E Rod LS3 conversions in Cali

[Loco83]

Looking for a shop that handles E Rod conversions in California, my 83 Silverado is at it's last days with the 305 and Qjet, barely passed my last smog test. have the finances to have it done professionally and right. all the old mechanics are gone and retired, my local mech that i would take my truck to retired and all the other shops i've gone to won't touch it.

[Matt Man]

Originally Posted by Loco83

Looking for a shop that handles E Rod conversions in California, my 83 Silverado is at it's last days with the 305 and Qjet, barely passed my last smog test. have the finances to have it done professionally and right. all the old mechanics are gone and retired, my local mech that i would take my truck to retired and all the other shops i've gone to won't touch it.

Do not know where in California you are, but pacific fabrication would be a great place.

http://pacificfabrication.com/servic...0b9edb98315bb0

[Loco83]

Thanks.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

A guy I am familiar with dropped a 5.3 LS kit he built into his truck in a couple weekends. There were a couple small mistakes with fuel line hook-ups, and he even used a bolt in exhaust. Which when modified took a bit more time. He said afterwards he could do it in a weekend if he quite messing with stuff, and had the right fittings.

Given shop rates. You could probably do it cheaper yourself even if you take a week off of work. Provided your willing to do it.

With the Covid going around, and depending on your work situation. You already have the time off. Even if you get the new motor in you could cut down you project cost.

[chebyshortbox65]

What trans are you running. I did a eRod in a 89 caprice for a guy not to hard depending on what parts your running.

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by Loco83

Looking for a shop that handles E Rod conversions in California, my 83 Silverado is at it's last days with the 305 and Qjet, barely passed my last smog test. have the finances to have it done professionally and right. all the old mechanics are gone and retired, my local mech that i would take my truck to retired and all the other shops i've gone to won't touch it.

where ya located?

[Loco83]

Here in Central Cal just south of Fresno.

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by Loco83

Here in Central Cal just south of Fresno.

Hit these guys up, down in Corona, CA.
https://www.ls-swaps.com/contact

Honestly LS swaps are becoming more and more commonplace these days, seems like it shouldn't be impossible to find a good shop to swap for you.

Up here in the Bay Area we have Precision Auto services in San Bruno that cranks out LS swaps by the dozen...

https://www.facebook.com/PrecisionAutoSanBruno/

Sonoma County street rodz in Petaluma does good work, and has plenty of experience with LS and Erod setups.

Pacific fab/Tilden motorsports in Gilroy rebuilds and sells the engines (have one of their built 6.0L's in my 62 Impala.) But not sure they do installs anymore. Worth giving them a call though, they might be able to direct you to a shop closer to you.

Maybe once this Corona nonsense calms down start hitting the local cars n coffee meets, car shows and cruises, and ask around. Id guess there's a pretty stout car scene down by Fresno...

[MikeB]

Will the CA smog Nazis be looking for all the emissions devices the 84 had, or do they just check tailpipe emissions? Still can't believe some states check emissions on cars and trucks 25 years or older, since they probably account for less than .01% of the vehicles on the road, and even a lower percentage of total miles driven.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

The erod kit comes with its own exhaust y pipe with converters, and the must be used.

All installs are different, but it is the evap emission equipment that must be utilized. How ever you get there is the tricky part. But I have it on good word that make it look good, and they go for it.

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by MikeB

Will the CA smog Nazis be looking for all the emissions devices the 84 had, or do they just check tailpipe emissions? Still can't believe some states check emissions on cars and trucks 25 years or older, since they probably account for less than .01% of the vehicles on the road, and even a lower percentage of total miles driven.

No, they look at the engine and make sure it has all the required equipment on it and that it hasn't been "tuned." Generally, a regular smog shop isn't going to touch it, the first time around. It would most likely end up at a referee station. There a couple of things they would look at on the actual truck as well. For instance if it is suppose to have the smaller nozzle opening for the gas fill.

[Loco83]

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

No, they look at the engine and make sure it has all the required equipment on it and that it hasn't been "tuned." Generally, a regular smog shop isn't going to touch it, the first time around. It would most likely end up at a referee station. There a couple of things they would look at on the actual truck as well. For instance if it is suppose to have the smaller nozzle opening for the gas fill.

The smog equip that go along with the old engine is taken out as the Erod is a stand alone system.


https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/afterm...o/d-126-30.pdf

[Loco83]

Originally Posted by ShortHaul

Hit these guys up, down in Corona, CA.
https://www.ls-swaps.com/contact

Honestly LS swaps are becoming more and more commonplace these days, seems like it shouldn't be impossible to find a good shop to swap for you.

Up here in the Bay Area we have Precision Auto services in San Bruno that cranks out LS swaps by the dozen...

https://www.facebook.com/PrecisionAutoSanBruno/

Sonoma County street rodz in Petaluma does good work, and has plenty of experience with LS and Erod setups.

Pacific fab/Tilden motorsports in Gilroy rebuilds and sells the engines (have one of their built 6.0L's in my 62 Impala.) But not sure they do installs anymore. Worth giving them a call though, they might be able to direct you to a shop closer to you.

