Eric, can you explain this a little further? My understanding is that eventhough you have a diesel engine in the Rover, the GVWR and the model year of the P38 will still require a smog inspection in CA. Is that not correct? Doesn't a car have to be = or > 20yrs old to avoid emissions in CA? Or is it 15 years? I don't think a P38's weight, with a diesel installed, is going to meet the GVWR exemption.
paradigm, congrats on your conversion todate. I am curious how much this conversion has cost you (parts/engine only and time included)?
diesel inspection in California started last year only on trucks above 10.500 GVWR, 1999 AND UP. for example some of my hummers dont need smog check and some do, same engine same everything , if its newer than 1999 and GVWR is 10500 + it will need to be >>> smog checked <<<and that's only visual inspection .
as far as my classic it wont need to be smoged ever, because its less than 10500 gvwr, and its older than 1999. however in order to make it California legal you have to take the truck and have it inspected , motor must be out of similar year vehicle , and whatever kind of smog equipment that vehicle had, you must put it on the land rover your are converting.
now here is the trick HUMVEES never had smog equipment so that motor the way it is is not California legal, but the same motor was used on hummer h1 that was California smog legal . so you can say its a motor is off of the hummer h1 or 3/4 ton suburban, all it needs is a diesel catalytic converter and one EGR valve and you got yourself legal diesel land rover
ERIC