[VB] CA emissions.

[Aubrey Allen]

For any vehicle with an engine swap in California, you would take it to a station, with a certified smog judge. The judge would take the engine number, verify it was not stolen, and use that number to find the smog specifications for that engine. The Diesel would have to have whatever smog equipment came on it from the factory, regardless of what vehicle it was mounted in. Then the judge would take the engine number from the Audi, make sure it wasn't stolen, receive the smog specs, and your '78 would have to look like an Audi would when it from the factory that year. The tailpipe emissions would have to read like the machine was hooked up to the Audi Donor Car. The judge and computer are only worried about the engine performing at the level it was designed. If the emissions or lack of parts creates a situation that the engine's measured cleanliness is less than it should be you have one chance to fix it and come back, before it is tagged as a gross
 polluter, and will be removed from the road by the DMV. You'll have to give them proof you scraped the vehicle, or go through an appeal process to get it back to legal status. Any engine can be swapped into any vehicle in California, as long as the engine is the same year or newer. A '78 cannot have a '74 engine. Only '78, '79, '80 and so forth. For the Audi engine you'll need the Audi replacement catalytic converter from the same year engine or newer. The only other option is a 50-State legal MagnaFlow catalytic converter. Once your vehicle is signed off by a certified smog judge, that engine number and chassis number is linked in the DMV's computer. From then on the engine must be maintained and tested by you the owner every two years. Every fourth year, you must take it to a Test-Only Station so the State can verify your mechanic of choice is not doctoring the number's to keep your vehicle passing each two years. Good Luck, Aloha.