FTO in America? Who?

[darthnefas]

I saw the post asking how do you get an FTO in America and someone else stated that there are companies that do it.

Who?

NHTA doesn't have a clue and I sure as heck don't and I've been interested in getting one and Veilsiding it for quite some time.

Everyone keeps saying that they're comparitive to the Eclipse, but the Eclipse is made in Illinois, so that can't be true.

Someone enlighten me to the reality here.

[bustinjustin]

as far as i know you can import FTO's into the us but they have to be able to come into compliance with emmisions and crash tests if you want it to be a daily driver. As far as sites go for importing them, search the web for japanese car exporters. I found one site that charges roughly around $900 to import the car into the US. The emissions part shouldn't be a problem with the engine being the same one as used in the 3000gt (121 cubic inch). I myself have been looking into importing one but have yet to aquire crash test info for the customs agency. Just some things to think about.

Bustin

[Super16Gst]

http://www.bestjapancar.com

[Stealthee]

3000gt has 181 cubic inch motor. ITs classified the 6g72. Not the same motor. You are looking at possibly over $10,000 in legalizing a FTO in the US. Thats just fees. It could come out to be A LOT more.

[PurpleRonnie]

it would be cheaper to emigrate

[darthnefas]

I was doing research and the American Eclipse chassis has the same specs as the FTO.

Now I'm wondering if the MiVec would fit in the engine compartment. Do some body work and viola, a cheap-o RS becomes a cool legal American car.

[Stealthee]

They are based on the same chassis yes. They are no where near being the same car. Hell a 3000gt is based on the same chassis as a Eclipse. They will never be the same car. An Eclipse looks nothing like a FTO.

[darthnefas]

I think with body panels and patience I could make it work.

I think it would be cool! I could get the Veilside kit for other parts.

[drdisque]

The glass isn't the same, and without an FTO unibody, you are stuck with the eclipse glass.

[Stealthee]

Just like I stated, they are "based" on the same chassis. Its not the same chassis though. In the Mitsu line up the Galant, Eclipse/Talon/Laser, FTO, 3000gt/Stealth, Avenger, Stratus, Breeze, are all based on the same chassis. Yet look at a 3000 compared to a Eclipse. The 3000 is several inches longer and wider. Just because you get some body banels doesnt mean you can turn a Eclipse into a 3000.

[darthnefas]

Have you taken one apart before and measured the unibody?

The 3000GT unibody is not close dimensionally to the Eclipse, while the FTO is exact from what I've gathered from the factory specs.

Being a body work guy there are allot of vehicles that share the same stamping procedure, just like they reuse blocks and heads.

They usually don't do much to the computer program since they're assembled by machines. They just use the exact same procedure. It would stand to reason that when they changed over to the '95 Eclipse they used that same Unibody program and changed the glass and space frame top, then covered it in different panels to get a better shape.

I'm just looking for way it WILL work, not ways it won't. I need to hear people who have actually taken the vehicle apart and know from experience and I don't think I'm going to get that. I'm just hearing people guess and guessing in automotive is asking for trouble.

[Stealthee]

You're not understanding. Its a fact that the Eclipse and 3000gt share the same basic chassis. Mitsubishi built a bunch of cars on one platform much like how Chrysler did with the K cars of the 80's. It was a money saving procedure. In order to "convert" to a FTO body you are going to need the chassis.

[darthnefas]

Good post.

I'll see what i can do.

[PurpleRonnie]

The FTO shares the same chasis as the Galant and also quite a few parts, IIRC the Eclipse and GTO/3000GT are a lot wider

[Stealthee]

They are still based on the same chassis.