79 Bronco Engine Swap?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Southern California
79 Bronco Engine Swap?
Well I have the bronco my dad bought at 16 as a special order and its time for a frame off resto on it. I have the axles all done and the frame has been blasted and coated.
The catch im having a issue with is the engine itself. Here in communist California its a pain to do anything on a car that needs to pass smog. And my dad really wants this 96 460 engine out of a f250 put into it. The issue I see is having to hook up all the idiot lights and so forth. Now I can get it to fit no problem, but has anyone done a swap here in California with any luck? Does the abs have to be hooked up to? All I see is a headache but the stock 400 has never done well with smog check so its a POS and in the garbage already.
The catch im having a issue with is the engine itself. Here in communist California its a pain to do anything on a car that needs to pass smog. And my dad really wants this 96 460 engine out of a f250 put into it. The issue I see is having to hook up all the idiot lights and so forth. Now I can get it to fit no problem, but has anyone done a swap here in California with any luck? Does the abs have to be hooked up to? All I see is a headache but the stock 400 has never done well with smog check so its a POS and in the garbage already.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
I have no idea about the regulations in Cali but it would seem there are all kinds of people driving classic and custom vehicles around, so would it be possible to have this Bronco declared a "custom" vehicle and get some kind of special permit? Or wouldn't it be considered a classic at over 35yrs old and not have to meet modern emissions standards?
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Napa
I have no idea about the regulations in Cali but it would seem there are all kinds of people driving classic and custom vehicles around, so would it be possible to have this Bronco declared a "custom" vehicle and get some kind of special permit? Or wouldn't it be considered a classic at over 35yrs old and not have to meet modern emissions standards?
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/vr/smogfaq
Try to get a custom title, find a car club and ask them how.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Another thing to look into is the GVWR of the vehicle. I've been told before that you apparently can only swap with engines that are in the same weight class or lighter than your current vehicle. If your current Bronco has a GVWR that is lower than any GVWRs of the vehicles the 460 was put in, you may have some complications.
If this holds true, I'd think California would be the place that would be more strict on this rule. Maybe you'll get lucky though, or maybe you can make the 460 appear to be like the 400 that was in it before. I don't know much how they test in California so that might not work.
If this holds true, I'd think California would be the place that would be more strict on this rule. Maybe you'll get lucky though, or maybe you can make the 460 appear to be like the 400 that was in it before. I don't know much how they test in California so that might not work.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,804
Likes: 5
From: Southern California
Been doing a bunch of reading and poking around. Seems as though a 460 swap might be illegal because it wasn't offered in the 79 bronco as a factory option... I have a smog guy at school ill talk to and find out for sure what the deal is.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Napa
Out of state registration/titling is another possibility if you have someone you can trust in NV
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