For any of you California types who have done this. How big a deal to get a Sami smogged after a 16v swap? Can you do it with a JDM engine, or do you need a California donor? Can you use auto parts store catalytic or does it need to be the factory? Etc.

Thanx -- Bill

You still need the wiring harness for the engine to do the conversion. The JDM engines don't come with the wiring harness. Some places will sell you a harness with no donor harness, but most places require a donor harness to convert to the samurai wiring for you. You also need the ECM off of the donor vehicle. JDM engines don't come with them. If you use the ECM of a 96 or later model year then you fall under the OBD2 smog requirements and there are a lot more sensors to hook up. If you get a 95 or earlier model year ECM then you can have them convert your wiring harness to that ECM and it will be much easier to smog.

Basically, if you can get a donor 95 or earlier sidekick, and can pull all of the stuff you need off of it, you'll only need about $450 for the wiring harness conversion, and the adapter kit and another $100 for a fuel pump.

If you Just get an engine, you're looking at $400-$500 just for the wiring harness alone. It's another $150 for the adapter and motor mounts, $100 for a fuel pump. Then you also have to get a starter, an igniter, a coil, the ECU, and exhaust.

I heard rumors that the JDM engines are set up differently so that they aren't a direct bolt in... some component was on the opposite side of the U.S. engines. Can't confirm that though.

everything on the JDM motors is the same except for the distributor, fuel injectors and fuel injector wiring harness. If you swap those out you can use a JDM motor with all the US wiring harness and computer..... thats what I did.

I'm not sure about smogging mine, because I put a fuel cell in and took out alot of the stock smog components. I honestly have no clue what I am going to do about smogging it but I'm glad this thread popped up. :D

I'm assuming I'll have to take the truck to a state referee. But I don't know his criteria for the inspection. Probably all the engine smog pieces will have to be in place, but for all I know, he might check the engine number to see if it's a USA engine.

Could some of you who've gone the referee route write about the experience?

Mine has been smog legal for 6years, they do check numbers on motor and verify that all smog for that year motor is on vehicle. They just looked under mine to be sure it had cat. the 1st time I failed because the check engine light was not labeled. My fuel pump is in tank. they pulled codes also. good luck