Thread: Can I pass smog with a SR20VE in socal!?

I searched, but nothing concrete in regards to passing smog w/ a SR20VE. I've read that some are able to pass, but I want it to pass reliably and legally. Can this be done? I don't want to pay extra or drive to some special shop to pass annually since this will be my daily. I may have read that if you attach the EGR stuff, you'll pass visual. Is this true?

For the ones that's gone VE, what did you do to your DE? Did you salvage it for parts? I don't really want it sitting around, taking up space. SMOG is annoying here and if it's a hassle, I'll have to rebuild my DE.

I've searched for this stuff, but if I missed something, please link me.

Thanks!

I have no idea, but assuming it's running correctly, probably. It is a real manufactured enginea afterall.

A properly tuned VE could pass the sniffer, but it won't pass the Visual. Smog places do look for EGR. Unless somehow you fab up some emmisions junk on your motor. Smog in Cali is every 2 years. If you aren't looking to deal with special shops, slap on a DE and call it a day.

Second the DE.

I went down to 3 shops here in Texas and also asked people on here how they get there's to pass. Everyone said the same thing. Texas does not do a visual for cars that are not OBD2. They said as long as it can pass a sniff then I'm fine.

This is why I'm taking my car down to a tune shop to get everything dialed in. Not only is it for performance but so I don't have to deal with a failing smog car.

I know that CA is always changing there classic car law (I'm also a Z owner and several people on Zcar.com are talking about it) so check and see if you can get by that way. Alot of S30 owners do.

You could always go smog with the de and slap the VE in after you pass

OBD1 Rules!!!!!!!!!!

i was thinking of doing just that! But i don't think i will right now, maybe down the road.

thanks for the responses. I already have the highport de, but it's got 250k miles and still pretty strong. I guess i'll just do a rebuild for the time being when it dies. If and when i get another motor, i'll just end up getting a VE and swap it to run for a few days bi annually for the SMOG.

I've passed twice in my B14 VE and it's a 96 which requires them to plug in the OBD2 scanner. Everything checked out on the scan since I have all my sensors plugged in and using an resistor in the EGR temp sensor plug. Since some of the newer OBD2 cars don't have EGR, they figured that the car didn't have it to begin with and I don't have my stock hood (CF hood), with the emissions label.

But here is the issue on my latest attempt with the P10 VE. It is a 95, so technically it is considered OBD1 even though it is OBD2 compliant. I used a P11 underhood emissions label. The same tech that inspected my B14 the last two times was very thurough this time. He looked at my motor for 5-10 looking for any signs of EGR or EGR deletion, then called over two techs from the neighboring auto shops and they too looked for. He even looked up the vehicle in the book, which lists that the vehicle is originally equipped with EGR. At that point I was starting to get pissed since I knew the car had already failed the 15mph test (took too long on the rollers), passed the 25mph portion, no problem. So I knew they were going to take my money anyway....so I asked what the problem was, know that they were looking for EGR. I told them that I replaced the engine with a newer engine that did not have EGR. He told me I need to take the car to referee. I'm going to adjust the maps on the Nistune and try and retest at another location.

I've heard people were able to swap the emission stuff from the DE to the VE, so if that's the case, I will do that as well as keeping a cat or something that's CARB legal. I have a '93 SE-R, btw.

I don't see how it can be done cheaply since you'd have to cut your intake manifold and weld on a flange or fitting for the EGR valves. The cat is a no-brainer since it's after the exhaust manifold secondary pipe. The key to passing out the tailpipe is a good functioning cat, preferably an OEM one....they work best. I tried an aftermarket one on my P10 and it only worked the first time...only put on 10K miles on it and it would pass the second time around. Slapped on my OEM with 125K+ miles and it passed with flying colors (this was 2 years ago before the VE).