Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 15:39:08 -0500
Reply-To: Michael Sullivan <sullivan@OPENMARKET.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Sullivan <sullivan@OPENMARKET.COM>
Subject: Re: Audi 5 Cyl Swap: Alert! Possible Trouble
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.3.95.990126131706.316G-100000@gmong.gtsdesign.com >
Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii"
I spoke with a guy from the Federal EPA and he said no problem with putting in a different engine in a different make as long as it is a later model and it is installed with ALL official smog equipment pertinent to the year of that engine.
The Massachusetts DOT also confirmed the above.
Cheers,
MJS
At 01:29 PM 1/26/99 -0700, Gary Shea wrote:
>It's actually a bit more complicated than Mark suggests, unfortunately.
>I recently talked to a smog guy here in Utah state gov't, who informed me
>that federal law requires that the engine not only be of the same or newer
>vintage, but must also have been available as standard equipment for
>the vehicle that year or in later years in the US. Thus the 5 cylinder
>Audi CANNOT satisfy federal reg's, as I understand them. My
>understanding is that the underlying rule is that engine/vehicle combo
>must already have been certified by the gov't as passing smog tests,
>and of course that implies the above restrictions.
>
>So you can legally stick a 2.1L engine in your 1.9L 83.5 vanagon, stick
>a 1.9L or 2.1L in your pre-83.5 air-cooled van, or switch to a normally
>aspirated 1.6L diesel (but not a TD diesel), and
>that's about it, if one wishes to be within the letter of the law.
>
>On the other hand, I have every intention of putting a 1.9 TD into
>my van, unless of course I find a TDI in the meantime. Here in Utah
>the pollution testing authorities are getting pickier all the time,
>but not picky enough to detect this particular illicit change.
>
>I have no idea how this plays out in CA... and don't want to know ;)
>
> Gary
>
>On Tue, 26 Jan 1999, Mark B. Magee wrote:
>> Volks,
>> I as many of you are, I as well am excited about the specter of a 5cyl
>> audi, turbo or non-turbo swap in for my 4spd 91 Westy (143K on orig top
>> end/bottom end). Yet I believe all who would do this need to be aware
>> that any swap in will -not- be approved by the new Federal Standards
>> (all 50 states) and present CAL standards unless the motor being swapped
>> in is at least of the same year model -or newer- than the year model of
>> the vehicle. E.g., with my 91 Westy, I will be legal only if I swap in a
>> 91 or newer Audi 5cyl, along w/all applicable smog equipment.
>> If you're planning to swap in a motor, be advised that Fed standards are
>> slowly being implemented throughout the country, a visible check of your
>> motor may or may not trigger an inspector to notice the slant 5 instead
>> of the wasserboxer, yet if they find out a swap has been done, (yes they
>> -do- ask FBI type questions) and they run the serial numbers on the
>> block that show the engine older than the car: you are out of compliance
>> and in the nether world of dealing with the Feds who are very nasty
>> about this presently.
>> Bottom line, if planning a Vanagon motor swap in, purchase a motor of
>> the year of your van or newer to avoid trouble.
>>
>> --
>> ><<> ><<> ><<> ><<> ><<> ><<> ><<> ><<> ><<>
>> Shalom 87 GL
>> Mark Magee 91 Westy
>> Kemah TX USA 96 Suzuki 4WD Sport
>> John 14:6 83 Honda XL
>> 250! Yea!!
>>
>
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Gary Shea shea@xmission.com
>Salt Lake City http://www.xmission.com/~shea
>
<bold>
Michael J. Sullivan
</bold><italic>Director of Catalog Design
Open Market, Inc.
</italic>
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