show or go?

hey i just found out that jdm engines are illigal in cali....i really wanted to put a b16 in a crx but now i cant but i still want a crx because i just love them....do you think i should buy one anyway and just do bolt ons and make it a show car??

I don't think they are illegal, it is just hard for them to pass emissions. But it can be done, don't give up.

go for show! and build the internals of the d16 Si block...

alright yes it is illegal due to the visual inspection for all the people that don't live in cali don't bother answering b/c you cannot get by visual without bribing someone or other illegal acts to get them to not look at your engine, there are 3 ways around this all are illegal

1) you bribe the guy to let you pass
2)you just dont go(really really dumb)
3) you pass smog with stock and swap in the engine and have it for 2 years and then proceed to process #1 or blow it up and reinstall stock so basically it is reinstalling stock every 2 years

now to all those that say "oh i know a guy that got it passed" well those are miracles and they work the system generally they are usdm swaps, which are legal, or they are just lucky or they did #1

reswapping the shit every 2 years seem like wasted resources and EXPENSIVE. I would just bribe the guy, luckily my ZC has passed twice (prior owner of car did it, and we did it to make sure he didnt bribe a guy, this was before we even knew it had a ZC)

will a usdm b16 pass emmisions????...and how much better is the jdm than the usdm?.....i actually wouldnt mind going for all show and making it look sick with all the $ i would be putting in it but i would feel kinda dumb when i have to tell people it's a stock engine ya know?

Assuming you can get the car to pass the emissions part of the test, which I think can be done without having to swap back to stock every two years, why can't you pass the visual?

Its not like the engine doesn't look like it belongs there. Doesn't the USDM B16A look like the JDM (more or less - DOHC, etc)? For the swap to be legal, you have to use a same year or newer engine, right? So how do they know if the engine's from a JDM car or an USDM car? Unless they really know their engines and check the serial, I don't think it should be an issue...

spy54:
You're jealous of my B16A and you know it. :D :D :D jk...


As for show or go, I would rather spend my money on performance than looks. Its a great little car to drive, personally I have more fun passing people than getting looks from my rims. To each his own, right?

Also consider, do you have a safe place to park (garage, etc.). I know so many people that fix up their car only to have their parts jacked.

yeah i live outside my town and there really isnt many people who live within a half mile of me so i dont have to worry about getting jacked unless i leave it in town for some reason.....do any of you guys know if a usdm is legal and will pass smog?....if so what are the specs on that engine?

i'm sorry but a beautiful show crx isn't the same with a single cam valve cover..... if you are going for throphies you better slam a b series in there and the bumper better be filled with a refidgerator.

Show cars are nice, but I prefer performance better. It seems like the more I fix up the exterior, the more people mess with my car. So for now, the exterior is done. Next mod is the new b16. :devil: