CA DMV problem (sigh)

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by Young Pete

keep in mind im gonna use an 83 engine and will install it in an 86.

This is a problem EVERYWHERE that does smog checks and most other places too. They get really grouchy about an older engine in a newer vehicle.

[flybynight]

I think the only chance to get legislation changed in CA is to peitiion your representatives to get biodiesel running vehicles on the list of accepted alternative fuels. CA likes the positives it is getting by being pro alternative fuels.

The trick is to find a way to show you run biofuel all the time.

CA is never going to make it easy to put a poor quality petroleum oil burning motor in place of a so so gas burning motor.

[amaurer]

Originally Posted by White Shark

They are tasked with enforcing the law and license violations and failure to pay registration is worth millions to the state. I pay registration on a lot of vehicles and those fees go to fixing the roads and bridges as well as other transportation budget items. Those people who don't pay their share legally are stealing from the state and law abiding citizens who have to shoulder their weight.

..

This argument only holds weight if the offending vehicles weren't paying registration to ANY state. This is a two-way street, surely some "California" vehicles are "living" in other states as well. Of course, CA may find that, if their registration is too onerous, then people will be prone to trying to dodge it (true) at which point one could, successfully, make the argument that itd be worth more to un-fuck the process rather than waste more money on police action...

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by flybynight

CA is never going to make it easy to put a poor quality petroleum oil burning motor in place of a so so gas burning motor.

How are diesels "poor quality"? I dare say that a gasoline engine is the poorer quality of the two in 99% of the cases (the other 1% is the GM 5.7 diesel).

[Aseif007]

I would be carefull about that swap. I just got my 87' FJ-60 legally registered in Cali with a conversion to a 3FE. Initially they failled me (even though I passed the snifer) because the a440F didn't come with the 3FE into the FJ-60. But after I contested they accepted it. When I went to retest the referee was looking into a book that stated the FJ-62 came with a manual in the US. I knew it was wrong but that was the reason they accepted it. Also I convinced the referee that the A440F was a fully hydraulic tranny, and the ECU was not connected to it at all. Also, they will not accept a conversion that has an older motor into a newer car. So don't let them know where the motor came from. But on my smog test it states the year of the motor (88) and the year of the car (87). So now my FJ-60 is smogged as an 88 FJ-62. And I don't think the 60 series was offered in Cali as a diesel, that might be a factor in them accepting your swap. I would talk to a referee before you invest any money into the swap.

Originally Posted by Young Pete

ok guys, sorry to hijack your thread

im from the east bay, cali and currently have an fj60.

i am about to do a 3b / h55 conversion on my fj60. This diesel engine and transmission, came from an 83 bj60 that was parted out in canuck.

would i have trouble registering my good old fj60 as a diesel when my title is renewed? can they (DMV) change it to diesel right away?

keep in mind im gonna use an 83 engine and will install it in an 86.

if CA dmv would not let me change it, what is my other alternative?

should i register my 60 at a state with no emission requirement that can allow diesel conversions, like say, nebraska? and then bring it back to california and can california finally give me a valid diesel title?

keep in mind im just gonna change and engine and transmission.

thanks for all your help. i really need some advice.

[Creeker]

Wow, this is timely. I just took the paperwork for my fj62 down to the DMV last night (I'm in Connecticut). I had done lots of research, and was told by the DMV that no special paperwork would be needed for my gas to diesel conversion. HAH! Boy, am I stoopid.

It appears that I need to register as a composite. The DMV's concern is that the computer at emissions will run my VIN, and they can't adjust the test to account for the 12HT engine.

Anyone outside of Cali have some convincing argument for the DMV to test a gas to diesel conversion?

[2 Bees]

Last summer I tried these guy's. This is the reply I received.


I am sorry but we are not currently in the business of conducting testing on
Grey Market vehicles and engines. While we were once certified for such
testing it was not a profitable business sector and we did not renew our
certification.

Sincerely,

Linwood Farmer

Vice-President

Automotive Testing and Development Services, Inc.

400 S Etiwanda Avenue

Ontario, CA 91761

[GAS-A-LOT!]

the horror! and pain!!!

[Beast II]

I just bought a RHD 1982 BJ42 from a gentleman who imported it from New Zealand and titled it in North Carolina. Now, I'm shipping it from North Carolina into California, but I am a bit apprehensive and confused as to whether I should even attempt to register it here (for fear of getting flagged) or if I should "sell" it to my sister in Louisiana and permanently borrow it. The consensus seems to be that it is a bit of a roll of the dice. Suggestions ?

[amaurer]

Originally Posted by Beast II

I just bought a RHD 1982 BJ42 from a gentleman who imported it from New Zealand and titled it in North Carolina. Now, I'm shipping it from North Carolina into California, but I am a bit apprehensive and confused as to whether I should even attempt to register it here (for fear of getting flagged) or if I should "sell" it to my sister in Louisiana and permanently borrow it. The consensus seems to be that it is a bit of a roll of the dice. Suggestions ?

You've done everything right, in terms of registering out of state first; it may just work. If CA flags it, you can still "sell" it to your sister, nothing is lost.

[flybynight]

If it was originally imported legally/properly in the first place CA has no real issue. It is when the grey market sale is shady or motor swap where it becomes sticky.

[amaurer]

Originally Posted by flybynight

If it was originally imported legally/properly in the first place CA has no real issue. It is when the grey market sale is shady or motor swap where it becomes sticky.

Thats not true, did you even read this thread?

[lostmarbles]

Originally Posted by amaurer

Thats not true, did you even read this thread?

