ramzoom Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 So who is the go to person in So. Cal (inland empire, orange county, LA county) to perform an engine/trans swap in my 521 pickup? Definitely would go with a late model FI motor and 5 speed.. Any recommendations on a shop or person and what motors? Not looking for high output motor just a simple swap with what ever FI motor is the easiest to fit with the least amount of surgery... Thanks! Quote Link to comment
datson4life Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 Whats fl motor? Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 Fuel Injected, at least that is what I think it is. Whats fl motor? 2 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 Well there's the following engines that are all EFI so very smooth and docile. Z20E '80-'81 S110 200sx* Z22E '82-'83 S110 200sx* CA18ET '85- S12 200sx** CA20E '84- S12 200sx* KA24E '89-'90 S13 240sx*** KA24E '90-97 D-21 Hardbody*** KA24DE '91-'98 S13/14 240sx*** KA24DE '98- D-21 Hardbody*** * smallish displacement lackluster performance ** slightly more power but smaller displacement so not the best for a heavy truck even though a turbo. *** better displacement, better torque. S13/14 engines are heavier than the truck ones but can share transmissions. Too much bother but wow... VG30E '84- 300zx, '87- D-21 Hardbody/Pathfinder, '87- S12 200sx Quote Link to comment
ramzoom Posted November 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 Yes...Fuel injected... I have done a swap before on another brand but would rather find someone local to do the swap this time..So is there anyone nearby that isnt a flake? lol.. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 You are in California.... right? Quote Link to comment
Pacific coast Datsun Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Keep it stock & enjoy it. 1 Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 There is a lot of people, what do you want a LS2 sr20 ka24? Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 hCrist, you're in California???? You'll have to emission test if you put a newer engine in. Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Really that again. Mike I smog mine every year. Lol Quote Link to comment
Duncan Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 No. pre-'75 vehicles are required to have the original smog equipment that came on the vehicle. However, they are EXEMPT from testing. People think their care are smog exempt, but that is not true. They are test-exempt. The cops can mess with you if you're an asshole, but that rarely happens. hCrist, you're in California???? You'll have to emission test if you put a newer engine in. Quote Link to comment
Eomund Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 hCrist, you're in California???? You'll have to emission test if you put a newer engine in. No. pre-'75 vehicles are required to have the original smog equipment that came on the vehicle. However, they are EXEMPT from testing. People think their care are smog exempt, but that is not true. They are test-exempt. The cops can mess with you if you're an asshole, but that rarely happens. Ya pretty much. Long and short, they gotta catch you with it. Most cops don't know,shit about cars anyway, so even if,they did make you pop the hood, they'd prolly not even know. You know as long,as it's not like some psycho racing setup or something. Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Ok this getting off subject again "MIKE" he asked about swap shops not about legal smog issues in his truck. Jesus fuckin christ. 1 Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Mike actually works for CARB. He's a CARB narc 2 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 '76 and up vehicles must have smog testing '75 and earlier are exempt from testing but their original smog equipment must be on (and presumably functional) and must be able to pass a visual inspection... not that they will, only that they might be inspected. A '75 or earlier may have an engine swap IF the engine is the same year or newer than the original. It will be inspected to have all emissions equipment and pass emissions test (for that year of engine!) and a BAR sticker placed on the door jam to show the swap was legal. From then on it must be smog tested and pass for that year of engine. Any cop who suspects an engine swap, and car does not have the BAR sticker, or suspects stock emission controls were tampered with can be sent for inspection. IF the engine was swapped it can either be tested and pass to get the sticker or it's off the road. IF the original engine and it has all the smog equipment on you're on your way. IF you have weber carb, open air filter, oil catch can, header, missing cat, wrong gas cap, etc you can put all the original equipment back on to pass a visual or you are off the road. All this takes is driving like a dick, loud exhaust, unsafe looking shit box, pissed off cop who stops you. Unlikely? Think again. If you obviously have a chevy engine in a Datsun you could be pulled off the road without the BAR sticker. The cop doesn't have to be an expert, he can send you to an expert be visually inspected for almost no reason. Oh yeah an SR20 or any other engine not used in N American cars is an automatic fail. Most after market stuff are not emissions compliant. The only way to get around an illegal engine swap and stay on the raod is to have the original engine complete with all emissions equipment ready to swap back into your Datsun so it passes any inspection. You may still be liable for an illegal swap. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Ok this getting off subject again "MIKE" he asked about swap shops not about legal smog issues in his truck. Jesus fuckin christ. So how is telling him to go to a shop, get the swap done, and then be pulled off the road helping someone? He'll be saying WTF? why didn't someone tell me about this? You should know the risks before starting a swap in California. Perhaps the risk is low to moderate but at the least he should be doing his own research on this, I'm no expert. I just don't want to see a 521 off the road for something avoidable. Quote Link to comment
