So I've got a '99 grand cherokee with a dead 4.7, and an '85 benz 300TD with a rusted out body. Sounds like a little mix and match should make me happy, right?

But first is the registration nightmare. I live in NC, and it's a no go putting the older engine in the newer body so far as I can tell. BUT, I have family in FL, which has no inspection process. In fact, it looks like I can transfer the title to my sister and have her register it without even taking the vehicle to FL at all. That at least gets me a street legal license plate and registration. First off, anybody from FL have any thoughts to share on that?

The loophole comes after that though. The application for FL registration has a box to check fuel type. Once the car is registered in FL as a diesel, what would happen if I used the FL diesel registration to register it in NC? Will NC accept the diesel category, thus exempting me from emissions testing? (guess I should mention that NC exempts diesels from emissions testing, I understand several other states do too). I don't really remember, but i think the last time the benz was inspected they never opened the hood at all?

Basically, transfer title to FL resident who registers vehicle as a diesel, transfer title and registration back to more restrictive state where it is accepted as a diesel and exempt from emission inspections.

Any thoughts?

 

Sister lives in Fla just leave it registered there and not have to have it inspected.

 

here in sd I can change it from a gas to a diesel when I get plates no hassle and we don't have those pesky inspections on anything

there is a campground on I90 that the snowbirds aka retired people that travel in their campers use as a residence and license their campers there and also for a fee the guy that runs it forwards their mail to them

they do this for 2 reasons we have real low license fees and no inspections and no state income tax

just a thought you could always license it here also


with you dilemma about bringing back a title to nc I would think it would need to go through at least 2 states first then title it back their and act dumb when they as if it is a diesel just say yea like it is no big deal don't raise suspicion

 

I use to live in Wyoming and there is no inspection there.. so I fixed my jeep the way I wanted it... then I moved back to Utah and they said either fix the jeep back to original or no license period.... NC might be the same way either you fix the vehicle back to the original or your not going to get it licensed there... if they do offer an exemption then why not see about applying for it before you start the build process.... and just do it the legal way!

 

Unfortunately Jeep did not offer any diesel in the Grand Cherokee in 99. This is common knowledge - and the DMV in NC will certainly know it too. Like gijohn45, I think you'll find that NC will likely require that it be returned to a factory configuration before they will allow you to register it.

 

Won't work.

NCDOT: New to NC or Moving?
NCDOT: Vehicle Emissions & Safety Inspection

Your vehicle came with OBD-II. Since the illegal engine is non-electronic, you will not pass inspection.

 

You can get a diesel jeep in europe check this link out might help you
Used JEEP Car for Sale - Auto Trader UK

 

Make friends with an inspection guy. Don't know about NC but in PA privately owned shops do state inspection and emissions testing. Any vehicles I have that don't pass emissions I take to am acquaintance who "knows his way around".

 

OK I have been concerned about the same thing for awhile. Here in Texas we have yearly inspections and yearly registration. But most inspection places will just treat it like a diesel and not do the emmisions test, if you just tell them its a diesel. So you just keep the car registered as the original engine, the DMV doesn't actually come outside and check your vehicle.

We don't have roadside tests here in Texas either, Its not a loophole but the worst that could happen is they don't re register it.

 

What about the fact that the title says it is a gasoline engine? You tell the inspector its a diesel and the screen in front of them says its a gas vehicle, it'd take a moron not to catch on...