Yea, but I don't think anyone's arguing it is. Heck, OUR US FD's aren't 100% legal w/ the full exhaust, engine mods, lowered suspension, etc... But then again, I'm assuming you're gonna be going strictly by the book now, right Jeff? (cuz of the job).

 

Taking your pre-cat off or disabling your airpump is A LOT different than ******* with the US Government. One dealt with by fix-it tickets/fines and the other dealt with by car impoundings and jail time.

 

Jeff, actually, removing an airpump, cat, or modifying or removing any emissions equipment is a FEDERAL offense, since it's breaking laws enforced by the EPA, a FEDERAL organization. I'm not talking about a modified exhaust. That's cops letting you off easy. Technically, a car w/ no cats can be impounded indefinitely, you'd face jailtime (since it's a felony, since you're breaking a federal law), and carries a hefty fine. But then again, I expect you to know this already.

Yes, using loopholes would prob be fraud against US Customs, but I really don't see a difference in severity between breaking laws of one Federal entity vs. another. In both cases you're screwed =-/

 

Technically, you are correct with the federal emission laws, but we all know the feds could care less about enforcing them on individual people. But they DO NOT have a problem with enforcing the laws associated with bringing illegal cars into the country. There have been many instances where they found out about some illegal importers and busted them. Then it trickles down to the individual that paid cash to obtain a car and they get busted as well.

 

...Namely, and most recently, Motorex

 

I can't believe this thread is still alive. Well I've made alot of phone calls and I don't believe I will be doing the conversion. Least not yet. Too much time to invest for now. Eep, you live in corona Ca? I live like 15mins from you. I live in Rancho Cucamonga and work in Ontario. I would love to see your car sometime! Well I've been looking into importing one and the only decent one I've been able to find is a 97 RS. White, with full body kit, wing, wheels, CF hood, mirrors, new single turbo, etc, list goes on. They want 2,089,000 yen or about $19,600 dollars for it. NOT including taxation, importing fees, waiting for customs, or any other mods neccessary to make it legal.

but I'm AM interested in how you (Eep) got a hold of one. Did you go through the whole process yourself? Or did you find one already here and registered? PLEASE let me know.

 

so what about the fbs arent jdm besides the RHD aspect?

 

Correction...MotoRex has not been illegally importing vehicles. They LEGALLY imported vehicles. They just had inconsistancies w/ their legalization process.

 

seconded

 

I read Jeff's comments too quickly...my fault. I thought he made a general statement about companies getting busted. Just re-read it, and he said "illegall importers." But yea, Motorex imports legally...they just got busted for passing of R34s as converted and street legal when they weren't...

 

i dunno i wouldn't mind having a Japanese Fd brought over, hell they're quite cheap over there compared to the bullshit prices people charge over here, it'd even out with the legalization process though i've heard it costs around $6,000 to make a car U.S. legal depending on if it has a similar american model etc. id do it even with the year wait while they convert it

 

You heard wrong.

 

 

actualy hes right

 

Eep, he heard wrong about it taking $6K to LEGALIZE it. Now it very well may only take $6K to pass it through loopholes...

 

oh u crazy yanks...i love the importing laws in canada. only a few more years till we start bringing all the jspec fd's over here, then the r33, then r34's and s15's...mmmm i can hardly wait

 

Define a few more years?

 

15 years after the production date of the vehicle. So if it was a '92 build date, it becomes easy to import FD's of that date in 2007. A 2002 model could be brought over in 2017.

 

Anyone in canada mind if i use your address?

 

 

Umm correcty me if i am wrong. Most of you live on the West Coast right. Well Outside of the world know as California the laws are different. Such as where I live you do not have to run a catalytic converter on a street vehicle although it is stongly recomended. I live in West Viginia (hick ville USA) and when we modify a vehicle that changes its power 30% over stock we must have a modified sticker that is a federal law. And this law does not prohibit the amount of driving you can do in your vehicle. I have been reading up alot on converting a vehicle to Rhd it think it is interesting. We dont have a single RHD car around here. If you would pick up the latest issue of import tuner June 2005. You can import a JGTC spec race car and it is totaly legal. AS long as you have a letter from the manufacturer stating that the car was originally built for RACE USE ONLY. But the story is different for a street car. First you must speak with a registered impoter (RI) and make sure this person is on the list of recognized RI's.Then you must check and see if your car is on the NHTSA list. These are the models of cars that can modified to meet the reqiurements To bring into the states (these include all emissions, and safty laws in Cali becuse they are the most strict. Youo ruined it for the rest of us JK). Performing theese modification must meet the Dot and EPA requirments. This often means Headlights, airbags, seatbelts, door bars, and tires.

If the car is not on the list then the car must go though a crash test, a emissions test and a spare just in case. Thats two for crash test, 1 for the emissions testing, and one for yourself plus the spare just in case. But if it not on the list and has an American counterpart, you must prove that the two cars are identical. This is a long process which entails dismantling the car and photographing the differences and submitting a petition to the DOT.

On the downside these conversion processes can cost in excess of $10,000. That would make the Idea of a RHD conversion more appealing now dosnt it. This is the true purpose in the RHD conversion so you dont have to go through all the hassle with the DOT and THe Government. Performing these actions on your car is not illegal where I live. But could be in other states, because of the car having a diferent drivers postion than approved by the goverment. Thus not being able to pass a crash test. Thus making the car illegal and for show use only. But keep this in mind this may only apply to certain states talk to your local police and the DOT for such laws.

I hope this helps stop the bickering amoungest are selves. Remember That we all have our oppions. And opur dreams of what we want our cars to be.

 

hehe, ya

 

Wrong. Unless you have some serious cash, dont even consider importing anything. If you want to go RHD, do it and stop telling everyone. You quote a magazine article and act like it is no big deal. It is actually very hard. The article tells you this. Next time before spouting off how easy it is for you to import a car, or turn it into RHD, do some research. Your welcome.

 

Hey travisorus rex, yes it's hard, but w/ a creative mind, and a lil help, anything's possible. I actually have a fully assembled '93 JDM (really) RHD FD from J-land here in the US. It's not two clips, it's not a US car converted...it's actually a JDM one, and came w/ the title to prove it. Loopholes are currently being pursued to make it street "legal" so we'll see how it goes. Frankly, I think the hard part is over (getting it here). If anything becomes of it (ie tags and title), I'll post.

Oh and Eep has a fully registered, RHD car, NOT through Motorex, etc IIRC. I don't remember what the car is, but feel free to ask him.

 

its a 92 (fd) type-r