Eomund Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Mike, kinda need to chill. First, you live in Canada. For us that live here in sunny California know how it is here, well because we live here. You think they inspect these old cars? California has the largest and most vibrant tuning and hotrodding scene in the world. If they were anal about it, or even cared, all the muscle cars would be screwed. With the new corvette engines, superchargers and all the 'illegal' mods you see almost no pre-smog car would be allowed to be on the road. There's a car that was built here in Lompoc where I live, a 620 with a blown ford V8 totally dragged out is,street legal. Liscense plate and everything. Not sure how hen insures this monster but still, technically legal. Oh, and as dickish as cops can be, they don't have the legal right to inspect your vehicle for smog stuff. And as these vehicles are inspection exempt, they can't really write a,fix it ticket to force an inspection. I live in Santa Barbara county, one of the stricktest in Cali, trust me I HAVE to know this shit. Cops HATE it when you quote laws back to them that stop them from harrasing you. And sorry, I'll stop inputting to the thread hijack. 1 Quote Link to comment
ramzoom Posted November 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 I never got hassled over this...lol Just need a name for someone if you guys know anyone local..I read on the forums about a guy in Fullerton named John??..I would rather convert it to late model engine/trans and keep it simple...would love to add A/C if theres room. It may stay stock but I would like to speak to someone to see what it costs in labor to swap. I have been reading up on swaps on here so I have an idea of what is involved..So what is the easiest and least expensive motor to buy and swap in? Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 So how is telling him to go to a shop, get the swap done, and then be pulled off the road helping someone? He'll be saying WTF? why didn't someone tell me about this? You should know the risks before starting a swap in California. Perhaps the risk is low to moderate but at the least he should be doing his own research on this, I'm no expert. I just don't want to see a 521 off the road for something avoidable. I understand but this is old news already, and i know your the Mod and you are very smart, but you have done this before and it takes the thread a whole new direction. Sometimes people need to find out the hard way and i am sure that he will be notified about the legal issues before its done and lastly how many Datsuns on this forum alone are motor swapped? Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 '76 and up vehicles must have smog testing '75 and earlier are exempt from testing but their original smog equipment must be on (and presumably functional) and must be able to pass a visual inspection... not that they will, only that they might be inspected. A '75 or earlier may have an engine swap IF the engine is the same year or newer than the original. It will be inspected to have all emissions equipment and pass emissions test (for that year of engine!) and a BAR sticker placed on the door jam to show the swap was legal. From then on it must be smog tested and pass for that year of engine. Any cop who suspects an engine swap, and car does not have the BAR sticker, or suspects stock emission controls were tampered with can be sent for inspection. IF the engine was swapped it can either be tested and pass to get the sticker or it's off the road. IF the original engine and it has all the smog equipment on you're on your way. IF you have weber carb, open air filter, oil catch can, header, missing cat, wrong gas cap, etc you can put all the original equipment back on to pass a visual or you are off the road. All this takes is driving like a dick, loud exhaust, unsafe looking shit box, pissed off cop who stops you. Unlikely? Think again. If you obviously have a chevy engine in a Datsun you could be pulled off the road without the BAR sticker. The cop doesn't have to be an expert, he can send you to an expert be visually inspected for almost no reason. Oh yeah an SR20 or any other engine not used in N American cars is an automatic fail. Most after market stuff are not emissions compliant. The only way to get around an illegal engine swap and stay on the raod is to have the original engine complete with all emissions equipment ready to swap back into your Datsun so it passes any inspection. You may still be liable for an illegal swap. So I guess my FJ20 is out of the question to then.shit. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Probably more than half are swapped. But this includes all non California cars also where it doesn't matter nearly as much. California has it's own set of rules. Ignorance of the law is not going to help if it's pulled off the road and can't be used and can't be sold either because of an engine swap. So I guess my FJ20 is out of the question to then.shit. Not out of the question. Anything can be made to fit but it won't be compliant unless it came on a North American car of the same year or newer. If not there are no emission standards to test it to. If you have an FJ does the car have the door jam BAR sticker? Unlikely. But there is a small risk of being taken off the road. Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Probably more than half are swapped. But this includes all non California cars also where it doesn't matter nearly as much. California has it's own set of rules. Ignorance of the law is not going to help if it's pulled off the road and can't be used and can't be sold either because of an engine swap. Your right but as far as I know being Southern liberal California, It has not happened. Now with that said they will go hard after a Honda swapped out but not the classics. Mike lets be honest love or hate datsuns everyone has either owned one or knows a family member that owned one and I have never heard any one say anything bad other then they had fun in it or thats what they had through tuff times blah blah blah, but never a bad story about one taken off the road because of a engine swap. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Agree unlikely. Not impossible. Still there must be a few Datsuns around with 'tuner' shit on them that sound like a chain saw and an idiot driver. 1 Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Agree unlikely. Not impossible. Still there must be a few Datsuns around with 'tuner' shit on them that sound like a chain saw and an idiot driver. Of course sweetheart but there is always a exception to the rule. More in Hondas though and i know of people here in the south bay that have issues. Quote Link to comment
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