California registration for a Hemi Gladiator

[mx5red]

Some incredibly helpful posts here /s

look up SB 100 what kit car guys (think Cobras) go through to register.
There is a process and it’s not hard if you know your steps. I don’t know if rules for engine years or whatever, but you should be able to find that info.
Basically what someone else said you’d need a carb compliant motor I think because of the year. You can put an old Windsor in a kit car because you register it as a ‘65. But I think you’d need the CARB tune and cats for a 392.

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[hakoda]

You can't register a vehicle with an actual VIN as a kit car and apply for the 100 (iirc) VINs they grant per year as a '65 or whatever year it is. No chance. Those are only for vehicles that otherwise never existed for sale. There are three options and only one is fully legal.

1) As all mentioned, same or newer year engine with all smog gear including engine management systems, then get BAR to sign it off. You will also need very very accurate documentation on how you acquired the engine and from where. This is a process

2) Your Jeep won't see a smog req for 6 years from year of purchase. Do the swap and then move, sell, or option 3 the thing. I don't think you'd have a good time trying to explain why the vehicle has basically been smog-illegal for 5+ years or whatever (remember they will look through documents with a magnifying glass) so option 1 as a post-process is probably a bad idea.

3) Do it, and "find a guy" that will just send it. Good luck as the circle of trust is small and usually 2 or 3 people deep.

 

[Jeepmonster]

Yep, this is how fit in with my neighborhood here in California.

 

[Kirk*Mojave]

Sounds like a lot of time and money spent to "maybe" get a truck registered. I wouldn't take that chance.

 

[Cburd61]

Maybe you could tell the DMV that the engine identifies as a dual quad…..

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Maybe you could tell the DMV that the engine identifies as a dual quad…..

Dang it - now I need a Prius emblem for the back of my car.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Before you start calling names you need to look at all the other states that have even more restrictions. My tires stick out an inch and I am lifted and my front plate is an option. . No problem here. California is a great state with more off road than many. I wonder why California gets slammed when there are many others that have even more restrictions.

This is true. California is a pretty rigged state…. We moved out of Ridgecrest a couple years back and up to WA… it’s worse than CA by far… costs are all a wash- the expenses are different but in the end, bent over all the same. I miss the eastern Sierras and Death Valley. The people there were overall more chill/nicer to interact with as well.

 

[whysoserious]

My tires stick out an inch and I am lifted and my front plate is an option.

This just means you haven't been stopped for the violations. California is a two plate state (your JT doesn't qualify for the exception). It has been for a very long time. Also, California allows the sidewalls to stick out, but not the tread.

 

[Hootbro]

Yep, this is how fit in with my neighborhood here in California.

Dude, please tell me where you got that!

 

[Jeepmonster]

Dude, please tell me where you got that!

Don at @pixeldecals hooked me up a few years ago. I'm impressed how well it has stayed on over the years baking in the SoCal sun, drive through car washes, pressure washes, etc.

 

[Cburd61]

This is true. California is a pretty rigged state…. We moved out of Ridgecrest a couple years back and up to WA… it’s worse than CA by far… costs are all a wash- the expenses are different but in the end bent over all the same. I miss the eastern Sierras and Death Valley. The people were, overall more chill/nicer to interact with as well.

I moved to SC from Santa Ana almost 44 years ago. I liked the differences then, even more so now. Was a shock when I got here, to find out no alcohol sales on Sundays, and most towns rolled up the sidewalks about 2pm on Wednesdays, due to the state’s “blue laws”. Most of that has gone away now. The state inspection here went away about 20 years ago. Real thorough: lights, wipers, horn worked, you got your sticker. The only things I miss about California are being 15 minutes from the beach, and camping/wheeling in the Mojave desert.

 

[TwoSerious]

Get with your local referee station and speak with them. There is some weird rules that can be left up to interpretation and might as well get answers from the people you'll have to take it to.

 

[Mojave2021]

Back on topic - I’d check with the DMV smog referee in your area first before buying anything. I swapped an LS3 into my 1977 Trans Am but the engine itself is 100% CARB certified (it’s the e-Rod version - which is really just a more expensive LS3 based on the one from the 2013 Camaro SS with a CARB sticker. But it’s only allowed in 1995 or newer cars.

Engine swap Rules from the CA DMV site below. Given the JT didn’t come with a V8 you may have trouble ahead.

A new, rebuilt, remanufactured, or used engine of the same make, number of cylinders, and engine family (test group) as the original engine with the original emission controls reinstalled;

An engine which matches a configuration offered by the manufacturer for that year, make and model of vehicle, and the appropriate emission controls for the installed engine, and chassis components are present and connected.

 

[rumshcawheely]

I live in CA and I’m just trying to figure out why there are tampons in the men’s restroom?? Just throw the Hemi in and enjoy it for few years, by the time your first smog check, they’ll have plenty of these things approved.

 

[ryanlsmith]

I was under the impression that a swap is legal in CA if the manufacturer offered it as an option. Meaning Wrangler guys can swap in a 392 with a compliant tune, but JTs are SOL.

Doesn’t seem fair, but I know fleet numbers come into play, and I guess an argument could be made about fuel economy due to the heavier weight.

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