Legal issues of Diesel swap? NC Inspection ect.

The#1Dakota

The#1Dakota

Active Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2009
Location
Salisbury
Im planning a diesel swap & SAS on my 97 Dakota will be a while before all parts are collected on budget lol. Is there a way to change your title so that it is considered a diesel engine so u don't have to have the supposed OBDII system checked out by computer? Ive talked to DMV, they gave me another # and no one know anything abt this (thats the state gov for ya haha :flipoff2:) Or a better ? is there a legal way to do this? From what I understand u just have to change the title.
 
I believe the vehichle must have been offered with a diesel somewhere in the world but I don't know that for sure. Contact up-n-over (Robert) and ask him. He looked into all the legal issues when he started his cummins swap in his 4runner.
 
Dont really have much to add but ive been looking into doing something similar and figured i'd post up here instead of starting another thread later on.

Couldnt you register it as something else, like they do with rat rods and such and get around it? Im sure you would still have to pass the safety side and prolly emissions.

In my case I was looking to try and put my 72 body on a 97 250 frame with a 7.3 and all the 250 drive train. So it wouldnt matter in my case since its would still be titled as a 1972 and not have to pass any inspection, correct?

edit: 99ncxj is correct on his statement. Like with mustangs you can swap the 2.3 for 5.0 with no problems since it was an option from the factory.
 
Not sure if it applies here, but it's related to changing fuel type on a vehicle registration.

A buddy of mine owned a late '90s F-250 Powerstroke. Someone at DMV fat-fingered his registration; they accidentally changed the fuel type to gasoline. He didn't notice until he went his yearly inspection and they couldn't do it. He had to have the truck inspected by a DMV rep, to verify that it was in fact a diesel before DMV would change his registration back to the way it was...

Maybe try and find a DMV inspector and ask them, instead of trying to ask the central office or a local inspection station?
 
MtnYJ said:
Not sure if it applies here, but it's related to changing fuel type on a vehicle registration.
A buddy of mine owned a late '90s F-250 Powerstroke. Someone at DMV fat-fingered his registration; they accidentally changed the fuel type to gasoline. He didn't notice until he went his yearly inspection and they couldn't do it. He had to have the truck inspected by a DMV rep, to verify that it was in fact a diesel before DMV would change his registration back to the way it was...
Maybe try and find a DMV inspector and ask them, instead of trying to ask the central office or a local inspection station?
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Ok Ill check it out! That would sweet if it would work. I bet ur bud was pissed haha allot of BS lol.


99ncxj said:
I believe the vehichle must have been offered with a diesel somewhere in the world but I don't know that for sure. Contact up-n-over (Robert) and ask him. He looked into all the legal issues when he started his cummins swap in his 4runner.
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Cool, I will see if I can contact him. Yeah the Dakota was offered with a diesel in mexico supposedly.
 
Here is a link to the EPA Fact Sheet for engine swaps.
EPA Fact Sheet
It basically says that:
  • You must use the complete engine and emissions system.
  • The vehicle that is being converted must have been produced with a diesel engine.
  • The donor engine/emissions system must be from the same year or newer vehicle.
  • The engine must be from the same weight class of vehicle.
  • Foreign engines are not allowed unless they are sold in the USA on certified vehicles.
When I started researching my diesel swap I spoke with a guy at the EPA and he told me that if the donor engine/emissions did not have OBD and was swapped as a complete system into the converted vehicle, then there is no requirement for the OBD. This makes sense if you read the rules, but I would be very cordial in dealing with your DMV agent because they can interpret the law however they like...
 
up-n-over said:
Here is a link to the EPA Fact Sheet for engine swaps.
EPA Fact Sheet
It basically says that:
  • You must use the complete engine and emissions system.
  • The vehicle that is being converted must have been produced with a diesel engine.
  • The donor engine/emissions system must be from the same year or newer vehicle.
  • The engine must be from the same weight class of vehicle.
  • Foreign engines are not allowed unless they are sold in the USA on certified vehicles.
When I started researching my diesel swap I spoke with a guy at the EPA and he told me that if the donor engine/emissions did not have OBD and was swapped as a complete system into the converted vehicle, then there is no requirement for the OBD. This makes sense if you read the rules, but I would be very cordial in dealing with your DMV agent because they can interpret the law however they like...
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OK thx for the info! Allot to take in lol. So if I swapped say an 02 6BT complete set up I wouldn't be able to do this cause of the weight class of vehicle and it wasn't the same year even if all emissions components were swapped over?


