Holy Crap! The Republic of CA gave me my BAR sticker!

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djawahir

djawahir

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So, after 3 years of cramming a V8 and other goodies under the hood along with wondering whether or not I would be able to use a Toyota manual transmission (H55F) with a Chevrolet V8 5.3L engine, etc...

I got my BAR sticker!!! Yeah! I passed California's engine swap requirements!!!

So, now I know too much about how to get emissions legal in CA. So, if you've got any questions, ask away!

:cheers::cheers::cheers:
 
Congrats on that man. I know it can be a pain to get everything the way they want it.

Save all your paperwork and the proper reading material for me, I may need it at a later date.

My first question would be,

"Did you have a Ref involved, meaning, did you take it down to them after it was mobile, and have them check things out before the final inspection?"

That was my plan on my CJ V8 swap, but said Smog Ref never called back, and I traded it away.
 
Yes, I drove it down to the Referee after I got it running. The first time I went down there, he said that I failed and would only give me the DTC codes. When I went back, I made sure that my truck was not putting out any DTC codes and was running right. If you're wondering, the ref didn't really offer any help with diagnosing my situation when I failed the first time.

The one that I had did the basic tests:
15mph: measured tailpipe CO2, O2, HC, CO, NO
25mph: measured tailpipe CO2, O2, HC, CO, NO

Visual test - I'm not sure what he looked for in my case...maybe PCV, 2 catalytic converters, fuel cap, air cleaner, muffler, charcoal can, o2 sensors, MIL light, fuel leaks

Functional test -
Misfire, Fuel System, Comprehensive Component - [Continuous Tests]
Catalyst, Evaporative system, Oxygen Sensor, Oxygen Sensor Heater - [Once Per Trip Tests]
 
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While I don't live in CA... I think it might depend on who you see and what kind of mood you might catch them in. I work for the Federal Gov. and I can tell you that depending on who you ask (of the so called experts) you'll get different answers at times.

Good deal on passing the test.

Its crazy..but I'm sure these modern fuel injected engines run far cleaner than any smooged/carbed/ yota I-6 in the 80's and 70's.

In the swap business I think you would need to make sure you have a CA engine to swap in the yota.. I know at times (depending on the year model of the engine) there were CA engines and then there were 49 state engines...
 
So, the 5.3L engine that I swapped into the FJ60 came with an automatic transmission. It was a 2007 L59 Gen III engine pulled from a Silverado Classic 1500 4x4. The guy did not even care.

1967 TLC, you should try to visit the smog ref here in San Diego. I'm sure he won't ask you. He didn't ask anything about the donor engine except for what type it was.

Elbert, my engine came from Michigan. I don't know if they make 49 state engines anymore. I think they are all 50 state legal for manufacturing purposes...but, I could be wrong.
 
most likely the "new" engines are 50 state legal... and maybe what I've said only applies to some of the older stuff. Worth checking into though...so you don't find yourself having to adapat stuff.
 
Thumbs UP! Stoked for you. I went thru the same thing and when I passed after 2 trips to the ref I felt real lucky....... I just had to smog for registration and passed. I was still sweating it!
 
Elbert said:
While I don't live in CA... I think it might depend on who you see and what kind of mood you might catch them in. I work for the Federal Gov. and I can tell you that depending on who you ask (of the so called experts) you'll get different answers at times.
Click to expand...


I agree with you, where else can you get a different answer to the same question every time you ask it!

It's funny how said government employees can become so efficient & careful with how they do their jobs just when you need them to be careless.

.
 
ivdusmc said:
Does the 5.3 work with the 4speed? is it an easy swap?
Click to expand...

I imagine its like any other swap...... but I wonder why would you want to put a 4 speed behind a 5.3?
Also, being that you are in CA the chances of it passing BAR is pretty slim....

dhawajir is/was very lucky to have passed the BAR.
If I were him I would of bought a mega/super lotto ticket that day !!!!:D
 
Conceptually it's not hard to get a BAR label. Just match the donor's exact configuration exactly. In reality that's not always so simple. BT, DT. Know that any aftermarket parts (i.e. any non stock replacement parts) that could in any remote way effect emissions need to have CARB E.O. number that applies to the donor vehicle. Read that to mean any parts that bolt between the first sensor in the intake and the last O2 sensor in the exhaust + any fuel system components. I'm pretty sure that djawahir knows all of this, I'm mostly posting it for others who will read this later.

Congrats!! That the Ref over-looked the trans type is a bonus. Not to rain on your parade, but when dealing with the gumberment nothing is ever final. Should someone in the BAR or CARB catch the oversight you might get a nasty-gram in the mail. There was a period when the law was clear, but the counter people @ the DMV didn't know for sure and a fair number of Honda XR400's got KA plates. Those m/c's should never have been eligible for plates in this state. Guys who got one plated were understandably ecstatic thinking that they were good to go for the life of the bike, until the DMV sent them all notifications that their plates were not renewable....

Was it me, I'd be looking hard for an ECU from a 5.3/manual trans donor. Once you find one review the donor's emissions components configuration and change any non-conformities on your rig. Then if you do get a notification you'll be ready for them.
 
dont' think the 5.3 was ever configured with manual transmission?
 
have any of you CA guys looked into getting Nevada P.O. box and pretending to reside there for your smog/ registration in the state next door NV?
 
That is something that KA is very aware of and most LEO's keep an eye out for. Unless you're in a very metropolitan area once they notice the NV plates are hanging out in KA for several months they'll stop you to ask why. And not all of NV is smog-check free, so you'd have to pick the area that you register in with at least a little care.
 
I don't know how it is in KA or NV but in CO the vehicle has to be registered at a physical address, not a PO Box. You can have a mailing address where ever you want but you have to have a physical address for the tags.
 
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