check out this last post.

https://www.honda-acura.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=40187

Q: Is it street legal to put a Japanese Si-R (Type-R, ZC, B16A1s, etc) engine in my Honda Civic DX for California?

A: If a motor from Japan is deemed 'equivalent' CARB will have it in their books as a smog legal replacement. If it was never sold in the US, then it is very unlikely that it will be in the books. Thus its not smog legal, technically. But it should have no problem passing a smog test, because Japan has stict smog laws so they will still run clean. Will the smog shops even notice that it isn't the stock motor??? Alot of guys say they don't notice and are taking that gamble. But it is a gamble.

Its your car, so its your call.

trust me, if i could pass a JDM engine in cali, i would of had a h22 in my 4th gen right now...