[filmman03]

So living in Cali we have the strictest smog laws, upon that being said, I was curious if anyone could help me here.

I'm thinking of doing the turbo swap into my 92 2.3 however I understand the the SVO was from 84-86 so would it be legal or possible to get the turbo 2.3 to pass smog if I did put it in my 92?

[lilcobra 93lx]

No not in Cal the engine can not be older than the car
that being said check with your favorite smog guy and see
what he say's hope you can get it to pass
your car will be so much more fun

[TOM RENZO]

It will pass and know on will be the wiser. It is true that in califorina and other states The swap must be with a motor of the same year or newer. But how are they going to know. Do they take motor numbers during inspection?? I personallyt dont know. But the 2.3 turbo motor in stock form is very clean.

[evintho]

Won't work! I feel for you guys with the '90-'93's, it's a bad deal all around.
When you pull into a smog shop the first thing they'll see is the turbo. They'll go to their Alldata data base and note that a turbo never came on a '92. Illlegal modification. Fail! I've got an '89. At least I can say the motor if from an '89 XR4ti (the last year Ford sold turbos). I'm sorry to rain on your parade but I researched this extensively and there's really no way around it.

[TOM RENZO]

Originally Posted by evintho

Won't work! I feel for you guys with the '90-'93's, it's a bad deal all around.
When you pull into a smog shop the first thing they'll see is the turbo. They'll go to their Alldata data base and note that a turbo never came on a '92. Illlegal modification. Fail! I've got an '89. At least I can say the motor if from an '89 XR4ti (the last year Ford sold turbos). I'm sorry to rain on your parade but I researched this extensively and there's really no way around it.

Dude calif has visual inspection??? BUMMER. I cant believe that. Well then you cant even install a 302??? But alot of aftermarket turbos are CARB certified. What gives with that??? Someone told me that the emission testing is different in different counties??? Is this true?? If so BUMMER DUDE.

[SM90Stanger]

Arnold can suck my hairy balls!!!

Dude, go to the junk-yard and swap tags! I realize that it's a greasy move, but who cares? lol... I guess you would probably have to get it safetied again as it wouldn't match up with your license. It can be done. I mean, if you really want that bad-ass turbo that is. OR buy a new car... but who wants to do that?

Steve

[filmman03]

sigh.... well thanks for the info... damn you california!

[evintho]

Originally Posted by TOM RENZO

Dude calif has visual inspection??? BUMMER. I cant believe that. Well then you cant even install a 302??? But alot of aftermarket turbos are CARB certified. What gives with that??? Someone told me that the emission testing is different in different counties??? Is this true?? If so BUMMER DUDE.

Yep, visual inspection is the first segment you have to pass. If the model of car originally came with a V8 you can dump in a 302. And Tom, you're right. Some aftermarket turbos are CARB certified - a glimmer of hope! Ya know, I looked into all this 3 years ago and I don't remember every detail.

filmman03, IIWY I'd car the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) and ask about installing a CARB certified turbo on your '92 2.3 and see what they say! Either way, all '92 smog systems will have to be hooked up and working properly 'cause you're gonna have to go see a referee and they pretty much crawl up your butt with a microscope looking for any modifications or deletion of smog equipment!

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area which is comprised of 9 counties. And yes, there's a couple of variations in each county. The most significant one being that in Lake county, which is about 50 miles north of me, you're only required to smog the vehicle on change of ownership, as opposed to smogging it every other year in the other 8 counties. California bureaucracy at it's finest!!

[TOM RENZO]

Evinthal DUDE come east or better like montana. I built a camaro for a guy in NEVADA that wanted a 200++ MPH car?? SO i built him a camaro with a Z06 Blown chevy with a 6 speeder and a 2.73 final drive. The DUDE clocks like over 180-200 MPH going back and forth from cal to nevada. Its the dam cal dems they are BONE HEADS DUDE. Come east and build some RIDES TOM

[b_chandler]

Bad news regarding CARB certifications.

The California Air Research Board (CARB) certifies aftermarket parts as legal replacement or modification based on the application as presented to the board. For example, a belt driven supercharger certified only for a 5.0 Mustang is not CARB legal installed on a 4.3 V6 in an S-10. That being said, unless the turbo kit is CARB certified for a 2.3L engine, it won't be legal in that application.

California has some of the most ridiculous smog laws of any state in the union. A heavily modified car that burns cleaner than it did when it left the factory is illegal. No grey area, no kudos for a well-built machine, just a big ol' EPIC FAIL stamp and a contemptuous look from the inspector.

CARB is a joke. It could be worse, ALOT worse. Over the years SEMA has been instrumental in keeping things from getting further out of hand. And you thought they just put on that big car show in Vegas every year.

[NavySVO]

and just to clarify, slapping a turbo 2.3 in it doesn't make it an SVO.