Need emissions help, Colorado changing rules for v8 swaps

[J1000]

It depends on the year and make etc. They can only detect tunes on certain ECUs by plugging in. Being able to change tunes via OBD is relatively new. An older car with a LS1 swap might sneak through if the OBD plug still works like normal and the exhaust is clean.

 

[Docwyte]

They're plugging into ALL the OBD2 cars now and have been for years. If you've done an engine swap and are trying to do it the legal way, that means you've run the car through the referee station. Those guys are incredibly thorough. Believe me, they're going to know if the car has a tune on it. Whether they care or not I'm not sure. I did my LSx swap something like 10+ years ago and things were different about tunes back then.

The ECU tune issue is something that's popped up literally this past summer, so it's relatively new.

 

[J1000]

They're plugging into ALL the OBD2 cars now and have been for years. If you've done an engine swap and are trying to do it the legal way, that means you've run the car through the referee station. Those guys are incredibly thorough. Believe me, they're going to know if the car has a tune on it. Whether they care or not I'm not sure. I did my LSx swap something like 10+ years ago and things were different about tunes back then.

The ECU tune issue is something that's popped up literally this past summer, so it's relatively new.

Yeah but just because a car has an OBD port doesn't mean it has as much information available as the next car.

 

[Docwyte]

Yes, yes they do. As far as what the smog people are looking for, all the obd2 ports give out the same information. That's kind of the point

 

[J1000]

Yes, yes they do. As far as what the smog people are looking for, all the obd2 ports give out the same information. That's kind of the point

It's just not true. There are requirements for what data is available on OBD based on regulations, regulations that change through the years. OBDII started in 1996, it's different than 2022.

 

[White Stripe]

It depends on the year and make etc. They can only detect tunes on certain ECUs by plugging in. Being able to change tunes via OBD is relatively new. An older car with a LS1 swap might sneak through if the OBD plug still works like normal and the exhaust is clean.

That makes a lot of sense.

 

[Docwyte]

It's just not true. There are requirements for what data is available on OBD based on regulations, regulations that change through the years. OBDII started in 1996, it's different than 2022.

As far as emissions it does. They're checking for readiness monitors, something OBD2 has had the entire time. Whether they can also read the CVN's and checksums of the tune I'm not sure. They certainly can on anything from the early 2000's, which is only 5-6 years after OBD2 was put into place

 

[Lastresort576]

All this talk about obd2..What about obd0&1 or swapping into a vehicle that wasnt ref'd and has no obd plugs. What do they do then?

 

[J1000]

As far as emissions it does. They're checking for readiness monitors, something OBD2 has had the entire time. Whether they can also read the CVN's and checksums of the tune I'm not sure. They certainly can on anything from the early 2000's, which is only 5-6 years after OBD2 was put into place

I am sure.

 

[White Stripe]

All this talk about obd2..What about obd0&1 or swapping into a vehicle that wasnt ref'd and has no obd plugs. What do they do then?

Probably just a visual inspection.

 

[Docwyte]

All this talk about obd2..What about obd0&1 or swapping into a vehicle that wasnt ref'd and has no obd plugs. What do they do then?

You're supposed to bring everything over from the swapped engine. So if you're doing an LS into an OBD0 or OBD1 car you're supposed to bring over all the emissions stuff, including the OBD2 plug and a check engine light. Then you go to the referee station and get it inspected. I did an LS swap into a 1989 car, that didn't have any OBD anything and that's what I had to do.

Probably just a visual inspection.

Nope. Not at all. See my explanation above.

If you want to risk skipping the referee, that's up to you. If the "regular" Air Care station doesn't realize you've swapped it, you're fine. If they do, you're screwed.

 

[White Stripe]

You're supposed to bring everything over from the swapped engine. So if you're doing an LS into an OBD0 or OBD1 car you're supposed to bring over all the emissions stuff, including the OBD2 plug and a check engine light. Then you go to the referee station and get it inspected. I did an LS swap into a 1989 car, that didn't have any OBD anything and that's what I had to do.

Nope. Not at all. See my explanation above.

If you want to risk skipping the referee, that's up to you. If the "regular" Air Care station doesn't realize you've swapped it, you're fine. If they do, you're screwed.

I meant that the referee will probably just do a visual inspection of the swap and emissions components on a obd1 swap. I don't think they'll plug in a scanner into it.

 

[Docwyte]

I meant that the referee will probably just do a visual inspection of the swap and emissions components on a obd1 swap. I don't think they'll plug in a scanner into it.

You mean the chassis is OBD1 and an OBD2 motor is going into it, or the chassis is OBD1 and an OBD1 motor is going into it? For the latter, no, they won't plug in, as there's really nothing to plug into on an OBD1 car for them.

For the former, then it's what I laid out above and they absolutely will plug in. If you don't have an OBD2 plug for them to scan, then you fail immediately and you can't drive the car on the street until you've put an OBD2 plug in it and taken the car back to the referee for them to check over again.

 

[White Stripe]

You mean the chassis is OBD1 and an OBD2 motor is going into it, or the chassis is OBD1 and an OBD1 motor is going into it? For the latter, no, they won't plug in, as there's really nothing to plug into on an OBD1 car for them.

For the former, then it's what I laid out above and they absolutely will plug in. If you don't have an OBD2 plug for them to scan, then you fail immediately and you can't drive the car on the street until you've put an OBD2 plug in it and taken the car back to the referee for them to check over again.

I meant if the chassis is a obd1 swap or prior and is getting a obd1 swap. I had my obd2 swap refereed a couple years ago for my 80 series. I'm working on moving out of State so I won't be getting it refereed again.

 

[Docwyte]

Yeah, let's say a 60 or early OBD1 80 series and you drop a traditional 350 small block into it. They're not going to scan it, that's all staying OBD0 or OBD1. You'd only need all that stuff if you put in an OBD2 motor like an LS

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

I meant if the chassis is a obd1 swap or prior and is getting a obd1 swap. I had my obd2 swap refereed a couple years ago for my 80 series. I'm working on moving out of State so I won't be getting it refereed again.

You're moving?? Where to?

 

[White Stripe]

You're moving?? Where to?

I've been working on moving for a bit. I've been checking out a couple places. Mostly places that are warmer and cheaper. Carolinas, Texas, etc.

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

I've been working on moving for a bit. I've been checking out a couple places. Mostly places that are warmer and cheaper. Carolinas, Texas, etc.

All I see is humid, more humid and hot AF!
Definitely cheaper though.
Property taxes in Texas are high like Willie Nelson and Snoop Dog combined!

 

[DouglasVB]

I've been working on moving for a bit. I've been checking out a couple places. Mostly places that are warmer and cheaper. Carolinas, Texas, etc.

Have you taken a look at the area around Reno?

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

Have you taken a look at the area around Reno?

I'd move there. I love that area.