Moving to California..... Smog testing #FML

NYC Defender

Active member
Hey Forum,

I know this would be more appropriate thread in the Powertrain section, but I am looking for good advice, a good shop who can do the work and decent pricing ( maybe also start a war between LS guys and R28 guys).
All kidding aside, I know uncle Doug is the R28 guy ( uncle Doug, I called you few times and was unable to leave a VM)

So please give me some ideas and for shop owners, please PM me some pricings if possible.

this will be going into a 1994 D110 with a 3.5 V8 and the car has been completely restored.

Thank you for all your input.
 

Napalm00

Technical Excellence Contributor
LS and 2.8 are supposed to be BAR certified swapable into NAS trucks in California. Even Nick the owner of the adapter biz cant get this done.

Long story short: its nearly impossible for a NAS truck to legally swap to either or these engines...like not gonna happen

If you have a pre 97 ROW truck and somehow make it through the titling process and title it as diesel you have a chance, as long as you dont get pulled over at a popup smog check.

If you are willing to skirt the law there are ways, legally pretty much a non starter.
 

Napalm00

Technical Excellence Contributor
Be more specific since I don't think I answered your original question.

R2.8 is not legal for using California no matter what it's not certified.

A b a r swap with an LS motor that was originally in a light duty truck is technically possible but no one has been able to get one past the state as they keep on moving the goal post.

Very similar to the gun laws in California they're making it nearly impossible or just not applying the law as stated
 

NYC Defender

Active member
I'm lost here,

so let's say the R28 is NOT legal in California.
The LS engine is so how come I can't put it in a defender and go for smog check and pass?
If the engine is legal and does not pollute more than any other LS engine how can they deny it? ( let's not talk about school buses and very old truck on the California roads).

Maybe I can keep my plates out of state and an address to match lol.
 

Napalm00

Technical Excellence Contributor
its a long long essay. Since you have a ROW there is an out. FYI if your vehicle is in California for 15 contiguous days is must be registered here.

to simply answer your question you cant just put an engine and get a pass, California matches the engine to the vehicle it come from. You can change the engine but it requires you to have a legal vehicle to begin with.

your ROW is NOT legal in California as is, period . there are ways around it but most are not legal.

Since yours is gas powered the ONLY legal way to get it in the state is to take it to G&K in san diego, the only state CARB lab. They will modify the stock engine to be in compliance. cost is 10-15k and you cannot change the engine after this has been done, your stuck with the 3.5 forever and have to do SMOG checks like everyone else.


There are non-legal alternatives to avoid all of this.


A summary for legal options:

NAS = Legal
ROW pre97 diesel = not legal unless modded by GK
ROW gas = not legal unless modded by GK


There are tons of ways to do it without adhering to the law, they all have risks.
 

dcg

Well-known member
its a long long essay. Since you have a ROW there is an out. FYI if your vehicle is in California for 15 contiguous days is must be registered here.

to simply answer your question you cant just put an engine and get a pass, California matches the engine to the vehicle it come from. You can change the engine but it requires you to have a legal vehicle to begin with.

your ROW is NOT legal in California as is, period . there are ways around it but most are not legal.

Since yours is gas powered the ONLY legal way to get it in the state is to take it to G&K in san diego, the only state CARB lab. They will modify the stock engine to be in compliance. cost is 10-15k and you cannot change the engine after this has been done, your stuck with the 3.5 forever and have to do SMOG checks like everyone else.


There are non-legal alternatives to avoid all of this.


A summary for legal options:

NAS = Legal
ROW pre97 diesel = not legal unless modded by GK
ROW gas = not legal unless modded by GK


There are tons of ways to do it without adhering to the law, they all have risks.
What if the ROW truck was imported during the 80s gray market period but never registered in CA?
 

BarryO

Well-known member
And this explains a lot of the reason NAS trucks are worth so much. Pretty much required for the largest vehicle market in the country ...
 

Napalm00

Technical Excellence Contributor
Yup∆∆∆∆

There are a handful of legally converted row trucks in the state and some more that skirted the law
 

jymmiejamz

Founding Member
Callsign: KN4JHI
Don't forget they do a physical VIN inspection. They look at the VIN plate on the dash (brake booster in your case), the Federal Safety/emissions sticker, and one other under the hood from what I remember.
 

pmatusov

Technical Excellence Contributor
Callsign: AK6PM
It's mostly money.
Talk to Nick Markiw - I absolutely trust his opinion and experience in these matters.
 

Napalm00

Technical Excellence Contributor
Don't forget they do a physical VIN inspection. They look at the VIN plate on the dash (brake booster in your case), the Federal Safety/emissions sticker, and one other under the hood from what I remember.


Which is now done by a CHP officer and can no longer be done by a third party.
 

NYC Defender

Active member
what I really need is who knows a good shop to do an engine/ Transmission swap on a 1994 D110??
Legalities (Shmigalities) is something I can work with (or around).
 

Napalm00

Technical Excellence Contributor
Well there are two big well known options here. Im in the bay area and we have a large group of dedicated rover folks in the Northern California Land Rover Club.

Two of the members own shops within an hour of SF and both have done swaps. Tim @ scully offroad has a 2.8 sitting in his shop right now and recently posted a LS he did on a quadcab hicap 110.

Colin @ CT motorwerks also has a ton of experience and does rovers almost exclusively.

FYI on a big project like this expect more than a month of turn around at the absolute minimum. Also if you found some previously unknown legal avenue that isnt SB100 im all ears.
 

NYC Defender

Active member
Well there are two big well known options here. Im in the bay area and we have a large group of dedicated rover folks in the Northern California Land Rover Club.

Two of the members own shops within an hour of SF and both have done swaps. Tim @ scully offroad has a 2.8 sitting in his shop right now and recently posted a LS he did on a quadcab hicap 110.

Colin @ CT motorwerks also has a ton of experience and does rovers almost exclusively.

FYI on a big project like this expect more than a month of turn around at the absolute minimum. Also if you found some previously unknown legal avenue that isnt SB100 im all ears.
Love it, will get in touch with both members when the time is right.
What's up with this SB100?
 
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