What a mess Diesel swap in California

[Ghetto Fireman]

Just returned the the "Bureau of Automotive Repair" here in good ol' California. Wanted to get the facts on converting my 65 FJ-45 over to diesel. First the motor has to be the same year or newer and it has to have been offered as an original power option??? I know they came with the "H" diesel, but was that an option in the US? After I finished talking to the gentleman he said " it's a 65 and smog exempt" who will know!! Now I am totally confused. I have heard some horror stories of guys not be able to register their vehicles here in California. Anyone had any experiences?

Thanks

Mike

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

Just returned the the "Bureau of Automotive Repair" here in good ol' California. Wanted to get the facts on converting my 65 FJ-45 over to diesel. First the motor has to be the same year or newer and it has to have been offered as an original power option??? I know they came with the "H" diesel, but was that an option in the US? After I finished talking to the gentleman he said " it's a 65 and smog exempt" who will know!! Now I am totally confused. I have heard some horror stories of guys not be able to register their vehicles here in California. Anyone had any experiences?

Thanks

Mike

The simple answer is-go for it, nobody will look at a 65.
The more complicated: The engines used in Canada will be fine too, so 3B and 2H are an option.
The most complicated: If you go with #1 and they ever reinstitute smog checks for the old ones (very unlikely), you could have a problem.

I'd just do it.
cheers,
J

 

[Kynot62]

Call Georg at Valley Hybrids in Stockton, CA. He does diesel swaps and may be able to give you some good real world advice.

Tony

 

[1tontoy]

Sounds like the gentleman answered two questions:

1) diesel swap for a currently non-exempt vehicle

2) diesel swap for a smog-exempt vehicle

Think about it in terms of a 69 camaro muscle car, for example; people in CA frequently swap big blocks for small blocks engines of all vintage. Smog exempt means do whatever the hell you want...

Then again, if you are looking to change the CA title to a fuel type = diesel, then there is likely a re-inspection (but maybe not since its a smog exempt year, I don't know)....and that may be problematic. If you don't want to change the title, then go for it. Otherwise, well, .....

 

[dshock]

Reading on California's webpage (Smog Information) it would appear that any vehicle that was built with a diesel engine before 1998 is smog exempt? Does that include JDM vehicles, etc? It doesn't help with a conversion, but it sure opens up options for those lucky enough to have imported vehicles.

Dan

 

[sethro]

don't trip chocolate chip...

smog exempt= put a used space shuttle motor in there, sheesh. DMV don't care.


seriously, why aren't you posting build pics?


get a move on tiger.



I put a cummins 4bta in my 94 80 series and got it registered in California no problemo. Good bye smog checks, hello biodiesel.

(It'll be for sale soon, too!)

 

[Combat Chuck]

Greetings from NorCal!
I plan on doing a diesel swap for The Mule sooner or later, and what I've found in my research is that:
-If you actually want to let the Department of Murdered Vegetation know that you swapped in a diesel, you just need to fill out a "Change of Motive Power".
-If they ask you to see a smog ref, just move on to the next DMV.
-I'm also betting on it being less of a concern if you do the paperwork at a DMV in a county that doesn't enforce smog. (For instance, I plan on visiting the Willits DMV when I register for diesel).
- If they ask for an inspection, count on their ignorance, as long as you have a vehicle that had diesel options "back in the day" then chances are they couldn't tell a 1HD-T from a 1H, so long as it says "Toyota" and "Diesel" on it, they probably won't run block codes.
-They may run a "sniffer" on the exhaust to verify that it is actually a diesel, and you're not trying to skate around bi-anual smog checks, it shouldn't be a problem.

Ultimately, though, you're running a '65, so why bother with satiating The Soviet State of California's asinine smog laws? Get crackin', I want to see a build thread!

 

[orangefj45]

there's a ton of mis-information floating around out there..........

as far as CA is concerned, any diesel powered vehicle newer than 98 needs to have a smog inspection. not only at time of title transfer but bi-anually as well. earlier vehicles with diesel titles are smog excempt. just like any gasser pre 76.

and as far as diesel conversions go. if you have a vehicle that's been converted to a diesel engine ( needs to be highway approved, can't be an industrial engine!!!!!!! ), then all you have to do is to take the vehicle to your local DMV and have them perform a vehicle inspection for a re-power.

i've done this more than once and have never had an issue.

