Getting a legal Skyline, here

[Hype]

So, bottom line.

If someone said money is no object.

would it be possible to bring an R34 to California?

If so how much would it cost to have a California plate?

dk

Find someone who has a Motorex imported R34 with all supporting documents. That covers the NHTSA stuff but I'm not sure about smog. Altho, once you own the car I would think this is the sort of problem that can be handled. It may even be legal to swap in a VG35 for emissions (engine must be same year or newer than the chassis, so no VG30).

[Vandrel]

Correct.....

It would still not be fed-legal regardless. As long as the person buying the car knows what they are getting (or not getting as the case may be) I'm all for it. Great cars.

As he said, money is no object. The R32 and 34 were removed because they were never crash tested. Therefor all that needs to be done is someone drop a good chunck of cash to bring in 10 vehicles, 5 of each, for crash testing. Once the data is approved via NHTSA it's free game.

[audtatious]

Nope. JK Technologies tried to do just that but the Feds would not allow them (banned is the word that was used).

[Vandrel]

Nope. JK Technologies tried to do just that but the Feds would not allow them (banned is the word that was used).

The word banned was never used. However the word bar is used which is stating that they are no longer allowing the elligibility of R32 and R34 models under VCP-17 (which covered all 3 models). VCP-17 was closed and VCP-32 was created to cover the 96-98 R33.

Now, given that VCP-32 covers the 96-98 R33, that means that once the vehicle becomes older then 25 years old that it no longer falls under VCP-32. Reason for this is that the non-conforming elligible list only covers vehicles that are not older then 25 years. They are 2 seperate sections which essentially means once the a Skyline chassis reaches over 25 years it can be brought in legally and not be required to comply with such standards that are currently being required in VCP-32 or previously in VCP-17.

Docket NHTSA-2005-22654-0037

This document announces a final decision by NHTSA to partially rescind a prior decision by the agency that 1990-1999 Nissan GTS and GTR passenger cars not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States. As a result of this decision, only Nissan R33 model GTS and GTR passenger cars manufactured between January 1996 and June 1998 are eligible for importation. All other model and model year vehicles admissible under the prior decision are no longer eligible for importation. As a consequence, the agency is rescinding vehicle eligibility number VCP-17, which covered vehicles admissible under the prior decision, and issuing vehicle eligibility number VCP-32 to cover only those model and model year Nissan GTS nd GTR passenger cars that remain eligible for importation. The rescission will only bar the future importation of the model and model year Nissan GTS and GTR passenger cars that are no longer eligible for importation, and will not affect the status of vehicles that have already been lawfully imported under vehicle eligibility number VCP-17.

http://www.regulations.gov/fdm...22654

JK Tech only conducted crash testing on the R33 GTR model. They used 2 chassis for the tests and then submitted the data to NHTSA. In the information and link provided it specifically says that at the time of petition NHTSA was not provided details on the R32 and R34 chassis, they were lead to beleive that all 3 models were similar at the time of petition and thus resulted in their decision to allow all 3 models.

Later on NHTSA received statements from Nissan of Japan that all 3 models differ and cash results would be different between each model. Thus lead to the partial recind published by NHTSA which only accepted the R33 due to it's extensive crash test results and modification data submitted. There was nothing to support the R32 and R34 models to prove they could be brought into standards as JK Tech did not do so with these models.

[audtatious]

Yes, I'm aware. I also misread the post as the words "legal Skyline R34" never appear within the question.

So....Legal and R34 do not correlate, but, since the poster does not care about legality then I would say find a more forgiving state than California to have one imported and have it registered in that state. Mississippi, Louisiana and a few others seem to be more lenient.

[Vandrel]

Yes, I'm aware. I also misread the post as the words "legal Skyline R34" never appear within the question.

So....Legal and R34 do nor correlate, but, since the poster does not care about legality then I would say find a more forgiving state than California to have one imported and have it registered in that state. Mississippi, Louisiana and a few others seem to be more lenient.

The general conclusion of my post clearly outlines how it is possible to make R34's legal. But the proper channels must be tapped first in order to have them approved

Wait a minute..DOnt forget...You can get legal skylines here without any hassel if they are O.G. monsters like this one...

Yes most certainly

[Vandrel]

I would love to have one of those old beasts

[audtatious]

The general conclusion of my post clearly outlines how it is possible to make R34's legal. But the proper channels must be tapped first in order to have them approved

That was not my point at all. I fully understand the "methods" used to legalize the R33's and why R32's and R34's can no longer be legalized. I went through all of that when I helped write our importing article. In order for R34's to be legalized then the NHTSA must be open to accepting another crash-testing initiative for the R34's. JK Technologies tried to go that route but were denied. NHTSA is not accepting any application to perform testing in order to legalize R34's in the US. The words I received from those working with JK Tech were "The R34 is baned from the US forever. Same with the R32." which is pretty accurate since the NHTSA will not allow any legalization route for those vehicles.

