Crate engine swap

[twodko]

Question for PRK mechanics. I recently acquired a mint condition 94 Chevy Blazer with a standard 350 EFI rated at a sluggish 200 HP. Its very poor fuel economy a direct function of a grossly under powered engine. The truck smogged up no problems. Discovered an annoying rattle that turned out to be the innards of the cat so I put on a new one along with an OEM muffler and tail pipe.

I'm thinking about replacing the motor with another 350 crate rated at more HP, not a stroker just a stronger engine.

If I do such a swap will it still pass a smog test. Thanks for your thoughts.

Tom

[Troy]

Not sure on the crate engines exactly. However, in CA, you can normally swap engines *IF* you retain all the factory smog stuff. If you pull a motor from another car it must be newer than the vehicle it's going into (that's why I don't know about crate motors). If you're just swapping short/long blocks (say if you broke the original motor) I'm not sure it's terribly hard. I'd say any significant cam change is going to mess with your ability to pass smog though. Don't some crate motors come with a CARB number?

Troy

[twodko]

Hi Troy,

PRK crate motors do come with CARB numbers and the swap would be for the same displacement engine. I was just surfing crate engines and for 94 other than a cat there's just an O2 sensor......I think. Still looking into that and will stop by a buddy's shop today for a definitive answer. I'll post up what I find out. I hope your week has been good so far, my best to your family.

Tom

[cdr]

on a truck i would do a 383,with a stock cam so it will pass emis test,the added torque is what you need .  

[twodko]

Thanks, I'll research that option. The damn PRK is so heavy handed with the smog parameters it's difficult finding a more robust mill that gets better mileage and still passes smog. You'd think the asshats in Sacramento would understand that with a heartier engine I'll be burning less fuel hence less pollution. No wait.......that makes sense.   

[twodko]

I reviewed all the info on a GM HT383. It's only smog legal for 96 and later trucks......figures.

[cdr]

stroke the engine that is in the truck,no one will know.