Topic: CA legal v6to 4cyl swap

[jimbo74]

since there are so many v6 88-89 4 runners out there that are bad... what would it take to get them CA legalized?

with a 22re swap. i am pretty sure the engine and all smog equip has to be there, as well as the ecu and such, tranny, if manual, wont matter nor tcase, harness of course, new 4 cyle guage cluster

what do you need to get acomplished to make it smog legal in ca?

[4RunnerChevy]

Well since the 22 was available in those years then its an easy Referee thing.  Just gotta have all the 22 smog and exhaust, and throw no codes.

[jimbo74 [OP]]

and jsut schedule a appointment with a ref? then jsut say its an engine swap?

[IronClad]

look into the laws. i didnt dive too far into them but i know in other places you cant *downgrade* so to speak. like go from v8 to v6 or v6 to 4cyl  etc

[4RunnerChevy]

and jsut schedule a appointment with a ref? then jsut say its an engine swap?

Yup sir. downgrading isn't an issue, just same year or newer.

[fordh8r]

Yup sir. downgrading isn't an issue, just same year or newer.

Also, both donor and recipient vehicles must be Ca Smog legal and of the same weight class of vehicle.   

[jimbo74 [OP]]

do i need to prove the engine year? how would i prove it? especially if i am rebuilding a 22re to drop in?

[IronClad]

There are numbers on the block they will look at which they can tell what year vehicle it came in and even what vin number its associated with. ( CHP did this to mine when i was dealing with some VIN issues)

[Talon84x4]

in my experience for the check they go off of the ECU for the year and not the block numbers

[4RunnerChevy]

I had the registration from my donor, and that seemed to work.  The ref will most likely print pictures from AllData, and make sure your new engine, smog, and exhaust match the pics.  This is what the Santa Clara Ref did with mine, he will also hook it to a computer to make sure you don't have any codes.  If its all good then he'll print a sticker and you go get it smogged.