Originally Posted by initialgemini

Depends. I thought about doing the same thing since I had a friend with the exact same color car as mine.
If you go to state ref its the most anal kind of inspection. They check the vin of the engine to make sure it matches with the vin on the frame. If you have another engine, you need to provide proof of purchase. You can't pay off a state ref. It would be considered bribery.

If you're all about being legal, you can take your modified car to be approved by the state referee given that the modifications made are still within the emissions category of the stock car. Even that has some gray area.