L28et no smog

[Lunar240z]

i searched. i was wondering it's possible to do an l28et swap into a 240z without having to get it smogged, my idea was to use an l28 block from a '75 or '76 280z, and adapt all of the l28et stuff to it. would it work? [compatible] would it not have to be smogged?

[JMortensen]

Legally no. Illegally yes. The fact is your car is exempt from the 2 year inspection if it's a 240. The law states in CA states that you can swap in a newer motor as long as you keep ALL of the smog crap on it, then register the car as the donor motor vehicle (so it would be registered as a 82 Nissan 280ZX Turbo or whatever). Then you'd actually be legal to swap the motor and everything, but you would be under the rules of the ZX at that point, so heavy mods would then be illegal.

 

There is also a federal smog law that states that all factory emissions equipment must be retained or something to that effect. Even if you're in a state that doesn't do smog checks you're still technically illegal with a modified 240Z or 280ZXT or hybrid.

[JMortensen]

Look at the Turbo Swap Guide or whatever it's called in the Turbo section to answer your other questions.

[Gollum]

If you do the swap and bring it to a reff and have it leagalised then you're still exept from the 2 year smog check. The exeption is for the car, not the motor. The only time you could have a problem after that point is if you get pulled over and a cop has you pop your hood, thus finding obviously aftermarket parts forcing you to go back to the reff to have an inspection. But if you have at least leagalised the swap, than even a cop that knows the L28ET didn't come in the 240 can't impound your car.

 

So it is possible to have a L28ET in a 240 and not have to smog. But it's illegal to change anything.

 

And as far as I know, when you do a motor swap, you don't have the register the vehicle any different. I've known 3 guys who have done swaps on newer imports with no problems in that regard. I doubt it would be any different for a pre 76' car. The only difference is that they put a bar lable in the engine bay that has a code on it that tells anyone smogging it what car to smog it as.