JSPEC S14 - Registering in California?

[myka316]

Ok so I spent the past hour searching these forums for some solid answers but I am still not completely sure so I figured I would just ask...

I am in the US Army stationed in Germany. I purchased a 1995 JSPEC Nissan Silvia S14. I am entitled to one free POV shipment to California upon my ETS (basically when I get out of the army).

My question is:

What EXACTLY needs to be done in order to make a JSPEC S14 street legal in California? I heard something about needing a new windshield and headlights (because they aren't US standard?). Also, what needs to be done in order to pass emissions?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[blacksrjdm]

Call the Ca. Dept of Motor Vehicles and see what needs to be done. They would know best...

[numbnuts240]

might need some doors with crash bars, maybe convert to lhd, idk if the s14's are missing the portion of frame rail, oh and swap to a ka. or you could bring it in as a show/off-road use only, but then it dtill wouldn't be legal to drive on public roads.

[myka316]

might need some doors with crash bars, maybe convert to lhd, idk if the s14's are missing the portion of frame rail, oh and swap to a ka. or you could bring it in as a show/off-road use only, but then it dtill wouldn't be legal to drive on public roads.

Thanks for the replies guys!

How lenient are show/track car registrations? Could I eventually transfer over to a street legal registration once I am able to comply with CA standards?

Looks like I'll have to give the DMV a call =]

[Zell311]

there gonna want it to be ka converted atleast

[BrianHarte]

You're probably going to need to talk to a LOT of people about this. I imagine you're going to call DMV and get transfered to 10 different people.

WIth GTRs and the whole Motorex fiasco, they were supposed to change certain glass/windhield, headlights, instrument clusters, crash reinforcements, sidemarkers, etc.

[xX RB Xx]

You should move to nevada and have nothing to do with californias crazy laws.

[numbnuts240]

Thanks for the replies guys!

How lenient are show/track car registrations? Could I eventually transfer over to a street legal registration once I am able to comply with CA standards?

Looks like I'll have to give the DMV a call =]

it won't be as easy as getting a list of all the mods needed, doing them, and then getting a registration. initially, motorex crashed loads of skylines to provide data that the mods were up to us government standards. i doubt you have the cash to buy a bunch of jdm s14's in order to do this. getting a foreign car us legal is a daunting and expensive task, which is why most jdm cars you see on the road are really illegal, they just haven't been caught yet.

with a show/off road car, you can only trailer it around. there is no legally driving it on the road.

[Pento240sx]

Or you could do it the crooked way or spend like $5000 or more on trying to make it legal. California laws are cruel against imported cars.

[xX RB Xx]

Then motorex said certain cars were legal and they were not. All those cars got sezied.

You best bet it to find a friend or a family member that lives in another state and in a county that doesnt have vehicle inspection and get the car registeted in that state.

My buddy does that with his r33. Its registeted in Alabama but lives in TN.

[simmode1]

Pull a 'Fast and Furious4' and do a VIN swap... Siliva registered as a 240 with illegal mods...

[Pento240sx]

Pull a 'Fast and Furious4' and do a VIN swap... Siliva registered as a 240 with illegal mods...

This

[Steady_One_S13]

You're gonna need to swap a usdm front crash bar, KA w/ emission control devices, sidemarkers (front and rear), usdm taillights, usdm headlights, frame rail mod on the rear, and lots of paper work. It can be done... well at least here, cuz the law isn't as harsh as cali laws.G/L

[numbnuts240]

Then motorex said certain cars were legal and they were not. All those cars got sezied.

r32's and r34's are illegal. the r33's that are here and had the proper conversions done are legal. that's what i remember anyways.

[sean@z1]

OK first off i have heard some crazy things on here let me clear a few things up 1. the tail lights on a JDM S14 are the same 2. The headlights and glass panels are the same as a USDM car 3. Ca DMV is not going to really go for the S14 ESP since there are 10K more folks in CA wanting JDM cars imported i know a guy who lost over a 100K on a shipment of JDM 180sx's to Long Beach and the R33 he had was taken by CHP and auctioned off the car must clear customs first. And unless it is done by a RI or the Car is 25 years old pretty hard to do. 4. Motorex ok they only crashed like 2 or 3 cars and they where non turbo R33's and motorex called them a 1999 GTR 5. The Skyline its glass panels are DOT it is stamped in the glass


Modified by sean@z1 at 1:46 PM 12/8/2009

[spooled240]

my dad imported his 76 corona and the 18rg motor was never available in the US like the sr20det and he had to convert some stuff like door bars and stuff but it's still RHD with jspec engine and drivetrain. To get it smogged and registered he had to go to a local referee and not any ordinary smog place. Granted this was back in the late 80's/early 90's, idk how much the laws have changed but I know some jspec cars are registered here in CA with their original motors and RHD interior.

