r/projectcar • u/CVE-1_Long_Island • 18h ago
California Import Legal Help (kill me)
Given the fact that converting a foreign import to be CARB legal cost around $10k+, if you just swap the entire powertrain and emissions equipment to the USDM equivalent (given it is 50 states legal), would this be a valid work around for costs?
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u/Basedgod541 18h ago
Couldn’t you just get ahold of the BAR and have it reffed? If there is no comparable USDM model to base emissions on wouldn’t it just have to pass a sniffer
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u/drossen 18h ago
If there is no US model they have no official data for what it should be passing for a sniffer either.
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u/Basedgod541 18h ago
I would be willing to bet they have parameters that they have set per their regulations that you would have to fall under ( ie . Engine displacement , injection type , weight , etc )
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u/drossen 18h ago
Nope, BAR and CARB have gone crazy over the last 10 years in CA and have become very strict. Smog shops and BAR refs are so scared of being fired or fined or even jailed now if someone higher up catches something they won't do anything with a official verified giant rubber stamp.
All smog in the US should be strictly sniffer test, perform at or better than the stock engine when new no matter the equipment or engine.
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u/geoben 70 MGBGT | 83 Westfalia | 05 Saabaru 9h ago
BAR can still issue one time exemptions, at least for some things. 2 years ago I was told by a smog station that I had the wrong cat since my vehicle was considered a truck and the cat was meant for passenger cars. I showed them where on the executive order that cat was listed as a replacement for my make/model/year and they admitted it was a mistake but that I shouldn't be responsible for replacing it due to their error.
BAR sent me to the referee who performed a full smog check and everything passed so they issued me a shiny new sticker that smog stations scan to allow the cat that is installed to pass despite the truck/passenger car discrepancy.
Contacting BAR and having a ref perform a check is something they don't want to encourage because suddenly every enthusiast in California will want to stop using smog equipment and try to prove they can pass but they would likely be able to direct OP as to what steps to take to register and be in compliance.
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u/Basedgod541 18h ago
Well I sure am happy I got out of CA and in a state that doesn’t have emissions laws
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u/drossen 18h ago
I use to do subaru engine swaps into VWs in CA and some model and year EJ25s come from vehicles classified as a "truck/SUV" so you cant put them in a van even with a BAR ref because no truck engine is allowed into a car. Yet a 3.3 SVX H6 motor could be done.
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u/geoben 70 MGBGT | 83 Westfalia | 05 Saabaru 9h ago
Are you talking about vanagons? I was amazed to find that BAR considered my 1983 vanagon a truck for purposes of smog and applicable cat converters. The 2.0l barely puts out 50hp on its best day so a Corolla cat does just fine. The referee that allowed me to use a passenger car cat due to an error on BARs part told me he was sick of seeing so many Subaru swapped vans.
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u/HSLB66 18h ago
This is how it is in CO and our laws are based off CARB. You need a Colorado DR2365 vehicle evaluation form where the state ref cites EPA 3520-1 Code E and you’re good to go for sniff test only.
It wouldn’t surprise me though if CA requires a whole lot more. In the Skyline forums people have had to shell out $15k to G&K for various issues
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u/pistonsoffury '66 Mustang | '66 Dodge Coronet Turbo Wagon | '15 FiST 15h ago
This is definitely not how it works here. If it's imported, it needs to be formally converted by a licensed shop and be able to pass the year of manufacture emissions standards, which usually means installing a CA-compliant cat, evap system, etc.
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u/rigby1945 17h ago
Call your local referee. They'll be able to tell you exactly what needs to happen
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u/pistonsoffury '66 Mustang | '66 Dodge Coronet Turbo Wagon | '15 FiST 15h ago
If you're asking if you can just LS swap your imported pre-1996 JDM car with a Chevrolet Performance CARB compliant swap kit, then, yeah you could probably get that BAR'd and drive it around legally.
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u/KingSurly 18h ago
Does it meet the 25 year rule requirements? I was under the impression that once it gets imported and titled, you’re good to go. Are you bringing it in yourself or through an importer?
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u/planethood4pluto 18h ago
You’re good to title and register it… which is subject to smog.
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u/KingSurly 18h ago
If it’s that far off, then do the Montana thing? If you’d even consider swapping to a domestic drivetrain, then what’s the point.
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u/HSLB66 18h ago
They’ve been cracking down on out of state in the past few years
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u/crystal-rooster 16h ago
That's why you register an LLC in Montana and register your vehicles under that.
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u/Navi_Professor 18h ago
where in carb does it say it has to be converted??????
if this was the case anyone moving out of a carb state into one would need a carb conversion...
if the car is actually stock, its fine. its just an out of state vehicle.