rx7 jap spec convert to us spec
 

ok so im stationed in germany in the army (deployed to afghan now) but when i get back im looking at buying a japanese spec right drive 95 rx7. first question, it has some front end damage, any idea what a right fender, hood and bumper and headlamp assy would cost for parts plus paint (if no other damage i could install the parts myself). second question, does anyone know what needs to be changed to make it us legal (would be registered in IL)? the windshield and back glass are alrdy dot us legal. but what about emissions ? anything else ?? i cant seem to find any answers on this subject anywhere ... including this forum using the search feature !! any insight, or even a point in the right direction to research more would be super appreciated !! thanks

To do it legally it is extremely expensive. You can NOT perform the work yourself. The DOT and US customs requires that the conversion work (5mph bumpers, door reinforcements, mirrors, turn signals, LHD parts, emissions, etc) be performed by a licensed and bonded shop in the states. This, of course, costs a small fortune. You are better off just driving the car as it is, then either selling it or taking the drivetrain, suspension, interior, etc back to the states and dropping it into a shell when you get there.

You can do it "semi-legally" if you can get a US spec vin plate and replace your JDM vin with it. Then you just need to get the EPA emissions sticked for under the hood and all should be good from there.

on top of the EPA work you still have to deal with the safety aspect. the j-spec FD has never been crashed tested for the U.S. Meaning it is not on the approved DOT Importable vehicle list. There has never been a petition done for it to make it on the list. I looked very intensely into this matter because i wanted a right hand drive twin for my FD. the only way to do it legally is to buy 2 extra j-spec FD and have them crash tested in the states and wait for the results. Then file a petition with the DOT which will take a very long time. Emissions for the car shouldn't be too difficult seeings how there aren't any significant differences between the j-spec and us spec engines and are readily available.

they want an individual to buy 2 additional $12k plus cars to crash test ... when the car is already a rarity ... they should be hung for the insolence ! this shouldnt be that hard to get a car they already sell in the states converted to be legal in the states ... why would they change so much. i doubt id be able to have the car for a year and be able to sell it with a strict deadline, especially an rx7. i really dont like this idea

Yeah trust me i went through it all trying to figure out a way to get one shipped. Now if I'm not mistaken after 20 years the vehicle will be safety exempt so there should be no need to get them crash tested after that time so you might be good if you can find a 92 J-Spec. 92 sounds weird but it was the year they were released in japan. Im not trying to insult your intelligence by telling you thats when they came out, i just don't know how much you know about them. So with a 92 it would just be a matter of getting all the emissions parts installed by an R.I. this would include but is not limited to: air pump, stock down pipe, pre cat, cat, stock exhaust, o2 sensor, us spec ecu, us spec engine wiring harness, and what ever else emissions parts are necessary for the conversion. you maybe able to find all the parts for fairly decent prices but it has to be converted and shipped by an R.I. which will cost you a pretty penny. On top of that its gonna a long for you to actually get your car.

Federal Register, Volume 63 Issue 209 (Thursday, October 29, 1998)
here is a link to petition that was submitted for the rx7 and everything that has to happen to the car

It sounds like it would be cheaper to have a US spec shipped to germany for when i get back then. Shipping back will be free, but i would have to pay to ship it to germany. I dont think buying an RX7 sight unseen is a good idea though. Or i could buy the jap spec and sell it before i PCS which should be may 2014 ... if i deploy with this unit again though my wife would have a year to sell it then. Thanks for the insight on this, the information you provided 13b lvr helped me out alot. One day I will get the FD RX7 ...

25 years old and they're exempt from everything :)

If you want JDM spec, that's already kitted out (you don;t have to worry about spending more money to mod it, just drive and enjoy), and has a fresh rebuild (18km on the motor!)...Higgi has one he'll sell you for 8000euro. That's quite a bit less than the $12k you would expect.

Here's the specs:

- fresh rebuilt engine
-- new stat gear bearings
-- new apex seals (atkins 2 piece)
-- new o-ring kit
- new silicone hoses, whole rats nest (all stock setup)
- ported wastegate in stock twins (31 mm)
- new spec pressure plate
- used spec 6 puck sprung disc
- injectors tested
- TPS & idle adjusted
- new coolant/distiled water
- new filter/oil (Valvoline VR1 20W50)
- new spark plugs (BUR9EQP in all 4)
- magnetic drain plug
- new oxygen sensor
- new fuel pump (Audi Q7 Pikes Peak)
- stock radiator
- stock intercooler
- stock seats in good condition
- stock suspension
- drilled front rotors
- downpipe
- stock CAT
- Apexi intake
- Apexi BOV
- no interior behind seats so far
- BLITZ NUR spec catback
- Veilside front bumper
- HKS boost gauge

He's going to be doing some more cleanup on it over the next week or so and is sourcing the last few bits for the trunk interior bits. And I have some Work Emotion 17x8/17x9 rims I could throw in for $400.

I wasn't exactly looking for jap spec, a guy I work with has one he crashed in Germany before we deployed he was talking about selling to me for a good price. Id prefer US spec so I could bring it back to America when i PCS honestly. I'll be in Afghanistan until March roughly so I won't be able to buy anything until then. I would love to have one in Germany but I may have to wait until i go back to the states from the looks of it, being in the Army and Germany makes it alot harder to get things done, even registering my car i had shipped from the states when i got here was a hastle. Said car sounds nice tho, once i get closer to going home ill see whats available and reevaluate my options.

How much longer do you have in Germany? I got here in 2010 and leave it 2014.

hey blk87turbo2 what condition are those work emotions in? do you have pix? are they the cr kai? offset? i might be interested because i really need some new wheels. where are you located? I'm in baumholder.... let me know.
@pattonrx7 hey man no problem for info just trying to give back to the awesome community that has helped me along for a long time. stick around this forum there is some awesome info on here. if you ever have any questions feel free to ask. I'm more than willing to share my knowledge

PM sent 13b_lvr

ill be back this march i pcs in may 2014, where are you located? ramstein id guess? im in ansbach, about 40 mins from nuremberg

I'm at Spangdahlem, about 30min from the Nurburgring.

cool have you been to the nurburgring yet? I heard they have a program where you pay i think around 600 euro and can drive a bunch of exotic sports cars on there, i dont know when it was though my buddy told me about it. Also, do you know if they have car shows or anything around germany that would be fun to go to? I dont have an rx7 yet but i could take my wrx or the bike to them.

I have been to the 'Ring. Rode around in my buddy's tuned S2000. When I say tuned, I mean we were pulling enough Gs through the corners that I wanted to puke after the second lap. My car is being built to lap the 'Ring. I'm hoping for a sub-8min lap.

I know you rent all kinds of cars to take on the 'ring, but all my money goes into my project build (the one in my signature).

The Vehicle Readiness Squadron at Ramstein does a big one every year, this year it's on 18 Aug...the deadline for my project. Spangdahlem does one. I'm not sure about other bases. Then of course there are various European shows, but I don't keep track of those much.

Then if you're into drifting, there's a Czech drift series that's not too far from you. Higgi races in it.