California Legality of 914 engine swap Options

[wiredwrx]

Hello All,

I am looking for people, specifically in California, who have gone through the process of registering, insuring, and smog testing (If it is needed) a 914 with an engine swap.

I recently read about the change to law that says post 1975 cars, no matter how old are not smog exempt, so I plan on getting a pre 1975, or whatever year I need to get, to avoid that. But, what about registering the car. Do I have to see the state ref before I can get the registration. Do I even need to go to the State ref to get signed off on. DO I have to notify the DMV of the engine swap (I have a friend doing an engine swap, and his research has determined that the DMV must be notified of the engine swap)

I am looking for any information people have.

Thanx
Michael

[lapuwali]

But, I want to put a different engine in. I know that in order to do that legally, you have to put in a later engine year,

No. You can put in an engine from the same year as the chassis, if it's available. If you put in an earlier engine, you have to get the engine to pass the emissions for the year of the chassis. If the chassis is pre-smog, and the engine is pre-smog, no problem. If the chassis is pre-smog, and the engine is post-smog, then you have to change things, or neglect to inform the DMV.

Now, it's something of an open question if, after doing an engine swap, you're legally obligated to go to a ref station for checking if both engine and chassis are pre-smog. However, if you use, for example, a '73 engine in a '73 chassis, getting the engine to meet emissions shouldn't be a problem. No cat required, and other than ensuring that you're using the correct fuel system (can't use carbs if both engine AND chassis used FI originally). Basically just breathers, a canister, and the tailpipe test. The law is completely unclear on whether you need to visit a ref at all in this case.

If the engine you want is only available post-smog, then you have something of a dilemma.