Head Swaps and Cali Smog Rules

[bodiby]

I moved to Cali within the last 6 months. I am confused by the rules on swaps. I did a search and determined that USDM engines are easier to make legal than JDM, but I did not find anything about head swaps.

What if I want to put a F22B or an H23 head on my block? Will these ever pass visual?

[wed3k]

I moved to Cali within the last 6 months. I am confused by the rules on swaps. I did a search and determined that USDM engines are easier to make legal than JDM, but I did not find anything about head swaps.

What if I want to put a F22B or an H23 head on my block? Will these ever pass visual?

no...because a cb7 (in the US) never came with dual cams.

so id bring it to a really shady place and pay them off.
unless the block says f22A1/4/6 and you have the h23/f22b head.
if the guy is stupid enuf, he'll just pass it.

i think ill do that.

[timmy0tool]

jdm motors can pass smog. it's just a matter of getting the state of california to "recognize" the swap as being legal. of course you should hook up everything that is related to smog (i.e. egr, cat, intake, exhaust, etc). think about all the mechanics that replace motors on stock cars. they use japanese motors all day and they are legal. california has the strictest smog rule in the whole nation. go to the california air resources board (CARB) website, or board of air resources (BAR) for more info on legalizing a motor.

and it doesn't matter if you have a single or dual overhead head; a motor is a motor. i've personally seen jdm h22a's pass smog and get a BAR sticker (starkrice for example). if you want to do it "under the table" as wed3k described, that's an option too. good luck!

[4GAccordH22]

When I was going through the BAR legalization process with my H22A1, I spoke with the referee and he told me that JDM motors are legal as long as there is a USDM equivalent (H22A JDM=H22A1/4 USDM). The reason I was asking is I was thinking about doing a ZC swap in my 89 Civic hatch, but the ZC was a JDM only motor. He stated that the ZC "closely matches the '88 '89 US Integra with the "non vacuum" advance distributor". In that it means that the USDM equivalent would be the D16A1, but this motor is only passable in '89 or older vehicles.

So, short answer would be that JDM motors CAN pass the CA emissions requirements when taken to a referee and properly legalized. Just make sure that all of the proper smog equipment is connected and functioning and that there are no CELs or other "instant fail" issues.

[v4lu3s]

if you do a head swap, such as an h23a1 head on an f22a# block be ready to argue that it is an equivalent to another engine as made by honda. as far as i know the case is the same when people try and BAR ls/vtecs.

[wed3k]

yea, so it'd would have to be bar'd as opposed to just straight up legal.
bar'd to a f22b or h23...(but like 4gaccord said...you'd need all the prelude's setup)

[bodiby]

thanks everone!!