I have an 87 TA... If I do this LS1 swap that I have planned, will it still pass emissions? I know they go by the VIN #...so I guess the LS1 should run clean enough by far to pass 87 TA emissions. I guess my question summed up is, will all the emissions stuff still work once in my car?? Thanks
Justin

 

You should check with your local authorities. Smog laws vary from state to state and even city to city. Usually if you swap to a newer engine, keep all the emissions stuff from that engine intact (cats, o2, all that stuff), you'll be fine.

 

How the hell do you check with local authorities? I'd love to ask them about a million questions...

 

as far as I know, the engine is emissions legal if it was intended for use in a car the same year as yours or newer, so I'd say yes the LS1 would be emissions legal in you car. I'd also like to add that the LS1 is far cleaner then our engines thanks to better design and ignition system so if you are already passing emissions now, with an Ls1 in your GTA should be an TLEV lol like all the new Ls1s.

 

In california, a LS1 would need to be offered in that year car to be legal. That doesn't mean it can't legally be done. You will need to see a referee and get a sticker from him. It will need to be complete in every way. You would need to contact with him before hand and make sure that he will strongly consider it and you need to get his name. If you cruise in with your car and you get a diffrent ref who's having a bad day, he can say no as well as yes. Knoiw who you talk to. My cousin and I did a vette motor TPI transplant in a 85 Blazer. The readings were cleaner than oe was before. The ref smogged it no problem.

 

Not true. The law reads that the engine must be same year or newer than the chassis it is installed in, and all emissions equipment must be intact and in their original locations. Yes, that means you can legally install an LS1 engine into a thirdgen in California. The referee has to sticker the car, and you may need to bash him upside the head with the lawbook, but its totally legal. Been there, done that.

In Cali calling the 'local authorities' would be contacting someone at the BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair), because they handle the smog crap. They are part of the Department of Consumer Affairs. Keep in mind they will flat out lie to you about what the law really reads, unless you get someone truthful... and in my experience with them, they dont have anyone like that. Thats just how this state operates, they dont like that you can make changes such as an engine swap, and they will try to tell you that you cant do it. Its just their way of making their own set of rules outside the actual law.

Other realistic states you'd probably need to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles, or whatever they call it in your state. Seems like some are MVD, some are BMV, who knows.. everyone has their own thing.

 

Yea didn't read what I wrote max.. I am a California smog tech. The meaning of the legal part was that I can't pass it. Well unless I own it..LOL

 

90Formula...maybe you'd know this one:

I'm dropping an internally balanced 383 into my '88 'bird. So it sould look exactly like a stock 5.7L right? It originally had a 2.8L MPFI.

I'm going to be disguising the EGR to looks like it's functional, but it wont be because my heads wont have the channels for it. I'm porting my TPI drastically, but the outside will look stock. The camshaft WILL be smog legal (crazy me).

I will have the rest of the smog crap functional when I bring it in. Just not the EGR. But it's going to be a 383 that will push out a lot more emmissions at the tail, wont it?


Now, please don't arrest me...if you're willing to; let me know if you think this would fly:

10% methanol in the tank at testing day.
Custom PROM with somewhat lean mixture for emmissions.
Holes in the exhaust, hidden where you'd have to be on a creeper and be looking really hard for...


Pass or Fail?

 

It might pass anyway. Dont know anyone that can just sniff it and see if it'll pass first? My dads 350 will pass the sniffer test, and its got a pretty radical cam. With 33 more cubes and a mild cam, I dont think I'd worry too much. Only thing you could run into is high NOx, although you can pass that too if the engine is setup right. With a small cam though... that could be more of a problem.

The 383 part, no worries. No tech in his right mind will try to determine the stroke.

The EGR, that could be a problem. If they do a functional check, it'll fail miserably. I've often wondered though, if you could just use the temp sensor wire and some sort of switch setup, so that when the EGR valve is moved up into the housing, it triggers the switch, and kills the engine by cutting the ignition feed or something. Who would know?

 

what about a ZZ4 from GM, im also from california and i was just wondering if a ZZ4 would pass legally?
if not, would there be anyway to pass without dishing bribe money to the referees??

 

How do they do a functional check of the EGR?

 

Apply vacuum to the EGR, or push up on the diaphragm. The leak at idle will kill the engine.

ZZ4 legality depends on the year of the car. If its an 87 or older, you're in luck. Costs a bit more, but you just follow the smog legal parts route for that engine, and you are good to go. If you do a search you'll find out what all you need parts wise. If its 88 up, you'll have to lie .