Are Transmission swaps legal?

[vboy720]

I have a pretty simple question. I live in california, and was wondering is it legal to swap a 240 from automatic to manual? Will the car be able to pass smog at the referee?

[tknbkthrsdy4anfg]

If your car is a S14, you need to have an S14 tranny with the crank angle sensor, if its an S13, there are no issues if you use a manual ECU.
It has nothing to do with the emissions.

[njd07]

lol....legal...just tell them you blew your old transmission...besides 5 speeds should have better emissions. 5 spd ussually have better gas mileage then auto.

[vboy720]

My uncle thats a mechanic convinced me that i shouldnt do it because i wouldnt be able to pass smog.... Guess he's wrong. Thanks guys

[!Zar!]

You can do whatever you want with the transmission as long as all the sensors are there and you aren't throwing a check engine light.

Transmissions don't affect smog.

Your uncle is horribly wrong.

HORRIBLY WRONG.

[Bubba]

I would go 5 speed and make him help. You can teach an old dog new tricks, he may enjoy helping you with it also. It never hurts to have experienced hands in the engine bay with you either.

[burnsauto]

You can do whatever you want with the transmission as long as all the sensors are there and you aren't throwing a check engine light.

Transmissions don't affect smog.

Your uncle is horribly wrong.

HORRIBLY WRONG.

lol, "horribly wrong"

i love those "my *insert family member here* is a mechanic and said *insert wrong answer here*."

[BustedS13]

If your car is a S14, you need to have an S14 tranny with the crank angle sensor, if its an S13, there are no issues if you use a manual ECU.
It has nothing to do with the emissions.

you can use an auto ecu with a manual in an s13. it raises the rev limit and removes the governor.

[coreansurfer]

the ref can fuck you for pretty much anything he/she wants


my friend failed for a painted valve cover.

ive know people who've failed for less.

the ref sucks

[gotta240]

I call bs on failing for a painted valve cover. Most refs REALLY know their shit and don't fail people for the WRONG reason.

They may be a pain in the ass and picky, but not retarded. Thats just from my experiences with them.

[coreansurfer]

I call bs on failing for a painted valve cover. Most refs REALLY know their shit and don't fail people for the WRONG reason.

They may be a pain in the ass and picky, but not retarded. Thats just from my experiences with them.


call what you want, but it happend, ref claimed it was "JDM" when it was just a painted b18 valve cover.

[!Zar!]

Umm.

No.

No friends, someone I know's bs here.

I don't want to her it.

He asked a question.

He was given an answer.

Done.

[drift freaq]

You can do whatever you want with the transmission as long as all the sensors are there and you aren't throwing a check engine light.

Transmissions don't affect smog.

Your uncle is horribly wrong.

HORRIBLY WRONG.

yup pretty much says it. I have passed smog with 5 speed swaps with auto ecu's on s13's.

On a S14 though you will need your 5 ecu and all sensors hooked up because they are OBDII, except the very earliest 95's. OBDII is picky and will throw a CEL if you don't have the sensors or the 5 speed ecu. a lit CEL well constitute a automatic fail on smog. The Actual transmission swap does not affect the smog its just the computer and the stupid check engine light. Smog mechanics are instructed to fail a car with a lit check engine light.

answer and complete explanations as to why. End of story close thread.

[azndoc]

I don't know if the DMV requires you to register the swap info with them at least. I seriously doubt it though.

I remember on Okinawa you have to tell the dmv that you changed your shit and pay extra money to them because you did so. Don't know if its still the same.

[Gjohnson7]

I don't know if the DMV requires you to register the swap info with them at least. I seriously doubt it though.

I remember on Okinawa you have to tell the dmv that you changed your shit and pay extra money to them because you did so. Don't know if its still the same.

That's a bunch a crap. Do they help out with the swap or put in on the parts for you? I don't know how you guys do it. I'm glad I don't have to worry about passing inspections or emissions and all that Jazz. Just have to make sure I renew my tag and insurance.

[luisgonz]

the ref can fuck you for pretty much anything he/she wants


my friend failed for a painted valve cover.

ive know people who've failed for less.

the ref sucks

Yes this is true, I have Failed many cars because of this same issue. Its a easy way to make people have a bad day. I used to fail cars because they spoke to me wrong.LOL

I call bs on failing for a painted valve cover. Most refs REALLY know their shit and don't fail people for the WRONG reason.

They may be a pain in the ass and picky, but not retarded. Thats just from my experiences with them.

