Chevy "E-Rod" crate engine: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Nov. 3, 2009 7:28 p.m. Will Reader

No link, sorry, but GM introduced an LS3 crate engine designed so that classic cars can pass CA smog tests.

Umm...classic cars (pre-75) DON'T GET SMOG TESTED IN CA. What am I missing?
Nov. 3, 2009 7:42 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

I think there may be something about being smogged on the year of the motor. NJ does that in certain situations and NJ seems to take alot of its cues from CA
Nov. 3, 2009 8:53 p.m. BAMF Reader

http://wot.motortrend.com/6602262/aftermarket/2009-sema-gm-introduces-first-50-sta...
Nov. 3, 2009 10:03 p.m. Travis_K HalfDork

The way i read it, it may be legal for newer cars too, so late 70s-early 80s carbed stuff will be worth bothering with again.
Nov. 3, 2009 10:11 p.m. EricM HalfDork

nice it comes with the wiring harness and 430HP
Nov. 3, 2009 10:18 p.m. Toyman01 HalfDork

Damn! You mean to tell me GM did something smart. Probably more for the custom guys building from the ground up.
Nov. 4, 2009 1:10 a.m. JetMech New Reader

JThw8 wrote:

I think there may be something about being smogged on the year of the motor. NJ does that in certain situations and NJ seems to take alot of its cues from CA

California quit doing that quite a while ago; sometime before 1993.
Nov. 4, 2009 6:52 a.m. Will Reader

Travis_K wrote:

The way i read it, it may be legal for newer cars too, so late 70s-early 80s carbed stuff will be worth bothering with again.

But will people who can afford to buy a crate engine like this want to put it in a late 70s-early 80s car?
Nov. 4, 2009 7:26 a.m. RossD HalfDork

do the laws allow you to put the engine in non-GM cars and still be able to pass?
Nov. 4, 2009 10:06 a.m. MadScientistMatt Dork

Apparently it would be California legal for pretty much any car up till 1995. In case you wanted a smog legal LSx Miata, no doubt.
Nov. 4, 2009 10:17 a.m. Tetzuoe Reader

yeah a lot of the 944 swappers have to deal with emissions, its one reason I got a 25 year old car, no emissions tests for me.
Nov. 4, 2009 10:50 a.m. kreb Dork

List Price = $9400 Great if you have the cash....
Nov. 4, 2009 12:04 p.m. RossD HalfDork

It might just be cheaper to move to some place without the restrictions.