don't know if this is already here, but it seems like it's been written...

[jawbraeka]

if you want also guys, i have written a 2nd thread to accompany this one called 'My First Swap - What to Keep? Parts to sell? Hint's and Tip's - The Batism Of Fire!!' which is directly related to swap information. Thanks in advance BTW guys.

we pay road taxes here too, and we get the almighty "please place you feet on the spots provided and bend over, placing both hands on the bar in front of you, all while your paying for the priviledge... AND NOOOOO LUBE" treatment.

people who get to know me, will know how i truly feel come time to reregister this thing.

[jawbraeka]

We're fairly lenient over here.
Only a handful of counties in Texas require ESM inspection (emissions). Just high population areas such as Dallas, Austin, and Houston.

They don't care about engine swaps or mods as long as it's all legal and the original safety equipment required at time of manufacture is still there. Any classic car (25 years or older) is exempt from emissions.

We have a this- we pay taxes on roads, so if you have the know how to build your own car and the guts to drive it, you're allowed to register it.

Fees here aren't too bad. Annual inspection is about $40 (emissions or not). Registration is about $70 for passenger cars and light trucks.
I just registered my aqua and it cost $176 and that's including title transfer, sales tax, and $50 30 days delinquent fee for not registering it within 30 days of purchase.


The Aussie regulations remind me a bit of CARB. Even changing the plastic intake piping in California can be illegal. It's ridiculous.

What is defined as "legal" if an engine swap isn't even checked with engineering and compliance? does that mean something that won't make the vehicle to be considered "unsafe" at all.. and even then, what is that exactly?

[Oren09]

If it's not expressly written somewhere as being illegal, then you're ok. For example, no undercarriage lighting.
And all original safety and emissions equipment must remain in place such as lights, horn, catalytic converter.

Getting a car to pass emissions can be difficult but if it's 1996 or newer or 25 years or older then it isn't tested for emissions and the state inspection is basically just a light bulb check.

[Spike]

South Carolina has to be the most lenient state I know. There are no emissions laws, and you don't need to register some trailers unless you want to insure them. The kinds of vehicles that are on the roads, though... Some of them scare me. Vehicles that have been in wrecks that deployed the airbags and smashed the entire front end are still driving. People strap driving lights to the hood or bumper and keep driving them. On the other hand, there is a guy around here with a monster truck Camaro...

Saw a guy here in Greenetucky (what some of us call Greene County - smallest population to land ratio county here in Indiana), and he must've been in a pretty bad wreck. His whole front end was smashed in about 2 feet, one door was completely missing (replaced by duct tape..), and he had no rear glass. His headlights were just stuck on the hood and wired up.

It used to be a Cavalier!

~Joe

[jawbraeka]

Look at the Barrett-Jackson auctions, half of the cars on there don't have their original engines. LOL.

Just do a B6 they look the same. Are you thinking that the common person at whatever place does your inspection, is going to look under your hood, and know the difference between a B3, B6, B6T, BP? I wouldn't worry so much. Just don't go announcing that you have changed the engine, and I'm guessing they'll never pop the hood...

They do have to to check vin and engine numbers so they match.
then the system does the checking.. id kick myself if they let it off. I really will.

[jawbraeka]

Speaking of car mods, has anyone ever done a themed car at all? I was thinking bttf.

[Prafeston]

I recall a CAT theme car recently...but I feel like maybe it want a Festiva. CAT like the machinery company not the furry animals.

[DriverOne]

Re: don't know if this is already here, but it seems like it's been written...

The Caterpillar company car, Batstiva, there's a John Deere car, one dressed up like a mini cooper with a Union Jack on the roof, there's ICP-stiva's car, my racer-boy setup, there was Rally-tiva... I'm sure I'm missing some.

[PhoenixSHO]

Wow this blows chunks.

Please remember me to NEVER to move there.

But I do watch Masterchef australia , and love the FPV Falcon. My love for Australia stops there.

[Advancedynamix]

My B6t swap tested cleaner than my stock 93 Festiva when emissions tested here in Arizona. It was funny too, because the guy who was testing it was having trouble following the engine load chart with the accelerator apparently more than twice the tq really is very touchy on the emission dyno. I figure that since the engine is barely under any load ( load is calibrated to stock torque output) the engine is barely working and thus emitting less unburned fuel. I put a lot of effort into making the swap appear OEM, so visually there is not much indication that this engine isn't original.

[Eaglefreek]

Speaking of car mods, has anyone ever done a themed car at all? I was thinking bttf.

I thought of painting my big Eagle blue, put a US flag on the hood and call it the General Grant. But I don't think the paint would be dry before someone here in the south would key it, kick it or burn it.
There is certain demographic her in the US that seem to like theme cars. Here are some examples:

[Bert]

These cars are now 20 years old. If you carefully bolt in a B6 of some kind, 1) how would they know what was done if you didn't tell them, and 2) is it illegal to replace a tired engine and 3) what's stopping you from making an engine block serial number match with the original, and 4) what is stopping you from saying "this is how I bought the car".
I have never seen anyone look at engine serial numbers except for prestige car collectors.

[jawbraeka]

hrrrm, bert i think you've got a major point there....

they only do it to confirm that the motor of choice was actually a supported choice for the chassis according to some sources.

maybe i'm just getting somewhat paranoid.. however i do have these thoughts so far.

- As long as it looks stock, i'll be sweet.
- As long as they don't send me to VASS, i'll be sweet.
- As long as they give me a sticker and say nothing more about it, I'll be sweet.

you know what, i'm going to brave it and just do it.

If it happens to be the case where they just pass it without any official checking, i'm going to get swaps happening over here.. i'll start selling the cars with the motors, as long as vicroads are happy. why not?

[jawbraeka]

These cars are now 20 years old. If you carefully bolt in a B6 of some kind, 1) how would they know what was done if you didn't tell them, and 2) is it illegal to replace a tired engine and 3) what's stopping you from making an engine block serial number match with the original, and 4) what is stopping you from saying "this is how I bought the car".
I have never seen anyone look at engine serial numbers except for prestige car collectors.

The thing that stops me saying i bought it like this is they need to check it before they give you number plates.. i had the engine registered with the original motor.. if however, i even knew about swaps at the time and had one done before i had it registered, then maybe i could have gotten away with it.. but to go through the roadworthy and reregistration is a PITA and i absolutely refuse..

[jawbraeka]

i could just tell them that it's a b3 with a DOHC?