Avoiding a messy 'Frankenstien' Swap

[NorCalMX3]

Hey everyone.

I've finally removed my K8 and transmission and now have an empty engine bay. I've just bought a rebuild kit for the new KLZE so I'll have new rings and gaskets. I'm starting to get pretty intimated in the shadow of building the top end with all the different options...

What I've decided thus far (And keeping in mind my car has to adhere to strict regulations for California law) is that I'll be going with the following setup:

KLZE Block, KL31 Cams, K8 Heads, K8 stock IM. (if this is NOT the optimal setup for California users, please let me know, my research seems to suggest it is however)

I know the title of this post seems counter-intuitive to the selections I've chosen, but I do have to keep in mind these regulations. As such I need your guys opinions on keeping the cleanest, most powerful, and most efficient ways to pull this off... The MAIN concern is the damn CEL (aka ECU set up), which will need to be off when I send it in for the smog check. I've read up on different ways to do an ECU setup (rather intimidating stuff), but I really want to avoid unnecessary cable harnesses, splicing, ghost cables and sensors that don't belong anywhere, ect ect ect.

I know there's no way to avoid a zombie engine and setup in my situation, but I need your guys advice on at least making it as clean as possible. It's really hard to find info on a search (and trust me, I've done it) that will provide useful information to help a California KLZE swapper.

Keep in mind two very important things: The MX-3 was once an automatic that was swapped to a manual, and the CEL will need to be off.

You guys are awesome!

[mx3_ryder]

If you were forced to use K8 heads on a ZE because of regulations, I would just stick with a K8 engine as you will be killing the performance of the ZE and in the end would have the same performance or less than that of the K8.

[NorCalMX3]

If you were forced to use K8 heads on a ZE becuase of regulations, I would just stick with a K8 engine as you will be killing the performance of the ZE and in the end would have the same performance or less than that of the K8.

I've heard the heads would only marginally degrade performance since most of it lies in the pistons and cams. As well as the obvious displacement difference of the block.

[pattheriault]

im no expert on the subject but why not just put KLDE head and intake manifold on it? why would this affect emission.

from what ive heard keep the EGR running and use a cat converter and you should be good.

[mx3_ryder]

Why not just use the ZE heads you already have combined with a DE millenia intake manifold

[pattheriault]

yeah! only code I had with my ZE was EGR related. if you keep all your EGR component in place you shouldn't have any problem.

from what ive heard in the past some have pass emission without EGR.

[NorCalMX3]

Why not just use the ZE heads

im no expert on the subject but why not just put KLDE head and intake manifold on it? why would this affect emission.

from what ive heard keep the EGR running and use a cat converter and you should be good.

The issue becomes the visual inspection. The KL stamp is too far out of the way and I can sneak it by, but if they see anything other than K8 on the heads I'm sure I'll be an insta-fail.

If I only had to worry about emissions I could probably cheat everything up to the intake and EGR, however they do look at these stamps. California is dumb and does have a visual check to be sure the engine you have in it is in fact what should be in there.

Not enough is known about these K-series engines for the everyday inspector to notice anything amiss on the block.

Perhaps I could try getting away with DE heads and a K8 mani though?

[mx3_ryder]

Well both ZE and DE heads have different codes then the K8 heads, so again use the ZE heads. I don't believe the emissions inspectors will go as far as checking head codes if it doesn't pass smog. If it doesn't pass smog with a ZE, then its not engine related, it would be emissions related...

[NorCalMX3]

Well both ZE and DE heads have different codes then the K8 heads, so again use the ZE heads. I don't believe the emissions inspectors will go as far as checking head codes if it doesn't pass smog. If it doesn't pass smog with a ZE, then its not engine related, it would be emissions related...

I'll toss these suggestions around. I don't even have ZE heads, only DE. Chances are I'll use the DE and try my luck.

yeah! only code I had with my ZE was EGR related. if you keep all your EGR component in place you shouldn't have any problem.

from what ive heard in the past some have pass emission without EGR.

As for this, did you chip your computer, keep it stock, or buy a premade? The smog test /IS/ Instant fail if the CEL is on or comes on at any point during the 15-20 minute test.

[mx3_ryder]

You said you had a new KlZE and thats what i was going on. Yeah, I would say use the DE heads then and go with what pattheriault said and hook up all egr related and emissions components and find out what he used for an ecu. I live where there's no smog regulations on pre-96 vehicles so I've never dealt with it. I do now that my true straight neck ZE runs very clean with a millenia intake manifold, millenia KL47 TB, KL31 ecu (no check engine light), new cat, new o2's and egr removed...

[pattheriault]

stock DE computer. the probinator chip would take care of the EGR code tho.
I would just take the bulb out of the cluster for the check engine light. I doubt they would notify that.

and for the head stamp I would try my luck.. no point in putting a ZE in with K8 head unless you modify them to flow like a ZE.

Im not sure of valve size and port size from a K8 vs KL.
to me if you do a clean swap they probably wont check all the head stamp and stuff...

why dont you pass emision with your K8 and do the swap afterward?

[NorCalMX3]

You said you had a new KlZE and thats what i was going on. Yeah, I would say use the DE heads then and go with what pattheriault said and hook up all egr related and emissions components and find out what he used for an ecu. I live where there's no smog regulations on pre-96 vehicles so I've never dealt with it. I do now that my true straight neck ZE runs very clean with a millenia intake manifold and millenia KL47 TB, KL31 ecu (no check engine light), new o2's and egr removed...

Haha my bad on the wording! The ZE is lightly used and was the block only. I know I'll have to use the K8 Mani (might swap it out after the inspection). I'll have to do some research on compatibility between that IM and the Throttle Body.

[NorCalMX3]

stock DE computer. the probinator chip would take care of the EGR code tho.
I would just take the bulb out of the cluster for the check engine light. I doubt they would notify that.

and for the head stamp I would try my luck.. no point in putting a ZE in with K8 head unless you modify them to flow like a ZE.

Im not sure of valve size and port size from a K8 vs KL.
to me if you do a clean swap they probably wont check all the head stamp and stuff...

why dont you pass emision with your K8 and do the swap afterward?

The car stopped running years ago because the transmission went bad and a still unknown ignition issue.

This project has been a backburner for quite some time because I haven't had the resources or the time to do it. That's all changed recently and trying to recall all this information is overwhelming.

[pattheriault]

ok thats suck!

if you swap all EGR component you shouldnt have any engine code with any KL ECU. (from what I understand, dont take my word for it)

I had a ZE and now a DE in my car. they both ran on the same ECU and only code I had where for EGR. ( I never ran any EGR component on any of those engine)

[NorCalMX3]

ok thats suck!

if you swap all EGR component you shouldnt have any engine code with any KL ECU. (from what I understand, dont take my word for it)

I had a ZE and now a DE in my car. they both ran on the same ECU and only code I had where for EGR. ( I never ran any EGR component on any of those engine)

Okay awesome so basically if I stumble across any KL-DEs at my local salvage yard and I've got the ECU covered? Leave in the EGRv and no CEL? That puts my mind at ease...