california specially constructed vehicle

im planning on putting a 350 crate into my 86 b2000. ive been reading on the california dmv codes on altered vehicle registration and i see it says that the first 500 each year get this. from then i can have it smog to the year of the vehicle or the engine. but i found another area that said that it cant resemble a production vehicle in any way... is this true?

All I've heard on engine swaps is that the engine supposed to be from the same year or newer as the car you're putting it into. That's about all I know though since I'm in WA, not CA.

id be at the dmv a week before camping out thats all i know...im pretty shure those 500 wil go pretty quick

the way i understand it is you have to be one of the first 500 & you are only entitled to one emission exempt vehicle in your life...so if you're gonna do an engine swap you better be sure that this is the vehicle that you wish to use your one exemption & you better get there early or you won't make it into the 500. as far as it can't look production...it can be anything from a custom chopper to a mazda w/ a 350 v8......

cali is so damn stringent with their laws...soon you won't even be allowed to put an air freshener in your new leased car because it will be an illegal modification and void the warranty and the fragrance from the freshener will distort the emissions readings :p