IwannaFC

Does anyone have any scources that can tell me how much it would be to legalize a Jspec FC in the US?

davepants

I know that Motorex adds anywhere from $10k to $30k to the price of the Skylines and Sylvias they import and sell here in the states. you might wanna call them and see what they say.

OC_

i think theres a problem when the car already exists in the states.

theonlygreat

here is the easy way to legalize it. buy your jspec FC. send it to the US. find some POS FC with a straight chassis in the US that is the same series. begin to swap each and every part.

or you could do the probably won't be possible way, which is trying to get the car issued a US VIN and with government saftey testing.

Wanked_FC

iTrader: (1)

get a junk fc and swap vin plates

Digi7ech

iTrader: (1)

get a junk fc and swap vin plates

HE SAID LEGALIZED!

That's fraud. Well engine wise I heard the only diff is that they don't have EGR/emissions stuff on them.

I think they need to pass crash tests and stuff so maybe if you switch over bumper supports and etc they might allow it.

Dunno for sure though.

$150FC

there's really no problem in getting a junk fc and switching the VINs...that would be what I would do, since if I were to go to the length of importing one, I would want it to be right hand drive.

IwannaFC

who could i go to to find out what i can do?

Digi7ech

iTrader: (1)

I'd try to talk to a California Engine importer. They get front ends all the time.

I've heard they will not allow a whole car come into the US unles a lot of things a met. That's why they chop JSpecs at the middle. So you can bring in the whole front(from what I heard).

Motorex(www.motorex.com or www.skylinegtr.com I think) They are one of very few Car Importers. They generally charge 10-15K for legalizing Japanese cars.

OC_

you can get one in, but it will be labeled as to be 'never used on a public road or highway'

Kai

You may be able to get one in on a one year temporary registration. After that expires though, it can never be used on US streets again. I think you have to be a foreign citizen and have the car registered overseas, too.

ramello

iTrader: (1)

the guys at fc3s.org are going to be converting a car over to right hand drive.....they have a few jspec front clips....apparently everything is there except for the few holes in the firewall for the brake booster, clutch master cylinder etc...

IwannaFC

well see the reason why im intrested in doing this isnt for the right hand drive (which i think is pretty cool) but because the used cars there have very very very low mileage and are stupidly cheap. I just got back from japan 4 days ago and i looked for 7's. I found a couple with about 30-60k miles on them for about 1800-4000 usd. There were all in pretty good to almost mint condition. I did see a couple that looked beat up but other than those most of them were very very clean. Almost like new. and of course some of them had some japanese goodies on them that u cant get here.

DomFD3S

Motorex ONLY legalizes Skylines. They DO NOT currently legalize any other foreign car. No Silvias. No RX-7s. Nothing.
The $10k to $30k is a general number which applies to Skylines only.

God, there is a lot of false information flying around...

Now, why do you want to legalize a jspec FC? As others have said, just bring over a front clip and swap everything over to a US RX-7 chassis.

Leave the VINs alone. There really isn't a reason to mess w/ them.

projekt

get an FD for 6 grand, take it to the DOT, say thank you for the legal vin number. the end

1987RX7guy

iTrader: (3)

I don't know but when i was still in high school all my friends(ricer ones) all said they were going to bring over skylines and all that yada yada. It seems that these guys/kids want to feel special or something because they have imported their car. I think its just stupid. The FC isn't that rare. You can finde a couple for sale every now and then. If you want a J-spec engine you can get one for under 1k. One of my forum buddies says that he is gonna buy one for less than that with tranny and all. There just no point in going through the hassle of it all. maybe if it was an FD.

projekt

you can legally register a japanese FC with the DOT as long as it passes smog.
VSP 199 is for all 86 models
VSP 279 is for 87 to 95's

IwannaFC

would i have to get a new vin #? would any ordinary insurance company insure it? would the rates be the same as any other t2?

DomFD3S

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...IG0521-03.html

"While there is no specific restriction on importing a right-hand drive vehicle, an eligibility number based on a substantially similar U.S.- certified motor vehicle may not apply. Our experience has shown that the safety performance of right-hand drive vehicles is not necessarily the same as that of apparently similar left-hand drive vehicles offered for sale in this country. However, we will consider them "substantially similar" if the manufacturer advises us that the right-hand drive vehicle would perform the same as the certified left-hand drive vehicle in crash tests. If the vehicle is not substantially similar to one sold in the U.S., the RI would have to demonstrate that the vehicle, when modified, would comply with the applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards, which could involve crash testing several vehicles. "

Also, keep in mind,...you have a RI (Registered Importer) to bring the car to the US. Also, there is a "normal Customs entry bond".

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/..._07102003.html

Link to Customs.
http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/import/

Link to the EPA (these are federal guidelines for emissions).
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/

So,...how much is a jspec fc worth to you? With the money you spend on getting it, you can easily apply that money towards mods on a US spec FC.

Digi7ech

iTrader: (1)

Vehicle Importation Information

AUTOMOBILES, VEHICLES AND VEHICLE EQUIPMENT

Safety, Bumper, and Emission Requirements. As a general rule, all imported motor vehicles less
than 25 years old and items of motor vehicle equipment must comply with all applicable
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in effect when these vehicles or items were
manufactured. A Customs inspection at the time of entry will determine such compliance, which
is verified by the original manufacturer's certification permanently affixed to the vehicle or
merchandise. An entry declaration form, HS-7, must be filed when motor vehicles or items of
motor vehicle equipment are entered. The HS-7 can be obtained from customs brokers or ports
of entry.

