What makes JDM Engines illegal?

[elemento1991]

Ive recently been finding out that it is illegal to have ANY J-spec engine here in the U.S. I've wanted an SR20 or RB25 240 for years, but I can't risk my insurance getting pulled and having my families house and all kinds of shit taken away if someone is hurt in an accident.

Is it illegal because of smog or for other reasons? We do not have emissions tests in my part of PA, they let the law expire and knowing where I am from I doubt they will reinstate one anytime soon. Mechanics will usually pass you on inspection even if you don't make the laws anyways.

I guess I am just going to sit down with an insurance agent and see what is legal and illegal and what I can work with. I hate this fucking world we live in today. Ive asked before but I never got any knock on wood answers, do you guys just lie about your swaps, are any of your insurance companies aware, they wanted to look at my suspension kus it "would throw the cars balance off." god knows what they'd do with a swapped engine on a t28 turbo.

[ElmStormer]

who told you they were illegal?

[Krimlin]

I don't know about PA but state's laws differ, in TX no swap is illegal, but there are government codes regulating them from what I've heard something to do with the EPA.

I've looked through all of the vehicle regulations in the CFR (Federal Regulations) and have found nothing barring the sawpping of engines

[Pure_JDM]

Full of win. To summarize all the things I want to say, someone lied to you.

[codyace]

Ive recently been finding out that it is illegal to have ANY J-spec engine here in the U.S. I've wanted an SR20 or RB25 240 for years, but I can't risk my insurance getting pulled and having my families house and all kinds of shit taken away if someone is hurt in an accident.

Is it illegal because of smog or for other reasons? We do not have emissions tests in my part of PA, they let the law expire and knowing where I am from I doubt they will reinstate one anytime soon. Mechanics will usually pass you on inspection even if you don't make the laws anyways.

I guess I am just going to sit down with an insurance agent and see what is legal and illegal and what I can work with. I hate this fucking world we live in today. Ive asked before but I never got any knock on wood answers, do you guys just lie about your swaps, are any of your insurance companies aware, they wanted to look at my suspension kus it "would throw the cars balance off." god knows what they'd do with a swapped engine on a t28 turbo.

Tell your parents to get off your back about modding your car.

Just don't say anything. You live in PA, not Kalifornistan.

However just because you don't have an emissions 'test' in your county, that does not mean you are exempt from the visual inspection, which you would not pass if you went a shop who actually looked at it.

[Couped_up'd]

So if I owned a chevelle, Camaro, ect ect....Or even a geo/honda.

My chevelle could not swap to another motor? hmm...

Someone did lie to you.

I have been pulled over, many times, never once got any problems about what motor I had.

Far as insurance, hell my rb25 is COVERED on my insurance. So I am pretty sure they know it is installed in the car..

[fckillerbee]

buy a n/a american sr20de. buy the hks turbo legal kit. now you have a sr20det.

no i'm just kidding. Just drop a v8 in that bitch. corvette motors are legal in any vehicle. hahaha...

just not in cali.

[zooopreme]

^There are actually V8 swaps that are smog legal (will pass both emissions and visual with no problem or under the table crap) in Cali

[90hatchie]

i passed ny state inspection with a sr
visual and smog
i know tons of people in pa with sr20's and rb's and even 1jz
who ever told you they are not legal is lying
in california.....sure everything is illegal and causes cancer

[drift freaq]

Wow this thread is full of fail. Engine swaps are not illegal per se.
Engines that have not been sold in the United states are Federally Illegal.

Now whether or not your particular state chooses to follow those laws to the letter or look the other way is another thing.

In fact California even has a swap law that allows same year or newer with all smog equipment from donor engine vehicle.



Krimlin you should know better by now than to speak up here. Unless you enjoy getting owned once again.
EPA is Federal! EPA rules andregs are Federal and Federal emission laws.

If an engine does not comply to EPA rules and regs i.e. Federal regulations it is illegal.
Most JDM engines do not comply because Japan up till very recently used different emission equipment. Now before any of you start saying your In California its different! I am talking about EPA AND FEDERAL!

There are a few exceptions like the Toyota 3SGTE which was sold here and In Japan and is pretty easy to make legal as well some Honda engines.

Though pretty much all Nissan's are a no go.

i passed ny state inspection with a sr
visual and smog
i know tons of people in pa with sr20's and rb's and even 1jz
who ever told you they are not legal is lying
in california.....sure everything is illegal and causes cancer

Like I said some states are willing to look the other way. Oh and Matt by Federal EPA law they are.

Oh and Matt stop hating. LOL you are the one that wants to move out here. LOL

[$nicklefritz]

:mrmeph::mrmeph::mrmeph:Ive recently been finding out that it is illegal to have ANY J-spec engine here in the U.S. I've wanted an SR20 or RB25 240 for years, but I can't risk my insurance getting pulled and having my families house and all kinds of shit taken away if someone is hurt in an accident.

Is it illegal because of smog or for other reasons? We do not have emissions tests in my part of PA, they let the law expire and knowing where I am from I doubt they will reinstate one anytime soon. Mechanics will usually pass you on inspection even if you don't make the laws anyways.

