Engine swap in California
 

Hi,
Im looking into buying an RX-7 SE.
the only problem is that I would like to turbo it and am not sure if it would be smog safe to do so.

I'm planning on replacing the engine all together (due to high millage).

so would putting a turbo II engine make the car "unsmogable"?

as long as you retain all the stock smog crap that comes on the TII (air pump, ACV, etc. You'd also need to find some good TII cats or go aftermarket.) you should be fine.

yes, but will it pass visual inspection??

As long as you have all the smog stuff intact and only CARB-legal mods, I don't see why not. A stock TII passes smog, so why shouldn't a TII motor in a n/a car? Then again, California likes to make laws that don't make any sense... I'm sure there's someone on here who knows for sure and will chime in any time.

If your buying a car in cali you must make sure you buy the car in a certain county. My buddy bought an older BMW and had to take it to Redding to some smog station. They really go through your car and will know it is. My suggestion would be to buy an SE, smog it, and then do the swap. Hopefully you won't have to smog every 2 years.


Do yourself a favor and buy a TII.

i may be wrong but im pretty sure if you have a na car they want a na engine in it.

i would smog it na then do the swap.

There are two ways to do a swap using a Turbo motor in a CA car that was not originally Turbo.

#1, The Turbo motor comes up as an option on the 86-91 RX-7 coupe, on the smog test computer. Therefore, if you have installed all the appropriate smog equipment (including the factory VAC routing sticker on the underside of the hood) then you should be able to pass fine. Just make sure the smog tech sets the tester for a SE coupe with the Turbo motor option.

#2, CA allows for a newer model year motor to be installed in a car, as long as the car meets the smog requirements for the model year appropriate for the engine. This is how the V8 swap guys get one to pass smog. If the Turbo motor is from a 89+ model year car, and the car meets the smog restrictions for the 89+ model year then you can use the motor in a pre-89 model year car. Please note, going this route will often red flag the car for an arbitration test center anytime smog is required (every two years).

It would pass wit no problem. Just keep the other stock turbo parts