Photos in the last post were visible yesterday, but are now down for me too.
Doing some cross-checking in a secret underground EPC with the exhaust manifold gasket part number, it looks like every 2AR exhaust manifold has roughly the same shape. But some 1ARs got a tubular tri-Y header with a separate cat: https://www.ebay.com/itm/196655066073 (NMNA)
And at least one 1AR (2014+ Highlander of some kind) got a four into one like the tC catted piece, but with a straight pipe and remote cat:
I'm not sure what resources the smog referees have at their disposal. If they are starting at a photo of an OEM manifold and integral cat, the 1AR piece is obviously different. If they're just looking for OEM-looking parts and are OK with an approved cat, hooked up where it fits, these might work. At least they could be modified to fit the car and not look patently chopped up if you were careful about it.
Sorry all for the photos. I still see them on my end but I will post them again in this. Here are the BAR rules
https://www.bar.ca.gov/consumer/smog-check-program/engine-changes
From other people, it seems that you are required to use a header/cat that exactly matches the vin of the engine and no modification can be done without an EO. I could cut up the header and see if I can make it look oem, but if I get caught, they basically put my inspection on pending and I cannot register my car correctly which is a big risk. Additional issue is the engine actually has to tilt toward the driver side by about 10 degrees, further pushing the header into the subframe and rack. In any case, the solution is custom headers so this swap would definitely be possible if I didn't live in this dumb state.
If the cat has to be OEM and in the OEM position, what about exhaust tubing immediately downstream of, and welded to, the cat? Could you lop that off and snake the tubing past the car?
I'm just not seeing a scenario in which the ref says that you must leave the entire exhaust system of the donor car intact and untouched. That would effectively render any swaps illegal unless the car accepted the entire donor exhaust system.
It might be worth talking to the ref before you go any farther. If you can show them what you are up against and demonstrate that you want to do this legally, rather than trying to sneak something past them, they may be helpful.
Oil pans aren't regulated. You might be able to tilt the engine toward the passenger side instead and adjust the oil pan and pickup (and probably also the engine and transmission interface) to suit.
I do not miss California.
You may have more leeway than you realize to modify this stuff. Excerpts from the engine change guidelines (see PDF link from OP's BAR link above):
It will be interesting to hear the ref's interpretation of this. It certainly looks as though you have the freedom to make the swap fit the car, provided you leave all the donor stuff in the same functional location (e.g. sequential order and approximate distance from the engine) in the Celica as it was in the tC.
In reply to DarkMonohue :
AngryCorvair concurs
In reply to DarkMonohue :
I guess I read this in a different way, but what you are saying makes more sense. I will go ahead and call the ref station sometime and see whats up then. There is some hope. Thanks!
fwingo
New Reader
10/10/24 11:48 a.m.
I would just call the California DMV. They're actually extremely helpful with these types of questions.
800-777-0133
When you hear the automated system and get through the initial language questions, just say "customer service" and answer yes when it asks if you want to speak with someone.
Also this:
https://asktheref.org/
Gs76gt
New Reader
11/25/24 12:36 p.m.
In reply to Andrewkim :
I made an account just to reach out about this. I'm waiting for admin approval still to pm, but you don't have a to run an ae86 subframe for r&p steering. There's a guy, Carey Miller ( look up Carey miller celica on google or Carey miller in the celica forums), that makes bracket for a rack and pinion to bolt into the celicas without getting a whole new subframe and running spacers. The stock subframe also clears all the pans I know about, and lets the engine sit lower in the car. I attached an image below. For the steering column you can use an aw11 lower column with a mk3 supra intermediate shaft (t3) and that's all bolts up together, just need a bearing for it. PM me and I can show you pictures. I haven't found anyone else that has done this yet, so it's all measured up, just haven't put it together. It save you a lot of time, money, and performance. Message me
In reply to Gs76gt :
Wow, I haven't heard that name since the Toyota-Mods Mailing List days. I think I traded Cary a set of Mikuni 44s for a 2T-GE intake manifold. Couldn't have been more than about 25 years ago...
