7.3 CA smog equipment

idrivea2002golf

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Hi All,

I'm working on a franken truck and would like some input from the idi experts. I'm putting a 1990 F350 7.3 in my 1981 squarebody K20.

Where I'm seeking expertise, is the CA factory smog equipment. To have this refereed officially it'll need all the intake, emissions, tubing, etc. that came in the F350. Does anyone have a list of equipment and/or photos of a factory engine bay for CA sale? My donor truck has been off highway for about 15 years and I suspect some of the emissions components have been removed/altered.

Thank you,
Spencer
 

Nero

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There is no emissions on an idi engine. Nothing at all. No cat, no smog pump, no evap...

Depending on local ordinance, you should be okay, since you're putting a newer engine in an older chassis, but this is also California you're talking about...

I did a 460 to idi swap in Oregon, and they retitled it as emissions exempt since it was a like-powertrain offered the same year, so its possible.
 

asmith

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There is no smog equipment on the 7.3 IDI. Was the Chevy originally a diesel? If not you may have a hard time getting California to ok this. They really dont like diesels out here.
 

IDIBOBS

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Yea zero smog equipment on ids. I’ve got to say if you didn’t know this just by looking at the Idi do you even have the skills to make this swap? Most people don’t like that I’m this blunt but doing a swap and putting it on The road, and taking others peoples lives in your hands should not be taken lightly. Looking at a motor and knowing there is no smog equipment is kindergartener mechanics.

You should call a smog ref to confirm but having lived inThe Comie state of Crapifornia all my life and having done many smog motor swaps I’m betting this is not going to happen for you. Unless it was already the rare 5.7 olds or new that year 6.2. In that case just swap and be done with it. DMV does not need to know.
 
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Clb

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Call the bar referee, there's a website..
Dmv.ca.gov

+1 on it being the P.R.K
So Vaseline is always a good idea...
 

Clb

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I’ve got to saw if you didn’t know this just by looking at the Idi do you even have the skills to make this swap?
Proofreading is your friend
You should call a smog ref to confirm but having lived inThe Comie state of Crapifornia all my life and having done many smog motor swaps
good reco
I’m betting this is not going to happen for you.
Go get some midol already...

O.p.
If you can handle the mechanical work, the referees job is to furnish the parameters for you.
 
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Old Goat

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Better find out at the DMV CARB or what ever agency in
charge of engine swaps.
You don`t want to dump in a large sum of money and time
and find out you cannot register it.

Seems like I read a thread a while back a guy was jumping through hoops trying to get his project registered, and kept
hitting brick walls.

Wish you the best on your project.


Goat
 

idrivea2002golf

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In CA, there's more to smog components than just the EGR, DEF, DPF, Cat, Secondary air, etc. etc. There's a laundry list. The small parts no one tends to think about are were referees get you. For example:

My 1991 Chevy Caprice failed because it was missing this duct: It rests above the exhaust manifold and directs warm air into the intake when cold to help heat up the engine. Not a smog component, directly, but still a fail.
You must be registered for see images attach


And my VW was failed because it was missing this air intake baffle directing the air from the grill area into the air box:
You must be registered for see images attach


Since the ford was used off highway for years, and parts tend to grow legs, I'm trying to make sure all these little "gotchas" are there. There are no vacuum lines so I'm not worried about that (although I fear my removing the vacuum pump and going with Hydroboost may raise a flag), I know there's no EGR (although it's not unheard of in 80s diesels to have them as my MB OM617 had one). There are no baffles? No little hoses here or there? I've replaced the CDR (which, not smog but who knows what the referee will look for). The Glow plug controller was replaced, as were the glow wires as a matter of precaution. I should probably check the cold advance and low idle solenoids as good measure even though they're not really needed in San Diego.
 

franklin2

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In CA, there's more to smog components than just the EGR, DEF, DPF, Cat, Secondary air, etc. etc. There's a laundry list. The small parts no one tends to think about are were referees get you. For example:

My 1991 Chevy Caprice failed because it was missing this duct: It rests above the exhaust manifold and directs warm air into the intake when cold to help heat up the engine. Not a smog component, directly, but still a fail.
You must be registered for see images attach


And my VW was failed because it was missing this air intake baffle directing the air from the grill area into the air box:
You must be registered for see images attach


Since the ford was used off highway for years, and parts tend to grow legs, I'm trying to make sure all these little "gotchas" are there. There are no vacuum lines so I'm not worried about that (although I fear my removing the vacuum pump and going with Hydroboost may raise a flag), I know there's no EGR (although it's not unheard of in 80s diesels to have them as my MB OM617 had one). There are no baffles? No little hoses here or there? I've replaced the CDR (which, not smog but who knows what the referee will look for). The Glow plug controller was replaced, as were the glow wires as a matter of precaution. I should probably check the cold advance and low idle solenoids as good measure even though they're not really needed in San Diego.
That hot air pipe on your caprice does have to do with emissions. A warmer engine has less emissions. The quicker they can get the engine warmed up, the better.

I would make sure the glowplug controller was installed and working, along with the cold advance feature and along with that is the fast idle solenoid.

The glowplug controller actually cycles after the engine starts, to try and reduce smoke from the exhaust.

I am not sure what advancing the timing does on a cold engine (I don't have it hooked up) but I bet it has something to do with warm up time or smoke. Of course idling the engine faster is going to help it warm up also, and prevent "wet stacking" which would contribute to unburned fuel going out the exhaust.

I bet they do a smoke test on your engine also. I do not know all the details, but I believe they warm it up fully, hold a piece of white board next to the tail pipe and get someone to nail the throttle. I do not know if it's a judgement call after that, or they have some opaque scale they go by, but they judge if there is too much black coming out.
 

FrozenMerc

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Check out Bring-A-Trailer. There are normally high quality pictures of just about any make and model you can think of, the challenge of course is determining whether or not they are bone stock or modified.

I was hoping Mitchelll1 would have a decent diagram I could copy and post on here, but no such luck going down that route.


1990 F350 - 7.3 L IDI.
You must be registered for see images attach
 

idrivea2002golf

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Check out Bring-A-Trailer.
That's a good idea. Thanks!

Even in the picture you posted I can already see a duct I'm going to need. The radiator expansion hose goes right over top of the air intake and into the round air cleaner. I'll have to research that.
 

Black dawg

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If you need the duct work, look for it from a 6.9 truck. Will fit in the chevy better
 

DirtyWood

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If the '81 squarebody was a gasser then you are in for a lot of fun trying to register it as a diesel. I would not recommend doing this unless you enjoy headaches and government red tape. I would bet the state is in no way obligated to honor an engine swap in general. and especially one that converts a smogged vehicle to a non-smog vehicle. I know people who have gotten pre-smog diesel Toyota Landcruisers registered in CA but those were factory configurations.
 

Clb

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I Engine swapped an efi engine in my 83 carbed crawler.. it's simply making sure that it covers the emissions calibration.
I personally think you'll have
Zero issues with a diesel date coded pre 98.
Will screwsome cry? Yes?
Can carb stop it? It's the P.R.K. So it's a crapshoot.
So keep us updated
 

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