Certain temporary importations may be exempt from the requirements for conformance if written
approval is obtained in advance from both the U.S. Department of Transportation and the
Environmental Protection Agency. This includes vehicles brought in for research,
demonstrations, investigation, studies, testing or competitive events. Also, EPA form 3520-1 and
DOT form HS-7 must be submitted to Customs at the time entry is made for such vehicles.

Vehicles imported for temporary use by certain nonresidents or by members of foreign
governments or foreign armed forces may not be required to comply with safety, bumper,
emission, or theft-prevention standards. Nonconforming vehicles imported by nonresidents for
personal use must be exported at the end of one year. Vehicles described in this paragraph may
also require EPA and DOT declarations (forms 3520-1 and HS-7, respectively).

A DOT bond in the amount of 150 percent of the vehicle's dutiable value must be posted at the
port of entry when a noncertified or nonconforming vehicle is imported for permanent use. The
importer must also sign a contract with a DOT-registered importer, who will modify the vehicle to
conform with all applicable safety and bumper standards, and who can certify the
modification(s). A copy of this contract must be furnished to the Customs Service with the HS-7
at the port of entry. Furthermore, the vehicle model and model year must be determined to be
eligible for importation.

For additional information or details on these requirements, contact the U.S. Department of
Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Director of the Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance (NEF-32), 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20590 Tel. (1-800)
424-9393. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/

The Clean Air Act, as amended, prohibits the importation of any motor vehicle or motor vehicle
engine not in conformity with emission requirements prescribed by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). This restriction applies whether the motor vehicle or motor vehicle
engine is new or used, and whether it was originally produced for sale and use in a foreign
country or originally produced (or later modified) to conform to EPA requirements for sale or use
in the United States. In addition to passenger cars, all trucks, multipurpose vehicles (e.g.,
all-terrain vehicles, campers), motorcycles, etc., that are capable of being registered by a state
for use on public roads or that the EPA has deemed capable of being safely driven on public
roads, are subject to these requirements. The term "vehicle" is used below to include all
EPA-regulated vehicles and engines.

U.S.-Version Vehicles: Any person may import U.S.-version vehicles. All such 1971 and later models
are required to have a label in a readily visible position in the engine compartment stating that the vehicle
conforms to U.S. requirements. This label will read "Vehicle Emission Control Information" and will
have a statement by the manufacturer that the vehicle meets U.S. EPA emission requirements
at the time of manufacture. If this label is not present, the importer should obtain a letter of
conformity from the manufacturer's United States representative--not from a dealership--prior to
importation.

Non-U.S.-Version Vehicles: Individuals are not permitted to import non-U.S.-version vehicles
(unless otherwise excluded or exempted; see next sections). These vehicles must be imported
(entered) by an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI) having a currently valid qualifying
certificate of conformity for each vehicle being imported. The ICI will be responsible for
performing all necessary modifications, testing and labeling, as well as providing an emissions
warranty identical to the emissions warranty required of new vehicles sold in the U.S.

A list of approved ICIs is available from the EPA. Vehicles at least 21 years old are exempt from
these provisions and may be imported without modification.



WORDS OF CAUTION:

Not all nonconforming vehicles are eligible for importation, and ICIs are not required to
accept vehicles for which they have qualifying certificates of conformity.

EPA certification of ICIs does not guarantee the actions or work of the ICIs, nor does it
regulate contractual agreements and working relationships with vehicle owners.

EPA strongly recommends that prospective importers buy only U.S.-version (labeled)
vehicles, because of the expense and potential difficulties involved with importing a
non-U.S.-version vehicle.

EPA strongly recommends that current owners of non-U.S.-version vehicles sell or
otherwise dispose of them overseas rather than ship and import them into the U.S.,
because of the expense and potential difficulties involved with importing a
non-U.S.-version vehicle.

Before shipping a nonconforming vehicle for importation, EPA strongly recommends
that the importer either make final arrangements with an ICI for modifications and
testing or obtain EPA approval in writing for importation. Storage fees at the ports are
costly, and the vehicle may not be eligible for importation.

The EPA policy that permitted importers a one-time exemption for vehicles at least five
years old has been eliminated.

EPA considers a U.S.-version vehicle that has had modifications to its drive train or
emission control system to be a non-U.S.-version vehicle, even though it may be
labeled a U.S.-version vehicle.

For Further Information: Environmental Protection Agency, Investigation/Imports Section
(6405-J), Washington, DC 20460;
Tel. (202) 564-9660; Fax (202) 565-2057.

Final Word of Caution. Modifications necessary to bring a nonconforming vehicle into
conformity with the safety, bumper, or emission standards may require extensive engineering,
be impractical or impossible, or the labor and materials may be unduly expensive. It is highly
recommended that these modifications be investigated before a vehicle is purchased for
importation.

DOT vehicle importation guidelines

Vehicle Importation guidelines

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

Show or Display Exemption


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That came from the Motorex.net website.