Motorex Isn't alone!!

[BoostJunkie]

Ok....i know this is sacrilege but what about a Supra 2jZGTE in the GT-R.

I know what you are thinking....but look at it like this....

Easily supported and modifiable.
You get the body you want (R34).
The 2JZ holds more power on the stock block (I hate to say it but true).
Same power potential.

Main issue would be having the AWD ATTESA system. Get the car for cheap in Japan and do the conversion. Keep the RB26DETT as a "spare" engine. Potentially cheaper than Motorex.

What do you all think?

[SkylineUSA]

" The 2JZ holds more power on the stock block" Wow, I though that was a debatable subject. You learn something new every day.

I am not sure if you can haul a complete car through customs like that. They are not that dumb, yes I know they are the Gov't, but even those people have half a brain. We all know they cant think for themselves. Its like they are zombies, never see them on any boards.

[BoostJunkie]

I am going by what i have seen in a thread on Supraforums between Sean at Motorex and guys there at supraforums. Modifications....dyno numbers.


I am sure there are freaks in every bunch and i am NOT biased toward the Supra. I would rather have a RB26DETT in my Skyline but beggars can't be choosers.

Ya know?

[6kid]

Any rwd car with over 350hp will have "traction problems" if you know how to drive traction is not a problem, it is just a law of physics.

[SkylineUSA]

Hey kid,

Well said, I think you brough a tear to my eye.

I am actually giving you a complment, if you couldn't tell. Man I need to learn some tact.

[BlueDandino]

Actually one can bring in a used 1999 R34 from Japan and have it go through the modification process (i.e. engine swap). If you guys are interested in this direction, I would contact Sun International. Customs knows that the car is not street legal (this is kind of like bringing it in for track use). Bring it in for track use and then send it over to Sun International for the engine swap. It is actually pretty amazing no one has done this yet (Sun International has already converted many cars from Renault, Peugeot, Cosworth and Lotus).

The Lotus Elise is in a similar situation - actually worse than the Skyline, as the Elise does not and cannot conform to US crash test standards. I see no reason why Sun International can't modify an R34 that one buys for cheap over in Japan (an alternate engine will have to be used).

[MrSky]

First of all why the hell would you want to convert a skyline to LHD? Sencond there are so many little things to convert one it costs motorex 7-10 thousand just to legalize it. Then another 8-10K for profit. So theres you margin if another RI come into play.

BTW where is this link to do a conversion. I wanna know how there magically have the steering colum running though the Turbos?! Cause if you look thats exactly where it would have to go. So are they make custom mainfolds that bend more then an girl at the circus? I dont think so...

Imo its a stupid idea anyway.

[SkylineUSA]

I am pretty sure they do not run the steering linkage through the firewall on the lefthand conversion, but use a system of U-joints under the dash and use the original linkage on the right side, or at leasat that would be the way I would do it.

Why would I pay Sun Internation for a simple engine swap? I think it goes a little deeper than just swapping out the engine on a GTR and calling it a Kit car. I will have my attorney look into it.

[6kid]

I have some bad news! I have been trying to import two older 90-92 bmw's for some time now, 2 years, and it's no easy task.
YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO IMPORT AN R34, FOR THE STREET, WITHOUT
GOING THROUGH MOTOREX.
-They don't do lhd conversions because of dash, rack, and turbo's, and the right hand drive part of a skyline is not why they are hard to import.
-They don't meet epa, and dot.
-They must be modified by a registered importer.
-Rule of thumb, $7,500 for modification on pre obd2 (95 and older), and $15,000 for obd2 (96 and newer).
-why the hell would you do an engine swap on any of the cars you guy's are talking about, that is the heart of the car! The engine is why people buy the skyline, the rest of the car is nothing special!
-if you have a dealer plate or own a dealership you can drive whatever you want, there is a dealership in Bellevue WA, Park Place LTD. they have an elise WITH THE STOCK ENGINE and even better they have on of the coolest cars ever made, the LOTUS 340R WITH NO MODIFICATION (This car really kicks ass, look it up if you don't know what it is.) they drive these cars all over the Seattle area.
-IF I EVER SEE SOMEONE WITH ANY OF THESE CARS, THAT DON'T HAVE A SAME MAKE ENGINE IN THEM, I WILL SLAP THE OWNER UPSIDE THE HEAD!!!!!!

[SkylineUSA]

Its an "AIR PUMP" nothing more, nothing less.

Like I said, it goes a little deeper than just swapping out the engines.

[BlueDandino]

of course the the R34 does not have to be converted to LHD, and you put it well that an OBDII car costs $15,000 to modify. But the problem is that when an R34 sells for $50K in Japan the dealer is making $5K is profit so the dealer cost is $45K.

Now, the $15,000 to modify plus the $50,000 for the 2002 R34 should mean that I need to pay $65,000 for the priviledge of driving the R34 GTR in the US (that is a $15K premium over what the Japanese pay). To me that $15,000 extra is worth it.

The problem is, why do I have to pay $95,000 which is a $45,000 premium?

