need advice Import a 240 from japan??????

[Cruz23]

Whats up people i was hopeing to get advice on buying a 240 from japan would it be worth it could i drive it here in the states or could i get ticketed for haveing the car RHD. and if ur from the boston area would it be worth haveing it here? let me know.

[mechanicalmoron]

Firstly, there are no 240's in japan.

It can be RHD (unless you have a funny local ordanance) so you could import a silvia/180sx dash/front clip, if you wanted that.

I think there's some nasty process if you want a real 180 or silvia, and unless you wait for the 25 year cutoff on the model you want, it makes more sense to convert a 240 with imported parts.

[Cruz23]

i seen 240's from japan selling at the auctions for as cheap as 500 dollars american

[fiznowler]

What he is saying is that it isn't called a 240sx in japan. You can get an S13 silvia (coupe) or an s13 hatch (180sx) S14s are all silvias. As far as importing one. It will be alot more trouble than it is worth and it won't be legal. Just motor swap a us car.

[Cruz23]

ok makes sence now

[daemonyk]

Consider the following. If memory serves, every single usdm 240sx was built and assembled in kyushu japan (with the 'verts being 'vert'ed once imported), hence the J on the VIN. So really, every single usdm 240sx already was actually imported from japan. Unlike, say, an altima, which was made and assmbled in mexico or canada or not japan per se. So, every 240sx is already 100% JDM, and they were even kind enough to make them street legal in the US from jump

[Cruz23]

wise words. you are right, but i dont understand how come s15 isnt legal not the skylines oh well thanks for the respones

[mechanicalmoron]

Consider the following. If memory serves, every single usdm 240sx was built and assembled in kyushu japan (with the 'verts being 'vert'ed once imported), hence the J on the VIN. So really, every single usdm 240sx already was actually imported from japan. Unlike, say, an altima, which was made and assmbled in mexico or canada or not japan per se. So, every 240sx is already 100% JDM, and they were even kind enough to make them street legal in the US from jump

If memory serves, my 92 SE was built in virginia....

I assume most of the car started in japan, but it was built here. (I could be wrong, not trying to be a jerk. But I think I looked up my VIN and that's what I got. Or maybe it says so on the little plaque)

[Hijacker]

wise words. you are right, but i dont understand how come s15 isnt legal not the skylines oh well thanks for the respones

Because Nissan never had them legalized per National Highway Transportation and Safety Board (crash testing) nor was the EPA given a chance to clear them emissions wise. Motorex proved that the R33 could pass the crash safety test, but even if the car exceeds national standards, it doesn't mean much unless the cars are tested by or for those governing bodies.

[fiznowler]

Consider the following. If memory serves, every single usdm 240sx was built and assembled in kyushu japan (with the 'verts being 'vert'ed once imported), hence the J on the VIN. So really, every single usdm 240sx already was actually imported from japan. Unlike, say, an altima, which was made and assmbled in mexico or canada or not japan per se. So, every 240sx is already 100% JDM, and they were even kind enough to make them street legal in the US from jump

If memory serves, my 92 SE was built in virginia....

I assume most of the car started in japan, but it was built here. (I could be wrong, not trying to be a jerk. But I think I looked up my VIN and that's what I got. Or maybe it says so on the little plaque)

I am fairly certain they all came from Japan. Not that it really matters.

[daemonyk]

Consider the following. If memory serves, every single usdm 240sx was built and assembled in kyushu japan (with the 'verts being 'vert'ed once imported), hence the J on the VIN. So really, every single usdm 240sx already was actually imported from japan. Unlike, say, an altima, which was made and assmbled in mexico or canada or not japan per se. So, every 240sx is already 100% JDM, and they were even kind enough to make them street legal in the US from jump

If memory serves, my 92 SE was built in virginia....

I assume most of the car started in japan, but it was built here. (I could be wrong, not trying to be a jerk. But I think I looked up my VIN and that's what I got. Or maybe it says so on the little plaque)

That's weird - you sure it wasn't just distributed or modified in VA? Is the 1st character of the VIN a "J"? No worries - If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. No harm in telling me so. I could have been mistaken as well, and it could be just the KA engines in the 240 that were made in kyushu rather than mexico - but I def remember there was something special about the 240's where they were exclusively sourced from japan.

