C3 engine swap
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
C3 engine swap
Hi all, I'm new to the forum and I'm looking for some advice. I have a 78 L48 which is a solid CA car. However I have a built out 350 and R700 trans to swap out for performance. My question to those out there that have done an engine swap is the age old question of emissions.
Pros and cons to leave them out in the swap other than the obvious smog issues here in CA ...seems ridiculous to junk it all up again. Thoughts?
Thanks
Mike
Pros and cons to leave them out in the swap other than the obvious smog issues here in CA ...seems ridiculous to junk it all up again. Thoughts?
Thanks
Mike
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
There are no Pros or Cons here, if you're going to drive it in Calif., you're going to have to smog it, which means you have to have all the smog equipment for your year car. It will have to pass the visual and sniff tests. Probably not difficult if everything is working properly and you have it tuned to pass the test.
Several years ago, there was a bill to allow a rolling 30 year smog exemption but our great Governator, Arnold, refused to sign it, so the cutoff is ~1973. No way around that unless you can register it in another state. If you do that, the CHIPs might notice you and cite you for not having Calif. plates. Ain't government wonderful...
Pete
Several years ago, there was a bill to allow a rolling 30 year smog exemption but our great Governator, Arnold, refused to sign it, so the cutoff is ~1973. No way around that unless you can register it in another state. If you do that, the CHIPs might notice you and cite you for not having Calif. plates. Ain't government wonderful...
Pete
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 28
From: Long Beach CA
I had heard....through the grapevine.....that there is a rolling 30 year exemption on the underhood inspection in CA. If the car is over 30 years old, it has to pass only the sniff test, what smog equipment is or isn't under the hood doesn't matter. But I haven't been able to confirm that anywhere. Does anybody know?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 871
Likes: 73
From: Memphis Tennessee
So swap your engine in. The only emission equipment that will hurt performance is the exhaust. The rest clutters up the engine bay, but won't hurt power.
As for opening up the exhaust, I believe you can get headers with AIR fittings, and you could free up the rest of the exhaust by going with a dual exhaust kit and having high flow cats installed. Don't know if that will get past the smog police or not...
As for opening up the exhaust, I believe you can get headers with AIR fittings, and you could free up the rest of the exhaust by going with a dual exhaust kit and having high flow cats installed. Don't know if that will get past the smog police or not...
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
I think your best bet would be to become friendly with a local licensed smog tech, give him a six-pack of his favorite beverage and ply him with questions. Those guys have to walk the line, because if caught cheating they can loose their license, and that's money out of their pocket. You should be able to get all right answers to your questions.
I don't follow the ins & outs of smog rules because my '69 is exempt - for now. You never know when some clean air **** in Calif. gov't. will get more stringent laws passed. Generally you have to pass the rules for the year of the engine, not the car, but with these old SBCs it probably doesn't matter much as long as you have the legal stuff for your year car. Correct carb, manifold (EGR or not) smog pump if your year had them, and so on.
Let us know what you learn,
Pete
I don't follow the ins & outs of smog rules because my '69 is exempt - for now. You never know when some clean air **** in Calif. gov't. will get more stringent laws passed. Generally you have to pass the rules for the year of the engine, not the car, but with these old SBCs it probably doesn't matter much as long as you have the legal stuff for your year car. Correct carb, manifold (EGR or not) smog pump if your year had them, and so on.
Let us know what you learn,
Pete
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Well here is my thought based on the responses from the forum. I'll swap engine and trans set up with smog. Pass inspection if all goes as planned. Then switch out original exhaust with headers and dual as I originally planned. That would buy me a coup,e of years on the smog inspection. Once I learn how to upload on this site I can post pics on the progress. Thanks for your replies
Mike.
Mike.
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