 

[orangefj45]

and to prove my point, i took this one to the DMV today and we walked out less than 30 minutes later with a current reg, sticker and diesel title.

way too much hear-say and rumors out there.......

georg

 

[orangefj45]

now if i can just figure out how to post pics properly.

 

[roscoFJ73]

-They may run a "sniffer" on the exhaust to verify that it is actually a diesel, and you're not trying to skate around bi-anual smog checks, it shouldn't be a problem.

!

Seriously ,what kind of people work in there if they have to run sniffer tests to see if it is truly a diesel?

 

[roscoFJ73]

now if i can just figure out how to post pics properly.

Who cares,1HZ swaps look good at any angle

 

[D'Animal]

This is correct and do not forget the part in BOLD.

there's a ton of mis-information floating around out there..........

as far as CA is concerned, any diesel powered vehicle newer than 98 needs to have a smog inspection. not only at time of title transfer but bi-anually as well. earlier vehicles with diesel titles are smog excempt. just like any gasser pre 76.

and as far as diesel conversions go. if you have a vehicle that's been converted to a diesel engine ( needs to be highway approved, can't be an industrial engine!!!!!!! ), then all you have to do is to take the vehicle to your local DMV and have them perform a vehicle inspection for a re-power.

i've done this more than once and have never had an issue.

3B Cummins are stationary industrial engines and you will not get it past a California Smog Ref who is doing their job.

4B Cummins should not be a problem as long as it came out of a vehicle. The ID tag on the side of the valve train housing clearly states for On-Highway or Non-Highway use. Both types are readily available.

I have no idea what engine you are putting in. I have done a Cummins so I've been there, done that.

 

[Shag55]

Hi guys. I'm in the process of buying a 77 fj40. Plan is to put a Cummings 4b and 5 speed in it. Any updates on smog issues id appreciate it. Before I pull the trigger.

 

[doug720]

What George and others have posted, but never go to DMV for registration or title reasons...Go to Auto Club for all DMV needs except a drivers license. It's worth joining just for the DMV avoidance, the perks are a bonus!

Fill out "Statement of Facts" for fuel type change, and a new title will arrive in the mail. As I recall, it was around a $20 fee.

Or, just swap a diesel in and forget about it. A 1965 is exempt and DMV does not have a reason to ask, know or care.

 

[repentsinner]

Pretty sure AAA can't do a repower as it requires a (minimal) inspection. Take it to the CA DMV, show them something that says diesel on the engine and fuel door, and you're good.

I've imported a CDM HJ60 into CA and also repowered an FJ60, the repower was definitely the easier of the two interactions with The Man.

 

[orangefj45]

I took one to the DMV a month ago; 97 80-series. Took 40 minutes total and he now has a CA diesel title.

Georg @ Valley Hybrids & Cruiser Brothers

 

[Diesel42]

Isn't your FJ a gasser anyway? I would just register it and seeing that it doesn't require smog anyway(diesel or gas) then do the swap.

 

[Shag55]

Isn't your FJ a gasser anyway? I would just register it and seeing that it doesn't require smog anyway(diesel or gas) then do the swap.

I pulled the plug on the 77 and got a 69 so no smog required

 

[doug720]

Pretty sure AAA can't do a repower as it requires a (minimal) inspection. Take it to the CA DMV, show them something that says diesel on the engine and fuel door, and you're good.

I've imported a CDM HJ60 into CA and also repowered an FJ60, the repower was definitely the easier of the two interactions with The Man.

I have done two diesel swaps here in SoCal and both had titles switched to diesel fuel at the AAA in Manhattan Beach. Maybe something has changed in the last couple of years. But the main paperwork is the "Statement of Facts" to change fuel type, then a quick visual and sniff test of the fuel.

Took 2 minutes to inspect and a total of fifteen at AAA.