[ZaZZn]

Hi Guys,

I want to bring my 87 to Cali with me from Canada, is there any chance in hell that I could get my mk3 smogged? It's got a JDM 2jz (I can add an EGR) and I pass Ontario emissions... I do have a Vibrant cant, and it's on stock twins but has 3" intercooler pipes and a xs power IC. 3" full exhuast.... Is there a custom car or hot rod law that I can register it under?

Remember it's an 87 so it's 24 years old.... Isn't a classic car considered 25 years old in the US? If that's the case would i be able to bring it in next year? It's actually manufactured dec 86 according to the plate on the side

 

[ZaZZn]

Hi Guys,

I want to bring my 87 to Cali with me from Canada, is there any chance in hell that I could get my mk3 smogged? It's got a JDM 2jz (I can add an EGR) and I pass Canada, Ontario emissions... I do have a Vibrant cat, and it's on stock twins but has 3" intercooler pipes and a xs power IC. 3" full exhuast.... Is there a custom car or hot rod law that I can register it under?

Remember it's an 87 so it's 24 years old.... Isn't a classic car considered 25 years old in the US? If that's the case would i be able to bring it in next year? It's actually manufactured dec 86 according to the plate on the side

 

[SUPRASTANGER507mgte]

Eric,
If you take it to a SMOG STATION, depending on the tech, if they don't know enaything about the swap, they may put the car and run the engine on the sniffer. If you have a cat and a working EGR , ( they do test the EGR with a vacumn ), then the visual may pass, however if there is intercooler/piping ( non stock looking), they may fail the visual.
They now have to pressure test the EVAP system as well as the gas cap.
They also will look for a AFM -

Get the car here, and take a chance on the smog ( add the working EGR if you can ) .
Dont mention 'engine swap"

 

[spdu4ea]

California does not have a "25 years or older" rule -- all cars newer than 1975 have to be smogged when brought in from out of state. The vast majority of the state will require follow-up smog checks every 2 years (some rural counties do not require follow-up smog checks until change of ownership).

Because of your engine swap, your car technically should be checked over at a BAR station. Because it is a swapped engine, you would be allowed to have modified intercooler and exhaust routing to fit the new engine bay. All of the smog stuff would need to be hooked up and in the stock location (or as close to it as possible within the mk3 body) and things like cats would have to be OEM-equivalent in quality and number (Vibrant cat would probably fail this visual inspection).

If the car will definitely fail under close scrutiny but looks stock, it may be better to play ignorant and let it slip by a normal smog check. If the plumbing is all plastic & rubber OEM-looking a hurried tech very well might not notice.


The actual tailpipe test shouldn't be a huge concern as long as the engine is running properly -- the limits are generous (I've had well-tuned catless cars pass sniffer). The problem is making sure all the little bureaucratic rules are followed...

 

[dubsupra209]

where in cali do plan on moving?

 

[[email protected]]

Welcome to California and let your headaches begin, catalytic converters must be California emission compliance which is different from federal emission compliance. Correct me if I'm wrong but California doesn't approve of swapping from non-turbo to turbo.

 

[ZaZZn]

Wow this is a pain in the ass, and I'm moving to the bay area....

There is no way I can use stock intercooler pipes form a aristo engine, I can get an EGR, but I don't have a charcoal can anymore.

So sounds like to make my car pass I would need the following.

OEM cat - Doable since i still have the stock DP form my aristo and my surpa
EGR - not sure since Aristo engine ever had one and I don't think the wholes are drilled.
Intercooler and intercooler pipes are not stock they are aluminum
Stock intake or something CARB approved like aem.
Stock BOV and removal or HKS race type 2 or something I guess.

Do they check ECU electronics? I have 550cc USDM injectors and a Walbro pump.

Oh btw who are the BAR guys and how do the hot rodders pass? Can't I have a engine swap as long as it's from a nwer car? What if the engine never came in a car that was form the US like the aristo

Thanks,

 

[Shitzu]

No they dont check the ECU electronics unless it's an OBD2 car('96+ models) which they will hook up the scanner and check for any existing error codes.

