My buddy's got a 78 Trans Am with an Oldsmobile 403 engine in it we are currently fully restoring. We've pulled everything off of it including the drive train. He has the opportunity to buy a 1976 Pontiac 455 engine for 500 bucks and it has everything, manifolds, top end, everything. The problem is that in California he is past the smog exempt year by a bit. So it will always have to be smogged, there is no more "past 30 years old now i dont have to smog my car anymore" deal.

Now if we were to install that 455 in there, would the smog guy be able to tell right off the bat? And has anyone ever paid off a smog inspector?

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

On a 78 model you can almost be sure sooner or later they will send you to a 'smog only' station. That's a raw experience.
But your friend should be able to swap the engine legally as long as it smogs ok he'll get his sticker.

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Should be fine if the basic emissions stuff is in the same place. The guide will tell them what specifically to check including where to look and which vacuum lines to plug or connect to a vacuun source.

Get the biggest honking factory air cleaner over the engine so no one's tempted to see what's below

Sixto
93 300SD 3.0

Well I believe... that in CA you cannot legally put an engine into your car that is not the same engine as before. SO that's the big IF. If he notices it the car will not pass smog.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Ara T.,

In California cars subject to the smog test you can't put in an engine older than the car, so a 1976 engine in a 1978 car isn't legal - it might not have all the 1978 smog control devices it would need. This definately is applicable in your county, Sonoma.....

The smog inspection places won't take bribes, because it would be a criminal offense, huge fines, ($10,000 I think) imposed and loss of their smog license, maybe their shop, it's just not worth it to them

www.smogcheck.ca.gov is as good a place as any for you to start. Be sure your car is street legal, the DMV will have the regulations for you to check...

I don't blame your friend for wanting to ditch the emasculated 403 engine and go for the 455, the 403 was known as the "stationwagon engine" that was in the Caprice, Bonneville and Olds Custom Cruiser wagons back then. It was way underpowered for all that displacement, and loaded with emissions controls that robbed it of power and economy

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)