I was just wondering if anyone in cali has done a engine swap. If so what year F-body did you have and what engine was in it. Also what did you swap it for and how did you pass smog and the ref. I just want to see what could be my choices for a swap.

 

Drew,

Passing smog is not a big deal. I'm also looking to swap out my 305. Let me know what motor you decide to select.

 

Swapped a 350 engine into a 1985 IROC-Z with 305 tpi. He also passed the smog test with the 350 a couple of months ago. Currently I have a work in progress, swap a sbc 357 with vortec heads. Looking to do the tpi set up with engine. Still trying to get the rest of the tpi parts together.

 

Who's building your motor? Is it actually a 357?

 

My friend up in Washington State gave me a 2 bolt 350 1 piece rear seal block. He had the engine built for me since he has a shop. All I paid was for shipping and the parts. The reason he had to bore it out .040 is that one of the cylinder head required it.

 

I thought the Vortec heads did not have th exhaust heat riser port.
How can you get the EGR to work? Need working EGR to pass smog in CA.

 

I never said anything about passing smog with a vortec TPI set up in my previous replies. SDPC has the only Vortec TPI manifold out which has provision for the EGR valve. I am planning on getting one as soon as I get some more $$.

 

Thank you for clearing that up.
Cause of confusion, the subject of this thread is smog legal swaps. If you drift OFF SUBJECT when replying, please make a note so the rest of us don't get confused.

I wish it was OK to use Vortec heads in sunny California. They sound like a very good part for considering what they sell for.
Good luck with your motor.

 

DrewRS,

The 300 HP crate engine from goautocenter will pass California smog. There's atleast 1 person on the board (Rich?) who has this crate engine and it passed smog fine. I personally don't have it but if I don't find anything better I'll probably be going with this engine when my engine dies. I have a 91 Z28.
Here is the link:

300 HP engine

I also heard you can use the Vortec heads in Califonia as long as you use the SDPC Vortec intake manifold.

 

Another engine swap that will pass California smog checks would be to put in an LT1 or and LS1. Although these are not exactly direct easy swaps, there are plenty of people who have done them.

 

how u ever when to the dyno?.....if so what your is range?.....300hp and 369ft/lbs so like a burnout-mobile...hehe

 

Thanks for all the help guys. I heard that if I go with the crated 350. I should be fine since the 350 looks exactly like a 305 on the outside. Is this true? I just want to be sure

 

The big decal on the valve cover that says, "5.7l 350" might be a tip-off, though...

 

You have to dig pretty deep to find this, but they admit at http://www.sdpc2000.com/htm/TPI_instruc.pdf : "This intake is NOT legal in California on any pollution-controlled motor vehicles, nor has it been approved for any pollution-controlled applications in any state in the USA."

 

well we could always change those can't we