Detox01

Anyone have any knowledge about doing a C55 swap and dealing with CA smog.

Thanks

DRBC43AMG

I imagine that if you keep the cats, that should get you through the emission controls. I have heard that California does have some stringent legislation, but what makes you think a C43 to C55 conversion would not meet emission controls?

Speedriven1

The C43 is a desirable collector's car, as is the C55. Swapping a 55 motor into a 43 doesn't add value to the C43 - it makes it a mutt. I would sell the C43 and either find a solid C55 or else (if all you can find is a motor) swap that into a solid W202. You'll probably have less in it that you can get for the C43, and you'll be adding value to the 202, rather than cutting up a limited-edition collector car.

Just my $0.02. Happy to give thoughts/advice on either build.

FLYNAVY

On the other hand, swapping a 55 motor into a C43 is going to be a LOT more straightforward than doing the swap with any other w202 donor. Quite a few folks around here have done the swap, and I think all have been very happy with the results. C43's have a limited collectors appeal, but right now (w/ C43's being normally in the 8-12k range), you aren't going to save any money doing it the hard way.

Speedriven1

True.

503C43 ////AMG

GOOD LUCK FINDING A DECENT PRICED W202 C55 I don't think the OP was concerned with making his C43 into a "mutt" but rather trying to decide which route would be the best to go with regard to $$$$. I think the 55 swap would be the best bang for his buck as he would be spending a couple extra grand to turn his crippled C43 into what it should have been from the factory, a C55. I'm sure down the road (30-50 years from now) the C43 will be worth some coin IF it is in mint condition which obviously the OP's is not having blown a plug and all. Either way Flynavy is right the 55 swap would be way less of a headache with the C43 rather than any old W202, not to mention the brakes, the suspension, the tranny, etc...

betrezra

Heck go all the way and to a S/C E55 Motor swap

popey24

Maybe I could help you if I would know what 'CA smog' means... do you need a certificate for exhausting system?

Saaboteur

Popeye, he means California emissions testing.

Detox01

There's visual and emissions testing. Not worried about the emissions, but with the visual is there anything that would be a give away with the swap that could be identified as not being stock?
Didn't know if anyone had done the swap and lived in CA and had dealt with this.

CatButt

Motor has to to be from a newer car...not even same year. You MUST have every hose, cap, plug, fitting, etc as per manufacturers specs all from SAME year of engine. A newer throttle body that the donor engine will NOT be allowed. Of course ALL the smog stuff must be there. You will have to go to the Smog Ref to get a BAR sticker. NO MATTER what, even if everything is PERFECT they will make you come back a couple of times just to flex their muscle. Been there, done that.

Detox01

Thanx CatButt, that part I read about researching engine swaps and CA emissions. But will an inspector know that a different engine has been swapped in visually, from the sounds of it the engine is almost identical. Is there anything that would tip them off?

CatButt

If you are trying to get a BAR sticker the ref...well anytime you go to a ref for an inspection they will know. They will get engine number and figure it out. You don't NEED to get it BARed unless you get a cop that pulls you over and thinks there is some funny biz going on OR when you go to get smogged. STAY AWAY from the ref at all costs. If you can get past smog then no worries...might be an issue when you go to sell it (if it is an out of state car or some other situations the DMV will actually inspect for VIN and engine numbers and if they don't match the title you will need to explain and likely be sent to ref).

Detox01

Thanks, that's the info I was looking for

ECTurboGSX

The external appearance is exactly the same. So unless they dig into the number plates, you wouldn't be able to tell.

MarcusF

Best advice ever. I've been in front of a ref and the one I met had two modes:

(1) You're just a regular guy who has a stock car with a smog oddity. In that case, they are there to help.

And

(2) You've intentionally changed something and you're going to experience all the joys that go with "legal modifications".

You'll have to do something extraordinarily to have to see a ref. The two ways that I know of are to get flagged you as a gross polluter (which a smog shop can do) or **** off the police/CHP (they can write a ticket from the Health & Safety code that will cause your eyes to bleed). I'm sure there are other ways.

DRBC43AMG

Well, that certainly doesn't entice me to come and live in California

MarcusF

California is easy. Keep the original parts and swap them back as needed. I had a certain car that needed a 2 hour prep for smog. The headers and half the exhaust was replaced with OEM exhaust manifolds and cats. The OE air cleaner was reinstalled, and the aftermarket Mallory ignition system was pulled. This was done once every 24 months.

popey24

I have a certification for 5.5 AMG engine in C43, but it is for german Tüv... so I think, it won't help you.
But some info, that might help you... If the ECU is adapted to the engine, exhausting system is fine (no leakage) emission is good.
The Tüv inspector told me, he had no chance to see or hear, if it is a 4.3 or 5.5 engine.

Saaboteur

Isn't it ironic that the land where hot rodding was effectively born now also has some of the most stringent emissions regulations for cars? I love California, and have always enjoyed my visits there. Car culture is great there too, lots of nice cars and nice roads. But with so many people living there, I suppose it's only prudent to keep a lid on emissions as much as possible.

It's in stark contrast to my province of Alberta, where there is no provincial sales tax because of oil and gas revenues for the provincial government. And because the oil and gas industry has such strong lobbying with the government, and because of the revenue generated, emissions is pretty lax. We have lots of old clunkers on the roads that would be banned in most other jurisdictions I suspect. And I've run aftermarket engine management that has no concern for emissions or mileage, no cats, big exhausts on my Saabs and the authorities don't care or check - unless the neighbour b*tchs because it's too loud!

CatButt

I can tell you from experience that it really aint all that hard. As all things in life there are many ways to skin a cat. Also...the weather here is the BOMB.

Jovsky

That's purely genius. Then after the smog testing, put back the mod parts, right?

austinholloman

You can't have an aftermarket exhaust in cali? I'm very confused... Maybe I don't want to live there... Texas is pretty bad but you can have an engine swap and all new exhaust as long as your not showing a cel...

MarcusF

The parts went right back on as soon as the exhaust cooled enough to swap. Although I didn't come up with the idea. That's been happening in SoCal since the 1970's. Maybe earlier.

At most Cali smog test stations, if you don't show a CEL while running (they check to see if the light works), pass the sniffer, and have a working gas cap - you're set. Engine swaps and full exhausts (headers and removing the cats) come under the domain of the EPA (Federal law), so Texas has the same issues that Cali does. There is also no safety inspection in Cali.

Doesn't Texas require safety tests every year? In the Texas counties that require smog tests, isn't that done every year too?

ProjectC55