Diesel Swap - CA Smog Question

[mechted]

Looking at doing a diesel swap on a 78 C20 and maintain CA smog requirements... is this possible? I seem to remember hearing if the engine wasnt offered that year, its illegal somewhere.... anyone know for sure?
also, was there a diesel conversion post or 5 on here somewhere? i cant seem to find it, anyone have a link?

thanks

 

[tRustyK5]

There have been quite a few diesel conversion posts...but the majority are in the "Diesel Forum". /forums/images/graemlins/whistling.gif

Rene

 

[jarheadk5]

I'm pretty sure in CA the basic rule-of-thumb for engine swaps is:
After '72 or '73, if the engine...

A: wasn't offered by the factory in the vehicle it's being installed in
AND
B: isn't the same year or newer than the vehicle it's being installed in

then the swap is NOT smog-legal in CA. Also, any smog gear needed must conform to whatever the donor vehicle had (e.g. if you swapped an LT1 from a '94 Camaro into a '78 C20, the cats and other smog gear would have to come off the Camaro and be installed in the C20).

 

[82diesel]

Try and find a heavy duty diesel (j code for the 6.2) and there will be even less smog parts.

 

[K5MONSTERCHEV]

You swap in the diesel engine, and all the emissions components, if any, and get a BAR label.