why can't we import?

[Shooter Boy]

Originally posted by R33
Say Shooter, how much do you think your Godzilla will weigh after all the works? Did you weigh it before you started the work? If so, what was the weight?
FYI, me and my friends are gonna start a racing project soon. We are looking at the GTiR or EVO 3 or even a R32. Not for dragging but for track racing including a 12 hour endurance! Hope that we can exchange infos, if you don't mind.
Well, don't just sit in front of the computer, GO AND COMPLETE YOUR GODZILLA

LOL - we are at a standstill right now, as we are waiting for parts from Japan. But hopefully it wil be done soon. I looked at enduro racing with this GTR, but the cost ruled me out of it. It is really really expensive to run enduro type racing. Figure you need a lot of tires, brakes - a spare part for just about everything, spare gearbox etc etc. It just turned out to be too much. I did an estimated budget and came up with about $500,000 USD for a first year of racing. That is simply way to much $$ for me, since I am paying for this myself, with only tuning sponsorship right now. I still pay for everything.

When we shipped it, it weighed 3150 pounds, sans interior. Since then, to run in street classes, we put the interior back in. The roll cage in there now is a 7 point, from steel, so figure it weighs at least 50lbs. BUt we are also putting it on as much of a diet as possible. I am hoping for an even 3000 with driver (me, at 170 lb), so gotta wait and see.

Kevin

[Shooter Boy]

Originally posted by R33
Say Shooter, how much do you think your Godzilla will weigh after all the works? Did you weigh it before you started the work? If so, what was the weight?
FYI, me and my friends are gonna start a racing project soon. We are looking at the GTiR or EVO 3 or even a R32. Not for dragging but for track racing including a 12 hour endurance! Hope that we can exchange infos, if you don't mind.

Where are you looking to run enduros? In the US?

[kidracer9]

Hey guys,

These projects sound like a lot of fun. The money thing is the same problem I ran into when I first looked into rallying. I thought you just went to a race and drove, and then magically Subaru or Mitsubishi would ask you to be a pro driver for their team. I was so wrong. I started adding up how much it would cost for me just to start, and it was in the 6-digits. I didn't give up, though. It'll just take some time. I do have an idea for a street car that you guys might be able to help me with. I'm thinking about a touring car replica. One that looks just like a race car on the British , German, or Japanese circuits and runs really good, but is tame enough to be a semi-daily driver. What do you think would be the best way to go about this? Should I buy a used race car and detune a little or get a car that's completely stock and build it up from there? How much of a difference is there between dealership sold cars and the ones I see on Speedvision? I have heard that the race cars have tube frames and carbon fiber bodies, but from the way you guys talk, it sound like these are factory cars that have been upgraded enough to compete. Thanks for any help.

kidracer9

[R33]

Shooter, ther's no wqay in heaven I would be able to race in the US though I'd love to do so! There are not as many races here as in the US but the 2 most publicised and popular races here is the Independance Day 12 hour endurance (on 31st August every year) and the JGTCC support race (10 laps). Me and my mates are looking at these.
The cost is high but not as high as in the US. For the past 2 years, we sponsored a NA car for production series in the endurance. The results were ok....2000 - we finished 6th in our class (we were up with the v tecs and mivecs) and last year we retired after about 8 hrs after our second drive shaft broke (having no more spare shaft! )Earlier the team replaced a drive shaft in 20 mins or so!
This year, my metes had established contact with a racing team member in Japan and they have lot of racing prepared parts for sale - engines, gear boxes etc etc. These are parts prepared by them for sale or already used by them in 1 race and now are for sale for CHEAP! Race prepared EVO 6 engine good for 450 horses is going for less than USD 2k for eg.
Through them, we have identified an ex race GTiR (race prepared with roll cages etc) running about 350 hp at only USD 2800! We are thinkin' of taking this one and build it from there. We estimate that with USD 25k the car would be ready for this August though regretfully we would miss the June JGTCC support race. With another USD25k, we would be able to support the racing cost. All team members are professionals and they are doing it without pay (including me and my mates who are gonna drive). Testings can be done at another track with minimum expense as we have enough string...no...cables to pull! Hopefully, we would be able to bring the car in time, the only problems now being the waiver of govt. duties (I am going to approach a minister for that) and govt approved permit. Malaysia is now embarking on being the region's no. 1 auto racing centre and the govt. is opened to suggestions. We would exploit that to the fullest (FYI, Malaysia currently has 2 F1 teams ie Petronas Sauber and KL Minardi Asiatech. The infrastructure is there including the arguably best F1 track in the ubiverse!).
This might interest you. We are also sourcing a racing prepared gearbox for my GTR from our Japanese racing contact . It is a modified stock tranny for R33 with short ratios and strengthened gears etc. Although there is yet confirmation on the ratios and price, I believe it's gonna be a song compared to the HKS seq six speeder or Hollinger. If you are interested, I would tell ya the infos as soon as I get them. Cheers.

