All the threads here that talk of LS engine swaps got me wondering what kind of issues this can cause for titles and registrations. I have never owned a car that didn't have an OEM engine that originally came in that model

I saw some articles for California that stated the emission requirements for the car would go along with the year of the engine swapped in. For example California engine swaps

Is that true? What do other states make you do?

 

Every state is different. California allows you to swap a newer, cleaner engine into an older car so long as you transfer every bit of the associated emissions equipment in the EPA-certified configuration. A referee station needs to verify that it was done correctly.

 

Most other states don't care, because most don't have emission inspections. Are you in an Ohio emissions county?

 

In California vehicles 1975 and older don't need smog, or any other kind of inspection.

 

34 states currently require emissions testing.

 

Unfortunately, that's not always a free pass. Here in VA, the requirements for the annual safety inspection now include a visual check that the factory emissions equipment is in place, even on cars over 25 years old that are exempt from emissions testing. The equipment doesn't have to work, but cats and A.I.R. pumps and EGR valves need to be in place. You fail the safety inspection if the equipment is not present.

 

So theoretically, you can gut everything [e.g. no beads in the cat(s), empty smog pump] as long as the original housings are in place?

 

In VA, cars over 25 years old do not require an emissions test. The safety inspection requires an optical check of the emission equipment only on these cars.

 

Yep, Cuyahoga, North Royalton to be precise.

 

You should look up their regulations, then. I am sure they spell it out.

Joe, I don't consider "the urban county around the capital" to be a statewide emissions requirement test, which is what most of them seem to be. For instance, my state requires them only in counties under the influence of Chicago. I should have specified.

 

Those tests should have been dropped 15 years ago but goes to show when the government can keep taxing it never goes away.This was set up when their was some industry still in Cleveland and northeastern Ohio.