This guy is selling his vortec V8 engine from a 1994 Silverado for $500....what do you think? Will it pass smog laws in California?

My Camaro is a 3.1 V6 with 118,XXX miles.

Oops, I forgot to mention that he rebuilt it.

 

It will pass smog for the truck but not if they think you have a v6. The emissions will be different.

 

You'd have to go through the "motor change" process. You can put something else in the car and get it certified if:
1) The engine is from a certified passenger car the same year or newer.
2) All emissions equipment required for the vehicle from which the engine came is installed on your vehicle.
3) It passes sniffer.

You fail #1 because your engine came from a truck, not a passenger car.

Now, you could tell them the engine came from a 92 RS, and try to make it look like a 92 TBI RS per #2 above. But, if they've got any clue at all, they'll recognize the Vortec intake manifold and make you walk home.

(Okay, maybe they won't make you walk home, but you get the idea.)

 

Come to think of it, didn't Vortec engines start in '96?

 

I think there were pre-96 vortec motors but they sucked? They didnt start making the good vortec heads until 1996.