I'm interested in potentially swapping in a newer gen engine in my 3rd gen, but wasn't sure how it would affect the smog test. On one hand, I would think it's not legal because it is simply not the stock engine. On the other hand, it seems like it could be legal because it is actually a newer engine that was smog legal in a newer car and probably runs cleaner.

Any thoughts, info or experience from any swappers on this topic would be appreciated. I'm in Cali.

 

I'm very far away from Cali, but from what I've heard you can swap engines as long as you keep the stock emissions equipment from the new engine and it still passes smog. But don't quote me on that.

 

It is legal if the car was avalible with a V8 gas and you are installing a V8 gas, it has to be the same year or newer than the car, is has to have all functioning emissions equiptment for the year of the motor and it has to pass the sniffer test, in cali, you may need to have it inspected for approval that all the rules have been met