ZC legal in CA

[HumanResource]

I know it's been discussed, DOHC ZC can't pass smog because they were never offered here in US soil
BUT
what if I had an 88-89 Civic/CRX and tried to pass the engine off as an 88-89 Integra engine????
Same Year could it work retaining all the lil smog dealies?

[turbo joe]

I know it's been discussed, DOHC ZC can't pass smog because they were never offered here in US soil
BUT
what if I had an 88-89 Civic/CRX and tried to pass the engine off as an 88-89 Integra engine????
Same Year could it work retaining all the lil smog dealies?

I guess it depends on how savvy the referee is. If he checks the ID number, you're S.O.L.. Anymore, they're pretty wise to all the Honda guys and the JDM stuff. You could probably get away with a ZC in an Integra, because a regular smog guy isn't going to check ID numbers, but the referee guys check EVERYTHING. BTDT.

[HumanResource]

I know the serial # is not gonna show up in there books as a US motor, it's gonna be JDM engine for sure, but I thought that JDM engines were legal "replacement" swaps as long as there is a USDM version of it.

[TruSlydHatch]

I dont know bout cali, but here in Vegas.. you find some mexican smoggers, offer em an 8th of chronic or like 30 bucks, and you got yourself a free smog.... u should try it.. hahaha worked for my car haha.

Tru`

[KaBlammyman]

Im thinking about getting a ZC, but I dont want smog headaches, so does someone know for sure?

[turbo joe]

Yes, I know for sure.

1) If you go to the referee with a JDM motor, he will bounce you. They actually check engine ID numbers and they know what's up.

2) If you go to a regular smog guy, you'll probably get by...unless he spots that it's not the original motor...he'll send you to the referee (see #1)

[NastyHabitzCRX]

I wouldn't bother with a zc motor and try to smog it, you'll waste more time and money than buying a sohc vtec. Of course should you try make sure you have everything looking as stock as possible.
I got my d15b jdm vtec under the smog guys nose cause it looks completely stock, minus the dc header.

[jdmspecdc5]

you can probably pass it as a d16a1?

[krAzySi]

I dont know bout cali, but here in Vegas.. you find some mexican smoggers, offer em an 8th of chronic or like 30 bucks, and you got yourself a free smog.... u should try it.. hahaha worked for my car haha.

Tru`


hahaha thats true and it's what i always do :lol:

[89hatchback]

ya when it comes time to smog mine december of 04 im just going to go to a guy that my friend said will pass cars no matter what for 200 bucks. 200 is worth it for 2 years of peace.

[slowpoke]

sweet! i can't wait to finish 4 classes for my SMOG TECH certification. hmmm then i can make some ends meet on you folks

[ZC-CRX49]

In cali engine swaps are ok as long as they are newer then the body they are going into and you have to get them okd by a referee. It suxs. The way to pass is to ya pay a guy $200, or you get to know someone at a test only and tell him to hook you up. Thats what I did.

[slowpoke]

if you have a receipt for the motor ref might let u slide. i had a JDM sohc vtec ZC in my last EF hatch. He said just switch the head to a nonvtec one and make sure the obdo smog stuff was on- he passed it after all that. same 1.6L block to him, just a diff head mainly.

[buckethead]

i paid 140 to pass my zc. the first guy i went to said it was a gross poluter.

[Dr.Boost]

I got my Civic in CA with a DOHC ZC in it. They couldn't get it to pass somg because of the motor. The guy didn't know WTF he was talking about. He told me it was a 2.0 Prelude motor and the only reason it wouldn't pass is because of the header(factory DOHC ZC header). No smog inpections here. They just want your money and you're good to go.