Engine swaps in California are not nearly the headache people seem to think they are. The first rule is that the engine must be the same year or newer. No problem with your swap there. Second, the engine going into the car must include ALL of the components that make it smog legal in the donor's chassis. That is, if the car had EFI, the engine in the new car must be EFI, you can't swap in side draft carbs (for example). If the car had a charcoal canister, same same, right down the line. This is not a big issue going Volvo to Volvo. Next, you'll want to do the whole enchilada. That is, you want the engine and trans, if there are any smog related trans issues, to come from the same vehicle. Thus, if you get a driveline with an electronically governed trans, and if any of the shifting etc is governed by the ECU and may be related to emissions controls, all of that needs to be in working order so your "single vehicle" swap can be approved. If you get an engine from a year with an electronically controlled trans, and swap in a non-controlled trans (for example) you then have a multiple vehicle swap and the certification will be tougher. Once the swap is complete, and you have all the systems working just as they did in the donor, the car goes to a CARB (California Air Resources Board) Marshall. These are not just your average paper pushers, they are knowledgeable pros and most of them I've met are motor heads like us. Regardless, they are relentless in their support of the rules. What they are going to do is certify that the new drive train is as it was in the donor. Then they are going to run you through a smog test. Once you pass both inspections they put a bar code (just like the new cars have) on the door. Thereafter, when you go to your smog check, they just scan you into the system. That is, if you passed the first time! Thus, aside from the work of the swap, it's only a major process once. Call CARB. They have a booklet, or used to, on the process. Site is : http://www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm

Good luck on the swap!

DS

In NC when a motor swap is done to a newer engine, the car is held to the standard of the car the newer engine came from. You need a title or a registration from the donor car for validation if I recall correctly... along with a receipt for the engine (they frown on theft). NOTE: You will also have to swap the fuel system and possibly tank so you have the return fuel line in place from the fuel rail.

jorrell
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92 245 287K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

I would think that the surest answers would come from the DMV itself -- do they have a link on their website to ask about engine swapping? You will certainly need a special inspection, but as long as you have the paperwork to show that you put in a *newer* engine, they shouldn't mind -- after all, isn't CA a state where everyone does car customizing, etc. I'm sure they have some protocol to deal with this.
Good luck.