Engine swap legislation

[edudu77]

My uncle here in NC is a retired mechanic/shop owner, and now he just builds cars. He does a lot of motor swapping..he has one of Jr. Johnson's old 40 fords with an art morrison chassis and a corvette motor. He was telling me that his local inspector informed him of some new legislation in NC. It would put an end to motor swaps..sort of. The engine would have to be of the same manufacturer as the vehicle, and of the same year or newer vintage. The car would also be subject to the engines year of emissions...plus you have to get the ECU flashed with the vin of your car, or it wouldn't pass. This seemed to be backed up by x-treme 4x4 when they did their Jeep hemi swap. I wonder if there is any way to get around it, since our cars came with a mazda motor...I mean for the b6 swap. I'm not looking to do a swap, just putting it out there. I can understand them not wanting guys swapping a carbed 5.0 in a 2006 mustang, but if everything is emissions compliant I don't see the big deal. Anyone else heard of this?
Donovan

[GenevaDirt]

That is probably going to be for newer cars then ours or that 40 Ford you were mentioning.

[edudu77]

Yeah, I would think it would be for the obd II cars. Sometimes too much is left to the local inspector though. That's why I brought it up...since my uncle only swaps older cars, I don't know why the inspector thought it to be relevant. I can't find anything on the gubmint sites though. I'd just hate for a local guy to get blindsided because he has a b6 or bpt swap...knowledge is power and all.
Donovan

[JPT]

This has been in Massachusetts for a long time for cars '83 and newer. The flashing of the ecu, is something I've never heard of though.

[GenevaDirt]

well the b3, b6 and bp are all mazda motors right? So you could swap one of those into them and be ok. If it is already done I do not see how they can make you go back and change it.

[CharlieZ]

I'm here from the guv'mint. I'm here to help. AAARRRRRGGGGGGGGG!

[JPT]

I'm here from the guv'mint. I'm here to help. AAARRRRRGGGGGGGGG!

There's a contradiction. Like "Military Intelligence".

[blkfordsedan]

I've heard of this before, although we don't have any such law in NE........yet.
I certainly wouldn't worry about a B6. If the original valve cover is installed, how are they going to know any different, pull the head & measure the bore and valves? I think the whole objective is to get street rods up to current emission standards. I have never been through any kind of emissions certification before, thanks to the sparsely populated Midwest. Do they actually have people that get that "in-depth" and know what they're looking at? We should all rejoice in our freedom! I've heard that in Japan it is illegal to customize in any way, i.e. change paint color, larger tires, etc.. I know that SEMA is very involved in keeping legislation away from our hobby. They can tax me to poverty and take away my guns, but when they mess with my Festiva they have gone too far!!!!

[edudu77]

Yeah, thank heavens fo SEMA..we'd all be screwed otherwise. My uncle said they are indeed cracking down on streetrodders who put modern engines in, without emissions controls. He says he'll just yank the vette engine and put in a carb'd smallblock if it gets to be a hassle. I know in TN they check the vin on OBD II cars whent hey do the who battery of tests...it must match to pass the test. Supposedly that bit of legislation was pushed by the OE's to keep people from pulling ecu's from wrecking yards, they'd rather sell you a new one, or better yet, a new car. My dad worked at a car quest for years, and there was always talk of what the OE's were trying to limit parts wise. Grrr, if gas weren't so high I'd park everything with a puter and run about in the old Galaxie...but the 428 is a thirsty beast! Viva la Festy!

[getnpsi]

with modifying cars comes crime, at least out in california texas and other larger states. Stolen acuras' parts bring the slow base civics into another realm. Even in my smog nazi state older classic cars are exempt unless you are changing title and most still do not hassle, what do you need on a 65 mustang a pcv valve only? its better than oil dripping down the side of your engine on the ground like they used to be. with that '40 you can probably register it as a kit car, they let just about anything go with those. Also in many states if you show you driving it a small amount of miles just to events then they let things slide too

[Damkid]

The car would also be subject to the engines year of emissions...plus you have to get the ECU flashed with the vin of your car, or it wouldn't pass. This seemed to be backed up by x-treme 4x4 when they did their Jeep hemi swap.

i seen that episode as well, for some reason i'm thinking they said it was only in CA that the emissions checks the VIN in the computer, i could be wrong but i think you could check your local Governments website and see what they check for emissions