[Shooter Boy]

R33: Yes, I am interested. We are currently looking at alternatives for the gearbox, and if those with the strengthened gears can take big HP for short bursts, I am interested.

PLease email or pm me when you learn more about them...

thanks - Kevin

[americaninjapan]

This question in Directed towards Motorex In reading your FAQ section i have insterted a part that raises a question on mine. I myslef am living in japan and own a silvia .. thinking that i might want to try to import it back to hawaii when i return.. i got with air bag on drivers side.. SO... here is the section



I have a (insert car here.. ,Toyota Supra , WRX) in Japan , can I import it into the US and legalize it?

There are ways to import vehicles into the US. Normally they are imported as substaincially similar to a US model. Then what happens is anything that is different between the US DOT legal vehicle and the vehicle from overseas would need to be changed to be the same as a US model. For example - headlights , tailights , mph speedometer cluster. The DOT no longer accepts right hand drive cars as being substaincially similar to the US model unless the manufacturer provides information to the DOT stating the vehicles are substancially similar.

Additionally the engine in the vehicle must be available in the US or the engine must be certified for the US. Ok now it does seem to me that a 240sx.. is quite similar to that of the silvia.. OK.. so thinking of the silvia.. besides minor things like adding 5 mph and not 3 mph bumpers.. and other various odds and ends.. seems rather resonable.. i would not see how they would be THAT different in body structure for crash testing. So, then the main difference would fall under the engine and the right hand side driving. the engine is just a hurdle that can be solved with a us spec engine or something of that nature.. I guess my primary concern is that of being right handed.. but i know this can be solved as all skylines are right handed.. and you sell those.. and there is NOTHING like those beasts in the US. D.O.T. <--- what is really else needed to be done.. they are quite similar in 240sx.. Now, EPA i can understand being little more difficult but if engine swap is necessary for dot then of course all epa emissions would then be A OK.. and of course the point is to put the REAL sr20det back in.. and hawaii with NO emission is GREAT!!.. which would then make me think.. the only other thing that is necessary is all the import duty and other fees... .. I guess my question lies in both.. what else is there that would need to be done... and then with your answer of your FAQ .. why do you not bring in silvias? the are quite similar to us car... Seems there is a market... i would imagine most testing has been done on the 240 would apply to that of the silvia.. so what is YOUR choice for not carring? If not totally unique like that of the skyline then i do understand.. of course being a business is all about numbers.. so i understand that also.. so.. is it just not profitable enough? I am sure you are tired of answering most of the same questions.. but i am doing research myself also.. but thought i would get some direction from a knowledgeable source.. you. On a side note.. i have seen so many silvias and skylines for very little price.. meaning i got a 1995 silvia K for about 5,500 usd but almost ALL of the cars i see on lots and mag for sale here are pretty damn high miles.. you litterly see them like you would see civics in the states.. OH.. and i guess i am not IMPORT racing now.. hehehe I am a DOMESTIC car racing.. i really see a minimum of about 30 silvias and 30 skylines a day.. of course.. i am looking for them so they do stick out in my mind. as for people in the states not knowing what a skyline is.. what do you expect.. if a dentists acts you if you knew what a bimodular graphic bicuspid emulator .. really was.. would you know? NO.. but i bet every damn denists would.. .. so.. asking my mom weither a silvia turbo has 4 or 5 lugnuts would be crazy.. she does not give a crap. mmm.. just in case anyone does not know.. that is the tale tell sign of how you tell a turbo from a non turbo.. well.. one of the ways. . intercooler.. and all those other things give it away also. well.. thats my 2 cents on the import.. I am wanting to get my car imported.. and of course looking to spend around 4000 usd.. if i can stay there them i am at 9,500.. for car and import.. what i would really like.. is some of the people who said they did the import already without the help of motorex.. to shed some light on this otherwise slightly grey topic

[MotoRex]

The problem is that the DOT will not accpet the right hand drive car as substaincially similar.

