California BAR smog referee woes

[eandrade]

Excellent. This confirms the phone conversation I had with the BAR about engine change. The real test is the smog check...But hopefully you've found a smog check station that's not as unforgiving on the visual :)

[markseven]

Guerc - congrats! I think having documentation / folder on hand helps for sure. They don't care much past the visual stuff, since you'll be taking it elsewhere for emissions anyway :)

White Nightmare - it does not.

I've seen Ref stickers on the door jamb, but they might have been a different type from the one on Guerc's strut tower.

[eandrade]

For those of you that have gone through the new engine change program, did you need to show the VIN # for the new motor? I thought it wasn't needed for the sticker?

[m3manic55]

eff the EPA, Cali DMV, and all this green BS. I am running leaded fuel no cats with a vengance...

[Jean]

markseven - mine looks the same, they automatically went for the door jam /shrug...

eandrade - did not, it's not required.

[E30Nova]

So does the engine have to be the same make as the car? I'm planning on doing an LS1 swap in the not-so-distant future and I wanted to get a sticker to make it legal. I was just afraid that when they saw a Chevy motor in a BMW they'd auto-fail it, lol.

Matt

[Jean]

So does the engine have to be the same make as the car? I'm planning on doing an LS1 swap in the not-so-distant future and I wanted to get a sticker to make it legal. I was just afraid that when they saw a Chevy motor in a BMW they'd auto-fail it, lol.

Matt

No, can be of another make. Some guidelines are here:

http://www.autorepair.ca.gov/80_BARResources/07_AutoRepair/Engine_Change_Guidelines.html

[Farbin Kaiber]

It needs to be in the engine bay.

Since when? I once read the CA Motor Vehicle Code book cover to cover, so unless it's changed since I moved out of Cali last May...

[LowR3V'in]

If they don't need the engine vin then how do they know the year.
It says that it has to be the same year or newer.

My engine is 1 year older then my car. :(

[E30Nova]

No, can be of another make. Some guidelines are here:
http://www.autorepair.ca.gov/80_BARR...uidelines.html

Awesome, thanks. :D

Matt

[JoeMadoo]

I have an appointment tuesday morning, we'll see how it goes. I'm a little nervous since I don't even have a TPS or AFM. I'm gonna try and convince them that my k27 turbo setup I have is stock from the same year as my car, aside from the pipes and intercooler.

[Jean]

Good luck man!

[JoeMadoo]

Thanks, I'm gonna need it. Anyone have any advice for quick preperation? Ivan seems to think it will be impossible without an AFM to pass, I wish I kept my old one now.

[DannyE30]

If they don't need the engine vin then how do they know the year.
It says that it has to be the same year or newer.

I was wondering the same thing. Because I WAS planning on using a 5.3L(LM4/L33) for my "LS1" Swap, as it would be a lot cheaper than purchasing the LS1 from the start. But if they run the VIN, then I might be SOL. I know a Truck engine into a Car, is a no-no. But they look similar, otherwise.

[lifeiskaos]

Oh jeez, good luck Joe! I've got an m30 AFM you could use as a dummy... and also the OEM chargepipes from both versions of the turbo m30 (with and without BOV)