 

[redmk3supra]

California does not have a "25 years or older" rule -- all cars newer than 1975 have to be smogged when brought in from out of state. The vast majority of the state will require follow-up smog checks every 2 years (some rural counties do not require follow-up smog checks until change of ownership).

Because of your engine swap, your car technically should be checked over at a BAR station. Because it is a swapped engine, you would be allowed to have modified intercooler and exhaust routing to fit the new engine bay. All of the smog stuff would need to be hooked up and in the stock location (or as close to it as possible within the mk3 body) and things like cats would have to be OEM-equivalent in quality and number (Vibrant cat would probably fail this visual inspection).

If the car will definitely fail under close scrutiny but looks stock, it may be better to play ignorant and let it slip by a normal smog check. If the plumbing is all plastic & rubber OEM-looking a hurried tech very well might not notice.


The actual tailpipe test shouldn't be a huge concern as long as the engine is running properly -- the limits are generous (I've had well-tuned catless cars pass sniffer). The problem is making sure all the little bureaucratic rules are followed...

Wrong, Californian just change it to 73 not 75.

 

[spdu4ea]

Wow this is a pain in the ass, and I'm moving to the bay area....

There is no way I can use stock intercooler pipes form a aristo engine, I can get an EGR, but I don't have a charcoal can anymore.

So sounds like to make my car pass I would need the following.

OEM cat - Doable since i still have the stock DP form my aristo and my surpa
EGR - not sure since Aristo engine ever had one and I don't think the wholes are drilled.
Intercooler and intercooler pipes are not stock they are aluminum
Stock intake or something CARB approved like aem.
Stock BOV and removal or HKS race type 2 or something I guess.

Do they check ECU electronics? I have 550cc USDM injectors and a Walbro pump.

Oh btw who are the BAR guys and how do the hot rodders pass? Can't I have a engine swap as long as it's from a nwer car? What if the engine never came in a car that was form the US like the aristo

Thanks,

If you go the BAR route, you can have obviously custom aluminum intercooler and intake pipes "in order to fit the engine bay." You will probably want to use the stock bypass valve (aftermarket bov vented back into intake may or may not pass depending on the individual inspector). You can have a custom downpipe -- but the number and location of the cats needs to be as close as possible, and the cats need to be 50-state. They specifically will check for post-cat O2 sensors for OBD2 engines (95 or 96 and newer) and they will plug-in a reader for OBD2...

BAR is the bureau of automotive repair (http://www.bar.ca.gov/80_BARResources/07_AutoRepair/Engine_Change_Guidelines.html ), and there are locations across the state. The last time I went, mine was a community college instructor who was pretty laid back, but there are plenty of horror stories too... You can swap in any engine that is the same year or newer as long as it was sold in the US. (1JZs are not smog legal). If you tell the BAR guy your engine/harness/computer is from an Aristo, you'll probably have problems. If you tell him it is from a '97 Supra TT, you may be OK. Find out about hooking up EGR -- you absolutely will need it. A long time ago I got a JDM 7m and it did have an egr hole -- it was just plugged with something similar to a freeze plug that had to be removed...

Cars older than 1975 do not have to be smogged, so old hot-rods don't have to deal with any of this.

Wrong, Californian just change it to 73 not 75.

It is possible, but I'd need to see a credible source before I believe you... The CA DMV website still says 1975: http://dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm

 

[bambuko]

Speaking of which...

I am looking for a good SMOG guy in CA. If anyone knows of someone, I would greatly appreciate a PM with some info.

 

[ronl98]

Wow this is a pain in the ass, and I'm moving to the bay area....

There is no way I can use stock intercooler pipes form a aristo engine, I can get an EGR, but I don't have a charcoal can anymore.

So sounds like to make my car pass I would need the following.