I think there is a way to bring the car over legally, especially since you're in the military

[duffman1278]

It going to be really difficult since your car is newer. I think laws are a lot more lenient towards older vehicles. It's probably not going to be worth it, especially in California.

[BrianHarte]

OK first off i have heard some crazy things on here let me clear a few things up 1. the tail lights on a JDM S14 are the same 2. The headlights and glass panels are the same as a USDM car 3. Ca DMV is not going to really go for the S14 ESP since there are 10K more folks in CA wanting JDM cars imported i know a guy who lost over a 100K on a shipment of JDM 180sx's to Long Beach and the R33 he had was taken by CHP and auctioned off the car must clear customs first. And unless it is done by a RI or the Car is 25 years old pretty hard to do. 4. Motorex ok they only crashed like 2 or 3 cars and they where non turbo R33's and motorex called them a 1999 GTR 5. The Skyline its glass panels are DOT it is stamped in the glass

Modified by sean@z1 at 1:46 PM 12/8/2009

1. Nope. Wrong. They are different. The Japanese lamps don't have the sidemarker bulb like the US taillamps do.2. Wrong again. Japanese headlamps are totally different. This goes for early and late model S14s by the way.5. I don't know for sure, but I'm pretty sure the windshield was one of the "problems" Motorex got into. You know.... stuff they said they changed, but didn't.

[xX RB Xx]

r32's and r34's are illegal. the r33's that are here and had the proper conversions done are legal. that's what i remember anyways.

yep thats correct.. Only 96-98 r33's are legal. My buddy has a 95, so its not legal.

[sean@z1]

5. I don't know for sure, but I'm pretty sure the windshield was one of the "problems" Motorex got into. You know.... stuff they said they changed, but didn't.

well the issue is not the glass panels I only brought it up cause everyone who see My R32 asks about glass panels and i show them it is DOT. But with Motorex It is point number 4 they lied on the test results to the govt and got in trouble for it.

[BrianHarte]

yeah, hence why I called it a "fiasco" lol

[spooled240]

yep thats correct.. Only 96-98 r33's are legal. My buddy has a 95, so its not legal.

too bad that's the ugliest skyline of the three

[Klits562]

You best bet it to find a friend or a family member that lives in another state and in a county that doesnt have vehicle inspection and get the car registeted in that state.

My buddy does that with his r33. Its registeted in Alabama but lives in TN.

thats illegal in california my friend got his 400hp eclipse registered in arizona cause his parents live out there and he got to many tickets and one cop finally noticed and asked him wtf hes still doing in california and got his car seized and almost crushed. He got the car back but idk how and this was just 4 days ago.

[TroubleBound]

Lol i see California commercials on the TV. Yeah i said it, California Commercials. Arnold Shwartzenegger(sp?) and a couple other (unknown but likely famous) Californians talking about how nice California is. And that i should go visit. And they guaranteed that if i did visit i would come back.

But from what i have read online is it easily the most undesirable state in the country. Talk about a warm welcome:

asked him wtf hes still doing in california

[numbnuts240]

too bad that's the ugliest skyline of the three

and i used to respect your opinions

[DMan II-40]

and i used to respect your opinions

I agree. the R33 is the sexiest. R34 is cool i guess but over played, every ricer wants one.

R33 four door....delicious

[240sxJoe91]

Good luck with getting it back home and through inspections and all that....Post some pics if you can.

[FAST-DATSUN]

DOnot TRY it the cost will be very high and you may lost the car in the end..California DMV will not help CUSTOMS, DOT and EPA have control ot the car once it hits the USA.....

[breadbox]

Sell car there, Come here and buy a dirt cheap s14 and build that car. And hope you never get asked to pop the hood.

[myka316]

Wow!

Hmmm...the DMV definitely couldn't give me an adequate answer when I called them. One guy told me I'd have to bring the car in lol..

California is definitely a bunch of sticklers when it comes to owning anything cool haha..

I'm starting to think I really should just sell it... Would I be able to just get an off-road title when it gets here? How hard is that to get?

Thanks for all the help guys..