Hi,
You can retitle in my state (Oklahoma) such cross make motor/frame autos as 'kit' cars, or 'custom' cars.  
The year of the body vin number is the critical item for same frame/motor change outs.
In CA don't buy anything newer than '73.
Eckie Prater
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Michael Sullivan <sullivan@OPENMARKET.COM>
    To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
    Date: Tuesday, January 26, 1999 2:40 PM
    Subject: Re: Audi 5 Cyl Swap: Alert! Possible Trouble
    
    
    I spoke with a guy from the Federal EPA and he said no problem with putting in a different engine in a different make as long as it is a later model and it is installed with ALL official smog equipment pertinent to the year of that engine.
    
    The Massachusetts DOT also confirmed the above.
    
    Cheers,
    MJS
    
    
    At 01:29 PM 1/26/99 -0700, Gary Shea wrote:
    >It's actually a bit more complicated than Mark suggests, unfortunately.
    >I recently talked to a smog guy here in Utah state gov't, who informed me
    >that federal law requires that the engine not only be of the same or newer
    >vintage, but must also have been available as standard equipment for
    >the vehicle that year or in later years in the US. Thus the 5 cylinder
    >Audi CANNOT satisfy federal reg's, as I understand them. My
    >understanding is that the underlying rule is that engine/vehicle combo
    >must already have been certified by the gov't as passing smog tests,
    >and of course that implies the above restrictions.
    >
    >So you can legally stick a 2.1L engine in your 1.9L 83.5 vanagon, stick
    >a 1.9L or 2.1L in your pre-83.5 air-cooled van, or switch to a normally
    >aspirated 1.6L diesel (but not a TD diesel), and
    >that's about it, if one wishes to be within the letter of the law.
    >
    >On the other hand, I have every intention of putting a 1.9 TD into
    >my van, unless of course I find a TDI in the meantime. Here in Utah
    >the pollution testing authorities are getting pickier all the time,
    >but not picky enough to detect this particular illicit change.
    >
    >I have no idea how this plays out in CA... and don't want to know ;)
    >
    > Gary
    >
    >On Tue, 26 Jan 1999, Mark B. Magee wrote:
    >> Volks,
    >> I as many of you are, I as well am excited about the specter of a 5cyl
    >> audi, turbo or non-turbo swap in for my 4spd 91 Westy (143K on orig top
    >> end/bottom end). Yet I believe all who would do this need to be aware
    >> that any swap in will -not- be approved by the new Federal Standards
    >> (all 50 states) and present CAL standards unless the motor being swapped
    >> in is at least of the same year model -or newer- than the year model of
    >> the vehicle. E.g., with my 91 Westy, I will be legal only if I swap in a
    >> 91 or newer Audi 5cyl, along w/all applicable smog equipment.
    >> If you're planning to swap in a motor, be advised that Fed standards are
    >> slowly being implemented throughout the country, a visible check of your
    >> motor may or may not trigger an inspector to notice the slant 5 instead
    >> of the wasserboxer, yet if they find out a swap has been done, (yes they
    >> -do- ask FBI type questions) and they run the serial numbers on the
    >> block that show the engine older than the car: you are out of compliance
    >> and in the nether world of dealing with the Feds who are very nasty
    >> about this presently.
    >> Bottom line, if planning a Vanagon motor swap in, purchase a motor of
    >> the year of your van or newer to avoid trouble.
    >>
    >> --
    >> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
    >> Shalom 87 GL
    >> Mark Magee 91 Westy
    >> Kemah TX USA 96 Suzuki 4WD Sport
    >> John 14:6 83 Honda XL
    >> 250! Yea!!
    >>
    >
    >-----------------------------------------------------------------
    >Gary Shea shea@xmission.com
    >Salt Lake City http://www.xmission.com/~shea
    >
    
    Michael J. Sullivan
    Director of Catalog Design
    Open Market, Inc.
    
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