250krawler said:
Could you just sell your Dakota and buy a 95 Dakota :lol:
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Is it possible to do this if the vehicle is OBD1? U would just have to have someone inspect it that would pass it since no computer has to be plugged up?
 
The#1Dakota said:
So if I swapped say an 02 6BT complete set up I wouldn't be able to do this cause of the weight class of vehicle and it wasn't the same year even if all emissions components were swapped over?
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By definition the answer is no. If you work well with the inspector you may get away with anything, but it is definately not a slam dunk.
 
up-n-over said:
By definition the answer is no. If you work well with the inspector you may get away with anything, but it is definately not a slam dunk.
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I see, would u recommend that befriend/discuss this with the inspector before I start the swap or after it's done?
Once the inspector aproves it as a diesel is the registration the only thing that changes or do they change fuel type on the title to?
 
jeepin1995 said:
another hijack..... the guys putting chevy and ford v-8's in jeeps and whatever, how are ya'll getting through inspections and stuff?
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From what I understand on early 96 and below u can get away with it cuss u don't have to hook the computer up. On 96.5 and up u would just have to have an OBDII set up that would hook to the computer with all emissions swamped. Someone correct me if Im wrong lol.
 
The#1Dakota said:
I see, would u recommend that befriend/discuss this with the inspector before I start the swap or after it's done?
Once the inspector aproves it as a diesel is the registration the only thing that changes or do they change fuel type on the title to?
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I would ask first. If you do the swap and they reject it after you're done, you are screwed.
 
Looking into swapping in a diesel on my 83 FJ60. Does any one have a completed/ successful swap done in North Carolina, and if so give us a outline on what we need to do?
 
Your best bet is to contact a DMV inspector not a NC state inspector. As a state inspector I can tell you how your typical inspection goes and bore you (unless your interested). I've asked questions like this in the reinspection classes and the instructors either scratch their heads or tell me "if that happens call the DMV and they will tell you what to do".

I finally had a customer bring a diesel swapped truck into one of the shops I work at and he told us the steps he took. He has a 85 chevy with a 6bt. I guess after he had the truck built he had to have a DMV inspector come out and physically look it over. If all passes you get a wavier with a bypass number for the state computer.

Now going back to what up-n-over said about the weight class im sure he got away with it cause both the motor and chassis were 1 tons. Don't exactly know how your gonna get away with a one ton motor in a mini truck, but that's what DMV officers are for. Don't go buying other trucks or starting the project til you know what you are dealing with. Would hate to see you spend a ton of money on something you can't drive on the streets. LMK if I can help any and worse case scenario I can ask some of the guys at the shop see what they think!
 
I went to the dmv license& theft burea and inquired about putting a s10 cab on my 76 ford frame. They basically said that they would issue me a title for the truck as a new custom construction like a dune buggy or kit car cool thing is that custom construction is not required to pass smog or computer plug in test only a safety inspection the catch was I could not destroy any vin numbers or identifying marks on the truck or donor parts and they wanted a title for the s10 and ford and a bill of sale for any major components like motor or tranny and what not .after the truck was complete they would send a inspector to come verify the vehicle looking for at all the stuff I mentioned earlier and do a cursory safety inspection if satisfied on the spot he would affix three new vin tags two conspicuous and one (hidden) so you can't know where its at then he would give you some paperwork to title your 2013 custom construction vehicle. I don't know if this is a route you can use but maybe I hope it helps
 
morgan wagner said:
Looking into swapping in a diesel on my 83 FJ60. Does any one have a completed/ successful swap done in North Carolina, and if so give us a outline on what we need to do?
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Step 1: Be friends with your inspector
Step 2: Use a 95 and back vehicle
Step 3: Install diesel of your choice
 
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