Thread: Typical DMV rule question

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Does anyone have experience with changing engines and smog ramifications?

I want to replace my existing 86 diesel Suburban, that is body-rotting away <note, tear running down cheek>.

There is only maybe one up for sale in the US at any time and it is usually in Maine or beat to hell, or something. But there are a lot of very straight gas ones available. But I like diesel! I like 20MPG! I like the 800 mile range when I am wayyyy off road. I like the no fire hazard.

So my question: What happens if I get a gas Sub and diesel it,
get the smog notice and take it in?

I'm in California ...

Originally posted by kcress
...... I'm in California ...

Thats why they make u-hauls
Just kidding. I used to live there when I was in the Navy.
I was a California State Certified VIN/Vehicle inspector.
You have to have it smogged to the year the truck VIN is.
If the engine is diesel or gas. They both have smog rules
that dictate what devices have to put on that engine for that
vin and what exhaust can be emited out the tail-pipe.
It will not be easy to change the engine to another type of fuel
engine or another year. It can be done however.

So rocknrod, yer sayin that if I pickup a, ummm, '87' Gas Sub I can put an 87 Sub diesel engine in it and it should outta be smogable as it was an available option then?

I don't think it's possible, but it may be. Diesels are generally smog exempt in California, gas isn't. Converting to a diesel would mean you get smog exemption and California wouldn't like that. In general, you can transplant an engine but everything has to be DMV approved, the engine has to be from a same year or newer vehicle, and you have to transplant the entire smog system with the new engine. Call your DMV, most of them are retards and it will take you a few tries to get the information you want, but I'm sure somebody there knows something about their job.

My friend just sold a very nice 4wd 6.2 suburban with an aftermarket turbo and a factory turbo 400 transmission. The thing got very good fuel milage, was comfortable, and moved itself around better than a 350 suburban. He is in California. They had to rebuild the engine at 120k miles or so, but that is because his mom started it without oil. I think his dad learned to have to oil ready when you do an oil change and not to drain it before you buy it.