OEM cat - Doable since i still have the stock DP form my aristo and my surpa
EGR - not sure since Aristo engine ever had one and I don't think the wholes are drilled.
Intercooler and intercooler pipes are not stock they are aluminum
Stock intake or something CARB approved like aem.
Stock BOV and removal or HKS race type 2 or something I guess.

Do they check ECU electronics? I have 550cc USDM injectors and a Walbro pump.

Oh btw who are the BAR guys and how do the hot rodders pass? Can't I have a engine swap as long as it's from a nwer car? What if the engine never came in a car that was form the US like the aristo

Thanks,

stock 1jz intercooler pipes would make it look stock.. and unless ur planning to run a usdm head with egr.. it would work.. (unless the smog tech is lazy and doesnt test it)... check out these pics of a 2jz swap we jus did... stock looking engine bay..
http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.ph....501297517541.280835.528817541&type=1&theater

 

[redmk3supra]

See i thought it was 1975 to, but I really don't know the full detail. All I know is that he said the exemption for smog is now 1973 or older.

 

[dubsupra209]

See i thought it was 1975 to, but I really don't know the full detail. All I know is that he said the exemption for smog is now 1973 or older.

pretty sure its 75 buddy at 74 chevy truck no smog for him

 

[ZaZZn]

If you go the BAR route, you can have obviously custom aluminum intercooler and intake pipes "in order to fit the engine bay." You will probably want to use the stock bypass valve (aftermarket bov vented back into intake may or may not pass depending on the individual inspector). You can have a custom downpipe -- but the number and location of the cats needs to be as close as possible, and the cats need to be 50-state. They specifically will check for post-cat O2 sensors for OBD2 engines (95 or 96 and newer) and they will plug-in a reader for OBD2...

BAR is the bureau of automotive repair (http://www.bar.ca.gov/80_BARResources/07_AutoRepair/Engine_Change_Guidelines.html ), and there are locations across the state. The last time I went, mine was a community college instructor who was pretty laid back, but there are plenty of horror stories too... You can swap in any engine that is the same year or newer as long as it was sold in the US. (1JZs are not smog legal). If you tell the BAR guy your engine/harness/computer is from an Aristo, you'll probably have problems. If you tell him it is from a '97 Supra TT, you may be OK. Find out about hooking up EGR -- you absolutely will need it. A long time ago I got a JDM 7m and it did have an egr hole -- it was just plugged with something similar to a freeze plug that had to be removed...

Cars older than 1975 do not have to be smogged, so old hot-rods don't have to deal with any of this.




It is possible, but I'd need to see a credible source before I believe you... The CA DMV website still says 1975: http://dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm

Wow thanks guys, that really helps.... I think it will be possible now... I'm guessing my Vibrant cat won't do the trick :/.... EGR will be a problem too... I'm thinking I can just bring it down leave it on canadian plates for the 2 years that I'm there since I wont be daily driving it I'll just show my Canadian licence every time they ask and I'll say I'm visiting, or on holiday. Should I need to get it converted maybe I'll make a trip up to you guys in sac, to help me make it look more stockish.... I like that whole stock airbox.. lol that's halarious... wouldn't a K&N FIPK work too since it's carb?

 

[Ryeno]

I've registered an out of state vehicle in california. The people at the DMV will go over the cars themselves to make sure they have all the smog equipment. I bet if it looks modified you'll get sent to the BAR.

The bigger issue is that you aren't JUST registering a car. Sometimes it's hard to remember but Canada isn't part of America so it becomes an importation and that brings on a whole new set of rules. If you want to keep "your" car I would find a MK3 already registered in CA and simply swap over all the goodies.

 

[boxtree619]

when the car is 25 years old, you can bring it in without going through the hassle of converting a bunch of other crap over (like what people who import r32/33/34's have to do). but since you're coming to CA, it won't be exempt from smog since only 1975 and older are exempt here, so it would still need to pass that as far as i know.