1HD-FTE Diesel Swap LX450, Impossible to Register due to Colorado Emissions Program.

[Mag71k5]

They don't pull people over for long over due expired tags but i'm sure they will target someone with a Ford GT or a LandCruiser because it has Montana plates...

Yeah, I mean ive been riding on expired tags for two years, never been pulled over. But its not like i haven't tried to do the right thing... they've just made it impossible to do that.

So we'll see how it goes.

 

[White Stripe]

The only way it can be done is getting the title transferred to another state. When its transferred to another state the vehicle designation needs to be changed to diesel on the title. Then it can be transferred to Colorado. Do they emissions test diesels that old? Because if they do then that wont work either. However being that the vin is possibly flagged in the system now, it may be impossible. The other way is to buy a imported 1hdfte truck with a blown motor and put your motor in it. You could even cut the firewall out and make it LHD.

 

[Mag71k5]

The only way it can be done is getting the title transferred to another state. When its transferred to another state the vehicle designation needs to be changed to diesel on the title. Then it can be transferred to Colorado. Do they emissions test diesels that old? Because if they do then that wont work either. However being that the vin is possibly flagged in the system now, it may be impossible. The other way is to buy a imported 1hdfte truck with a blown motor and put your motor in it. You could even cut the firewall out and make it LHD.

Here's the year ranges, I think if i was to try this again, I would've done this from the beginning. Title it somewhere else, get the fuel type switched to diesel, then re-title in Colorado. I'd say we're probably past the point of no return due to me trying to get it done the "right" way. I do agree for those that come after me, if you live in the diesel emissions program area, or maybe even the gas emissions program area as well, register it as diesel elsewhere.

The Tennessee title I do have, doesn't have a fuel type listed, so be sure whichever state you do title it in, they have a specified fuel type block, and they don't have an emissions program themselves.

 

[nuclearlemon]

wow, all diesels tested regardless of age if not exempted through collector plates. so so glad i left kalorado. i understand wanting to keep the air clean but what kills me is the cleanest vehicle in the world can't pass if it doesn't pass a visual. that proves it's all about the money, not the air.

 

[Mag71k5]

wow, all diesels tested regardless of age if not exempted through collector plates. so so glad i left kalorado. i understand wanting to keep the air clean but what kills me is the cleanest vehicle in the world can't pass if it doesn't pass a visual. that proves it's all about the money, not the air.

Yeah, I know I should've bought a house on the western slope instead, then I could've avoided all of this! LOL>

 

[Diesel Cruiser]

Send me a PM. I got mine to pass emissions. 91 HD80

 

[gr8fulabe]

Dumb. So you can buy an import with that engine and get a form and drive it around but you can't swap the same engine because it's not epa or carb certified. Gonna have to register it outside of emissions counties or out of state.

Calirado at it's finest

I k ow you know this, but for the sake of others that might not…

It is a collector car exemption. They could just do away with it entirely & tell us all to get bent if they wanted. The point is that the collector car exemption is for classic cars in original mechanical form. That's why you also can't import a collector car that has had this motor swapped into it either.

Honestly there is nothing surprising that you can't swap a non-USA motor into a vehicle in the USA. This is actually true in every state in the nation, as its a federal law. It is just that enforcement is low in lots of areas of the country. Much like speeding. It's illegal everywhere, but I can speed thousands of times before I eventually get a ticket because enforcement is low.

Also, to respond to the above, there is no way to title this truck as a diesel & then just plate it & bring it back. The state knows that there are no US spec diesel land cruisers, so you still get into the same scenario. Just titling elsewhere, as he’s planning, is his best option at this point.

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

Colorado needs to stop testing on vehicles 25 and older.
there are far less 25+ year old vehicles than new cars on the road. it is definitely a cash grab
It's dumb to have to do this!

 

[Doughboy]

Send me a PM. I got mine to pass emissions. 91 HD80

His issue isn't getting to pass emissions. It's that he did an engine swap with a non-NAS engine.

