seen the BAR issued sticker with updated info after a legit engine change? Won't pass visual? Why even bother getting certified then?

JDM motors will be allowed for swapping if you can prove (through blueprints, tests, paperwork, etc...) it is practically the same engine. Type AWRRR anyone?? That's why Hondas get away with it.

Back with USDM motor swaps, you can have an H22 powered CRX and it would be PERFECTLY LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA. Was the H22 ever offered in a CRX in America? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

But it IS from a newer car, it fits the same classification, and if they included all the emissions related equipment, it's LEGAL!!!!

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOGMOGM asdfjakjsdlgakjl;ahgjdsgk

Seriously, you guys are smog techs!?!??!

Here's a company based in California that even does legal engine swaps.http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pag....html

As far as I know, California has the strictest emissions laws in the US if not the entire planet, so this should be even easier in other states. The only issue left, is are the RB motors legal now since they started importing Skylines? (Jeeeeeeeeeeeee how are THOSE guys gonna smog their car in California???)

Sorry if I'm coming off as an ***... I even edited the explitives out of this post. But you guys are spreading around WRONG information. If it's me that's wrong, feel free to put me in my place.

[usdm_180sx]

I am sure the reason has been covered, but i see no logical answer behind it.

People drop Ls1's into any domestic you can think of from trunks to cars. people drop every honda motor you can think of from K to B to H lol...

Why can't you drop a RB25 or 26 into your 240sx when motorex has don't crash testing proving its perfectly fine. REALLY confusing.

The motor was never certified by the DOT/EPA for operation in the states. So even if it does run clean it will be illegal until it is certified (if it ever is)

[gabossie]

RB's, SR's (rwd) AND KA-T's ARE ILLEGAL. Technically, the only way to have a completely legal RB in a 240 is to get an RB that came out of a skyline that was alredy legalized. At that point, it would still have to be from a chassis newer than yours. Hondas are a different ball game because they are all so similar and were for the most part, all offered in the US. About the TypeR, I don't know, what mrflip said could be correct. But there is no way you're going to convince a CARB official that an RB is essentially the same motor as a KA, or that it's even remotely in the same catagory.

[Saint]

In Georgia, which has about the same inspections as Cali, it is illegal to swap any motor that was not available in the model of the car. So an RB, SR, CA , or whatever motor you want to put in there besides the KA from that year or newer is illegal. As goes with any Honda or other make of car. There are loop holes for certain cars like 99 or 2000 civic can have a b16 but that is because the si came with the motor. THe motor can be made to pass emissions standards but upon a visual inspection it will fail. A KA-T will pass a visual as long as it has a proper CARB EO #. Same as any civic or other car. It is not always the emissions part but the visual inspections that fail cars. P.S. I'm certified emission inspector for Georgia, so as much as I hate to say it I fail cars all day long for issues like this. It is my side job.

Does GA have the referee inspection option?If not, maby we should start a petition for a referendom.

[driftercs13]

i just got the info straight out of the book. Honda can get away with some jdm motors but to a true inspector an h22 can not be legal in a crx. even if you put one in there upon a visual inspection you will see that a h22 means it is a 2.2 liter which when you type the info in it will not have a place for the 2.2 dohc motor the only motor options are 1.5 and 1.6. Yes you could say it is a 1.5 or 1.6 but if you are caught there are hefty fines. I 'm saying it wont pass emissions just the visual. all the info i get is straight from the book.

[w1ngzer0]

thats fine the b16 and b18 are plenty enough for the crx. I meen ****... there are carb legal crap up the yang for both

[Dattebayo]

i seem to remember that a rb25 makes emissions very similar to the DOHC KA motor, and barring a visual inspection (which my state does not have), you could pass emissions very easily. Usually turbo does not raise any eyebrows around here unless you fail the test.