Originally Posted by Toy Civic

I swapped a B18C1 into my 1995 Civic coupe last year and went to the "smog ref" in November. To make an appointment call the referee scheduling center at 1-800-622-7733. When you call, give them your license plate number or your information for an appointment. Also request that you go to the referee at Southwestern College in Chula Vista. His name is Michael Muller.

Michael has literally done most of the Honda motor swap inspections for just about everyone in town. He knows everything that can and cannot be done with Honda motors. Although I have a virgin P72 OBD1 ECU, he never checked what ECU I was running. Don't assume that he will not look at your ECU though.

Here are some major items he DOESN'T care about:

1) The VIN or serial number stamped on the engine block.
2) He doesn't care if the block code is B18C1 or the JDM B18C. He knows that the blocks and heads are cast exactly the same for the JDM and USDM motors. I have a 96 GSR block and head, but I am set up for 1995 OBD1 smog equipment specs. If I had a 1994 motor, I would still be OK if I ran my smog setup.
3) Cat back exhausts. They have zero effect on emissions.
4) CARB legal headers

Here are some major items he DOES care about:

1) The OBD wiring matches between the car and the engine. If your car is OBD2, but you have OBD1 wiring and OBD1 smog equipment, then you'll fail the visual. Same thing vice versa, OBD2 motor in an OBD1 car and OBD1 wire harness transplant, then you'll fail.
2) All the usual OEM sensors, smog equipment, and catalytic converter are present. If there's anything not hooked up or disabled, you'll fail.
3) The intake manifold must be USDM. The JDM ones have slightly different connections.
4) No adjustable cam gears
5) No adjustable fuel pressure regulators
6) Racing headers or headers without CARB label
7) Any bolt ons without CARB labels
8) Any forced induction without CARB labels. Even if it was legal, I still would show up with a NA motor, then switch to boost after the smog test.

Anyway, he was extremely helpful, informative, and personable. The whole test was not even an hour. You can also call the number listed above and request a callback from the smog ref if you want to talk to him directly for research and good information.

If you need more information from me, post an e-mail address and I will contact you.