I guess I am just going to sit down with an insurance agent and see what is legal and illegal and what I can work with. I hate this fucking world we live in today. Ive asked before but I never got any knock on wood answers, do you guys just lie about your swaps, are any of your insurance companies aware, they wanted to look at my suspension kus it "would throw the cars balance off." god knows what they'd do with a swapped engine on a t28 turbo.
i got 4 letters 4 u .. READY....... S.T.F.U. YUR BABBLING ON ABOUT MATTERS WICH YOU DO NOT YET UNDERSTAND

[Craig Jr]

Tell your parents to get off your back about modding your car.

Just don't say anything. You live in PA, not Kalifornistan.

However just because you don't have an emissions 'test' in your county, that does not mean you are exempt from the visual inspection, which you would not pass if you went a shop who actually looked at it.

This thread is fantastic!!! I live in Kalifornistan! LOL

[drift freaq]

This thread is fantastic!!! I live in Kalifornistan! LOL

Kalifornia UBER ALLES Kalifornia UBER ALLES Kalifornia UBBBER ALLLEESSS.

[90hatchie]

lol i gave up on moving to cali
ill just continue to visit every few months haha

[ericcastro]

lol i gave up on moving to cali
ill just continue to visit every few months haha

Too bad.

-We are wearing Tshirts.
-Girls are wearing shorts and skirts.
-Winters over, it was 3 weeks.
-Models and Beautiful Actresses are still moving here from every town in the united states. Especially since they all left your towns, leaving you with fat chicks that want a family and thats it.


LMAO!!!

[HAWAII]

hahaha! Go to your local Department of Vehicle's website and search on what is illegal and what is not. Every state is different!

"Don't hate the world you live in, hate yourself for not being mis/uninformed!"

[slider2828]

Who cares... seriously... LS that biznatch and you don't have to worry about water temp, oil temp, gasket blowing, all that crap.... especially when racing a 400hp sr20det.... they are so finicky I wanna take a sledge hammer to it....

[90hatchie]

Too bad.

-We are wearing Tshirts.
-Girls are wearing shorts and skirts.
-Winters over, it was 3 weeks.
-Models and Beautiful Actresses are still moving here from every town in the united states. Especially since they all left your towns, leaving you with fat chicks that want a family and thats it.


LMAO!!!

lol damn it
the fatties wanting familes thing is true
see u at long beach

[ericcastro]

lol damn it
the fatties wanting familes thing is true
see u at long beach

lol, cool man :)

[elemento1991]

who told you they were illegal?

Lots of people. The SR20DET was never manufactured in the US or DOT approved so it is illegal, according to most folks on the other threads I found.

I don't really care about lying to them but if some joe blow pulls out infront of me and I hit him and my insurance notices a swapped engine they don't know about, I can't be left with medical expenses and repair bills. Perhaps I am misunderstanding but from what I have read all J-spec engines are illegal in the US unless this is just some rumor everyone passes around

[codyace]

Far as insurance, hell my rb25 is COVERED on my insurance. So I am pretty sure they know it is installed in the car..

What side of the Mountain do you live on?

i passed ny state inspection with a sr
visual and smog
i know tons of people in pa with sr20's and rb's and even 1jz
who ever told you they are not legal is lying
in california.....sure everything is illegal and causes cancer

The thing is, they are totally illegal in PA. PA non emissions county inspection stations have a book that lists engines per year/type and what should be on it. Even if he said 'oh it's a 2.0 engine' (as the book does not break it down by vehicle type) it still doesn't have EGR, a visual compoent here. I'd assume no converter either, nor working charcoal canister.

I'm not trying to be that forum nerd trying tbe right, just stating what the inspection law is and are. He may have heard that and got his information from that perspective.

Needless to say, 95% of inspections mechanics have a hard time even pointing out where half the stuff is, let alone know what cars have a motor swap. Not saying that we look past the law but....well.

[revcyanide]

a couple of sr20's would pull a premium a week before race wars.

[nevertheless]

I Had to get my engine through EPA/customs, and they were dicks! Told me nobody ever gets there engines imported. On the bill of sale it was listed as "Sr20" which i guess is illegal, so I had my book keeper fax him the invoice with it saying "Sr20det" which is legal...what a relief that was.

[ROOSEY]

i live in pa too and ive heard the same sr20's are illegal crap but i and probably a 50 other guys are running sr's in pa and i dont think anyone i know has ever had a problem with it ive had three 240s all with sr20's, been pulled over numerous times, and never had a problem. just do the swap.

[coup-emonster]

a couple of sr20's would pull a premium a week before race wars.

haha fast and the furious classic line..i dont understand why he says that though haha since he wants to put them on civics haha

[ElmStormer]

Lots of people. The SR20DET was never manufactured in the US or DOT approved so it is illegal, according to most folks on the other threads I found.

I don't really care about lying to them but if some joe blow pulls out infront of me and I hit him and my insurance notices a swapped engine they don't know about, I can't be left with medical expenses and repair bills. Perhaps I am misunderstanding but from what I have read all J-spec engines are illegal in the US unless this is just some rumor everyone passes around

Your going to be fine if u do the swap. if your so worryed about it then stick with the ka!

