does ANYBODY know where i can go to get a 100% real answer on weather or not i can put a LS series motor ( ls1,2, or even just a 6.0 out of a pickup) into my car? i know it can be done, but legally is what im worried about. im not going to go through the time and expense and then not be able to have it legally. ive tried the DMVs website here but its lame and hard to navigate so i dont know whats going on..

 

what do you mean legally ? why would it be illegal ? try looking on ls1tech, it has been done before

 

The only way it wouldn't be legal is if your setup didn't meet emissions standards in your area. I talked to a guy at Corvettes at Carlisle who had an 89 Camaro with an LS1, made me jealous lol.

 

Its legal here with the California smog ***** as long as it the same or newer that the vehicle its going in. 89 RS you can put a 98 and up engine in. And has all that years smog equipment. Put a 2000 LS in and you need all the 2000 MY emission equipment. and last main issue is it has to pass emissions testing for they year of the engine. 2000 MY engine=2000 emissions levels.

Best thing to do is if you have to get inspections go and ask at an inspection station. California's DMV site is not any good for this research also but with those basics I knew what I had to do when I swaped a 97 Vortec 4.3 into my mom's 84 S10.

 

I'm assuming by "legally" you mean for emissions testing purposes? Otherwise, it doesn't matter if the car no longer gets tested. Here in IL, as of last year, it's only cars 1996 and newer that get tested. And the rule was that when doing an engine swap, an older engine in a newer car wasn't allowed, but a newer engine in an older car was. But you would have to conform to the emissions requirements of that engine's era. But here, they never even opened the hood anyway. If it passes, it passes. The testing station would be the most logical place for you to check. Since they would be the ones inspecting your car, they'll be able to tell you what they're going to be looking for.
EDIT: Oh man, that's creepy. I notice that Mr. Mike and I were typing an answer just minutes apart, and our answers are pretty much parallel with each other. Bbbbbbb...I need to shower off now!!!

 

I am incontrol of your mind man!
Ya know what they say
"Great minds think like Mike" [8D]

 

better get your highwaters on. its getting deep in here.. haha

but yea ive heard all that as well about being newer. but like i said i am NOT going to get started with this and then have it not be legal here. and yes im talking about the emissions standpoint. its only 96 and newer as far as emissions go, but there was still a visual check on any and all emissions equipment for the car. So i think all i would need is the cat aaaaaaand the o2 sensors right?

 

I don't get what you're saying. Missouri is 96 and newer as well for emissions testing? Then what's the problem with your 89? Or do your older cars still require visual tests but not a sniffer?

 

yea thats what im saying. there is a visual on all the emissions but no sniffer

 

Ahaaaaa! You need "smoke & mirrors" then.