Engine Swaps and Passing Emissions

[gertsch]

When I worked for dc air quality. It had to be from the same year and newer vehicle, had to be an engine offered in that vehicle. For example. I have a 94 grand cherokee. I can legally swap in a 5.2, 5.9l 4.7, 5.7, 3.7, or the 3.0 diesel. Because it is offered in the grand Cherokees. So as long as it is a motor offered for your year and model or newer rover you can do it. But things might have changed since I worked there. I'd call Jim duckworth at the dc air quality.

 

[Toad]

Fed rules say that it has to be same model year or newer. Does not have to be same manufacturer.

 

[Bart]

I don't think swaps need to be from the same manufacturer. There are too many legal GM swaps into newer Jeeps these days. Like Dempsey said, check with your local air quality department.

 

[gertsch]

For light-duty vehicles, installation of a light-duty eng~ne into a different light-duty vehicle by any person would be considered tampering unless the resulting vehicle is identical (with regard to all emission related parts, engine design parameters, and engine calibrations) to a certified configuration of the same or newer model year as the vehicle chassis, or if there is a reasonable basis for knowing that emissions are not adversely affected as described in Memo 1A. The appropriate source for technical information regarding the certified configuration of a vehicle of a particular model year is the vehicle manufacturer.


From epa

 

[Kevin B.]

I don't think you need an EPA sticker though. The guy at Salt Lake County Air Quality specifically told me that yes there are Federal regulations, and no they don't give a crap about them . He was very insistent that he was the only guy standing between me and a registerable engine swap, and all he cared about was that the finished swap have a motor same year or newer than the truck, that it have the best of the smog/evap stuff from the old setup and the new, and that when it's done the vehicle pass emissions standards for the truck the new motor came from.

To be honest, it seems like a bit of a loose operation down there and I got the distinct impression that as long as I came in educated about what was needed and was willing to work with him to get through all the loopholes, I wouldn't have a problem getting my swap passed. I also got the impression that if I strutted in there and started arguing chapter and verse and telling him how it is, that hell would freeze over before I'd get a swap approved .

 

[RogueJeepr]

This should sum it up for ya.
The cut-off year for putting older motors in a vehicle is 1986. After that if its a newer engine (than the car) you'll be fine .
One other thing to note; The less the DMV knows the better or your insurance company for that matter.
My last swap was a slow economy car and they classify it as a sports car since its a 2 door (stock) I never told em it had double the motor in it.
I did take it to the county (near murray park) for IM. They were great and showed me how to tune it to pass IM. It ran rich at first then I jetted it down in all 3 stages. It passed no problem and got even more power since then .

 

[gertsch]

Every county is different. I sure don't miss working for dc air quality that is for sure.