I’m original owner of 84 cj8 that needs resurrection after engine fire. Is there a California compliant engine swap that makes sense economically or mechanically? The 4.2 motor was pretty anemic with vacuum type pollution controls. I’m located in so cal and looking for local resources.
Resurrecting California cj8 after engine fire
- Thread starter Runaway
- Start date
- City
- Molalla
- State
- Or
A 4.0 with FI and the smog components that came with it works. You need an inspection and they put a sticker under the hood and you should be good. I did that on my Scrambler about 20 years ago when I lived in CA. Hopefully that hasn't changed.
- City
- Redding
- State
- Ca
Engine swaps are allowed in California as long as the new engine meets the state`s emissions laws and is from a vehicle of the same model year or newer. There are some OBD2 specific regulations but our Scramblers were produced before any of that came out. (No OBD level)
In 1998 I swapped in an 1987 Chevy 350 TBI engine that is OBD1. Got a junkyard motor and put the external parts on a brand new factory Chevy long block. (a roller cam version used in the Caprice Classic Cop Cars) After the swap you have to get in inspected by the Bureau of Automotive Repair AKA the "Smog Referee". They check all the regulations and do a visual, functional and tailpipe emission level inspection. I passed on the first try largely because a friend that went through it first helped me plan it. They they then add a certification sticker to your firewall. When you go in for your smog check every two years, they scan the bar code on the sticker and proceed to smog it according to the specs of the new motor.
Almost every time I go in for my smog check, the mechanic opens the hood and says something like "no way that will pass". Then I show them the sticker on the firewall and they say "Oh, you did it legally." And then it passes. It has passed every time since 1998. That is 13 smog checks. The report they give you shows your tailpipe emission levels and the acceptable ranges. My 350 is always at the low end or mid range of allowable particulate matter.
An overview and can be found here: https://www.bar.ca.gov/consumer/smog-check-program/engine-changes
The specific engine change guidelines start on page 45 of this doc: https://www.bar.ca.gov/pdf/smog-check-reference-guide.pdf
The 4.0 liter as @Kim Dawson mentioned is a popular swap and so is an LS Swap. If I was doing it now, I would do an LS Swap. But they weren't out in mass when I did my swap and mine runs very solid and reliable and isn't worth swapping now.
Here is an image of my last successful smog check. You can see the "functional areas" they check.
Hope that helps.
George