[BLKTOPS14SR]

Not that hard to find. Just cost more then a R34!

[Vandrel]

The words I received from those working with JK Tech were "The R34 is baned from the US forever. Same with the R32." which is pretty accurate since the NHTSA will not allow any legalization route for those vehicles.

JK Tech is not the NHTSA nor do they have a say so in customs. NHTSA specifically did not say "R34 models and R32 models are banned....forever!" Infact as I posted they said quite clearly why they created VCP-32 and closed VCP-17, none of which discussed or mentioned banning of any vehicles. Under the 25 year rule they will be elligible to be brought in, regardless. The entire ordeal was due to safety standards.

Can you provide a link to a docket or petition from JK Tech specifically requesting NHTSA to reconsider the R34.

[audtatious]

Nope, I only have "word of mouth"

If someone wants to spend the money and attempt to get R34's legalized I'd sure like to see it happen. Based on my "I don't have physical proof" information it ain't gonna happen.

[I_Farted]

The entire ordeal was due to safety standards.

Yea, awhile back, i heard that some kind of reinforcement bar or something needed to be built into the door to pass U.S safty standards....I'm not sure if this is accurate, but that what i heard..

[Vandrel]

Yea, awhile back, i heard that some kind of reinforcement bar or something needed to be built into the door to pass U.S safty standards....I'm not sure if this is accurate, but that what i heard..

Actually contrarey to belief, no modifications are needed for the doors. However, per NHTSA-1999-5507-0015 pages 16 and 17 Addendum A figures 214-A and 214-B show where a reinforcement bar must be added and the dimentions of the bar.

[I_Farted]

Actually contrarey to belief, no modifications are needed for the doors. However, per NHTSA-1999-5507-0015 pages 16 and 17 Addendum A figures 214-A and 214-B show where a reinforcement bar must be added and the dimentions of the bar.

O ic ic

[R34fanatic]

For track purposes only you can import anything you want. I just cant touch the street.

[Vandrel]

For track purposes only you can import anything you want. I just cant touch the street.

Friend of mine brough a 32 back state-side with him, all he had to do was submit a form with "basic" vehicle information and it was on it's way. It was not very recent, when he did this, but I'm sure it can be done still. I would have to cross reference this to clarify.

[m tr4nch]

awesome info, thanks for posting this up. after reading that addendum, there really isn't much modification needed.

my dream car is a black r33 gtr.. this means i can have one probably cheaper now

[Hype]

my dream car is a black r33 gtr.. this means i can have one probably cheaper now

Dude, first things first. You've got to finish that epic rebuild first!

[Gold Digger]

For track purposes only you can import anything you want. I just cant touch the street.

Last time I checked on that route, you have to submit a listing of all track events/shows the car is going to be entered into. And even then, supposedly, your import pass is only good for one year.

[mikegtr06]

cant you bring it over in pieces and register it as a "kit car" ?

[audtatious]

You can but it's illegal as well.

[SamuraiSam]

Actually contrarey to belief, no modifications are needed for the doors. However, per NHTSA-1999-5507-0015 pages 16 and 17 Addendum A figures 214-A and 214-B show where a reinforcement bar must be added and the dimentions of the bar.

What do you mean no modifications were needed for the doors? The car passed front impact just fine but the door bar needed to be replaced and raised, this is a very easily verifiable mod on a MotoRex car as you can see the aluminum bracket in the doorjam plainly (with 2 bolts to secure it)

[Vandrel]

I don't see anything in IAW49CFR593.5(A)(1)(ii) or Addendum A or B that states the doors must be modified. Maybe I am missing it. Are you thinking of: FMVSS 214 - Side Impact DynamicA new brace was added, tying the "B" pillar door lock assembly area to the rear tire well area.See 214 A and B.

Because that is not referring to the doors, and clearly shows in the diagram that it's the rear quarter panel.

I'll see if I can dig anything else up

[SamuraiSam]

I don't know what 0789234078929034.2345890734 says about what needs to be modified. You are more familiar with that recently-released formerly confidential paperwork than I am. I didn't bother memorizing it when it came out, just gave it a quick skim.

However, I know some of the modifications that MotoRex actually did, that I have seen on (several) MotoRex cars, and taken pictures of on a few, things that are common-knowledge and have even been published in articles and magazines and talked about by MotoRex customers and former MotoRex employees.

