motorex went threw the process of crash testing them... thats why only THEY sell them ...

 

Ok I'm going to "bust your *****" for a second on this one just for curiousity's sake.... If it's illegal to do a swap on the basis of a lack of crash test ratings then why would a motorcyle or four wheeler (ATV) be street legal? To the best of my knowledge there is not crash test ratings on those vehicles yet they are legal... If I wanted to make a VW bug into a BAHA bug is that legal? the car has never been tested in that configuration.... I'm just curious how modifying a car at all could be legal for street use if crash testing etc. is required to make it so...

 

its all about EPA regularions... and goverment crash test regulations... kit cars and personal recreational vehicals are in a class of there own... also it depends on what state u live in if u can ride a ATV or PRVs on the road... in wyoming u have to have blinkers a tail light mirrors and a headlight to be street legal...

 

federal epa regulations or state? I thought it was all state run.... is it possible for a car to be considered a kit car if it wasn't origonally sold as such? I guess I just have a hard time believing that a swap isn't legal in any state... If that's the case is it legal to even put a different motor in a car of the same year, I.E. could I put the non vtec motor that came standard with a 94 accord into my ex version that came with a f22 sohc vtec?

 

nope that car is setup like it is... its passed goveremnt regulations and is not to be altered in any way... just like putting b16s into HF CRXs the CRX isent used to the added weight...

 

so it can be any motor as long as it's from the same year? because the 94 accord ex is a bit different than the base models.... is it federal regulation that prevents the swap?

 

i will try to clear it up... i will talk to my teacher after break and see what he says... but from what i understood is that ANY engine that is not original equipment in THAT car... is illegal...

 

If you could also find out if he knows where to find regulations like that, such as a website or something, that would be really helpful too.

 

Since starting this thread I decided to contact various insurance companies, as well as the CA DMV. Swapping engines is legal if :

1) the engine year is newer than vehicle year
2) all emissions hardware from the engineis still present
3) vehicle passes emissions
4) the engine has been used in a crash test, regradless of the vehicle
5) proper and appropriate sensors and electronics are used for the engine, i.e. making an OBDII into OBDI is not legal