88pioneer Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 well just found out from my buddy that he took his 97 TJ to a shop to get inspected. its got some sort of lift an 35's, not sure on the specs of it, he bought it how it sits. The major problem with it is its got a 4.3 vortec swap in it an the shop he took it too won't pass him because of the different motor, and i'm sure the inspection station wouldn't like that too much either. The only thing i can think of is swapping a 4.0 back in, but i was trying to figure out how messed the engine bay is from the work to get the 4.3 in. Would it even be worth the work to get it back to stock, or should he just sell it out of state? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 Why would someone swap a 4.3L in? Do you know what it had originally? You said 4.0L back in, but its hard to believe someone would forego a 4.0L for a GM turd. Rob L. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pioneer Posted May 5, 2010 Author Share Posted May 5, 2010 i was thinking the same thing. i would imagine it came with a 2.5 originally if they did this swap. The PO of the jeep had done the swap so there is no way of knowing what it did have. Still don't know why they would go but then again some people are :dunce: . Putting a 4.0 in wouldn't be too hard of a job, as long as the motor mounts an everything isn't modified :dunno: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 Did you check the emissions tag under the hood? That would tell you what it originally had. Rob L. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beepbeepmyredjeep Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 http://www.vinquery.com/ I've never tried it myself, but that might help find out what was originally in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasbulliwagen Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 Most states have provisions for this type of thing, assuming all original emmisions controls were tranfered from the vehicle the engine came from. You may need to do some research, but it should be able to be done, assuming the swap was done correctly according to state guidelines. Call a local hotrod shop and find out what they do in cases like that. I'm sure there is someone who can set you in the right direction to get this thing legal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pioneer Posted May 5, 2010 Author Share Posted May 5, 2010 i haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but i'll try an figure out what it had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 Why would someone swap a 4.3L in? Do you know what it had originally? You said 4.0L back in, but its hard to believe someone would forego a 4.0L for a GM turd. Rob L. If the Jeep originally had a 2.5L, I certainly wouldn't mind the 4.3L Vortec V6. I've driven the piss out of a '98 Chevy Blazer and a '01 GMC Sonoma - each had the 4.3L. It had plenty of power, no problems, and was extremely reliable. The Sonoma also was pushing 24-25MPG on the highway which was probably my favorite thing about that engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 Move to a less... err.... Restricting state. Seriously, inspections are a waste. I can see the merit to a tail pipe sniffer, but nothing else. As suggested above, talk to a hot rod shop. Those guys would be the experts on getting a motor swap legal. Work around the motor, it might be more trouble than its worth to swap in a 4.0. Worst case, you help him swap in a HEMI... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
streetjeep2.5 Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 Missouri Law as was told me by DMV: only an engine of a later year that was available in that platform can be swapped in. So, for a 'manche, you are stuck with the 4.0 as the biggest, if you were to operate according to law. 'Course, here in small town Missouri, the local "inspection guys" told be "if you pull in here with a V8 under the hood, we don't care!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pioneer Posted May 5, 2010 Author Share Posted May 5, 2010 thats why i can't wait untill 2011, NJ is going to only emission tests, no more inspections. There is one shop i know of that is pretty lenient ;) . Might try an give them a shot an see what happens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasbulliwagen Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 thats why i can't wait untill 2011, NJ is going to only emission tests, no more inspections. There is one shop i know of that is pretty lenient ;) . Might try an give them a shot an see what happens If its anything like North Carolinas testing, even with emissions only, there is still a safety and tampering inspection built in, and the PCM VIN and vehicle VIN need to match and all. The only vehicles that don't get inspected at all are ones that are 35 years old or older. Safety and tampering inspections only up to 95, 96 and late get full emmisions, safety and tampering inspection. When I say tampering, I mean that all original emissions equipment needs to be in place and working properly including cat converter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenard Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 Let me get this straight..... They will not pass that vehicle inspection because it does not have the original motor sitting in the engine bay? :huh???: I have never heard of this, Man there are some stupid law makers out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beepbeepmyredjeep Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 If he doesn't drive it very much, he *MIGHT* qualify for Historic tags. He'd need to check with the local DMV to see if the vehicle qualifies. I was told by the Maryland emissions inspection that my 1987 MJ qualifies for Historic tags if I don't drive it very much. You should have seen the look on the guy's face when I told him I drive about 40 miles every day to work in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 Let me get this straight..... They will not pass that vehicle inspection because it does not have the original motor sitting in the engine bay? :huh???: I have never heard of this, Man there are some stupid law makers out there. And to think, that 4.3 probably runs way cleaner than any 4.0 ever could. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
over2land Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 When I lived in NJ, it was same year or newer motor and/or (don't remember which) it had to puff no dirtier than the original engine did. Cool to hear they are finally doing away with that damn safety inspection. Brakes, shocks, lights, wipers, etc. Last time I failed for my SOFT TOP soft window having a crack in it. That is, after they made me put the top up one 90 plus degree day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 If he doesn't drive it very much, he *MIGHT* qualify for Historic tags. He'd need to check with the local DMV to see if the vehicle qualifies. I was told by the Maryland emissions inspection that my 1987 MJ qualifies for Historic tags if I don't drive it very much. You should have seen the look on the guy's face when I told him I drive about 40 miles every day to work in it. The vehicle in question is a 1997 TJ Wrangler - no historic tags for that for a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 When I lived in NJ, it was same year or newer motor and/or (don't remember which) it had to puff no dirtier than the original engine did. Cool to hear they are finally doing away with that damn safety inspection. Brakes, shocks, lights, wipers, etc. Last time I failed for my SOFT TOP soft window having a crack in it. That is, after they made me put the top up one 90 plus degree day. I was thinking about taking my YJ through inspection with no doors or top on it. I guess that wouldn't be such a good idea here in NJ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pioneer Posted May 7, 2010 Author Share Posted May 7, 2010 well we are in the search for a new motor, as really no one around here will pass it with the 4.3 in it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKB3 Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 the 8th digit in the VIN will tell what the original engine was P = 2.5L Unleaded-Gasoline S = 4.0L Unleaded-Gasoline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pioneer Posted May 10, 2010 Author Share Posted May 10, 2010 :cheers: i'll have to take a look at it an find out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
over2land Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 They made me put the top on my YJ one year... middle of summer. I didn't have the uppers, had to go home and get them, then come back. Is the engine not same year or newer? How about the modified vehicle inspection? Is that still there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 well we are in the search for a new motor, as really no one around here will pass it with the 4.3 in it holy crap that's a lot of work. :ack: I think I'd rather sell it as-is and go buy a 4.0 TJ to replace it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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