Maybe once this Corona nonsense calms down start hitting the local cars n coffee meets, car shows and cruises, and ask around. Id guess there's a pretty stout car scene down by Fresno...

Thanks for the info

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by Loco83

The smog equip that go along with the old engine is taken out as the Erod is a stand alone system.


https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/afterm...o/d-126-30.pdf

Yes, that's correct. I tried to say that, but it didn't come as a short as this response

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Loco83

The smog equip that go along with the old engine is taken out as the Erod is a stand alone system.


https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/afterm...o/d-126-30.pdf

That's pretty cool. Even meets CA standards. GM sure makes it easy.

[Ryan Hubbard]

Be sure that your truck falls under the weight limit.

The LS3-6.2L V8 E-ROD Kit is a complete engine and emission control package designed to change engines from 1995 and older passenger cars and light duty trucks within the maximum weight limit (5725 lbs. GVWR)

My 1990 3/4t Suburban is over the rating and they will not allow me to have the LS3 E-Rod engine in my suburban. I am installing it in August and registering the car in Utah.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Ryan Hubbard

Be sure that your truck falls under the weight limit.

The LS3-6.2L V8 E-ROD Kit is a complete engine and emission control package designed to change engines from 1995 and older passenger cars and light duty trucks within the maximum weight limit (5725 lbs. GVWR)

My 1990 3/4t Suburban is over the rating and they will not allow me to have the LS3 E-Rod engine in my suburban. I am installing it in August and registering the car in Utah.

Thus denying CA recurring income from registration fees. That's just crazy on their part. Just guessing here, but I suspect the new engine is cleaner than your original 1990 engine.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Originally Posted by Ryan Hubbard

The LS3-6.2L V8 E-ROD Kit is a complete engine and emission control package designed to change engines from 1995 and older passenger cars and light duty trucks within the maximum weight limit (5725 lbs. GVWR).

The erod package is not complete. You still need to tie it into your evaporative emissions your original vehicle has.

[Ryan Hubbard]

Originally Posted by Ziegelsteinfaust

The erod package is not complete. You still need to tie it into your evaporative emissions your original vehicle has.

No the Erod package is complete. You have to tie in the evap canister that is supplied with the engine. The kit comes complete with the cats and evap canister. The only thing is you have to supply the vent line from your gas tank.

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by Ryan Hubbard

Be sure that your truck falls under the weight limit.

The LS3-6.2L V8 E-ROD Kit is a complete engine and emission control package designed to change engines from 1995 and older passenger cars and light duty trucks within the maximum weight limit (5725 lbs. GVWR)

My 1990 3/4t Suburban is over the rating and they will not allow me to have the LS3 E-Rod engine in my suburban. I am installing it in August and registering the car in Utah.

I didn't know there was a GVWR limit on these... I googled it a bit but couldn't come up with any info, do you have a link?

:EDIT:
Did better googling and found it...

https://arb.parts/Executive-Order/D-126-32

[Loco83]

What is the weight of a half ton short bed Silverado with the 305?

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by Loco83

What is the weight of a half ton short bed Silverado with the 305?

According to the GM Heritage site it looks like your GVWR would be between 4900 and 6100... depending on your transmission and rear end combo... remember GVWR is not the same as vehicle weight... its what your vehicle was rated to carry, including weight of the vehicle itself. It's usually stamped on a label on the inside of the drivers door...

Might be something I'd look into before dropping the $ on an E-rod setup. Or even swing by a smog referee shop and see what they say.

[Ryan Hubbard]

Originally Posted by ShortHaul

According to the GM Heritage site it looks like your GVWR would be between 4900 and 6100... depending on your transmission and rear end combo... remember GVWR is not the same as vehicle weight... its what your vehicle was rated to carry, including weight of the vehicle itself. It's usually stamped on a label on the inside of the drivers door...

Might be something I'd look into before dropping the $ on an E-rod setup. Or even swing by a smog referee shop and see what they say.

I had a long conversation with the smog referee here in Orange County and he said they will let a vehicle slide that is a few hundred pounds over like 5850 but that is about it. He agreed that if I put it in my suburban I would actually lower the current emissions of my vehicle but that is the law and he has to follow it.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Ryan Hubbard

I had a long conversation with the smog referee here in Orange County and he said they will let a vehicle slide that is a few hundred pounds over like 5850 but that is about it. He agreed that if I put it in my suburban I would actually lower the current emissions of my vehicle but that is the law and he has to follow it.

So, what has California accomplished here? Bureaucracy run amok.

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by Ryan Hubbard

I had a long conversation with the smog referee here in Orange County and he said they will let a vehicle slide that is a few hundred pounds over like 5850 but that is about it. He agreed that if I put it in my suburban I would actually lower the current emissions of my vehicle but that is the law and he has to follow it.

That sucks. I have very little experience with the smog cops... which is why I only chase after pre-75 trucks... Every time I think its worth expanding my search I remember something like this and it scares me off.