With all due respect to the R34 GTR, if it were worth $95K, it would cost $95K in Japan. No one in their right mind would pay $95K in Japan. Someone in Japan would most likely prefer on of the following fine cars instead:

- 1996 Ferrari F355 TB
- 2002 Lotus Esprit V8 25th Anniversary Edition
- 2003 Dodge Viper
- 1997 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo S
- Acura NSX
etc.

Thats the only point I am trying to make. If someone has lots of money and really wants the R34 GTR, then by all means I think that paying $95,000 makes sense - this is a great unique car and is rare in the US.
Just that in the US there are objectively better values for your $95K (plus the alternatives will also hold their value better, especially once the R34 hits the streets).

I love the R34 and just wish that there was a less expensive way of getting one, even if it means swapping the engine (the Elise is actually a better car with the Honda S2000 engine, compared to the weak stock Rover engine - so Sun International is actually doing a good thing in addition to making the car street legal).

Just my 2 cents.

[Gonthrax]

Originally posted by 6kid
I have some bad news! I have been trying to import two older 90-92 bmw's for some time now, 2 years, and it's no easy task.
YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO IMPORT AN R34, FOR THE STREET, WITHOUT
GOING THROUGH MOTOREX.
-They don't do lhd conversions because of dash, rack, and turbo's, and the right hand drive part of a skyline is not why they are hard to import.
-They don't meet epa, and dot.
-They must be modified by a registered importer.
-Rule of thumb, $7,500 for modification on pre obd2 (95 and older), and $15,000 for obd2 (96 and newer).
-why the hell would you do an engine swap on any of the cars you guy's are talking about, that is the heart of the car! The engine is why people buy the skyline, the rest of the car is nothing special!
-if you have a dealer plate or own a dealership you can drive whatever you want, there is a dealership in Bellevue WA, Park Place LTD. they have an elise WITH THE STOCK ENGINE and even better they have on of the coolest cars ever made, the LOTUS 340R WITH NO MODIFICATION (This car really kicks ass, look it up if you don't know what it is.) they drive these cars all over the Seattle area.
-IF I EVER SEE SOMEONE WITH ANY OF THESE CARS, THAT DON'T HAVE A SAME MAKE ENGINE IN THEM, I WILL SLAP THE OWNER UPSIDE THE HEAD!!!!!!

Thank you kid, you have said what I have been trying to tell all the people who come in here with "A way to import a GTR w/o Motorex" for ever now. Now I used to be one of those people, but after I read way to many pages of CFR I figured out that one could not do it for any small sum of money

[F=ma]

Originally posted by BlueDandino
Now, the $15,000 to modify plus the $50,000 for the 2002 R34 should mean that I need to pay $65,000 for the priviledge of driving the R34 GTR in the US (that is a $15K premium over what the Japanese pay). To me that $15,000 extra is worth it.

The problem is, why do I have to pay $95,000 which is a $45,000 premium?

Where do you get $15k to modify from?

Motorex charges $25k for R34's: http://motorex.net/conversion.html

And you're not gonna get anyone else besides Motorex to do that work for you.

In addition to the cost of the Skyline itself, and the Motorex conversion cost, you'll also want to factor in Shipping, US Customs 2.5% Duty Fee, Lading and Unlading fees as well. I'd say around $5k more.

In any case, I asked this question about a month ago, on another forum. I got a pretty good response. You should check it out.

http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthre...b=5&o=&fpart=1

(the Elise is actually a better car with the Honda S2000 engine, compared to the weak stock Rover engine - so Sun International is actually doing a good thing in addition to making the car street legal)

Its actually a B18C5... An Integra Type-R engine. I imagine that fitting a FF in a MR chassis would be easier than a FR in an MR chassis. But hey, anything's possible, they've fit an Audi RS4 engine in there before.

[F=ma]

Originally posted by BlueDandino
Bring it in for track use and then send it over to Sun International for the
engine swap. It is actually pretty amazing no one has done this yet (Sun
International has already converted many cars from Renault, Peugeot, Cosworth
and Lotus).

Not a possibility. I'm almost 100% sure that once a car has been given a title
as a race-only vehicle, then it cannot later be changed to street drivable
vehicle.

Lets suppose you got a Silvia right now, and registered it as a race-only car.
Then in 2004 they became legalized. You would not be able to drive your silvia
on the streets, nor be able to ever be rid of the race-only title that you
chose to import it under 2 years prior.

And anyways, registering something as a kit car doesn't exactly make it a
street driver. You have very low mileage limits per year. Something on the
order of 2,500-5,000 or so. Who the hell wants to spend some $50,000 on a car
and drive it twice a month? An old co-worker of mine had a 427 Cobra kit car,
he drove to work maybe once a month to show it off.

So sure you could do that, but it kind of defeats the point since you'd want to
actually want to drive the Skyline more than once in a blue moon.

[Ajonkey]

i dont think that these guys selling the skylines are doing it legally cuz they would have to go to court w/ motorex and get permission from them and pay them money but who does things legally ne more