Help me choose my next money pit

[Victell]

2mAn and Victell --- Are you guys sure about this?

I should be clear, I've never heard of this loophole. But if its true and you can swap without getting in trouble then its pretty huge. Doesn't seem like you should be able to swap a gasoline engine in though.

[McGyver]

Evinrude 2 stroke V8. Test the legal limits of smog exemptions.

Push the limits with a rotary airplane engine.

[roguetoaster]

Cummins Turbo Diesel Swap

Evinrude 2 stroke V8. Test the legal limits of smog exemptions.

[McGyver]

For the record, the M21 would be removed for whatever my heart desires. The point of a diesel is that its smog exempt in California, so I could swap in anything

Cummins Turbo Diesel Swap

[roguetoaster]

How about an SVT Contour? They're great burnout machines, completely unloved in the market, and they have virtually no aftermarket support, but the rear seats fold, so they're super practical.

[2mAn]

2mAn and Victell --- Are you guys sure about this? ....
---

I like the idea of k20 mr2, k20 everything. But again with smog, hoping everything works out. K20 your current MR2? I still lust after a 2nd gen.

According to the ad, its already registered in California and has been since 2016, so he would've needed at least 2, maybe 3 smogs by now and again, according to the ad it doesnt need to be smogged. Lets just say the second half of your comment is the plan with that one.

My MR2 is already gone. I had started to pursue the BAR legal approach but I wouldve needed to essentially start from scratch and figured it would just be easier to just sell it and buy an already k20 swapped MR2. Those of you on Instagram, search @kmeachy and you'll see the one

[DEV0 E30]

Carte blanche engine swap options for a California smog-exempt E30? I think we're done here.

This is a GIANT loophole. I wouldn't be surprised if this car retains more value because of the smog exempt status.

2mAn and Victell --- Are you guys sure about this? I worked with an importer of diesel land cruisers and while they are supposed to be exempt getting them registered in Cali wasn't easy and as an importer and seller they wouldn't advise people to register in Cali or try to do title work there. Often times people would register them outside of California, then after 6+ months get Cali plates on them, but I've heard neighbors would actually turn people in for this stuff or would report out of state plates on their neighbor's vehicles saying that they were trying to avoid SMOG / EPA testing. I know of someone who moved to NM because he found it to be such a pain to register not one but like 3 different diesel cruisers in Cali. Even with one of them on Cali plates when he purchased, it was a massive headache.

If you go that route, I hope everything works out but it reminds me of my time working with said importer. While the E30 may be different it's nearly the same situation. That model wasn't sold here, but a variation was, non-diesel, so this reminds me of what people went through with trying to register diesel cruisers.

---

I like the idea of k20 mr2, k20 everything. But again with smog, hoping everything works out. K20 your current MR2? I still lust after a 2nd gen.

[2mAn]

What about your cousins 2002?

I saw it again maybe 2 weeks ago and trust me Ive been tempted to save it, but Id rather help him finish it. I already helped him source a "new" wiring harness to replace that hacked up one.

edit: WHO VOTED FOR THE MG!?... explain yourself

[moatilliatta]

What about your cousins 2002?

[roguetoaster]

Carte blanche engine swap options for a California smog-exempt E30? I think we're done here.

This is a GIANT loophole. I wouldn't be surprised if this car retains more value because of the smog exempt status.

It's a white sedan, it will always be viewed as a lesser E30 even with something like an S54.

[hteverow]

The Alfa in Belmont seems like the best one of the lot, with the E30 coming in a close second. The other Alfa isn't quite as cool, and the rest of them are kinda janky.

[Victell]

For the record, the M21 would be removed for whatever my heart desires. The point of a diesel is that its smog exempt in California, so I could swap in anything

Carte blanche engine swap options for a California smog-exempt E30? I think we're done here.

This is a GIANT loophole. I wouldn't be surprised if this car retains more value because of the smog exempt status.

[roguetoaster]

For the record, the M21 would be removed for whatever my heart desires. The point of a diesel is that its smog exempt in California, so I could swap in anything

Let me take another tack, despite the obvious superiority of a four door E30, people hate them and your resale value suffers. Also, your realistic years of tolerating project cars are dwindling, do something new to you.

[rturbo 930]

What do you want out of this car? Reliability? Bang for buck? Race car or fun street car?

If you could get an MR2 through smog I think that would make the most sense.

[2mAn]

For the record, the M21 would be removed for whatever my heart desires. The point of a diesel is that its smog exempt in California, so I could swap in anything