I may have found a way to import "forbidden engines"

"CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)" (ccpbb) 01/21/2015 at 01:13 • Filed to: None

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I was reading up on Vlad's infamous half-decent E30 M3 Touring with altered VIN plates on jalopnik when I saw the original importer's notes. It came into canada as a 1988 model car. Under Canadian law, 15 years is the rule for importing cars that aren't federalized for Canadian markets. But the thing was, there was a e36 M3 S50B30 under the hood. It was swapped before the journey from Germany.

It's a sorta grey zone here. The engine's less than 25 years old. The car is. There is more vague info from the canadians. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

So technically, under this grey zone, I can import a 25 year old Y31 Nissan Gloria with a RB26DETT. It's still decently illegal as the engine was altered from the beginning.

http://willz.ca/ED74525.htm

Tinfoil Hat in a thunderstorm, now with added diecast > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 01:20

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Loopholes need to be explored...

For Sweden > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 01:22

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I hear the hooves of the RCMP approaching

Flavien Vidal > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 01:23

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Or you could just import the car as a track car and swap the engine later on... I mean, if it passes emissions, nobody is going to check where you got your engine. Ever.

DrJohannVegas > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 01:25

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Here's the thing: the engines alone are not restricted under the 25/15-year rule, I think. So, if the goal is to get a Europe-only engine, you don't have to swap it into an old chassis first.

See, on your link: "Are individual motor vehicle parts regulated at importation?"

"The Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) does not regulate shipments of individual parts, with the exception of tires, child car seats and booster seats. This means you may import a shipment of disassembled automotive parts if it does not amount to one or more vehicle(s). Canada Border Services Agency officers will detain any shipment when the parts content is unclear and/or may contain enough parts to meet the definition of vehicle under the MVSA.

Canadians wanting to import tires, child car seats or booster seats should contact Transport Canada at 1-800-333-0371 or by e-mail at mvs-sa@tc.gc.ca"

Like the US Feds, you can ship whatever you like into the country, as long as it is in parts. Once you try to import a vehicle, then you have problems. This is an artifact of the way the law was written (which is itself an artifact of why the used import rule exists in the first place...) and gives all us gearheads carte blanche to put forbidden, wild hearts inside oppressed chassis.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > DrJohannVegas 01/21/2015 at 01:37

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Exactly. Because there won't be any smog stuff involved. For instance, something from the Pre 1975 can fit any engine in it without any EPA dicking around. A Fastback Ford Mustang, for instance can have a very potent and sacriligeous RB26DETT. And smog does not apply.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > For Sweden 01/21/2015 at 01:38

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RCMP?

For Sweden > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 01:40

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DrJohannVegas > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 01:43

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Ah, see, you've moved the goalposts. The EPA is one agency, the NHTSA is another, US Customs a third, and your respective state authorities yet another.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > DrJohannVegas 01/21/2015 at 02:00

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The EPA passes, because 25 year old or Pre 1975 exception. NHTSA is exempt because 25 year old. Going through customs will require the original engine. Do the swapping at home. I live in the glorious place of California has the strict emissions controls. The imported cars will be in a free haven, but the Pre 1975 cars will be at risk. There may be a "visual" check by a inspector on the engine when registering the car/getting plates. If you have a big block/small block, you can disguise it like how http://ericpetersautos.com/2011/06/13/cla… he does it. Fitting dummy cats and powder coating stuff. Put in the original engine in the case of the 1975 exeption.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > For Sweden 01/21/2015 at 02:07

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Our man within.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Flavien Vidal 01/21/2015 at 02:11

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That'll work. My cousin has a friend who imported a non registered R34 GTR in pieces. He has it in his garage. Drive shafts disconnected, but engine runs. Display piece of sorts. It could work..

PanchoVilleneuve ST > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 02:21

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In your butt?

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 02:28

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This is why I have a Mercedes diesel, exempt, and a 1971 240Z!

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 02:28

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That looks like the start to a bad porn film :P

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 01/21/2015 at 02:34

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Alex Roy, Amanda Kinsley, A Euro FWD police car, a BMW M5, and two Spaniards. That would be a really bad porn movie.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 01/21/2015 at 02:35

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Engine swaps much?

DrJohannVegas > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 02:36

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I suspected you were a Californian, hence the final part. I've never been entirely clear on how CARB handles the 25+ year imports, but I suspect it is even-handed and totally reasonable. /s

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > DrJohannVegas 01/21/2015 at 02:43

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Yeah, CARB is a clusterfuck. Bird had trouble registering his 1970 Toyota Crown involving a load of CARB regulations that pile one on top another. I'd register it another state if I were in this situation.. and if I'm a Californian, you must be from Vegas?

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/imported-from-…

DrJohannVegas > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 02:49

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Nah, the name is a Top Gear reference, I live in a place too frigid and snowy to be confused with the Southwest.

Sorry about your bureaucracy. On the upside, you get better weather and In-n-Out. Can't have it all, ya know?

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > DrJohannVegas 01/21/2015 at 03:03

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Well, nowhere's perfect. We get earthquakes, you will be shivering in 5 layers. For better or for worse. :)

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > DrJohannVegas 01/21/2015 at 03:19

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I've never been entirely clear on how CARB handles the 25+ year imports, but I suspect it is even-handed and totally reasonable. /s

That is one of the most cynically and wisely funny things I've read here in a long time. Thanks.

Burrito de EJ25 > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 03:32

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Everyone secretly loves this thing.

Cé hé sin > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 05:07

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In import news, I can import any new or used car that pleases me. It just has to pass the same annual or biennial testing as any other vehicle. Oh, and tax. Anything that doesn't have an EU CO2 figure will be cripplingly expensive unless it's old and of low value. And if it's lhd you won't be able to give it away second hand.

PS9 > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 06:01

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Cant you already do that? I mean, the RB25 isnt legal either, but swapped silvias are a dime a dozen where I li-

".ca"

Oooooh. Well that explains a lot. One good thing about living in Florida; the authorities have zero fucks to give about what's under your hood.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > PS9 01/21/2015 at 06:03

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I have yet to understand Florida...everything grey market is registered there..why?

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Cé hé sin 01/21/2015 at 06:04

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are you in France?

PS9 > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 06:11

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Because there arent any state-level regulations. Titleing and insurance are all they care about. Beyond that, 0 fucks given.

The upside is that you can drive an LS7 swapped S14 if you want and youll never have it impounded. The downside is no inspections or regulations = driving along some vehicles that are totally not roadworthy (like for example, cars that have no body paneling, trucks riding on trailer tires loaded down with shit in the bed and zero tiedowns, boy racers with giant exhausts and an engine with dying rings which basically makes it a smoke machine at that point...)

Cé hé sin > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/21/2015 at 07:04

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Mais non, Ireland. Same applies there though AFAIK.

Redd, the RX-7 that could > Tinfoil Hat in a thunderstorm, now with added diecast 01/21/2015 at 09:37

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Man has been exploring holes since the dawn of civilization.

roflcopter > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 02/03/2015 at 18:15

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I know this is probably super random, but the tracking wasn't ever really working on the second part of your Senna gift, so I figured it'd be appropriate to check and see if you got it. just let me know if there were any issues!

Merry Carsmas!