[DenkiMan!]

idk how it is in cali, but in md if the car is over 20 yrs old it can be plated as a historic vehicle (va i think is 25 yrs)...making it exempt from inspection. forever. catch is, you can only legally drive it a certain number of times a week.

but when my 86 bmw 5 series was running, i daily drove that thing to no end lol

[smoked240]

I tried looking up stuff for MN but we have no inspections and it says there are no know restrictions on engines. Knowing the state troopers around here they will try and get you for anything they can.

[Couped_up'd]

a couple of sr20's would pull a premium a week before race wars.


2nd this right here. :squintd:

[smoked240]

That line is hilarious.

[omgRWDgoodness!]

This thread is fantastic!!! I live in Kalifornistan! LOL

Kalifornia UBER ALLES Kalifornia UBER ALLES Kalifornia UBBBER ALLLEESSS.

Democratic Republic of the Californ.

[KiLLeR2001]

If you want hot chicks in bikini's and winter that only lasts 3 weeks long... WITHOUT all the car modification / smog bs of California, move to Florida! Just learn to drive around the old farts and Honda ricers :)

[chiboy002]

Wow this thread is full of fail. Engine swaps are not illegal per se.
Engines that have not been sold in the United states are Federally Illegal.

This.

It's not the motor itself that is illegal, it's emissions related stuff. Japan doesn't have the same emissions as us, therefore our government makes it illegal when it doesn't abide to our rules.

This is why we sometimes get 'watered-down' versions of cars like the 240sx with a ka but in Japan they get the sr20's and ca's

[SlideWell]

^ what Killer said.
youre not living life unless you take risks.
unless you have legal problem on your personal record, who cares, mod the hell out of your car. just keep it clean and proper.

[Jose1]

Ive recently been finding out that it is illegal to have ANY J-spec engine here in the U.S. I've wanted an SR20 or RB25 240 for years, but I can't risk my insurance getting pulled and having my families house and all kinds of shit taken away if someone is hurt in an accident

1st off for you to come here and post this, says a lot about you. Might you have fallen off the vvvvtac wall think might be time for you to gtfo and head back over to the vvvvtac camp and just exit before you hurt yourself. There is no more need for people like you in any RWD Nissan comminty, there is a reason why Honda made FWD Civic's for people like you. Just make it simple, unplug from zilvia and go watch some drift clips on youtube and call yourself a jdm expert or you can join the local walmart parking lot drift association get your 15min of youtube fame of taking out a lightpost.

srsly GTFO.

I guess I am just going to sit down with an insurance agent and see what is legal and illegal and what I can work with. I hate this fucking world we live in today. Ive asked before but I never got any knock on wood answers, do you guys just lie about your swaps, are any of your insurance companies aware, they wanted to look at my suspension kus it "would throw the cars balance off." god knows what they'd do with a swapped engine on a t28 turbo.


wow, this is just and headasplode if I have ever read one.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J---aiyznGQ

[ixfxi]

Too bad.

-We are wearing Tshirts.
-Girls are wearing shorts and skirts.
-Winters over, it was 3 weeks.
-Models and Beautiful Actresses are still moving here from every town in the united states. Especially since they all left your towns, leaving you with fat chicks that want a family and thats it.


LMAO!!! dunno about you eric, but im born n raised in LA. i cant say i found many girls in LA that were noteworthy


LA has a fuckin magnet that attracts the shittiest people from all over the country (and world). worst part about it, they move here and think theyre from LA.. bitch attitude and all.


If you want hot chicks in bikini's and winter that only lasts 3 weeks long... WITHOUT all the car modification / smog bs of California, move to Florida! Just learn to drive around the old farts and Honda ricers :)

florida seems like fun, if it wasnt for the flat land and fuckin hurricanes. but if its one thing i admire and respect about florida, its luke skyywalker and the miami BASS. stripper music #1

[n8RPS13]

dunno about you eric, but im born n raised in LA. i cant say i found many girls in LA that were noteworthy


LA has a fuckin magnet that attracts the shittiest people from all over the country (and world). worst part about it, they move here and think theyre from LA.. bitch attitude and all.




florida seems like fun, if it wasnt for the flat land and fuckin hurricanes. but if its one thing i admire and respect about florida, its luke skyywalker and the miami BASS. stripper music #1

Florida rocks I can't wait to move back. The hurricanes really aren't that bad you get used to them just like earthquakes out here in cali haha!! Plus the scene there is just as good as out here just different. Check out the YouTube videos of my old car club back home Vehicular Lunatics.

[elemento1991]

1st off for you to come here and post this, says a lot about you. Might you have fallen off the vvvvtac wall think might be time for you to gtfo and head back over to the vvvvtac camp and just exit before you hurt yourself. There is no more need for people like you in any RWD Nissan comminty, there is a reason why Honda made FWD Civic's for people like you. Just make it simple, unplug from zilvia and go watch some drift clips on youtube and call yourself a jdm expert or you can join the local walmart parking lot drift association get your 15min of youtube fame of taking out a lightpost.

srsly GTFO.




wow, this is just and headasplode if I have ever read one.


YouTube - Charlie Schmidt's "Keyboard Cat"! - ORIGINAL! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J---aiyznGQ)
Ignorance is bliss, I never owned a Honda, parents have. I hate honda, and hate vtec. Im 19 years old, raced dirtbikes and now I wanna start modding cars since it's time to get one. It makes me mad that you gotta go through all this B.S. anymore. How does that say alot about me? My dad's friend just got rear ended bad, he had back damage. The surgeries he needed came to a total of $250,000... now idk about you, but I am not fucking around with the possibility of $250,000 of debt if an insurance company pulls out. I'll fuck around and take risks, and do crazy shit, but not with mass sums of money. Not with shit that can pull me and my family down, even if it's a 1 in 1000 chance.

[Wongger]

^^ ok, then don't get an sr20 or rb25. You came looking for answers but you don't seem to like them. So my advice to you is drive it with a KA.

[doomviillain]

Too bad.

-We are wearing Tshirts.
-Girls are wearing shorts and skirts.
-Winters over, it was 3 weeks.
-Models and Beautiful Actresses are still moving here from every town in the united states. Especially since they all left your towns, leaving you with fat chicks that want a family and thats it.


LMAO!!!

+1

lol sig worthy.

dunno about you eric, but im born n raised in LA. i cant say i found many girls in LA that were noteworthy


LA has a fuckin magnet that attracts the shittiest people from all over the country (and world). worst part about it, they move here and think theyre from LA.. bitch attitude and all.


There's plenty of girls out in LA, u just gotta know where to look. But very much agreed that ppl in LA have gritty attitudes...


To the OP: If u dont wanna deal with swap drama, stick with the KA, the car runs right? a motor is a motor they all serve the same purpose.

[Hashiriya415]

My turbo needs hurricane power. Just gotta watch my warning danger to manifold sign and my floor bolts.

[Toi]

Ignorance is bliss, I never owned a Honda, parents have. I hate honda, and hate vtec. Im 19 years old, raced dirtbikes and now I wanna start modding cars since it's time to get one. It makes me mad that you gotta go through all this B.S. anymore. How does that say alot about me? My dad's friend just got rear ended bad, he had back damage. The surgeries he needed came to a total of $250,000... now idk about you, but I am not fucking around with the possibility of $250,000 of debt if an insurance company pulls out. I'll fuck around and take risks, and do crazy shit, but not with mass sums of money. Not with shit that can pull me and my family down, even if it's a 1 in 1000 chance.


^^ Your no gear head then......Get a hybrid and DD it...

[elemento1991]

^^ ok, then don't get an sr20 or rb25. You came looking for answers but you don't seem to like them. So my advice to you is drive it with a KA.

Well what I was asking was can it be done legally or not... That was the biggest part of what I wanted to know. I read that they were illegal. I see people all over the place with the swap, maybe a few people on here have crashed theirs. Maybe the insurance was being picky about covering them because their car looks alot different than a regular 240.

Alot of people are dicks on these car forums, not just Zilvia, and not all people either, but alot more than there really should be. Everyone's gotta start somewhere, if it means asking a few dumb questions then fuck it. Idk why everyone goes and gets so bent out of shape. I know how to drive alot better than the next guy on the streets, and I know dirtbike engines inside and out, but those were single cylinder carbureted N/A engines. Boost and ECU's are a new learning curve.

[enkei2k]

Well what I was asking was can it be done legally or not... That was the biggest part of what I wanted to know. I read that they were illegal. I see people all over the place with the swap, maybe a few people on here have crashed theirs. Maybe the insurance was being picky about covering them because their car looks alot different than a regular 240.

Alot of people are dicks on these car forums, not just Zilvia, and not all people either, but alot more than there really should be. Everyone's gotta start somewhere, if it means asking a few dumb questions then fuck it. Idk why everyone goes and gets so bent out of shape. I know how to drive alot better than the next guy on the streets, and I know dirtbike engines inside and out, but those were single cylinder carbureted N/A engines. Boost and ECU's are a new learning curve.

Wow this thread is full of fail. Engine swaps are not illegal per se.
Engines that have not been sold in the United states are Federally Illegal.

Now whether or not your particular state chooses to follow those laws to the letter or look the other way is another thing.

In fact California even has a swap law that allows same year or newer with all smog equipment from donor engine vehicle.



Krimlin you should know better by now than to speak up here. Unless you enjoy getting owned once again.
EPA is Federal! EPA rules andregs are Federal and Federal emission laws.

If an engine does not comply to EPA rules and regs i.e. Federal regulations it is illegal.
Most JDM engines do not comply because Japan up till very recently used different emission equipment. Now before any of you start saying your In California its different! I am talking about EPA AND FEDERAL!

There are a few exceptions like the Toyota 3SGTE which was sold here and In Japan and is pretty easy to make legal as well some Honda engines.

Though pretty much all Nissan's are a no go.



Like I said some states are willing to look the other way. Oh and Matt by Federal EPA law they are.

Oh and Matt stop hating. LOL you are the one that wants to move out here. LOL

did you read this at all?

[240dream]

just go ka-t,problem solved

[elemento1991]

just go ka-t,problem solved

Agreed... that's probably what i'm gonna do.

[elemento1991]

"Don't hate the world you live in, hate yourself for not being mis/uninformed!"

And not to go on but I don't hate the world I live in because I'm misinformed, although I am learning about this stuff still. It's because there's all this B.S. and paperwork you gotta look through to swap an engine in a car.

Meanwhile I know of two dope/crack houses with-in a 5 block radius in my town, My $600 snowboard gets stolen and I knew who did it, instead of showing up on their doorstep and kicking their ass I went to the police kus its the "right" way to do it. Six months later after the snow melts I get my board back, it was completely beat to shit and the kids got fined, guess who got the money? The police. My friends car got a chain tied to it and a truck drug it into a tree one night, the police show up and say "We think you wrecked it and your just trying to get insurance out of it." Meanwhile he had minimum tort and couldn't get any money from it, PLUS the front wheels we're locked the entire way up to the tree and the transmission ripped out from the car being in park.

That is why I hate the world we live in today, the cops will run you down for a burnt out tail light or being a few days past inspection, meanwhile this is going on and nobody does much about it.

[ArBy25DeT]

a couple of sr20's would pull a premium a week before race wars.

that came just in time lmfao

[WanganNastyMachine]

Dude, Im pretty sure you were lied to. EPA is the only thing thats stopping you from doing so, even then there is ways to get around smog or even through it.

[datsunnazi]

Well what I was asking was can it be done legally or not... That was the biggest part of what I wanted to know. I read that they were illegal. I see people all over the place with the swap, maybe a few people on here have crashed theirs. Maybe the insurance was being picky about covering them because their car looks alot different than a regular 240.

insurance companies have no idea what they are looking at... they dont ask what your engine designation is... they ask for the VIN, and pretty much can get whatever they want from that... done...

[raz0rbladez909]

1st off for you to come here and post this, says a lot about you. Might you have fallen off the vvvvtac wall think might be time for you to gtfo and head back over to the vvvvtac camp and just exit before you hurt yourself. There is no more need for people like you in any RWD Nissan comminty, there is a reason why Honda made FWD Civic's for people like you. Just make it simple, unplug from zilvia and go watch some drift clips on youtube and call yourself a jdm expert or you can join the local walmart parking lot drift association get your 15min of youtube fame of taking out a lightpost.

srsly GTFO.

Seriously? Stop acting like some elitist prick, you've been on here for what 6 months, and you think driving a 20 year old sport coupe makes you some sort of bad ass? Get off your high horse, you're no better than this guy, granted he asked shit that is readily available to him, but for you to go off on your Honda bashing rant makes you just as much as a douche.

Well what I was asking was can it be done legally or not... That was the biggest part of what I wanted to know. I read that they were illegal. I see people all over the place with the swap, maybe a few people on here have crashed theirs. Maybe the insurance was being picky about covering them because their car looks alot different than a regular 240.

Alot of people are dicks on these car forums, not just Zilvia, and not all people either, but alot more than there really should be. Everyone's gotta start somewhere, if it means asking a few dumb questions then fuck it. Idk why everyone goes and gets so bent out of shape. I know how to drive alot better than the next guy on the streets, and I know dirtbike engines inside and out, but those were single cylinder carbureted N/A engines. Boost and ECU's are a new learning curve.

If you are worried about legalities so much, why would you get into modding cars? 90% of the things that people do to their cars on here are illegal in some place or another. Whether HID's, lowering cars til they ride on the subframe, non DOT approved taillights, non federal engine swaps, all that shit is illegal, BIG DEAL, stop stressing so much over minute details, hell you don't even live in California, at least then I'd understand your concern, just go enjoy your damn car:fruit:

[axiomatik]

1st off for you to come here and post this, says a lot about you. Might you have fallen off the vvvvtac wall think might be time for you to gtfo and head back over to the vvvvtac camp and just exit before you hurt yourself. There is no more need for people like you in any RWD Nissan comminty, there is a reason why Honda made FWD Civic...blah blah blahl]

lamest 2nd post ever.


Back on topic: The truth is JDM engines are illegal at the Federal level. It doesn't matter what state or county you live in, if the engine was never EPA-certified, it is technically illegal in the US. SR's and RB's etc were never EPA certified, so they are illegal. Whether or not that matters is up to you. The fact of the matter is that you are likely to never get in trouble with the law, because local police are concerned with enforcing local and state laws, not federal laws. Only in locations with strict state laws, like California, does it ever really become an issue.

It is much more risky driving a car that was never certified for the US, such as S15's, R32's, etc. Several owners have had their cars confiscated for illegally importing them.

[NINJASPY]

Insurance can cancel coverage at any time, even if after you get into an accident, and were covered at the time. You would need to find a lawyer to chase the insurance(more lawyers) to get coverage. Ask anyone... It happened to me twice, got into an accident, my insurance tried to sue, the other partys' insurance counter sued, my insurance dropped my case, the other insurance dropped their case. I got left with the bill. TWICE. with two different companies. Infinity, and Farmers. Goodluck.

[sancosys]

but I can't risk my insurance getting pulled and having my families house and all kinds of shit taken away if someone is hurt in an accident


Why would they do anything with your family???? Your 19, OVER the legal age of being responsible for your actions. NOW:

Federal law says no BUT some states are lax on this but it doesn't change federal law. Even in CA there are provisions for a engine change.

[mau5trap]

as long as the car is registered you're fine.

/thread

[KAs14slider]

I don't know of or have ever heard about any of these risks or having to pay crazy fines because your 240 has a different engine. Especially the stuff about having your house and other stuff taken away. When I read your first post in this thread I was like, wtf is he talking about? I don't know what part of PA you live in but I have never heard of this in my life. I'm 27 years old and never in my years of getting pulled over in my s14 has an officer ever asked to look under my hood. A lot of my friends have sr20's and they have got pulled over/gotten in accidents and never has an insurance agent or the police been like "hey, is that an illegal swapped motor in there". Insurance agents and police officers usually aren't car guys so when they look under the hood they will not tell the difference between ka, sr, rb, or whatever. They really don't care. The only place I have ever heard stories of legal problems with having a swap is in California. I think you are creating a problem where there isn't one. You will not get in trouble for having a swap. It's not "illegal". Only problem you will encounter is not maybe not being able to pass inspection but its not that hard to get around that. If somehow in some way any legal authorities complain about your motor you can just play dumb and say you bought the car like that.

[elemento1991]

I don't know of or have ever heard about any of these risks or having to pay crazy fines because your 240 has a different engine. Especially the stuff about having your house and other stuff taken away. When I read your first post in this thread I was like, wtf is he talking about? I don't know what part of PA you live in but I have never heard of this in my life. I'm 27 years old and never in my years of getting pulled over in my s14 has an officer ever asked to look under my hood. A lot of my friends have sr20's and they have got pulled over/gotten in accidents and never has an insurance agent or the police been like "hey, is that an illegal swapped motor in there". Insurance agents and police officers usually aren't car guys so when they look under the hood they will not tell the difference between ka, sr, rb, or whatever. They really don't care. The only place I have ever heard stories of legal problems with having a swap is in California. I think you are creating a problem where there isn't one. You will not get in trouble for having a swap. It's not "illegal". Only problem you will encounter is not maybe not being able to pass inspection but its not that hard to get around that. If somehow in some way any legal authorities complain about your motor you can just play dumb and say you bought the car like that.

No no I wasn't talking about fines for an illegal engine. What I was talking about is if you are in an accident and someone is hurt, medical bills are HUGE for surgery. What I was concerned about is if your insurance company pulls your coverage and then you pay the price for the other parties medical bills.

I have decided to hold of for another month or two and see if I get into the apprenticeship program i am lined up for and move from there.

[drift freaq]

No no I wasn't talking about fines for an illegal engine. What I was talking about is if you are in an accident and someone is hurt, medical bills are HUGE for surgery. What I was concerned about is if your insurance company pulls your coverage and then you pay the price for the other parties medical bills.

I have decided to hold of for another month or two and see if I get into the apprenticeship program i am lined up for and move from there.

Ok first off the jackass before you telling you swaps are not illegal has gone again and made a broad generalization. Some swaps are llegal some are not. Like I had already explained but most of you just completely blew over. LOL

As far as Insurance goes ,no Insurance company is going to yank your coverage based on the engine under your hood.
Its just not going to happen. Insurance companies are pretty clueless about engines and they really don't care. Besides the fact that if you have paid your premiums they are contractually obligated to cover you to the limits of the coverage you have purchased.

If you are afraid of not having enough coverage pay for more. Its that simple.

you can get 100k/300k coverage if you want it. It will just cost you an arm and leg because your 19 years old and male.
Seriously if you have a ton of assets to protect, then you get higher coverage so people don't try to sue you outside your coverage.

Though you are a 19 year old which means your emancipated. That means your family cannot be held liable for your accidents. Of course if you are on your parents policy then they could be party because you are on the policy.
Though the danger of you racking up and accident that would shoot over 100k would take some skill on your part.
Can we say multiple cars hit at your fault with multiple injuries to the people in them? Likelihood of that happening? Not high.

So get over your worries get over yourself and get on with your life. Get decent coverage and you will be good.

Oh and if you are this concerned about an engine swap? Don't do it. You will just worry yourself to death.

[Toi]

If you are worried about legalities so much, why would you get into modding cars? 90% of the things that people do to their cars on here are illegal in some place or another. Whether HID's, lowering cars til they ride on the subframe, non DOT approved taillights, non federal engine swaps, all that shit is illegal, BIG DEAL, stop stressing so much over minute details, hell you don't even live in California, at least then I'd understand your concern, just go enjoy your damn car:fruit:

^^ Sums it up, if you are into the culture, then just like the old heads of the muscle car era you don't give a crap.......

[Corbic]

As far as Insurance goes ,no Insurance company is going to yank your coverage based on the engine under your hood.
Its just not going to happen. Insurance companies are pretty clueless about engines and they really don't care. Besides the fact that if you have paid your premiums they are contractually obligated to cover you to the limits of the coverage you have purchased.


I am afraid you are wrong on that. They will deny coverage or payout on a car if they find out it was heavily modified. In fact, call any company and say "I swapped the stock 4-banger for a 500whp V8 and I need a qoute"... and watch as they say move along. :cops:

There is special insurance you can get for modified, high-risk and classic cars, but your typical Progressive/Gecko/Farmers will not care. They may pay out in an accident... they may also cancel you.

Typically if you wreck your modified car nobody will make a deal of it or even look into it... they give you $2,000 KBB for your $15,000 modified car and you buy it back for $400 and part it out or start over.

[hockeyrules]

I am afraid you are wrong on that. They will deny coverage or payout on a car if they find out it was heavily modified. In fact, call any company and say "I swapped the stock 4-banger for a 500whp V8 and I need a qoute"... and watch as they say move along. :cops:

There is special insurance you can get for modified, high-risk and classic cars, but your typical Progressive/Gecko/Farmers will not care. They may pay out in an accident... they may also cancel you.

Typically if you wreck your modified car nobody will make a deal of it or even look into it... they give you $2,000 KBB for your $15,000 modified car and you buy it back for $400 and part it out or start over.

Just wondering where you get your info?

[TougeLove]

^me too. my insurance(state farm) allows you to present receipts and you pay monthly based on how much you can prove your car is worth. if you say its 1 million, you'll pay coverage on a million dollar car. no diff.

[ixfxi]

If you are worried about legalities so much, why would you get into modding cars? 90% of the things that people do to their cars on here are illegal in some place or another. Whether HID's, lowering cars til they ride on the subframe, non DOT approved taillights, non federal engine swaps, all that shit is illegal, BIG DEAL, stop stressing so much over minute details, hell you don't even live in California, at least then I'd understand your concern, just go enjoy your damn car:fruit:

its not all in the same category. each modification has its thin line that makes it either legal or illegal. want to put an intake? it must be carb compliant. want xenon? buy DOT-compliant lights. there is no such thing as DOT approved, DOT doesnt approve jack shit. its up to the manufacturer to do compliance testing so that their product is DOT COMPLIANT, not approved.

want to swap a motor? do what dave said and swap a newer motor (ie: VQ), not some motor that was not sold here in the US. or, get an older car like an old Z-car.


There's plenty of girls out in LA, u just gotta know where to look. But very much agreed that ppl in LA have gritty attitudes...


yeah.. you gotta party in the outskirts and stay away from the hood rats in LA (ie, sunset strip)

fuck that, if you're single take my advice: buy yourself a ticket to somewhere far, fuckin faaaaaaaaar away.. another country. go back-packing through europe, brazil, anywhere but here. you'll feel like you're on another planet. anybody who's traveled will understand what im talking about. finding a good woman is much like finding good car parts that are still "made in USA" - theres a reason why most imported parts are better.


my insurance(state farm) allows you to present receipts and you pay monthly based on how much you can prove your car is worth. if you say its 1 million, you'll pay coverage on a million dollar car. no diff.

thats all fine and dandy if you have a couple thousand worth of modifications. anyone who knows shit about building a custom car knows that you dont put normal car insurance on a highly modified vehicle. its called collectors insurance kids, use it.

bottom line, anyone with common sense knows not to DAILY DRIVE their fuckin highly modified vehicle. but this is all advice being spoken to people who are deaf and most likely dont even have a garage to park their "highly modified racecar."

if you want to do it and do it right, you better get a stable to put your horse(s) in.

[Corbic]

Just wondering where you get your info?


Read your policy's fine print.

[Corbic]

^me too. my insurance(state farm) allows you to present receipts and you pay monthly based on how much you can prove your car is worth. if you say its 1 million, you'll pay coverage on a million dollar car. no diff.

Congratulations, that's called declared value. I covered that in my previous statement... your paying more.... for more coverage.

However, I'm calling BS if they are excepting receipts or your "word". Normally they want documented photos and a licensed appraisal. Having dealt with classic cars for some time, this is standard practice and common sense.

The old saying "insurance company's will "cover" anything... getting them to payout is another story".

[Corbic]

its not all in the same category. each modification has its thin line that makes it either legal or illegal. want to put an intake? it must be carb compliant. want xenon? buy DOT-compliant lights. there is no such thing as DOT approved, DOT doesnt approve jack shit. its up to the manufacturer to do compliance testing so that their product is DOT COMPLIANT, not approved.

I think we need to move away from the word "illegal" and use the word "fine-able".

For example, no one, Local, State or Federal cares about engine swaps in Indiana or Michigan. You will never be asked to pop your hood, stopped on the premise of emission violation and with the exception of Gary, you won't ever emission test either.

Also, swapping the engine is not what makes it "fine-able" but rather the operation of a non-emission compliant vehicle on Federal or State highways.

I doubt anyone being fined and having there cars impounded in California is actually being brought up on Federal Criminal charges and going before a Federal Judge and having Federal prison time treated upon them. Its the local State, County and City cops writing out tickets and making registration a bitch to fill the local indebted coffers.

These are all civil infractions, which really, only apply to people living in California or New Jersey as far as I can tell.

Does anyone have an example of someone being convicted and sentenced to jail/prison time for removing a Cat. or being out of compliance with DOT "regulations"?

[MidwestMyriad]

What are you feeling Couped? 40w? 50w?

[Silviaracer1988]

in allegheny county they dont really look at that motor like that. they run the vin numbers in the computer and go about their day as long as there is no CEL on. At least thats what we did at midas in pittsburgh. plus what year is your car?
if its OBD1 they use the sniffer for emission which would be easier to get away with since it doesnt need to be connected through the port. plus i dont know how much you plan on driving the car but if you keep the mileage under 5,000 a year you get exempted. thats what my buddy does with his s13 coupe. other then that if your still worried then stick with the KA.

[Corbic]

in allegheny county they dont really look at that motor like that. they run the vin numbers in the computer and go about their day as long as there is no CEL on. At least thats what we did at midas in pittsburgh. plus what year is your car?
if its OBD1 they use the sniffer for emission which would be easier to get away with since it doesnt need to be connected through the port. plus i dont know how much you plan on driving the car but if you keep the mileage under 5,000 a year you get exempted. thats what my buddy does with his s13 coupe. other then that if your still worried then stick with the KA.

Some of the area's in Kali also do a visual, if your shit don't look stock, and isn't covered in "CARB Approved" stickers you flunk without ever being sniffed.

[Silviaracer1988]

Some of the area's in Kali also do a visual, if your shit don't look stock, and isn't covered in "CARB Approved" stickers you flunk without ever being sniffed.

see that sucks. but from what i understand (which isnt much) everything in Cali is illegal. hell living there is almost illegal. but i bet it has its perks like everywhere else

[Jose1]

I dont know whats worse ? this thread or the Fascist's in Sacramento.


see that sucks. but from what i understand (which isnt much) everything in Cali is illegal. hell living there is almost illegal. but i bet it has its perks like everywhere else

Well no, lets talk to the pot heads in Sacramento who make all of the laws, have their sons murder another kid because they didnt get into a party in san diego and let people drive around smoking 412/hash and yes a car with a shinny muffer and a performance mod is a criminal and horrifically illegal. Why is it you have a cop in irvine who has nothing better to do then make a u turn over a 2ft high concrete center divider to give a ticket to a kid with an after market muffler, while a person innocently crossing the street is hit by an illegal with no lic, no insurance, car not even in that persons name is basically able to nearly get away with that stuff, honestly LEO's really need to sit down refocus strategy and work with the ACLU, Im not playing the scape goat here but there are a lot of people in California and most other places they feel they had their land stolen from them over 120 years ago and they deem its their right to exploit the system, either way I say let them stay pay their share and get people an id card and a drivers lic so they can be partially legal until the naturalization processes deems it for them to be residents but the cost of deporting people and hosing them in centers cost everyone.



nothing personal just there is so much bias now its not even funny any more, worse is you have people at CARB or the soviet auto inspection compliance department telling people for a gray market car "oh just go and get a letter of compliance"

I literally laid into this person on the phone asking him why would you tell someone to get that letter when you god dam know no car maker will give you a letter of compliance.


Ca is a nice state but there is just way to much BS to deal with. :cops:

[drift freaq]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

this thread has gone down the shitter and needs to be locked!


I am afraid you are wrong on that. They will deny coverage or payout on a car if they find out it was heavily modified. In fact, call any company and say "I swapped the stock 4-banger for a 500whp V8 and I need a qoute"... and watch as they say move along. :cops:

There is special insurance you can get for modified, high-risk and classic cars, but your typical Progressive/Gecko/Farmers will not care. They may pay out in an accident... they may also cancel you.

Typically if you wreck your modified car nobody will make a deal of it or even look into it... they give you $2,000 KBB for your $15,000 modified car and you buy it back for $400 and part it out or start over.

Ah excuse me. Most insurance companies will not ask if you don't tell and unless the car is shouting I am highly modified the adjuster has not a clue. That is a fact and first hand experience. Do you have first hand experience? I doubt it. LOL


Plus not only that but they will even sell you the car back after its wrecked with the mods on it. Again first hand experience speaking here.

Is it right buy Insurance rules? No, is that shit in some Peoples policies? Yes. Do all insurance companies have what you state in their Policies? NO! Some allow for mods some don't. Its up to you to know.

Though like I said before, a lot will not even know if you don't let them know. ( Oh wait notice how I said some and I think I said most in my original statement rather than ALL! ) Therefor my statement has some truth to it. I did not say all. LOL


You have made a statement that is a broad generalization about all insurance companies.
Then you have tried to qualify it by talking about the specialty insurance i.e. collectors insurance.

[Corbic]

this thread has gone down the shitter and needs to be locked!

The thread was stupid to start with. OP should have been flamed and thread locked after 3 posts.