Honestly doubt they'll pull over an old LX for alleged tax evasion. It's not like it's a 200k plus car.

 

[Mag71k5]

I k ow you know this, but for the sake of others that might not…

It is a collector car exemption. They could just do away with it entirely & tell us all to get bent if they wanted. The point is that the collector car exemption is for classic cars in original mechanical form. That's why you also can't import a collector car that has had this motor swapped into it either.

Honestly there is nothing surprising that you can't swap a non-USA motor into a vehicle in the USA. This is actually true in every state in the nation, as its a federal law. It is just that enforcement is low in lots of areas of the country. Much like speeding. It's illegal everywhere, but I can speed thousands of times before I eventually get a ticket because enforcement is low.

Also, to respond to the above, there is no way to title this truck as a diesel & then just plate it & bring it back. The state knows that there are no US spec diesel land cruisers, so you still get into the same scenario. Just titling elsewhere, as he’s planning, is his best option at this point.

Yup I should've really done my due diligence with the specifics, and actually read into the legislation. Not just the bold 25+ years or older gets a pass. It's just odd to me that the engine is legal in the vehicle its imported with, but not on its own.

Emission systems nor the engine care about what they are in. So in my mind, if the ENGINE passes emissions it shouldn't matter. Alas, now we know.

Ive learned a lot with the build, most of it expensive lessons, thats just how it goes though. I'll know better for the next one

 

[gr8fulabe]

Yup I should've really done my due diligence with the specifics, and actually read into the legislation. Not just the bold 25+ years or older gets a pass. It's just odd to me that the engine is legal in the vehicle its imported with, but not on its own.

Emission systems nor the engine care about what they are in. So in my mind, if the ENGINE passes emissions it shouldn't matter. Alas, now we know.

Ive learned a lot with the build, most of it expensive lessons, thats just how it goes though. I'll know better for the next one

Yeah, I couldn't agree with you more. If it runs clean enough to pass whatever the standard is, and you are trying to do it all the right way, it shouldn't matter at all. I wonder if all the car clubs in the state petitioned for changes, if it would make any difference?

Really the only positive here is that you had the skills to do the work yourself so it saved a ton of money. If I had tried it, i'd be out so much more due to having to farm out most of it to the pros. pretty small solace though.

 

[White Stripe]

I k ow you know this, but for the sake of others that might not…

It is a collector car exemption. They could just do away with it entirely & tell us all to get bent if they wanted. The point is that the collector car exemption is for classic cars in original mechanical form. That's why you also can't import a collector car that has had this motor swapped into it either.

Honestly there is nothing surprising that you can't swap a non-USA motor into a vehicle in the USA. This is actually true in every state in the nation, as its a federal law. It is just that enforcement is low in lots of areas of the country. Much like speeding. It's illegal everywhere, but I can speed thousands of times before I eventually get a ticket because enforcement is low.

Also, to respond to the above, there is no way to title this truck as a diesel & then just plate it & bring it back. The state knows that there are no US spec diesel land cruisers, so you still get into the same scenario. Just titling elsewhere, as he’s planning, is his best option at this point.

This is something I researched a long time ago. Not surprised if im wrong. How though does Colorado handle a imported 80 series diesel that has been titled in Wyoming for years and then the owner decides to move to Colorado and get a Colorado title? Do they know its a diesel by the vin?

 

[gr8fulabe]

This is something I researched a long time ago. Not surprised if im wrong. How though does Colorado handle a imported 80 series diesel that has been titled in Wyoming for years and then the owner decides to move to Colorado and get a Colorado title? Do they know its a diesel by the vin?

Not usually. Depending on the state, some titles actually designate fuel type. Colorado's used to but doesn't now. Usually with an out of state titling they will make you go get an inspection, which would identify it. But they ultimately do know when you go to get an emissions test. Unless you found a slacker location that didn't care & also tested both gas & diesel, they will refuse to test it due to not being gas. Then, when you went to the diesel test place, they will expect you to hand over the inspection cert. to test. So you would still have to go get the state inspection, etc...

