LUVTruck.com

Hi people , I,m new to the site ,just got a 1980 stepside and eventually want to put a v8 in it . My questions are , why does everyone think a ford smallblock is too hard to put in , is it just the layout of the frame etc. As the ford is a narrower eng I would think it should fit easier . Also as I live in the communist state of california and must suffer the smog nazi's , is ther anyone who knows the easiest way of doing it and getting smogged . Changing cabs or frames is a no go as they check them here and I don't want to hunt for a 1975 [no smog test required ] but if you are stopped they can still copulate with you ,as you are still required to have the original smog equipment. Thanks for any help Jim

As per DMV and the CHP the truck year is what the cab is. If you get a 75 cab and switch it over thet will brand it as a 75. The co-creator of the site, Derek Jewett had a smog legal V-8 in it but I cant find the article. Try to PM him for info. As far as a Ford engine, it will work, hell pick your engine Mfgr, anything will work with good enough skills.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

A lot of the blue ovals are front sump engines. As long as you habe a rear sump, it should work...

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FIAA!

SFPP!

Edited for having nothing to do with the question "by Tilted"

Hi guys I have a friend who is a training officer with the sheriffs dept and he has told me many stories of people changing bodies , But there are hidden vin numbers on the frames and he says the vehicle is whatever the frame says . I can see how you could change bodies and maybe no one would ever check but if they did ,what a mess . My friend told me of a really nice cutlass that was impounded and checked , it had a perfect body on an older frame from a stolen car ,the owner had no idea , but guess what ,the car went back to the original owner it was stolen from .
I need to talk to a smog inspector or find the codes [very often ca. officials do not tell you the whole truth], I do know that when you build a hot rod with parts from various vehicles ,they call it a 'special built' and it has to pass smog based on the year and model of engine used . Jim

Thanx for that info bigjim, I almost made a big mistake....
Dano

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I have done my research and put a 74 body on a 78 frame. I then went to DMV and they started the paper work, then to the CHP and then finialized with the smog ref. Like I said, on our trucks it is the cab they go by.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

That is interesting I called c.h.p. today 3 different offices,talked to 3 diferent v.i.n. officers [just to be sure] and they all said that the year of the vehicle is definitly the year of the frame and not the cab , when pushed they said that if one got through the system it was an accident and that changing the cab will not change the year or smog requirements . If you did get through legally ,please give full details , especially what the smog referee said about the v8 , if there is a legal loophole ,let's all use it . I also quizzed them about 'special built vehicles and as I had said on a special built , the smog is whatever the smog was required on the engine used in the special would have been in it's original vehicle . Hope this helps . Lets all work together to beat the smog demons Jim

Like I said, I went to DMV, then to the CHP then to the smog ref and its done.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

Did you tell the DMV the frame was a 78? did you tell the CHP the frame was a 78 ? did anyone check the frame , or did you just say you were registering a 74 ? this is an important matter to all luv owners who want to modify thier vehicles ,It would be unfair to lead people to believe it can be done legally and then thier frame is checked and all their work is down the drain . Can you give specific details on how you managed it if you did it legally

I actually started with the BAR and told them what I was doing, they helped me along. The frame only has I place for the VIN number, I cut that part out when I back halfed my truck, but I kept the number and did let all know.

I cant say this will work for everyone but this is what I did to get my truck done. You will have to work with your local people and do what they ask.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

Even more interesting, sounds like you got some nice people . there must be a rule book somewhere that spells it out , as you can see from your experience and what chp have said there is a contradiction ,so I will dig further and see if I can find a quotable rule we can all use . Jim

I just spent a long time talking to the Bureau of automotive repair and here is their take on the situation.
1 chp has no rules ,it's up to their interpretation ,
2 Put a 74 cab on a 78 frame and they should call it a 78 ,but they can call it a 74 if the officer inspecting it calls the frame a 'component replacement'
3 If it has further changes [eng trans susp. etc ] he can deem it to be a special built

THERE IS NO RULE THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW

so basically a cab change is a crap shoot depending on the chp officer you get .

As far as engine changes go
you can only replace the vehicles eng with an eng of the same year or newer ,AND it must have ALL the original smog equipment for that eng on it

vehicles from 1975 and older do not have to take a smog test BUT it is still illegal to modify the smog equipment they came with and if checked you can be given a smog modification ticket . the B A R said they get people calling all the time after getting these tickets.

If you modify a vehicle suficiently to qualify as a special built [at chp's whim] your vehicle will be a 2008 or the year you do it and you must pass smog based on the smog required for the year of the engine used AND you have to pass smog every 2 years therafter .
Those who have done cab changes and got the year of the cab got lucky
It is so ridiculous that a rule is up to the chp officer you deal with .
So I hope this helps everyone , don't forget when dealing with the communist state of kailfornia wear wellington boots .

P.S. for anyone who wants to call B.A.R. their number is 1 800 952 5210 Jim

My buddies nephew is a CHP officer. I'll have to stay on his good side I guess.

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

More input,, Today a chp V.I.N. oficer called me [I had left my no.the other day] having had all the coversations with chp, bar I quized him on proceedures etc , he said
While the question of the year is ultimately up to the officer , they are taught that the frame number is the most important reference point and he would not call a74cab on a78 frame a74 it would be a 78 .
his take on special builts is , If the vehicle still looks the same as it did originally it is not a special built , but he did give the example of the kit cars of the 90s that were built on a fiero and looked like a ferarri , while no mechanical mods were done the vehicle looked completely different so it was a special built .
He also said they were not out to give resonable hot rodders a hard time and they will try to work with us rather than to impede a legitimate enthusiest. lastly when pushed he said there may be some definitions on the D.M.V. site so I will check there and update
JIm

are govener here in oregon wants the same laws on smog as CA.
good thing it only aplies to the new stuff, i gess.
though he wants state wide smog on the old stuff, back to 1975.
to the spec it was made to.
the E-10 is bad enufe.
i think ill just hang on to are old 74 ford,
we can put any thing under the hood we want, 100% no smog.

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The Energizer Bunny is trying to keep up, and is starting to gasp for air!!

I my self thinks thats a bunch of bull U tell them u Wrecked your 75 or older frame throw the Cab on a newer Luv frame I have had a Vin inspection done befor the check the one on the door jame how do they no wats ben done to the truck
Cuz my 62 Chevy had 64 cab on it they dont really care
They go off of the Vin on the Cab not the Frame cuz if they did go off the Frame vin when I got a smog they would craw under there and Match it up

People do swaps from older chevy truck Bodys on to newer truck frams that dose not make it a newer truck

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If you cant find it grind it

79 4x4 1.8 liter
75 K 10 Lifted with 383 stroker
69 Jeepster comando v6

man i feel for you guys i live right next door and the state law here says that they test the engine on the year for the equipment and i used a 94 4.3 and they still made me plumb a smog pump into the mess what a pain...

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