Out of curiousity
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 5
From: Pahrump, NV
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
It is a law, a federal law enacted under the United States Environmental Protection Agency. If your vehicle left the factory with emissions equipment, it is illegal to tamper with or remove it. In some states it's easier to get away with it because of the lack of inspections/smog checks, no getting around it in California. They can give you a fine and/or revoke your vehicle's registration until you fix it. Just because there's no jail-time or misdemeanor/felony doesn't mean there's no law against it.
I did a search on motor swaps, and so far as I found there are three main rules, which are mostly emissions related. First is you cannot swap an older motor into a newer vehicle (putting a 1990 into a 2000). You can swap say a '97 into a '99 as long as they share the same platform. The reasoning for this is to not have outdated emissions equipment in a newer vehicle. Second I found is that you cannot swap something bigger than what it came with from the factory, such as putting an 8-cylinder in something that only came with 4 or 6. Although, it doesn't really state anything about displacement. The third is that it must pass safety and smog requirements. Not sure if they're laws, but the forum posts that popped up from my online search seem to point that way.
If it was against the law, then, for example, you couldn't get a red or a green sticker in California for offroad use. Because illegal is illegal.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
it's nice to live in alberta...basically we just have to worry about noise...
61(1) A motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine must have an exhaust muffler that is cooling and expelling the exhaust gases from the engine without excessive noise and without producing flames or sparks.
(2) A person shall not drive or operate a motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine if the exhaust outlet of the muffler has been widened.
(3) A person shall not drive or operate a motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine if a device is attached to the exhaust system or the muffler that increases the noise made by the expulsion of gases from the engine or allows a flame to be ignited from the exhaust system.
(4) This section applies to a power bicycle that is propelled by an internal combustion engine.
on the other hand, I'm quite sure emissions testing is on its way...
61(1) A motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine must have an exhaust muffler that is cooling and expelling the exhaust gases from the engine without excessive noise and without producing flames or sparks.
(2) A person shall not drive or operate a motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine if the exhaust outlet of the muffler has been widened.
(3) A person shall not drive or operate a motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine if a device is attached to the exhaust system or the muffler that increases the noise made by the expulsion of gases from the engine or allows a flame to be ignited from the exhaust system.
(4) This section applies to a power bicycle that is propelled by an internal combustion engine.
on the other hand, I'm quite sure emissions testing is on its way...
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 5
From: Pahrump, NV
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
it's nice to live in alberta...basically we just have to worry about noise...
61(1) A motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine must have an exhaust muffler that is cooling and expelling the exhaust gases from the engine without excessive noise and without producing flames or sparks.
(2) A person shall not drive or operate a motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine if the exhaust outlet of the muffler has been widened.
(3) A person shall not drive or operate a motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine if a device is attached to the exhaust system or the muffler that increases the noise made by the expulsion of gases from the engine or allows a flame to be ignited from the exhaust system.
(4) This section applies to a power bicycle that is propelled by an internal combustion engine.
on the other hand, I'm quite sure emissions testing is on its way...
61(1) A motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine must have an exhaust muffler that is cooling and expelling the exhaust gases from the engine without excessive noise and without producing flames or sparks.
(2) A person shall not drive or operate a motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine if the exhaust outlet of the muffler has been widened.
(3) A person shall not drive or operate a motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine if a device is attached to the exhaust system or the muffler that increases the noise made by the expulsion of gases from the engine or allows a flame to be ignited from the exhaust system.
(4) This section applies to a power bicycle that is propelled by an internal combustion engine.
on the other hand, I'm quite sure emissions testing is on its way...
Former Sponsor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,021
Likes: 1
From: Hesperia
Year: 89
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
So does that mean if i swap a sb350 into my xj since its illegal to do here you'll lock the thread?
And its a $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ thing is all they want. They don't care about the environment... They destroyed something natural at the Rubicon to make it less appealing to us, they killed perfectly healthy trees in Colorado to use them to make trails impassable, They're hypocrites going after your money....
And its a $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ thing is all they want. They don't care about the environment... They destroyed something natural at the Rubicon to make it less appealing to us, they killed perfectly healthy trees in Colorado to use them to make trails impassable, They're hypocrites going after your money....
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,273
Likes: 0
From: Alpharetta, GA
If you own your car, you can do whatever you want to it. It is yours. Period. You may not be able to register it, depending on where you are, but it's yours. The EPA does not have a cat task force running around looking under your car to ticket you.
If it was against the law, then, for example, you couldn't get a red or a green sticker in California for offroad use. Because illegal is illegal.
If it was against the law, then, for example, you couldn't get a red or a green sticker in California for offroad use. Because illegal is illegal.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 3
From: California
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
So would it be legal to remove emission systems and replace them with newer model emissions systems? Just wondering, don't really care too much so feel free to tell me to FO. 
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,273
Likes: 0
From: Alpharetta, GA
as long as your vehicle has all emisions and safety equipment it originally came with and they are in working order your car is legal. i'm not sure what you mean by newer systems though. a cat is a cat, evap systems are evap systems. the style of the system doesn't matter. and really as long as it passes an emissions and safety test it technically would be legal, but keep in mind a propper test is also supposed to have an inspection of all factory systems.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 5
From: Pahrump, NV
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
first off, it is the DOT that regulates these laws not the EPA. and second The key word there is Offroad. And yes a cop can write you a ticket for improper equipment if he decides to use a mirror under the vehicle and finds there is no cat or even O2 snsors. It is against the law to remove factory installed emissions devices from on road vehicles plain and simple. And if you think you can do whatever you want to a vehicle and then drive it on the road, think again. try lifting a truck to high or lowering a car to much. both situations can get your car impounded. just because you own it does not mean you dont have to abide by the laws set in place by the state or country who owns the roads you're driving on. it's completely different for off raod vehicles.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,353
Likes: 1
From: Missoula, MT
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Golen 4.6 Stroker, AFE Headers, 62mm TB, 24 LB Injectors, Brown Dog kit, HF Cat, 3" Exhaust
Im glad I have never lived somewhere that cared. I did get pulled over in Louisiana for having tires that stuck out past my fenders but I've never even heard of anyone getting in trouble for swapping out an engine (and most of the time it is a older one) or other emissions components.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Loosiana
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Im glad I have never lived somewhere that cared. I did get pulled over in Louisiana for having tires that stuck out past my fenders but I've never even heard of anyone getting in trouble for swapping out an engine (and most of the time it is a older one) or other emissions components.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 12
From: Hamburg AR
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
Im glad I have never lived somewhere that cared. I did get pulled over in Louisiana for having tires that stuck out past my fenders but I've never even heard of anyone getting in trouble for swapping out an engine (and most of the time it is a older one) or other emissions components.
I live about 30 mins from Louisiana line. A cop told me not to drive my jeep back across the line lol. He didn't write me a ticket but I think he wanted to.
He listed about 15 things that made it illegal in LA. I should start buying jeeps from down there that people cant get legal lol.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,353
Likes: 1
From: Missoula, MT
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Golen 4.6 Stroker, AFE Headers, 62mm TB, 24 LB Injectors, Brown Dog kit, HF Cat, 3" Exhaust
Leesville (fort Polk). I think the cops down by the base just pull people over with out-of-state tags for anything to get some cash for themselves haha. Loved pulling over soldiers for some ridiculous stuff.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 0
From: oregon
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 ho 99 intake ps pump 1" tb spacer 62mm bored tb eletric fans and more
its simple the forum does not want it discussed its the forums rule. if thats the worst rule they have then oh well.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,581
Likes: 8
From: some small town oregon
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0