Library : CA Legal CRX swaps!

By Ryan Basseri copyright 2004
b16poweredef(at)yahoo.com

Want your engine to be legal in CA? Here is how to do it!

They will do a smog check, so do your tune-ups. They will also do a visual along with a timing check.

1) The engine must be the same year or newer. JDM engines must be used as a U.S. copy.
2) The engine must be the same obd (onboard diagnostics, its an electrical configuration) as the U.S. counterpart. For example, I have a 95 JDM Integra GSR. That engine runs obd1 in the U.S. so my engine has to be obd1. You obd0 B16a owners need to make your engine as close as possible to a U.S. spec Del Sol VTEC, that means obd1 folks.
3) The ecu must be A U.S. spec, and must match the obd. So my ecu must be a U.S. spec P72. B16a owners need U.S. P30’s.
4) The intake manifold must be U.S. spec as well. There are some ways around this. I for example I am using a skunk2 manifold that has the c.a.r.b. sticker this sticker meets California clean air requirements. It doesn’t use the secondary intake butterflies, but somehow skunk2 got it to pass. Some JDM/EDM manifolds may look close enough to pass, its tuff to say. The JDM GSR manifold is the same as U.S. except it is missing a purge control solenoid. You may be able to get by with just using the JDM intake manifold with a U.S spec surge control attached. Gen1 B16a’s have much different intake manifolds, so get a skunk2, or search for a rare U.S. spec B16a Del Sol unit.
5) The exhaust manifolds must also be U.S. spec, and run the proper 02 sensor locations. This is easier to get away with however, its tuff to see under the factory heat-shields. I have a 99-00 civic Si B16a 4-2-1 header from DC Sports with a factory heat shield attached with welded brackets and the REF didn’t even look twice.
6) Non c.a.r.b. legal parts are not legal, they must have the sticker. So no FPR’s, or eBay knockoff intakes.
7) Basically all smog parts must be used from a U.S. spec equivalent engine. Things like cat converters are nearly impossible to know if it is from a GSR in my example, and the REF will never know.
8) Intakes can be used from the original car providing it fits. If it looks factory I see no problems. I have a CRX airbox, and a JDM 90-91 Integra xsi intake pipe, and it passed. Make sure if you are running a aftermarket tube leading from the valve cover to the intake pipe that it says its certified for fuel. They checked on mine, even though its only for oil, lol.
9) I hear some REF’s Don’t like obd0-1 jumpers, and some don’t care, so try it and find out. My REF was fine with mine.
10) No truck engines in cars(B20), and no head swaps either.
11) Exhaust systems are not for smog, so don’t worry about your aftermarket catbacks.

Many of the requirements can be overlooked by the REF for your benefit, so go with what you have, and repair as necessary. However the REF’s are becoming more hip by the day.

-Where is it located? Most are located at local colleges. They will give directions on the phone.

-Will I have to do the idle/2,500 rpm, or the 15mph/25mph dyno machine? This varies on city/location.