This is one of those "down the road" posts, where I talk about doing something in the future, but *** knows if I'll ever really do it, or if I'm just talking out my ****

I have aspirations of someday putting a big block engine in a third gen (when I get another one), but recently I heard something that gave me pause. I can't remember where I read it, but it was on this board somewhere, and someone mentioned that putting a big block engine in a car wasn't advisable for people who live in areas subject to emissions testing.

Can anyone give any truth to this? Is it a case where they won't pass or is it just difficult? Can someone who has more details on this, give me the 411?

Thanks,
Mathius

if they do a visual and pop the hood you are done. Not only can you not put that engine in your car you have to put the same year or newer engine in and it has to be the same kind of engine. But I live in Cali so it's much more hardcore here. Ohio who knows. If all they do is the lights and brakes and sniffer you might be able to pass. Maybe. I would just pay some shady guy to give you an illegal smog. Thats how we do it here.

I've never seen them pop the hood during the tests here. They just hook some thing up to the tailpipe, and run it through the test.

Mathius

You can get a big-block to pass a sniffer-only test.

But, it isn't uncommon for areas to be forced by the Feds to go to more stringent inspections, and then they'll start opening the hood. If you're willing to take that risk, then go for it. You may, however, end up with an "off-road" vehicle.

There's lots of shady ways to get around that. Swapping VINs is easy if you have another similar 3rd gen that passes. However, whenever you take the law into your own hands bad things can happen.

I'm seriously surprised by all this. I didn't know big block's were illegal unless you had a huge hood scoop or something that limited your field of vision or an open hood induction setup. So what's the limit of what you can put under your hood legally? Anything in a big block is off limits?

Mathius

It depends on your inspection requirements. In the metro NYC area, they check that all of the emissions equipment is in place as well as putting your car on a 3-4 minute chassis dyno run to test the exhaust content. Cops here also hand out ticket for tampering with cats and exhaust.

well, there is this stuff that u can get to pass emmissions no matter what, at least it helped me pass, got it at advanced auto for 8 dollars and u add it to a full tank, run tank out, fill up again, and than take test, passed me, but, thats only the sniffer test, u still haev under the hood check

Since we are talking long term here, my suggestion is for all of us to vote Republican and get the liberal weinies out of the law making business!

In most states you can't put an engine larger or older than stock in your car. For instance I have a '74 360 carb in an '89 350 TPI car. That is illegal. Since they don't check block/head numbers or look under the hood, who cares. In cali they basically give the car a complete inspection, bumper to bumper and check stock engine operating conditions such as timing and blah blah blah. Now the real kicker is that if your car is off 1 or 2 degs you can't fix it yourself, or if you do you have to get a receipt from a "certified" mechanic and spend at least X amount of dollars doing it. That's why I need to find a good job in Po-dunk somewhere so the state will leave me alone. Like I said earlier, there are ways around all of that. Legal ways are limiting the car to 3 months or less driving in that state. Being in college I've been able to skirt the law for the last 4 years. If your car is immobile you can get an exemption, but if they get to be real sticklers about it that can land a pretty hefty fine if they find you driving around with the wrong expemption. I have never had my emissions certification checked any of the times I have been pulled over. I have to shut off the engine to hear the cop and I have a 6 inch scoop sticking out of the hood.

First off this is just what I have heard (No emission tests in Wisconsin :rockon: ). But I was under the impression that you can always put a larger engine in a car as long as it's newer than your car. But then it has to pass the snifer but the snifer for that year car or that year engine.
But I got an idea to fix your problem legally. MOVE to Wisconsin, sure there are alot of Cows and those dam'd Cheese-head Packer fans, but "NO EMISSION TESTING"!!!!!. Plus lots of old Camaro's laying in the weeds just wanting to be found.
Ahhh Wisconsin the land of Cow pie's and Exhaust fumes!!

It really depends on the state, but it is generally illegal to replace a smaller engine with a larger one, as well as the swap must be from a like vehicle (no truck motors in cars). As for that stuff you add to the gas, if you have a cam, headers and no cats, there is nothing you are going to add to the fuel to get you passed. Basically that stuff is concentrated fuel system cleaner

Too many details, what will we do to find a state that will let AMERICANS drive the car they want. Forget the details...JUST VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!!!!

According to the EPA (and several other state sites) it is legal to put a larger engine in a car that had that engine as an option from the factory. (ie swap a 350 in place of a 2.8 in an f body), this is the easy way. The engine has to be of the same year or newer, and must be from the same type vehicle (no truck engines in cars), ALL emissions equipment must be present and functional. Of course this precludes the use of a BBC in a 3rd gen, at least in a state that has emission testing Swapping an LT/LS engine can also be legal, but all the emissions equipment must be present and functional, and it will be tested to the specs for the year of the engine.

Is this by year though? For example, if they start putting a 383 in camaros next year, will we be able to legally put them in or is it just for the year of your vehicle.

Mathius