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California registration for a Hemi Gladiator

JTGuy

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Is there any way to legally register a Gladiator in California with a V8 ? Has anyone done it ? Even bring a used one in from another state ?
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PuddleJumper

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Is there any way to legally register a Gladiator in California with a V8 ? Has anyone done it ? Even bring a used one in from another state ?
engine changes ands swaps are legal in Cali as long as the motor is same year or newer, has all the appropriate CARB/OE approved emission systems and the ECU is OEM and unmodified or tuned. So with this in mind, as long as your hemi swap passes SMOG and is on a factory MOPAR tune. It should register just fine. The issue i see here is AMW4x4 tuning will be the no no. You may have to get the wrangler 392 tune to pass or maybe a ram 2500 tune.


Edit: if you got LS1tech, they have a lot of info on how to be legal with engine swaps for cali.
 
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JTGuy

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I have become obsessed with the V8 thing I knew in my past. A 392 Wrangler might be the easy way to get it but hate to part with my JT all modded. In Calif I would have to get a sticker from the state and it would have to pass an inspection. Speaking with AMW they have not had one get a Cal reg yet. I have a call into the DMV and I am waiting a return call someday.
 

Billyj7175

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have a call into the DMV and I am waiting a return call someday.
Just a suggestion, but you might contact one of the smog registering places. The experiences I've had with their DMV on similar issues were...futile at best.

Years ago, I had a Honda XR650R that I put a dual sport kit on it and was trying to get it registered in CA. Luckily the kit (Baja Designs) had all of the paperwork and inspection steps needed to get it registered. Whenever I went in to apply for a plate, the counterperson was completely bewildered, so she went and got a supervisor. That person was just as much confused as the first. They finally got their manager. I explained to her what I was doing, and all of the steps (and paperwork) I had in order to register. She just sat there with the same look of confusion on her face as the last two people...then very politely asked me if I wanted a job. Lol.
My point is, in my experience, most of them are only trained/experienced in the normal day-to-day registration & renewals. Anything beyond that, good luck.
 
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JTGuy

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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.
 

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You may want to contact this shop located in my town that has been converting wranglers with 392’ and Hemi’s. After looking at their website, it appears they may only sell the conversion kits versus doing the conversion. The kits come with what appears to be very thorough instructions and the conversions are CARB compliant.

https://jeepspeedshop.com/
 

texanjeeper

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A V-8 in Kalifornia? Heresy, I say !!
 

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ShadowsPapa

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I wonder why California gets slammed when there are many others that have even more restrictions.
Maybe because CA contributes more to green house gases than most other states and yet....... look up sulfuryl fluoride.

Anyway, surprised they allow the 1" poke, and yet, no, I'm not because restricting such things would be seen as racist. They restrict emissions but allow stuff most other states won't because of certain things that shall not be discussed here.

Plates - Iowa is a front plate state and yet I've not run one in many years. They can't afford to stop someone for a trivial thing with the 70% cut in troopers here.

Not sure who is more restrictive than CA in emissions.
otoh, I get it. With populations so dense in some areas and the weather patterns what they are - we can gripe, but it's sort of a matter of survival.

Toss all the CA bashing aside and just concentrate on the really very good info and advice you got - especially the bits about - be nice to the DMV workers - they have a heck of a work load and what you propose isn't something they see daily, and likely not even trained on it.
A touch of polite will go a long ways with 'em.
 

TheSolarWizard

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Move or at least make an arrangement with someone in another state to register there
 

AmosMoses

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I just read within the last month that a woman in California stabbed her husband or boyfriend over 100 times, killing him. She received probation or similar light sentence because she was high on thc at the time. Then in another case a former NBA player/actor got basically life in prison for sexual assault.

My point is that I wouldn't get too worked up about your states laws. Just do what you want and make sure you're high when you do the swap. Then if you get fined, you can plead insanity because you were under the influence of thc.
 
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JTGuy

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I have lived in So Cal all my life. I can remember when my lungs would hurt back in the 50s and 60s from all the smog. Today the air is so much better. The state will never be perfect and no other state is either. I don't plan on going anywhere. Everything is here. A V8 is not worth all the work it would take to move.
 
 







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