Importing a z32 to USA

[kamzx]

I need advice about importing my 1991 300zx 2+2. So I bought car in the Dominican Republic just a few months back. I only bought it because it reminded me of the TT i use to own back in 1997 i loved the car and always hated the fact that it was gone. Now i am here on this island studying medicine and i ran acorss this 2+2 black with 5 speed i had to buy it because unlike USA these cars are rare here with the intention to ship it home once i was done.

it had 116K mile mint comdition and made for the USA market. i flew back to chicago and picked up the 120k timing belt kit from nissan and sent it to a well know prefomance shop here in the Dominican Republic. After they installed the kit it i was told the one of there mechanics mess up and the belt broke cuasing unrepairable damage. Now they are unable to find a NA motor but after 2 weeks of waiting they found a TT motor... it is the only option i have so i have to upgrade it to a TT the shop is covering the cost for the motor and ecu. i am buying other parts to do the convertion intercooler and more. Will i still be able to import the car to USA

EPA STATES.....

Code E: Vehicle at least 21 years old and in original unmodified configuration is either exempted or excluded from EPA emissions requirements, depending on age. Vehicles at least 21 years old with replacement engines are not elegible for this exemption unless they contain equivalent or newer EPA certified engines. Customs may require proof of vehicle age.

is the TT motor consided .. equivalent or newer EPA certified engines ... in a 2+2 i know that TT motors are all over the place back home please help i am more attached to this car then most of my family..
thanks KAMZ

[z32loverboy]

Honestly. instead of fighting with trying to get it in modified, why not bring it in with the blown motor and all your TT stuff and get a reputable shop here to do the conversion? that seems to be the simplest answer...

[NolimitZ32]

NHTSA age for classics is 25 years, so even though you may be able to bring it in under EPA reqs, the NHTSA may still turn it away. If the car has massive sentimental value to you than it may be worth the headache but that's for you to decide, if it were me I'd sell the thing and buy another when in the US.

[kamzx]

Thank you for the replies...
bring the car back with a blow motor that was a great idea.. but having a shop to do the TT swap will cost a few 1000 dollars when the shop here is doing all work for free being that is was there fault. but i am paying for all the parts just not the labor and motor.

NHTSA defines classics as 25 years old if i waited a few years and tried to import the 300zx would it be a problem if the motor was replaced with a TT motor?

i am very attached to the 300zx. Hell this is my 2nd one ... the 1st was a TT that i got first day of college back in Chicago in 1995 and as mentioned i lost it in when i hit a dear on the road in 2002.. sold it to the Ultimate Z guys.. and picked up a 3000gt vr4 which was a mistake that car was always giving me issues... now here in med school i got my 2nd 300zx 2+2 i love the look with the added seats making the car longer. the car has traveled all over the island with me. and it in prefect condition inside out... black with tan leather

back in 1995 i pick the 300zx TT over the Supra TT (which 2 of my friends had) all day with a timeless look to me this car will never age. i got the 350z back in 2002 in december as a 2003 i ordered it and waited 6 months for it to arrive .. and i was not impressed so much cheap plastic inside.. it was built cheap and did not feel like a 300zx at all .. i was good looking for the time i got it in silverstone with black leather and Bose system.. the touring model. .. and many compliments being the it was 2002 and not many on the road but i missed the 300zx..

so to sell this one is gong to be hard for me i would rather wait for the 25 year marker if that makes it easier.. but if it is to difficult then i will try and sell her in this island and keep a look out for a 300zx 2+2 TT in the states.. i just dont see me selling the car here for all the money i already got in her.. i would take a loss..

[NolimitZ32]

once the car is 25 it will make it a lot easier, you need to read up on the import laws however, its still not as simple as just putting the car on a boat.

[z32loverboy]

Either way, It's going to be hell to bring it in the states either way. Like NolimitZ32 said I'd make the shop fix it and then sell the dang thing and be done with it and buy another in the states. You'll take a hit in the wallet, but you'll take a hit in the wallet importing it and dealing with customs. It's best to go through a importing agent though, if you're determined to import yours. That's what's normally done in japan, I know that for sure.

[wellcraft]

At least from Puerto Rico is easy, I have done it 5 times, 3 explores, one of my current z's and a sunbird, and 3 boats.
With the cars, basically what you need to do is take it to certify place to pressure wash the whole car to get rid of everything (this is US law), then go to a police station so they can inspect the car (vin # matches everything), fill all the necessary paperwork and that's it.
You might consider take it to PR from Republica Dominicana, might be a lot easier that from DR to the US as PR is a US territory. It only cost me around $500 per car in early 2000. Later in 07 I brought my yellow Z and one of the explorer in a 53 feet container with the rest of my stuff and it was even cheaper as I put everything together, $1700 in total delivered to GA.

Hope this help and hope u can do it.

Let me know if u need any help, might be able to help u, I don't have any contacts for this but I do speak their language if u don't.

Good luck.

JR..

[wellcraft]

Forgot to mention, if u decide to use the TT motor you will need a legit receipt/proof of the motor with vin number as that is one of the thing they want to make sure, is not a stolen motor or the car doesn't have stolen parts. If the police find that the car has been modified they will ask for receipts. I know this because my brother in law bought a 2000 grand prix gt and when he was trying to take it here the police found out the car was fixed and they requested receipts, fortunately the previous owner was a friend and he was able to get what he needed, but the guy never disclose the car was in accident before my brother bought it, so that wasn't good, but at least it was just a door.

[wellcraft]

I'm very attached to mine too and that is why I brought it from PR, I bought it back in 04 and still have it. Just bought another 1990 z with 24k miles and was going to sell the first one, but can't do it and was able to convince the wife. Will be using the first one to use it and the newer one to play with, shows, and I'm just ordering tomorrow basically all the body kit from twinz and the JDM tail lights and jdm front fascia for this car, around $2500 worth of parts.

If u are really attached or it has a sentimental value with the car go for it, but if you aren't that much, might be better to try to get something else in the US.

Again good luck with whatever u decide.

Thank you for the replies...
bring the car back with a blow motor that was a great idea.. but having a shop to do the TT swap will cost a few 1000 dollars when the shop here is doing all work for free being that is was there fault. but i am paying for all the parts just not the labor and motor.

NHTSA defines classics as 25 years old if i waited a few years and tried to import the 300zx would it be a problem if the motor was replaced with a TT motor?

i am very attached to the 300zx. Hell this is my 2nd one ... the 1st was a TT that i got first day of college back in Chicago in 1995 and as mentioned i lost it in when i hit a dear on the road in 2002.. sold it to the Ultimate Z guys.. and picked up a 3000gt vr4 which was a mistake that car was always giving me issues... now here in med school i got my 2nd 300zx 2+2 i love the look with the added seats making the car longer. the car has traveled all over the island with me. and it in prefect condition inside out... black with tan leather

back in 1995 i pick the 300zx TT over the Supra TT (which 2 of my friends had) all day with a timeless look to me this car will never age. i got the 350z back in 2002 in december as a 2003 i ordered it and waited 6 months for it to arrive .. and i was not impressed so much cheap plastic inside.. it was built cheap and did not feel like a 300zx at all .. i was good looking for the time i got it in silverstone with black leather and Bose system.. the touring model. .. and many compliments being the it was 2002 and not many on the road but i missed the 300zx..

so to sell this one is gong to be hard for me i would rather wait for the 25 year marker if that makes it easier.. but if it is to difficult then i will try and sell her in this island and keep a look out for a 300zx 2+2 TT in the states.. i just dont see me selling the car here for all the money i already got in her.. i would take a loss..