Hey everyone, i've been saving up my $$$$ for the past business 1/4 and have accumlated a total of up to 10k to invest in my car. Most of this is strictly just to perfect the Engine portion of the power train.

I would like to build up a EMISSIONS LEGAL, whether its de-tuned or whatever it maybe i can't afford to buy a motor i will have trials on end of trying to get it to pass smog.
So with that..

My intentions with my car are Pro touring miles on end, very few track days, mostly car shows. Street driven respectfully but will occasionally enjoy the beast within, lol.

Im unsure of the possibilities for our vehicle specially the options that will pass emissions and swap in our cars successfully.

If anyone has any suggestions or advice please chime in, My uncle from Idaho who owns 2 shops and has been in the automotive industry for 30+ years specializing in Hot rods, Stock cars, Fabricated and full length custom projects suggested Phoenix Engines
However i can't rely on him for everything and the more opinions (taken with a grain of salt) will better fuel me towards what is more ideal for my car.
I mean not saying i want to spend 10k on a crate motor but it can easily add up to that by the time your done.


My uncle suggested looking into 'Phoenix Engines' From Arizona. There business has an ebay account heres the link:http://stores.ebay.com/Phoenix-Engine-Crate-Turn-Key
And there website link
http://www.phoenixmusclecar.com/

Not secluded to just these motors but if anyone else has had success with other optional manufacturers of Crate Motors for our third gens lemme hear it!
I want POWER as i already have a 9" and im selling my .060" block and T5 to also to increase my budget for this build.
If i had anyway to do it, it would be to do it right the first time as im not looking to cheap out on this build.

I've seen 5.3 ls's, a plethora of small blocks.. i've also seen some 383's

But i know there are EXPERIENCED engine guru's out there that know there craft, i would love to learn and hear your opinions so all will be greatly appreciated !

 

The only way to replace the motor and have it " legal" is to replace it with the exact same motor and all accessories it came with.I don't live in CA. so don't know the laws but I assume a under hood visual inspection is required and if anything is changed it will fail without making it to the actual smog test.You could build the motor you have,reprogram prom and be ok or replace the motor and just make sure everything looks the same and runs clean.Of course if you go the buddy inspector route none of this applies.

 

Well i did want to invest in a painless wiring harness as well as a customizable PCM prom. I know there the HOT AIR vac from the air intake to the y-pipe was an automatic fail if you didn't have it (had headders on my k15 and it was a visual fail automatically)
But im unsure of things such as PPMS no2 and emissions and if there are any motors out there that can be tuned and adjusted to pass smog that one time then enjoy it until you have to do it again next smog/reg.

Familiar with all the EGR components as well it takes to get the fuel circulated but maybe im over thinking it but what would the difference be with a higher lift cam longer duration and if it was stroked out ? i took my motor to a machine shop and they told me there was no way a 383 would pass smog and my setup is already pushing the limits of smog OK - .060" block, 1.94 1.6 exhaust truck cam not aggressive, pretty mild comp cam. i can provide the cam specs when i look at it at home and run the number.

Im just deterred from buying a high power output motor and have it all in fine tuned then get SH** on by smog.
I will run high flow cats hope to dual x pipe with borla exhaust and QTP cutouts just to avoid attention in certain scenarios but i want it to pass visually AND physically PPMs tail pipe etc.

Any experienced people that have just dropped in a crate or even lsx motor, 383 that isn't a smog exempt model have any trials or experience you can share ? pretty much anything non-stock, Even going from a 5.0 wouldn't that still be considered 'illegal' zee28?