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Re: T5 conversion and the state of California Posted by Justin VanAbrahams [Email]  (#32) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Justin VanAbrahams) on Thu, 23 Mar 2017 13:03:29
In Reply to: T5 conversion and the state of California, StoicBlue87  [Profile/Gallery]
, Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:21:30
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I am working on this right now. There is no slam-dunk way to do this, because no T5 engine will directly fit into a c900, so some creativity and an understanding referee is called for. If you look on the 9000 board you'll see I made an inquiry about 1990 9000T engine numbers to gear up for this battle. No matter what, you have to treat this as an engine swap since there is no provision (it's flat-out illegal) to do a fuel injection swap no matter how obvious it is. So, you have to find some T5 engine to masquerade as.
I see a few approaches:
1. 1991 9000T - All 1991 turbo engines share an engine family, which lays precedent for swapping factory emissions parts like exhaust manifolds. Of course, a 1991 9000T uses DI/APC, but visually there is not much difference between T5 and DI/APC if you leave the AMM in place. I have heard of some referees taking apart fuel injection computers to see what's inside (!!!) which would cause a problem here. Or maybe not. Is a ref going to be able to tell an LH computer from a Trionic box? Doubtful. There is obviously no way for a ref to verify 2.0l vs. 2.3l, so that's a non-issue.
2. 1994-1995 NG900s are T5 but pre-OBDII and, IIRC, OBD exempt entirely. You also have a 2.0 engine. Obviously the NG900 is quite different physically, but that is a really finicky detail. Being pre-OBDII the intake manifold (and the entire intake tract - air filter, intercooler, etc.) is exempt, no problem there. But the exhaust is not exempt, and no NG900 shares an engine family number with a c900, so you'd need to find a referee who is okay substituting factory parts. I've talked with an exhaust shop and a smog shop, and they both say they've seen legal engine swap cars with not-quite-correct exhaust manifolds - they say the problems typically arise when you try and substitute clearly aftermarket parts - that will never fly.
3. '96-'99 NG900/9-3 - same as above, but OBDII. This creates a major hassle on the physical side since swapping intake and exhaust manifolds is a major no-no, and you're unlikely to get a ref who will let you slide by on this. It's possible - I've seen it happen with Chevy LS motors, but I'm not sure I'd bank on it. As the driver, OBDII would be really nice to have, though, but it doesn't affect smog - a '99 car would still be subject to a sniffer test - the e-check is only valid on later cars ('00 or '03 or something).
I have an inquiry with the local ref who was *supposed* to return my call a week ago, but that didn't happen. They will consult with you to pre-answer questions so you don't hose yourself. I will follow up on that today, hopefully talk to one next week. I plan to float the #2 idea - NG900 engine swap using a c900 exhaust manifold. I think it'll pass muster.
Either way I can reflash to OBDII T5 once the ref is done if I decide I want to. I have a '99 9-3 for parts in the driveway *right now*, and my SPG just did its '17 smog last week so I have two years to sort this out. Hoping to have it done by summer for SOC. :)
I'm going to use the 9-3 for most stuff, but I am 100% sure I will pick up the eeuroparts flywheel/sensor setup, and I may laze out and get their wiring harness as well.
In any case, my goal is not to be deceitful as much as possible - I prefer to do these things on the up-and-up. But maintaining LH is getting very difficult and expensive these days, and T5 would be a big improvement in emissions, performance, and drivability so it's worth pursuing even if stuff has to be fudged I think.
posted by 12.195.130...
, Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:21:30, Fri, 24 Mar 2017 16:55:20, Thu, 23 Mar 2017 13:03:29 <-- Viewing This Message, Thu, 23 Mar 2017 20:24:01, Thu, 23 Mar 2017 16:30:40, Fri, 24 Mar 2017 15:11:45, Sat, 25 Mar 2017 04:38:23, Sat, 25 Mar 2017 23:02:03, Thu, 23 Mar 2017 20:16:38
, Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:46:25, Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:54:16, Thu, 23 Mar 2017 13:19:28
, Thu, 23 Mar 2017 15:39:39
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