I am hoping to do a 3800 sc w/ 5speed in n. cali. I just got off the phone with an consumer affairs rep. He Told me I was pretty much crazy too try doing that swap here in cali. First, get this, the guy starts laughing and says that calif. now has the computer setup to check for "flashed or modified" ecm's. If they see that someone has reprogrammed the thing YOU FAIL!! no questions.

I am disheartend to say the least!! I was thinking of finding the earliest possible 3.8 carburated engine to just do that one. The rep also tells me that most states are now on the verge of using cali's smog laws as the norm!! What is this country coming too?? A guy can't even build the car he wants, THAT SUCKS!!

Here in North Carolina, only cars with OBD II, 95 or 96 or later need a smog check. Anything older just gets a safety inspection.

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Chuck
86 GT
98 Trans AM

I am reading this thread and I cant be leave want I am reading, I must of missed that important information about what motor you can use in CA, my dream is falling through of my 3800 supercharger with my 5speed in my Fiero I don’t want to use a V8 I have two cars already with
those

when you guys say 4.9 is that the Cadillac motor? I always thought that N motor was the Cadillac motor
I am confused

I guess I am lucky I haven’t found my motor yet or I would be selling it now

The 4.6L NS replaced the 4.9L Caddy V8. Totally different engines but both Caddy. There is a 4.0L NS version used in the Aurora and a 3.5L V6 called the Shortstar. They unfortunately came with automatics only.

Yeah, the 3800SC 5spd techninically isn't allowed here. I swapped one with an automatic and really enjoyed it but if you are stuck on the 5spd you are "painting outside the lines."

TK

[This message has been edited by TK (edited 01-18-2006).]

SD4 Duke with the ECM head. It looks just like a Duke when you use a stock valve cover.

Gary

I foresee some real Fiero fanatics moving to Alabama. Our laws on this subject are very engine-swap friendly. Of course, this does mean that I inhale more smog from other cars driving to work with the windows rolled down than I would if I just took a couple deep breaths from my exhaust pipe before leaving home.

Don't take that as meaning I like all the emissions laws in existance. Industrial stuff still puts out way more lung-gunk than all the cars in the US.

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"I love Fiero."
"Do you really love the Fiero, or are you just saying it because you saw it?"
"I love Fiero! I love Fiero."

'87 Pontiac Fiero GT

quote Originally posted by yosemitefieros: SD4 Duke with the ECM head. It looks just like a Duke when you use a stock valve cover. Gary

I went several years with my 86 Ciera GT with a 3800SC (came stock with the Vin B 3.8L). They just never really noticed anything being odd. I replaced the "Fuel Injection" with "Supercharged" on the fenders, made the DIC in the console work and when they pulled up the emissions list it all matched (FI, Digital EGR, etc.) Now if they had scanned it, it wouldn't have talked 86 ECM but rather 94/95....but they don't do that where I'm at.

As of today there is no acceptable 3800SC manual combo because there is/was no production car manufactured with that combination. Looks to me like the closest would be a 3900 6-speed combo from the 2006 G6 GTP where a 5-speed could be substituted. There have been several threads on the research folks have done to pass and the combinations that the CARB will most likely accept. There are also differing smog programs by area in California. The end result is the same, it's just differing degrees of anal attitude towards car owners.

Richard

I'd be careful with the newer stuff. last i remember, loyd from Fast Fieros was doing work with the 6 speed and a 3800 but he's a wiz with the computers and electronics. you might give him a call ....

And yep, if all else fails, they can always fail your smog on "visual". Instead of letting the DMV get to you, why not focus on what you CAN have ? The 3.4 DOHC or even 3.4 with a standard is still more fun than the stock 2.8. Forget about the DMV .... believe me, it's better that way ...

[This message has been edited by PaulJK (edited 01-19-2006).]

decisions decisions decisions nothing is easy, thanks guys for all your info and experience
on this, nothing would of been worse then doing all that work swapping motors and then just to find out I did it all for nothing

Hey when does a 1988 Vehicle become smog exempt? Isn't it like 20 or 25 years after manufacture? Shouldn't I be able to swap anything I want into my 88 GT after 1988 cars are exempt?

Right after they change the law. I think they delayed the rolling implementation.

Nothing made after '73 is exempt, unless they changed the law. Further, there's at least one State Legislator that wants to remove the exemption and require every vehicle ever made to pass smog, regardless of its age.

Yeah... there used to be a rolling exemption for vehicles in CA, but Gov. Arnold just signed a load of bills on his desk, one of which stopped the rolling exemption in the state. Now it is locked. Bummer.

Gary