Hmmm. I kinda thought Flybynight's comment would get a reaction

[Sniperx]

My fiancee and I have a dream of moving back to the US in about 10 years to raise our kid in the US school system. My family has a business in California that I will be manning during that time. After reading this thread I'm getting mixed hopes here. If I bring my BJ74, which will be well over 25 years young in 10 years, into say...Nevada and have it reg'd there I'll be able to change over the reg to California after a while? Its my dream to have this car in the US and my girl loves it over here in Japan. What makes it better, its really a an HzJ73 on a BJ74 frame and body. Basically a 1hz turbo, trans, and axles transplanted into a BJ74. That means, the vin number registers as a 88 or 89. My registration in Japan refelcts the engine model as a 1Hz, but with no mention of a swap being done. So as it reads its a 1989 BJ74 with an original 1HZ...even though we all know they never made such a thing. This is the ultimate sleeper...and I'd hate to leave it behind....

[Beast II]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Something you could consider, is to buy a 75 or earlier frame and title, and use that to register your BJ. You would have to swap the frame number section on to the BJs frame. Then you can be smog exempt.

Almost every diesel in California had a valid reg in another state first. Then it's no big deal.

I've heard that the 75 or older FJ40 frame would require extensive modifications to pop a BJ42 body onto it.

[Beast II]

I found a company down in Ontario, CA that will do the testing on a BJ42 for the 50 State Sticker for $3,000. The guy I talked to mentioned that he'd seen a BJ42 in for the testing a few months back and is going to get back to me with the info on what happened with it.

Here's the link:

Automotive Testing and Development Services, Inc.

[2 Bees]

I would get in touch with Linwood Farmer, Vice-President at Automotive Testing and Development Services, Inc before you put down your $3000. Because last summer he informed me they don't do Grey Market vehicles and engines anymore.




I am sorry but we are not currently in the business of conducting testing on
Grey Market vehicles and engines. While we were once certified for such
testing it was not a profitable business sector and we did not renew our
certification.

Sincerely,

Linwood Farmer

Vice-President

Automotive Testing and Development Services, Inc.





.

[2 Bees]

Sniperx,

In Nevada, Washoe and Clark Counties are smog test Counties. Any gas or diesel vehicle 1968 or newer in these Counties must be smogged. Other Counties in Nevada are slowly becoming smog Counties per the EPA

As for Grey Market Vehicles in the said Counties are a bitch. The last one I tried to register took 9 months to register.

[AH-1W Smitty]

After reading this thread and sweating it out for a few weeks I just got my BJ 44 registered in CA with no issue (sort of). The folks at DMV spent about 30 minutes looking it over, scratching their heads and wondering what they had in front of them. They were happy with the emissions sticker but a little suspect with the VIN and lack of a FMVSS sticker.

Long story short, I got into a discussion about saving the planet, all the evil in the world, etc, etc and she just filled in the paperwork and handed me my plates.

The moral of the story; never interrupt a zealot when they are overlooking things on your behalf.

[lostmarbles]

Originally Posted by AH-1W Smitty

....The moral of the story; never interrupt a zealot when they are overlooking things on your behalf.

I love it!!!!!!!

[amaurer]

Originally Posted by AH-1W Smitty

After reading this thread and sweating it out for a few weeks I just got my BJ 44 registered in CA with no issue (sort of). The folks at DMV spent about 30 minutes looking it over, scratching their heads and wondering what they had in front of them. They were happy with the emissions sticker but a little suspect with the VIN and lack of a FMVSS sticker.

Long story short, I got into a discussion about saving the planet, all the evil in the world, etc, etc and she just filled in the paperwork and handed me my plates.

The moral of the story; never interrupt a zealot when they are overlooking things on your behalf.

Where'd you get the emissions sticker?

[Beast II]

I was reading through NZ import regulations and imports into NZ from the US need a FMVSS sticker, so perhaps with this documentation it could be argued that our two countries share the same safety guidelines ? Problem will be proving that they did 25 years ago.

[Dougal]

Originally Posted by Beast II

I was reading through NZ import regulations and imports into NZ from the US need a FMVSS sticker, so perhaps with this documentation it could be argued that our two countries share the same safety guidelines ? Problem will be proving that they did 25 years ago.

Can you prove than the FJ40's are the same truck with a different engine or will that not help matters?

I imagine virtually all the vehicles imported to NZ from the US would be US built (mustangs, corvettes, hummers etc). I don't know of anyone who's imported a european or japanese car to NZ from the US to test that requirement.

[AH-1W Smitty]

it was on the engine from a previous owner. It really isn't all that official looking so i'm not sure who put it on. It was dirty and faded and didn't receive that much attention, if you catch my drift.

[Beast II]

Where in the engine bay does one generally find this infamous emissions sticker ?

[In2cruisers]

After doing my FJ to Hj conversion, I went to the local WA state DMV. Thinking all I was having to do was tell them the of the swap and the would change the title...........Close.....I drove up, the guy had a screwy look on his face as I pulled up to him. "that thing sounds like a diesel"...."I have seen many Land Cruisers, but this is my first diesel". told me to stop there, went and hooked a couple things to my tail pipe, ran me at idle, then advance to 2000rpms for about 30 seconds....handed me a piece of paper while telling me it barely measured anything. What they did was a carbon count using a mirror and some type of visual reader.....I was running b90 at the time, have found out from a couple other diesel heads since then..........is bio runs very clean and you will almost always pass any type of diesel test using bio

[tlcruiserman]

Originally Posted by Beast II

I've heard that the 75 or older FJ40 frame would require extensive modifications to pop a BJ42 body onto it.

I don't know about extensive mods but the 42 frame and the 40 frame are different. Under body gas tank, spit exhaust manifold for gas Cruisers, right hand side exhaust for diesel (which means the fuel and brake lines are on the opposite side). Even the body mounts are different bause of the changes in body. Not to mention the whole e-brake setup is different.