All wonderful ideas, until he gets it home to So Cal and can't register it because it won't pass a BAR inspection due to new, non-native engine. It's the single biggest pain living here: trying to pass an emissions test on a vehicle that has had an engine swap.

 

This guy gets it!

 

The Turner 4.6 is a factory replacement engine. Remanufactured to factory spec or a few internal upgrades available. The Todd Co 5.0 is also a factory replacement with larger displacement. Neither should have issues getting registered.

I'm afraid I'm on the opposite side of the state to that truck or I'd go check it out for you. Sorry, brother.

 

I appreciate the offer anyways, sir.

I am going to go look at a 2002 in green today. 178k miles, hes asking 3k. I'd offer less, but we'll see if its any good first.

 

I'm all for clean air, but that's bogus if true.

 

I'd rather spend $3k now, have it conk out in a few years, and buy another than sink 15k for the low mileage D2.

 

If a motor is not the original, OEM unit, with the ECU matching, and all of the original California emissions systems intact, the vehicle will fail a California emissions test. Vehicles manufactured before 2000 are given a visual inspection and a tail pipe "sniffer" test. Vehicles manufactured after 2000 are given a visual inspection and an OBDII test (DAD OIS test).

If the engine/ECU reports back that it isn't the original engine, then the vehicle has to be taken to a BAR referee:

https://www.bar.ca.gov/Industry/Engi...uidelines.html

When the first paragraph reads:

You know it's an uphill battle.

It's definitely doable, but it's not a simple process.

Welcome to Kalifornia.

 

178k mile one was pretty rough, but honest. Loud engine tick turned me off.
Looked at another w/ 90k for $9000, and it was a piece. Hard leather ready to crack, faded paint, dents, cracked bumper, etc.

The search continues...

 

Take your time. A good reasonably priced one will appear when you least expect it. Using CarFax or AutoCheck to verify sellers BS, vehicle history and states previously registered is a good investment.
......

 

Very true. And as someone who lives on the east coast but reads LR forums daily, I feel as though I see so many good trucks for sale through forums that are located in CA. A great one will pop up sooner or later and you are ready to grab it with cash in hand. Rushing to buy something will only lead to headaches. And those headaches will be compounded by you seeing multiple good examples being offered while you are dealing with issues that could have been avoided with patience.