Smog Question

I have a 2001 Jetta 1.8T and I am going to throw a 2.8L 24V motor out of a 2004 Jetta. Smogman, am I going to have to get this refereed?

I won't tell if you won't tell.

But I think the smog guy may notice the difference.

You wouldn't happen to still have the front clip from the 2004 Jetta lying around would you?



And I am betting you may have an issue unless the 2.8 liter was offered in 2001.

Just a guess, but I watched them smog our Cabrio 3 times (Mass Airflow Sensor but that is another story).

Each time he entered the VIN number and then he chose the engine size from a menu of choices.

So I am thinking if size of engine doesn't match one of the choices, their could be an issue.

Cliff is the man, he'll be able to let you know for sure.

The 2.8 was available in 2001.

zuhaelter_82 wrote:

I have a 2001 Jetta 1.8T and I am going to throw a 2.8L 24V motor out of a 2004 Jetta. Smogman, am I going to have to get this refereed?

WHEN I GET A CHANCE TODAY AT WORK ILL SEE WHAT I CAN FIND ON THAT. OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD I WOULD SAY ANY ENGINE SWAP THAT IS NOT A "FACTORY" REPLACEMENT (MATCHING VIN NUMBER (8TH DIGIT OF THE VIN INDICATES ENGINE SIZE)) WOULD I BELIEVE HAVE TO BE REFEREED. GOING WITH A NEWER ENGINE IN AN OLDER CAR IS GOOD, YOU WOULDNT BE ABLE TO DO AN 01 ENGINE IN A 04.

OK JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH THE BAR.

THEY SAY THAT IF THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE (VISUALLY, EMISSION WISE OR DESIGN) BETWEEN THE 01 2.8L VR6 4V (BECAUSE THIS WAS AN OPTION IN 01) AND THE 04 MODEL THEN YOU SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO (JUST MAKE SURE (MY 2 CENTS FOR NO RED FLAGS) THE VECI LABEL (THE UNDER HOOD EMISSIONS TAG) REFLECTS THE 2.8L INSTEAD OF THE 1.8L).

IF THERE IS ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 01 AND 04 (AIR, EGR, PCM, ETC) THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO CHANGE EVERYTHING (ENGINE, EMISSIONS EQUIP, PCM, WIRING, ETC) OVER TO THE 04 SETUP AND GET IT REFEREED.

So many fine lines. We may be going back to the original motor from a bar'ed legal swap.

1st 16 year old new driver

2nd about 10 miles to gallon better.

3rd if we sell the car we would not recoup the extra for the motor.

Yeah, this may suck balls... The 2.8L was an option in 2001 but only in 12V. The 24V 2.8L came later.

Mateo wrote:

You wouldn't happen to still have the front clip from the 2004 Jetta lying around would you?

What do you mean by clip? Do you want the whole front end or just the bumper?

I thought newer is the only way it is legal.


It may be a legal replacement motor, we run into that with our Honda's.

Whole front body parts. The hood, bumper, both quarter panels, any other misc. front end hardware that would be different.

I want to put a Jetta front end on our Cabrio.

Most VWs are smashed in the front end, so it is tricky finding a nice one.

I know this is because VWs are SO fast, and everyone else is lagging behind.

type 4 wrote:

I thought newer is the only way it is legal.

That is what I had thought... I am going to make some calls and do some homework. I am tired of doing the secret hand shake and paying out the ass to smog my cars.

It took us three time at the ref to get ours to pass. Wrong computer it was not but we had to play. twice for a check valve first time we missed it and the second time wrong one. Almost a third time bad gas cap.

Good luck. I once did a motor swap on my Vanagon (TIICO) it made it the first time but the second time he got me but by them it was legal.

Cliff is honest and has the experience

It can be done. Lot's of guys are doing the vanagon to subaru swap. From my understanding.. you have to swap up.. meaning newer. So the guys doing the subi swap... take EVERYTHING from the sub.. computer, exahust, wiring.. everything that is part of that motor and put it in the vanagon. Then they go get it ref'd and on there way.

So.. as long as you have ALL the pieces to the puzzle, it should go thru.

I am sure that Cliff will get all the dirt.

Mateo wrote:

Whole front body parts. The hood, bumper, both quarter panels, any other misc. front end hardware that would be different.

I want to put a Jetta front end on our Cabrio.

Most VWs are smashed in the front end, so it is tricky finding a nice one.

I know this is because VWs are SO fast, and everyone else is lagging behind.

This normally works the other way around.... You have a 3.5 Cabriolet and you would only be able to put the MKIII Jetta front end on it from what I remember. All of the MKIII guys take the Cabrio front end and swap it over to make it look more like the MKIV. I am sure you can find someone that would be willing to trade with you.