Hey Cruz23, random question but, have you by any chance been watching MightyCarMods?

[Cruz23]

yea but haven't been watching it in a while lol. why?

[blkvrtswp]

All S13 & S14 were exclusively assembled in Japan, KA engines included.

[daemonyk]

All S13 & S14 were exclusively assembled in Japan, KA engines included.

Thank you! And there you go.

yea but haven't been watching it in a while lol. why?

It was the combination of S15 reference, and the comment of seeing them sell at auction for $500 - It struck a memory, and I thought to myself, "where have I heard before, in the same context, S15's and importing them, AND japanese auctions and silvias for $500", and then I remembered. MOOG from MCM and his S15 japan story. So I thought to ask. related to your question or not, still funny.

+1 for another watcher of MCM

[mechanicalmoron]

wise words. you are right, but i dont understand how come s15 isnt legal not the skylines oh well thanks for the respones

Because Nissan never had them legalized per National Highway Transportation and Safety Board (crash testing) nor was the EPA given a chance to clear them emissions wise. Motorex proved that the R33 could pass the crash safety test, but even if the car exceeds national standards, it doesn't mean much unless the cars are tested by or for those governing bodies.

Motorex mostly lied about what they crashed, thus discrediting the car, nissan, and the owners.

[Hijacker]

Motorex filed the R32 and the R34 with R33 paperwork, which worked for a while until the NHTSB got wind of it. They only crashed the R33, which showed only minimal changing was needed to meet national crash standards. They were shut down because of the paperwork being fudged. They only discredited themselves.

[mechanicalmoron]

Motorex filed the R32 and the R34 with R33 paperwork, which worked for a while until the NHTSB got wind of it. They only crashed the R33, which showed only minimal changing was needed to meet national crash standards. They were shut down because of the paperwork being fudged. They only discredited themselves.

Well of course they only should have discredited themselves, but in reality, skyline is a dirty word, and few people have ANY idea why. It's thougherally discredited in general. The only way to reverse that would be to have them all fully legal.

I've seen things where people are afraid to have even the legal 25+ year old ones, with people knowing it (or with them badged as skylines). The feds act unilaterally, and if they decided to crush your imported car, regardless of age, they could say just about anything about you being suspected in the import of unsafe skylines, or whatever (with some irellivent info about how they have not passed safety tests, and how lawbreakers are well known for importing them, and how many they sieze every year -- chances the judge is not a tuner guy), and just the word skyline would make nobody take you seriously, no matter what the facts are.

[Cruz23]

i hadn't watched that episode of mcm till you mentioned it and dam that s15 looks mad nice and by the way would it be a good idea to put an rb26 in my car

[daemonyk]

i hadn't watched that episode of mcm till you mentioned it and dam that s15 looks mad nice and by the way would it be a good idea to put an rb26 in my car

It would certaily be a fun idea, but given the cost and logistics involved it's far more practical to do an RB25. It can be done and has been done, but generally cannot and has not been done w/o large amounts of modding and fabbing and money. RB25 is way easier, way cheaper, and much less modding needed. Also don't underestimate the KA-T or the SR options. It's all about what you want to do with the car. So, what DO you want to do with the car?

[biggie]

Wow this is still going on.

Also much to consider with illegal engines. Especially given your car is OBDII and would need to consider where you are located and if you would be caught.

[daemonyk]

Wow this is still going on.

Also much to consider with illegal engines. Especially given your car is OBDII and would need to consider where you are located and if you would be caught.

Valid. I tend to largely forget about emissions testing and stuff... California, fageddaboutit - Likely not workable in most counties. Here in Florida though you can do pretty much anything as long as you're not blowing smoke everywhere or otherwise generating an unsafe condition. I guess check your local and state regulations - that will tell you what is and isn't legal. Could be handy to know.

[mechanicalmoron]

that sucks.

Here in texas you can do whatever you want, ESPECIALLY if you're blowing smoke everywhere AND creating an unsafe condition.

There's smog checks and roving sniffer-mobiles in some urban areas, but it's a city thing.