EPA regulations...

[Christ]

I can't find it in proper right now, but I've been reading up on EPA regulations regarding engine swaps.

What I've gotten down to is that EPA actually forbids the swapping of engines between manufacturers, engines into vehicles that aren't part of an EPA certified combination, and older engines into newer chassis.

There is no regard to better fuel economy or reduced emissions, either.

This basically means that every engine swap I'm about to do in the next couple years are completely illegal. It's a good thing I just don't give a damn, eh?

The cool part is that while the Fed EPA cares, many states do not, and thus, the Fed EPA only enforces the laws when they're reported, which only happens if you piss someone off, I guess.

There are, of course, no regulations for anything before the first Clean Air Act was enforced, so I believe anything before '73 doesn't make too much of a difference what's in it.

Good food for thought for anyone that's done or is considering a swap... just because it "passes" inspection doesn't mean it's legal!

[Christ]

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resour.../engswitch.pdf

[Christ]

The .pdf vaguely says that while it's not technically illegal to swap between manufacturers, the cost may be prohibitive of such events.

Earlier in the .pdf, though, it specifically says that unless the resultant vehicle is in accordance with one of the certified configurations for the chassis, that the engine switch is not federally permissable.

This, of course, would mean that switching between manufacturers is not only cost prohibitive, potentially, but also still illegal.

[Peter7307]

Interesting.
The laws here (Australia) regarding engine swaps are basically:
Equal capacity , a more modern engine replacing an older one or any engine which was an option from that maker for that vehicle (ie take out a 6 and drop in a V8 if it was an option originally) are OK.
Apart from that the choices are limited and require an qualified engineer to sign it all off.

EPA tests are rare and prosecutions ever more so.

Pete.

[Christ]

Pete -

That's essentially what's going on here. The EPA has shut down numerous engine importers, and from a legal standpoint, I'd wager that half the people on this board that have swapped are currently illegal (including electrics, of course) for one reason or another.

Of course, they don't really implement the laws much of anywhere, and I've only heard of a handful of cases where the $2500 fine was issued to a citizen for violations stemming from a switch, never actually seen any on paper, though.

It's one of those cases where it's the law, but only when it's enforced, I guess.

[pstrbrc]

Aaahhh.....
Move to Western Kansas. There's still farmers out here that oil their road (with crankcase oil from their tractors, of course!) and almost nobody pays the $2 a tire recycling fee, 'cause the guys at the local landfills act like they don't see what ya throw into the pit. The "nanny state" micromanaging of our behaviour irks me no end, but some people seem to need it.

[my first gmc]

I could care less what the government thinks about what i do. If I want to alter my property, I'm going to do it. And emissions aren't part of inspections over here, so I don't think it really matters anyway.

[Christ]

That's the thing. It may not matter to your state, but it's still federally illegal.

State governments often don't enforce federal laws. Once again, you should only worry about it if you face DOT or NHTSA or EPA inspections.

[gone-ot]

...sometimes "little" brother doesn't always go along with "BIG" brother.

[bestclimb]

Originally Posted by my first gmc

I could care less what the government thinks about what i do. If I want to alter my property, I'm going to do it.