My 86 el camino smog legal 5.3 attempt

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CaliWagon83

Royal Smart Person
Nov 12, 2017
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Only smog legal LS swap in Ca is the crate Erod kits from GM performance.

Not exactly. The E-Rods are the easiest to get passed, but as long as the engine is the same year or newer as the car it’s going in, and came out of a similar weight class of vehicle, you should be OK. The only issue I possibly see here is that the 5.3 was never offered in a passenger car, except the transverse LS4.

Although the El Camino is kind of a gray area. They might consider it a “truck” in which case he’ll be OK.
 
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ortega

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Apr 26, 2010
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Well I'm hoping to get it smogged as an ls1, since everything I'm using is off of one except the block and heads. I didn't think of the possibility that they might check casting numbers on the head though. Will see.
 

CaliWagon83

Royal Smart Person
Nov 12, 2017
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The refs have a fair amount of leeway in approving swaps. Again, your best reference is the “Engine Change Guidelines” link I posted. It’s a little vague in some areas, but it’s the best you’ve got short of a CARB EO number.
 

ortega

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Apr 26, 2010
17
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Not much today, straightened out my old fuel tank straps and bent them the shape of the ls1 tank
20181012_152756.jpg
20181012_152750.jpg
 

565bbchevy

Geezer
Aug 8, 2011
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Michigan
It will be interesting to see the fit of that tank mounted in the car because that thing looks deep.
 

CaliWagon83

Royal Smart Person
Nov 12, 2017
1,933
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Orange County, CA
Please keep us posted, especially if you get it approved! There are a lot of misconceptions about doing engine swaps in CA. This will be very informative to a lot of people. Here's another link I found that might be helpful: http://asktheref.org/
 
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ortega

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Apr 26, 2010
17
14
3
Please keep us posted, especially if you get it approved! There are a lot of misconceptions about doing engine swaps in CA. This will be very informative to a lot of people. Here's another link I found that might be helpful: http://asktheref.org/
Thanks for the info. I will keep everybody posted. I don't know how long it will be before this thing even turns on, but well see what happens
 
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