Lately Ive been on the fence about doing a 20B swap into my FD. I was just wondering how all of you get around any legal issues associated with it. From my understanding, being that it was never a US production engine, it isnt legal to be used in any US vehicles. Does this cause any problems with state inspecion/emissions tests. Would this be considered a void of contract for insurance policys? I dont want to drop 15-20k into this project and end up in a legal mess.

 

i think theres another thread about this, but basically putting a 3 rotor in a car in the us violates some federal law. even though a stock ecu 20b will pass a smog test out of the tailpipe

 

That being said.. has anyone had any actual problems with insurance companys or state inspection stations? I am going to be calling some insurance companies soon to inquire about it, just thought some of you might know before hand. I will be using an aftermarket ECU, but still will run a cat and airpump, I dont think Ill have emissions issues as long as they can/will run the test.

 

If they don't emissions test in your part of the country, then don't worry about it. Insurance is something you will have to work out with your provider so you could atleast recoupe some of your investment if you had some major car damage. Registration could care less what size engine is in your car. All they care about is if you have insurance and ownership of the vehicle to register it. Here in west Texas, all they do is visual. That's nothing as I could easily tell them that it's just a turbo rotary and they wouldn't know the difference knowing they probably have never seem one much.

 

They do even less here

 

Where i live, no one has to touch or even so much as look at my car.

 

Got my car though state inspection as an "exception" in Delaware. Had to show improvements in the emissions(reduce by 1/3 - added new cat cov) and pay $650. In two years it will be $750 and the same routine. Insurance, got the local stuff(book value) then added a Grundy "agreed value" policy. Never asked if the 20B violated my local insurance agreement, like an adjuster would know the difference. Grundy doesn't care what you do, they insure all sorts of custom stuff, street rods etc. FYI

 

If you have to ask, don't bother...
It's straight up illegal to do, and it violates a bunch of federal laws.
It most likely breaks some state laws, but these vary from state to state - duh.
If you can slip the car under some kinda special custom exception, that's probably the best thing to do - which included insurance policies.

If you state just want a sniffer test, a good cat should allow it to pass.

Think about it - it's like swapping a V-12 into your original V-8 powered vehicle.
How many will allow such a beast to pass?

Down here in Hawaii (specifically Oahu county), there's a special Reconstruction procedure you need to pass for any modified vehicle.
There is no sniffer test, but they do a very thorough visual test - i.e. catalytics.
Also, they want paperwork for EVERYTHING - thus, your 20B better have documentation of sale and serial numbers written all over it.
Don't have either and you're not going to pass.
Most cops cannot tell the difference in exhaust note of a stock motor versus a 20B, so I doubt you would get into trouble for it.
If you crash the car and insurance gets a hand on the vehicle, you could get black-listed if they figure what you did.
These Reconstruction laws are to prevent stolen items from being used on street-legal vehicles, so there is good intention in the law itself.

Right now, it's a big headache for all the Honda and Nissan SR20 engine swap guys trying to pass - most don't cause they don't have adequate documentation on proof of sale and engine serial numbers.
Majority don't bother getting "recon", but the insurance companies are getting smart on SR20 swaps into 240SX - most will ask you up-front if you try to insure any Nissan 240SX...


-Ted

 

yeah none of the sr20 swaps are legal here in CA, i think the pre obdII cars dont have a check engine light or something dumb. and the 95+ cars dont pass because they arent obdII!

also for you v8 guys, to get the ls1 to pass you need to put all the odbII stuff on the car. all the chacoal cannisters, leak pumps, vapor lines etc etc. so much for that swap being easy and smog legal....

 

Thanks guys, Im at the point now where I can afford to, and have the knowledge to do what Ive always wanted to, but I just would like to make sure I am not biting off more than I can chew with any issues associated with the swap. Maybe I can look into getting a hotrod or custom registation.

 

How much does Grundy charge for a 20b "agreed value" policy?

 

yeah im not exactly sure what to do about getting my car registered once its done (if that ever happens). the only thing i can thnik of is getting someone to pass the car on smog under the table... and do that every 2 years. unfortunately with my luck im sure that i'll end up getting a request for a SMOG ONLY STATION (govt smog/inspection shop)..... if that happens the only option is to take the car off the road and register it as non-operational. if a cop gets his hands on the car or a peak under the hood ill also be in quite a pickle, not to mention if the car ever ended up in an accident. any way you look at it it's illegal.... but so is driving a 20b around on public streets -heath

 

my test only guy wouldnt really notice that theres a 20b in there, as long as it passed out the tailpipe....

 

Hoofhearted,
The Grundy quote was like $210 a year for $45,000 coverage, But the coverage is not complete, thus the local Insurance company. But, if somebody steals your 7 or you have a fire at the garage and the car is a loss, you have additional coverage. The other part is you have to send them pics, value justification and they have to agree to it. Go to their web site and check it out, it was pretty easy.

 

so how are so many honda and nissan guys getting by? i see sr20 and b series swaps left and right.