In other words - you would have to crash test them to prove to the DOT that it was crash worthy.

You have to pay for the crash testing yourself. The government does not pay for it
$50,000 for the front impact. Then you have side impact , rear impact. Then you have rollover/roof crush resistance testing.

Pay for the emissions , pay , pay ,pay....

Legal way is the hard way...


Sean
MotoRex

[americaninjapan]

OK.... i completely understand about the crash testing of course why they would not want to say substain.. similar.. well.. who knows.. ok.. so the fact is that all this crash testing would have to be done for DOT..
ok..

THIS next part might sound a bit crazy.. but i have never been one to be totally normal in my thinking of ways around this sort of problem..

OK.. so basically the easiest "OR HARDEST" way is to get my silvia and pretty much take the entire inside apart as well as enginebay and i am sure some things under the car as well.. of course.. i do travel back and forth to hawaii from time to time.. and i guess my point would essentially be taking the fire wall included.. and then getting us reg 240 and swapping them out.. of course some mounting and fire wall replacement would be quite time consumming.. but i am sure this could be done.. and i do like to think of my cars as always PROJECT cars.. hehehe. <--- of course that is if you are dead set on the right side driving.. now once this is completed.. would there be any reason.. other than the emissions... that would cause problems.. ? lenghty but i think that would work.. I love to do project such as this on my cars.. just that in japan.. i do not have any tools right now.. and of course.. i do love driving my car.. ok.. well.. lets here any thoughts on this .....

[Gonthrax]

Originally posted by R33
This might interest you. We are also sourcing a racing prepared gearbox for my GTR from our Japanese racing contact . It is a modified stock tranny for R33 with short ratios and strengthened gears etc. Although there is yet confirmation on the ratios and price, I believe it's gonna be a song compared to the HKS seq six speeder or Hollinger. If you are interested, I would tell ya the infos as soon as I get them. Cheers.

Might want to watch out for the Hollinger... It seems to have trouble going into gear at high RPM (above 9k). It apparently has nothing to do with power, just revs... Could be the ECU control over the tranny, or the tranny itself... Donno.

[tony-t]

I totaly understand the frustration about importing japanese cars. I just had a toyota aristo shipped here from japan. That was the easy part. The hard part is trying to find crash test info comparing this car to the gs300. Can anyone help? My car will be destroyed if I can't find this info.

[Robb]

R33,

I know you do not know me, but I would love to get info on used race parts for my Skyline. Spare parts are a good thing in my book.:sun:

Cheers,
Robb

[Laxman]

Anybody know of how people get kit cars registered? or a homebuilt? and can we just call a skyline a kitcar and register it and get around this whole ordeal... just wondering





________________________

Rice me up Scotty!

[SkylineUSA]

Here you go.

www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/kitcar.htm

Read, this will tell you.

[forcedpower]

mix egg
i thought that i would maybe help you out a little, i live in washington, and there really is no such thing as an emissions test here. but i am thinking that it is possible to maybe use the o2 sensor from the us wrx...not the new sti model. it may work cause the similar displacement of the engine, a good cat would also help with it as well. other electronics like an air/fuel controller may help if you or when you ahve to take the test...i hope this helps i will ask around about this and im sure that someone up here has done the conversion...i live in the subaru capital of the world...everyone has em here.

[odie99]

what exactly defines a kit car? i recently converted my 180 into a sileighty (Japanese truckers suck) along with quite a few other modifications inside and out. i wonder if i get all the "widebody" parts and such if that will let it be qualified as a kit car. i can make the engine pass emissions (how many cats fit between the downpipe and the muffler?). is it possible to put enough parts on the car to make it a kit car in the eyes of the US government?