Take a honda with a valve cover like that and can fail it. They might call bs on the fact you state the fact the motor is US.

call what you want, but it happend, ref claimed it was "JDM" when it was just a painted b18 valve cover.

Yes It happens alot.

[revat619]

I have a kouki S14 (OBDII). It used to be auto and i swapped it to 5spd. It passes just fine. Tell your uncle to go read a book or something.

[gotta240]

Take a honda with a valve cover like that and can fail it. They might call bs on the fact you state the fact the motor is US.
.[/quote]


Again, i call bs. The ref should

1. know the difference

2. be able to run the engine code(ie:b18 vs b18c1) etc, and should also know that it is in no way illegal to paint a valve cover.

Furthermore.... If that was REALLY the only thing different under the hood, i would ENSURE the ref was jobless thereafter. Luisgonz- were/are you a ref or just a smog person?

[luisgonz]

At California Community Colleges When taking courses for Smog tech you have to do internship. Call it what ever you want . But if I get Ref ticket it goes away With a click of a pen.LOL

[gotta240]

ah. interesting and scary! lol.

lucky you.

[legacy927]

thank god i have a '95 and live in NYC where shops pass you for extra cost...Even for cars '96 and above which cost little bit more to make it pass...

[SINxSELEKTAH]

transmissions swaps (from auto to manual) are not illegal. however if they are re-geared to the point where the car can no longer pass california emissions, it is still LEGAL, it just won't pass smog

At California Community Colleges When taking courses for Smog tech you have to do internship. Call it what ever you want . But if I get Ref ticket it goes away With a click of a pen.LOL

nope, no internship required.

thank god i have a '95 and live in NYC where shops pass you for extra cost...Even for cars '96 and above which cost little bit more to make it pass...

you can do that here as well.

[legacy927]

transmissions swaps (from auto to manual) are not illegal. however if they are re-geared to the point where the car can no longer pass california emissions, it is still LEGAL, it just won't pass smog



nope, no internship required.



you can do that here as well.

oh i see....lolz sorry....

[gotta240]

transmissions swaps (from auto to manual) are not illegal. however if they are re-geared to the point where the car can no longer pass california emissions, it is still LEGAL, it just won't pass smog



Lol... Really? Why don't you tell be the diff ratios of both auto and 5spd then?:loco:

[bardabe]

At California Community Colleges When taking courses for Smog tech you have to do internship. Call it what ever you want . But if I get Ref ticket it goes away With a click of a pen.LOL

can you be my best friend???:D

[revat619]

why is this thread still open?

[DreamN]

At California Community Colleges When taking courses for Smog tech you have to do internship. Call it what ever you want . But if I get Ref ticket it goes away With a click of a pen.LOL

I wanna be your best friend now :wiggle: lol

[bardabe]

I wanna be your best friend now :wiggle: lol

lol hey with all your respect fuck you mister i called it first:mepoke:

[Agent_S13]

Alright, how about this?

Aren't transmissions also stamped with the VIN? Or is it like the dash with just a "plate"?

Its super technical and "letter of the law" type stuff but could they possible fail you, not from a smog/emissions standpoint but one of the transmission vin not matching the plate/engine, etc?

I would think that's within the scope of the Referee, but what about the Smog Tech?

Sorry to keep this thread up but its something that I thought about while reading.

It also seems to go along the same lines of the "I did a swap, do I have to tell the DMV" type thing.

If there's no VIN stamped on the transmission then its not an issue, but anyone care to comment if they can fail for mis-matched VIN's?

-Aaron
'91 240sx coupe

[inertiaticism]

No, if that were the case, the entire salvage auto parts industry would be illegal.
I doubt they could tell anyway, I'm not even sure if there is a digit in the vin number that specifies 5spd or auto.
I know that ABS and trim package are represented by vin digits.

[!Zar!]

Alright, how about this?

Aren't transmissions also stamped with the VIN? Or is it like the dash with just a "plate"?

Its super technical and "letter of the law" type stuff but could they possible fail you, not from a smog/emissions standpoint but one of the transmission vin not matching the plate/engine, etc?

I would think that's within the scope of the Referee, but what about the Smog Tech?

Sorry to keep this thread up but its something that I thought about while reading.

It also seems to go along the same lines of the "I did a swap, do I have to tell the DMV" type thing.

If there's no VIN stamped on the transmission then its not an issue, but anyone care to comment if they can fail for mis-matched VIN's?

-Aaron
'91 240sx coupe


They don't have vin's on our cars tranny.

[eds13]

If your car is a S14, you need to have an S14 tranny with the crank angle sensor,

um......:wtf: