illegal????? what r u talikng about i'm confused

 

the motor come stock in VTEC model 4th gens.

 

i think he's asking if doing an h22 swap into a prelude that didnt come stock with the h22 is legal or not.

and the answer to that is: it depends on what state you live in. all states have different laws about that kind of thing. for example, in my state, its perfectly legal if you have some form of proof that the engine is not stolen and that you actually purchased it, and who from, and for how much.

some states dont give a crap, some states only allow the original stock engine to be in the car.

 

In cali, it's legal IF you use a USDM motor, of a type that came in that model and year of car, with all the origional smog equipment, and a motor of a year equal to or newer then the chassies.


JDM is illegal.

 

just make sure you keep recepits...if cops check the VIN numbers and they dont match up they will automatically say it is a stolen engine and whatnot. just make sure you have your crap

 

so yeah for you it's illegal Just get it smogged at some shady place that doesn't always pop the hood (it's way easier to get away with it on OBD1 and OBD-0 cars because there's no computer component to the smog test) and don't drive like an idiot and get pulled over.

edit: jay_jay_n, one of our members, put up scans of the CA DMV engine swap pamphlet.... I forget where it is here, but on socalprelude.com it's right here: http://www.socalprelude.com/viewtopic.php?t=5086

Apparently there's a certification process you can go through Go through all the bullshit, keep the paperwork in the glovebox, and you're safe.

(join scp, and come to our massive-ass meet in Mission Bay this saturday We need more 3g representation)

 

so in my case, i have a 3rd gen and if i do an H22 swap and pass smog, its legal? and thx for all the input peeps.:smilejap:

 

Here is what the California Air Resource Board (CARB) says:

Japanese Replacement Engines Used engines imported from Japan can be used as replacement engines as long as the engine being used has been identified as functionally identical to the original engine. (JDM h22 can replace usdm H22, but not b20) Please refer to the engine importers catalogue to determine if a replacement engine is legal for installation in your vehicle.
Engine Changes Engine changes are legal as long as the following requirements are met to ensure that the change does not increase pollution from the vehicle:

• The engine must be the same year or newer than the vehicle.
• The engine must be from the same type of vehicle (passenger car, light-duty truck, heavy-duty truck, etc.) based on gross vehicle weight.
  
• If the vehicle is a California certified vehicle then the engine must also be a California certified engine.
• All emissions control equipment must remain on the installed engine.

After an engine change, vehicles must first be inspected by a state referee station. The vehicle will be inspected to ensure that all the equipment required is in place, and vehicle will be emissions tested subject to the specifications of the installed engine.

 

Booo... so that means I have to get somebody's throw away USDM H22 to swap in? That's weak...

 

i hope that by adding to this thread instead of being a retard newb and making another on the same subject, my issue wont get overlooked.

i know i know, its my own fault for even going to the dmv about this but here's my issue.
i live in Las Vegas NV. got a 5th gen with an H22
i sometime back got a replacement japanese motor swapped in my car, and recently had to renew my registration, so i went to every smog place i could and apparently my ecu wouldnt even talk to the smog machines (cus i got a japanese ecu. . . i know, after i learned that was the issue anyhow) so i asked around if any place could hook me up and for god knows what reason. . . NO ONE wanted to and they all kept giving me the same shit "go to the dmv and get it inspected, and they'll tell you what you need done to get it passed" and since my reg. was almost expired and i wasnt really wanting ride around regitrationless. . . didnt think and went to the dmv. . . . -__-
they looked it over and all and i mentioned it had a japanese swap . . . and like a perfect country hick quote "well there's your problem, its ilegal" and for the life of me, i asked, well what are my option. . like a parent saying "BECAUSE I SAID SO" . . . all i got was "its illegal"
they said i could go to the Honda dealership and get something or other proving the engine was legit, im thinking that means purchased by me, and tested to meet EPA, but no. they give me the number to Honda of america and all they tell me is "sir since they car has been modified, we cannot and will not comment or advice on the situation" and the dealership is charging me 90something to tell me basically that it HAS to be US and they can put a US one for 3500. . . .
oh yea, forgot to mention, the DMV has put a stop on my reg. till i fix all this. . . .

so i was hoping will all my heart and soul that someone may have gone through this and can advise something or other, or someone might know something i dont about how to get around this, cus i REALLY dont want to HAVE to get yet ANOTHER motor. . . . considering ive heard of Skylines and JDM rightsiders being here in the states. . .IN CALI FOR THAT MATTER (i hear they're car laws are naziistic) there HAS to be something

ANY help is GREATLY appreciated

 

put your usdm ecu back in. then the emissions tester's computers will be able to communicate with it, and it should operate fine

 

usdm ecu wont start jdm engine. . . .

 

do you still have your usdm engine?

 

no, i have only the usdm ecu that i never got around to selling on ebay (luckily) and the jdm ecu and engine installed

 

if you use the usdm injectors, the usdm ecu should work fine. i think thats all thats needed, someone correct me if im wrong

 

hmmmm, i might have to look into that. . . one of my friends was telling me it might be possible to splice the wires onto the JDM ECU

 

why splice when you can do something that is a direct install?
what are you talking about splicing anyway?

 

i guess cross wiring the amrican ecu to work with the jdm engine. probobly wishfull thinking but something i was thinking of looking into, but ill look into what you said about the injectors with the usdm ecu, see if that is possible cus that might be my answer

 

um, thats about the quickest way to fry things if you ask me haha.

never attempt to use two ecu's on one engine

 

Psh in texas they don't care what motor u have.. Screw the cops, as far as I know they won't be lookin at my engine bay... I have never heard of cop askin for someone to pop the hood until I read stuff on here. LOL

 

well, i dont know enough about this, but far as i know, my mechanic didnt use any kind of conversion hanress of any kind. matter of fact, when he was testing to see what the cause of the non-comunication between ecu and smog, he was popping in the usdm and jdm like the were the same thing. so are we talking about the same engines here?
to my knowledge, and as i was told by Honda, i HAD an H22A4, but now have an H22A. . . .

 

ah ok, then you probably got an obd2a jdm ecu, which is good.

something doesnt sound right though. i just cant put my finger on it.

im curious to know why it wont start with the usdm ecu

 

might have to start a thread on that . . . seems your the onlyone willing to take the time out. really appreciate it. well, im looking all online as i can, and it seems, far as i can tell, it SHOULD work fine, and if it does, smogging shouldnt be a prob, but wtf?

 

I am no expert with the h22 swaps, but reading this some things came to mind. Fuel injectors, hal switch, cam position senser. I am not saying to replace and try but it might help moto pin it. Those are the only things I could see reading different for the two ecu's or looking different for the two ecu's. Parameters I am meaning. No emmission based engine + no emmission based ecu = start. No emmission based engine + emmission based ecu = no start. Just a thought

 

thanks for the advice

 

THey must have messed the immobilizer. The USDM ECU will jut the fuel pump if it doesn't see the immobilizer.

 

well, im not sure what to make of it cus when i plug in the USDM, it cranks (no issue with the imob) but NO ignition (like when you have no gas)