Taking into consideration that I wont know when exactly my L03 will give up on me, I've heard the term motor-change process mentioned on this site alot. Now i think i have it down. You have to go through a motor change process if you're doing a complete swap? i.e. if i find a 93 camaro donor, i have to install everything from cpu to smog equipment. Correct?
My main question is if i just want to get a short block from maybe a 92 camaro z28 tpi at a junk yard, do i have to go though that motor change process if its just the short block?
I do plan on keeping it TBI with all the stock smog equipment on it.

But if i do have it wrong, then what exactly is the motor change process? and how do i go about it? Thanks for the help!

 

I'd appreciate any type of info...

 

It's referring to the steps you need to go through in order to install an engine other than the factory or certified replacement in California for the purpose of emissions inspection and testing.

 

is that only for california?
also when they say you cant use a truck engine in a car, do they mean you cant use a commercial truck engine or a passenger truck like silverado?
Reason is because i though about that "budget TBI buildup" sticky but i didnt want to do it if we're not even "allowed" to by law. I dont require emissions testing but i still wouldnt want to do just in case they change the rules on me and start testing us in my area.

 

California is the only state of which I'm aware that has a "motor change" procedure.

The rest of what you're describing is EPA stuff that applies to all 49 states (California has to meet at least the EPA requirements, but is allowed to impose even stricter requirements - no other state is allowed to do that). You can't legally use a Silverado engine in a passenger car anywhere in the U.S. The "budget 350 TBI" is not an emissions legal swap.

 

I think NJ you can't swap in an older motor or larger displacement motor.

 

i see... well it seems that the easiest thing for me to do is just rebuild the l03... I'm not really that power-hungry (although buying a 92 z28 long block is still something i am pondering). I am more obsessed with the looks of the car than the engine. Currently it has 116k miles so it may still last another 5-10 yrs.
I do have one more question... why is no other state allowed to impose stricter requirements like california?.
thx for your replies.

 

Right, because NJ adheres to EPA requirements.

You can put a larger certified passenger car engine as long as it is the same year or newer than the chassis, and you install all of the equipment the certified vehicle had.

 

Good question. The best answer I have to that is California has worse problems than the rest of the country.

 

hi guys,
im putting a 383 stroker in my 350,
is it easier to remove just the engine or engine and 'box from my '91 camaro, do they both fit through the engine bay???????
also how do i put pictures of my car on this site??????
shaun (england)

 

actually in NJ, you can swap any engine that was available in the platform in question, from the model year of the car and newer. So technically a 4th gen is still a fbody, so a ls1 can be "legal", and since NJ has ditched inspections other than tail pipe, as long as its running clean enough, and engine will pass flying colors.

 

engine and gearbox (trans) can be removed and installed assembled, however a leveler system for the hoist is a good idea to allow you to angle the assembly up and down as needed to clear the corssmembers and radiation support