I think everything is through the ECU now (and a coarse visual check). If the ECU data doesn't match the VIN stats, it's usually a no-go.

I was just wondering if anyone you knew successfully did an exempt-type referee registration. I gave up on my old BMW 2002Ti (a domestic German model) because it had to be sent to a referee every time. It had two side draft Webers. I could never get it to pass the smog check.

 

It's not called an "idiot light" for nothing.

 

No I dont know anyone that has had to do that. Out here in the "wild midwest" that is mostly something we dont deal with! I have known tons of people with all sorts of odd engine swaps and we just dont have to worry about that stuff.

I did have a shop doing the first safety inspection when I came to MO tell me the hwy patrol may have to inspect because a couple of body panels did not have matching VINS. He could not understand that if body panels are damaged and replaced, they will not have matching VINs (he is a service manager too!) ... So I let him call his boss to confirm and tried not to laugh when she said to inspect the damned car and let me get on my way

 

It can be done. You just need the emissions equipment, sensors, and intake, which isn't crazy all things considered. Genuinely not the craziest thing in the world to do. They make harnesses for the engines, and you can run a K-pro ECU which retains the OBD-II monitors for the sensors to be in a ready state. Ballade sells a harness adapter. It's been done before including in a Lotus. A lot of people start with a donor car to make sure they have all the emissions stuff. You can also go to different BAR locations where it seems like some refs are more lenient than others. Some people have failed at one location but passed at another. Make sure you document everything with receipts and photos of the entire build process.

People are super scared of California. It's more stringent than other states but not impossible. It just needs to be the same mode-year engine or newer. Shit, you can swap an LS if you want. Just need to meet the criteria.

 

Those crazy days are over for this old fart.

 

If I had to, I would. I’d rather not because I really love the F-series. But if faced with the problem, I’d swap in a K20A2. Keep the 8k redline at least.