Here is a picture of the door beam modification in an R32 GT-R that I took over two years ago



Inside the door is steel which was welded in place and not designed to be removed easily, requries a die grinder to remove the beam if you need to work on the window or window regulator. Just another one of those things I have also seen and done personally...

[Vandrel]

Weird, I'm guess that the Addendum A is incomplete then. It lists everything required to be modified and even covers the areas that do not require modifications because they are deemed substantially similar to the 300z.

I wonder if anyone else has any further information on this.

[Marenta]

This is just some food for thought..

The USS George Washington is going to be going over to Japan. Now, it's apparent that R32s and R34s are much more abundant over there. And, since the Navy is filled with guys (and girls) who like to drive fast and stupid and love drifting and racing, why not see if anybody knows anybody who knows anybody who's willing to start something while they're over there? See if they can get a Japanese Tech company to do all the research? Make all the specs and tech it out? If the company would be working as a firm for hire, then they would release the information as a whole to the sailors.That is, if they were provided with all of the DOT, EPA, FMVSS and every other single standard that must be complied with (even Jesus, who knows?) in the US. That way, when the data is collected, it could be given to another (American) Tech company to review. If anything had be left out, they could reanalyze the data, and if (wallets permitted they should fly) necessary could review the vehicles themselves and make adjustments as required.

Just a way to sidestep that little thing of doing it in America and all.

[Gold Digger]

This is just some food for thought..

The USS George Washington is going to be going over to Japan. Now, it's apparent that R32s and R34s are much more abundant over there. And, since the Navy is filled with guys (and girls) who like to drive fast and stupid and love drifting and racing, why not see if anybody knows anybody who knows anybody who's willing to start something while they're over there? See if they can get a Japanese Tech company to do all the research? Make all the specs and tech it out? If the company would be working as a firm for hire, then they would release the information as a whole to the sailors.That is, if they were provided with all of the DOT, EPA, FMVSS and every other single standard that must be complied with (even Jesus, who knows?) in the US. That way, when the data is collected, it could be given to another (American) Tech company to review. If anything had be left out, they could reanalyze the data, and if (wallets permitted they should fly) necessary could review the vehicles themselves and make adjustments as required.

Just a way to sidestep that little thing of doing it in America and all.

Lemme give you a little insight about 7th Fleet (U.S. Navy fleet stationed on the Pacific Rim)

These guys are underway about 70%-80% of the year, and when they are in port, most, not all, are spending time with their families before heading out again.

Also, the small majority of the sailors who have cars over here aren't total tool bags. The large majority of them are clueless to what they are doing and only follow the trends that everyone else has set. Plus, they act like total douches most of the time, making the American tuners look bad.

Fortunately, I know a select group of people that are in the small majority and are knowledgeble, kind and don't go out of their way to act all hard. One of them is a member here at NICO, RedStage.

I speak from experience about 7th Fleet, because I am a NavVet who was stationed here for 3 years, and only spent about 9 months, maybe 10, total in port in the 3 years I was here.

Take into consideration that shore duty people have a little easier time then us "Haze gray and underway" sailors do.

So, while your logic is sound, it's gonna be a tough one to complete, cause unless you can find someone who is intelligent enough to be able to pull it off, and be lucky enough to be on shore duty, it's most likely not going to happen.

[Vandrel]

This is just some food for thought..

The USS George Washington is going to be going over to Japan. Now, it's apparent that R32s and R34s are much more abundant over there. And, since the Navy is filled with guys (and girls) who like to drive fast and stupid and love drifting and racing, why not see if anybody knows anybody who knows anybody who's willing to start something while they're over there? See if they can get a Japanese Tech company to do all the research? Make all the specs and tech it out? If the company would be working as a firm for hire, then they would release the information as a whole to the sailors.That is, if they were provided with all of the DOT, EPA, FMVSS and every other single standard that must be complied with (even Jesus, who knows?) in the US. That way, when the data is collected, it could be given to another (American) Tech company to review. If anything had be left out, they could reanalyze the data, and if (wallets permitted they should fly) necessary could review the vehicles themselves and make adjustments as required.

Just a way to sidestep that little thing of doing it in America and all.

It would be much easier to just get ahold of someone that is stationed there or better yet, a DoD contractor/employee who will be there for more then 4 years.

[Marenta]

True enough. Plus, with the fire on the GDub, it's not leaving San Diego any time soon. (If anybody wants the full story on the fire, I can give it to ya. Not going to go too far off topic.) Hell, if my destiny of winning the lottery would just come true, I'd go over there myself and hire some of the technicians from JKTech to come with and just wreck a whole bunch to clear all the gaps left over from the Motorex incident. But, if wishes were fishes...

[sancosys]

*edit*
Modified by sancosys at 1:11 AM 7/25/2008