Back in the day, before the state started cracking down, you could just go to a diesel testing site & tell them the year, and they would test for a light truck of that year & just be done with it. But I haven't been to a place in a long time that doesn't immediately ask for the cert. now

Now, if you know what you are looking at, you would know it was a diesel cruiser. But I would be stunned to learn that anyone at the DMV would know that.

 

[J Kimmel]

I wonder if all the car clubs in the state petitioned for changes, if it would make any difference

No.

 

[Mag71k5]

Back in the day, before the state started cracking down, you could just go to a diesel testing site & tell them the year, and they would test for a light truck of that year & just be done with it. But I haven't been to a place in a long time that doesn't immediately ask for the cert.

Yeah, I took mine to truespeed in Northglenn, they immediately asked for the form after seeing that I had a LX450. I didnt have it, and they pointed me in the right direction.

So thats what caused me to schedule an appointment with the DETC, thinking I had just one more box to check before I could finally do the opacity test.

 

[Lastresort576]

What we need is for someone to get a job at aircare so everyone can have an inside man to make emissions easier for the club to pass.

 

[J1000]

I wonder if all the car clubs in the state petitioned for changes, if it would make any difference?

From my understanding (it all happened before I was born) this is exactly what happened in Colorado that gave us 5-year tags and emissions exemption for pre-74 vehicles. When that happened the agreement was basically that pre 74 you can do whatever you want. After that it's got emissions and the emissions can't be modified period.

edit: the bone they threw to the enthusiast community was the 5-year plates for 25+ year old vehicles that rolls forward every year (the powers that be wanted to freeze the 25+ year exemption at 1975 or whatever). So the bone was that you get emissions tested every 5 years instead of every 2.

That was back when people like Carroll Shelby lived in Colorado and we had 5 racetracks within 30 minutes of Denver.

Nowadays, never will happen.

The best case scenario is that the non-emissions counties continue without strict testing for maybe another 5-10 years. By then every county in CO will have emissions testing and oh yeah restrictions on how many gasoline vehicles can be sold will be implemented around the same time.

These are the good ol' days. Enjoy them while they last.

 

[Cruisertrash]

Every time the Montana process gets brought up, I have to ask:

What happens when you get in an accident and file an insurance claim? Serious question for those who have been down that road. My worry is that it’s pretty easy for an insurance company to figure out you’ve resided in Colorado for a long time (or wherever that’s not Montana) but the vehicle is registered in elsewhere. So do they deny the claim for fraud? They’re in the claims denial business, so they have an impetus to try to dig until they find something that gives them grounds for denial.

 

[Mag71k5]

Every time the Montana process gets brought up, I have to ask:

What happens when you get in an accident and file an insurance claim? Serious question for those who have been down that road. My worry is that it’s pretty easy for an insurance company to figure out you’ve resided in Colorado for a long time (or wherever that’s not Montana) but the vehicle is registered in elsewhere. So do they deny the claim for fraud? They’re in the claims denial business, so they have an impetus to try to dig until they find something that gives them grounds for denial.

If the policy was wrote for a vehicle being garaged in Colorado, or Montana and its there. What does the tag matter?

Ive never had an insurer question where its registered or tagged.

Good questions to ask.

 

[Doughboy]

Every time the Montana process gets brought up, I have to ask:

What happens when you get in an accident and file an insurance claim? Serious question for those who have been down that road. My worry is that it’s pretty easy for an insurance company to figure out you’ve resided in Colorado for a long time (or wherever that’s not Montana) but the vehicle is registered in elsewhere. So do they deny the claim for fraud? They’re in the claims denial business, so they have an impetus to try to dig until they find something that gives them grounds for denial.

Kind of the same but not, when I was living in MO for 2 years, I kept my land cruiser registered in Colorado and kept my Colorado plates, I called my insurance and told them that I was living in MO and they gave me a MO policy.

Same thing when I lived in TX for 4 years.