Would a swapped engine ever pass emissions? Im assuming a swapped ECU would make it fail... ODB-II test

I guess I would have to find a shop that either was really cool or was dumb enough to not notice that my 96 has a 3.5 engine in it...?

Im asking because Im currently suffering big time to pass smog, even though my car would pass the sniffer with freakin flying colors, like 0.00 and 0.01 on the scale. Im actually rather pissed about it. I see freaking cars belching out tons of blue smoke on the freeways, and I'm springing for a stock ECU, replacing the stock... everything... just to pass a (@*#$(* ()*(!$(*@#()!@#*(*#($*&@ smog test. What BS.... I say you pass the sniffer, you pass.

 

if you swap in a different engine, it must be the current year or newer model engine (in this case its obviously newer), then you take it to the state referee to get it smogged, and once it passes, they will give you a stiicker that says that you have a different engine...from then on, as long as you passed smog at the referee and have the sticker, you can smog anywhere.

 

stupid emission tests... i could not figure out how they would swap those v8s on tv shows and never mention anything about smog tests...

 

yeah I hate that too. Don't you just hate it that even if your mods are carb legal they still give you a hassle.

 

This is true...my friend told me about this....and once u get on the dyno to run a sniffer test...your 3.5 should pass as well...they are fairly clean engines...that is, if u keep them fairly stock....if u start adding alot of stuff on there, then i don't think it will be that clean anymore

 

my neighbor has an EG-6 civic hatch with a full JDM H22A swap w/ tranny, and since it is a JDM engine it obviously wont pass smog, i asked him about how he smogs his car, and the only thing he told me was, "when you have money and know a person who smogs cars, then your set."

....but when you get pulled over and have to smog at the state referee, then i guess it means reverting back to stock or make really good friends with the state referee smog guy.

 

how do you avoid getting SES lights when you swap in a vq35? As far as i know the VQ35 doesn't have any EGR so that has to be eliminated when you swap in the bigger motor. Unfortunately the A32 ecu will throw a code when the EGR is removed. Has anyone succesfully bypassed the EGR without getting any codes?

 

BSwtih(spell?) Has bypassed the EGR with resistors and stuff.

 

Do you know if there's a thread that lists what he did?

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....=egr+resistors

 

what form of egr does the vq35 use? or does it use it at all?


***edit found it.. pretty intresting stuff..

 

my car passes smog with the full 3.5 swap. the only thign that the guy at the smog station told me about was my apexi filter but everything else passes.

 

well yeah you did swap the complete engine and harness.. so there's no reason why it shouldn't pass.

 

I think you will pass with the 4th gen ECU. My bud Krismax did in NY

 

Im sure a 4th gen can pass smog with a vq35.. the only thing would be to keep the EGR SES light in check..

 

If this guarantees passing then it would seem to me that the extra cost (if its less than a grand) would make it worth it. I say this because I have been eating crap sandwich trying to pass friggin smog for the last week.

When you say harness, you mean all the wiring and the ECU right? Would only be a bummer cause I have my beloved JWT ECU.

 

Well im thinking that the vq35 can pass smog with an A32 ECU. I think if i can keep the the EGR SES, or any ses lights for that matter in check, and put a stock y pipe, and cat, the vq35 should pass with flying colors..

 

There may be a problem in that egr function in the VQ35 is controlled by valve overlap, which is controlled by the 5.5 and 6th gen ecu adjusting the CVTCs. A fixed intake cam position may or may not provide enough exhaust reversion to pass emissions.

But, I think you can temporarily mount the VQ30 upper and lower IM along with the egr on order to pass emissions. The lower IM doesn't match the VQ35 intake ports, but I believe they are close enough to where there won't be any intake air leaks. I'll have to check to be sure, though.

 

Sorry to bring up such an old thread, but arent the 04+ 3.5's running external EGR? 02-03 EGR is controled thru the exaust cams correct?

Im thinking about doing this 3.5 swap but smog is my biggest question/concern....

BTW, whats the deal with the 4th gen IM on the 3.5? any feedback on that?

 

04+ have external EGR. Much more plausable to make work than an internal setup like the 02-03 have.

Probably some time in the FSM's and some creative thinking you can fab up a way to get a function EGR system.

 

Hmmm, Has anyone gotten the 2k VI to work on the 3.5 yet?

I know the ports dont match up 100% perfectly from what i have read on here, but they do however bolt up...correct? How hard would it be for a machine shop to port the upper VI to pair up with the LIM off the 3.5?

If i managed to to this, i would be able to run EGR just like i do on my 4th gen motor with the VI swap...correct?

My main objective was to get a better flowing IM (And maybe even gettin EGR to werk at the same time), ive heard that the VI is much better than the 5th gen IM...

Any thoughts or sudjestions on this?

 

Sounds plausable. Shouldnt be hard at all to fab up a adapter to match the port on each side.

With that piece successfully make you could run the 00vi, plus run egr. And if I'm not mistaken not have to fab up pieces for throttle linkage and it should just bolt into stock location (with a pathy tb)

 

Would it be a benefit over using the 3.5 TB and IM?

Also, would it be better to use the pathy TB instead of using the TB that pairs up with the 5th gen VI? The reason i ask is because it would be one less thing to have to buy...as i already have the complete VI setup on my 4th gen right now...

Also with the adaptor, would clearance be an issue? I want to keep my FSTB, and the clearance is already cutting it rather close as it is...

Would an adaptor be the only route to go? Couldnt i just port the VI to match? Or do the bolts not line up with the 3.5 LIM?

 

3.5 IM vs 00vi, I dont know which one flows better, that is to be determined.

IIRC the 5th gen TB is small than the Pathy TB so you'd get more air with the pathy (I think 60mm 5thgen vs 70mm Pathy)

Clearance would be dependant on the thickness of the adapter. I believe the top of the 3.5 Manifold is kinda close the adapter would have to be pretty thin, which I dont know if thats possible. Raising the hood, or a cut out would be potential options.

it would take having both IM's in hand to get a better sense of how much off they are, what extra work is needed etc .

 

kEWL

Thanks for the info!

So just to clarify, the only smog issue would be EGR keeping its funtion with the 4th gen ECU. the actual motor swap itself shouldnt be a problem...as it runs just as clean if not cleaner than the 4th gen 3.0....


i know alot of you have passed but the majority of the response has been from people outside of cali...sigh...california smog rules SUCK lol...

 

any write up on how to get ride of the check engine light after eliminating egr for the 3.5 swap

 

so far I've heard pluggin in the sensors should get rid of the cel, even though they arent exactly reading like they should. This is still to be tested.

 

I dont want to get too ahead of myself but I am not throwing any egr or evap related codes (so far). All sensors are plugged in.

 

Keep us updated!

 

would 5.0 gen w/ a 3.5 have this problem as well?