i was curious what the exact procedure is to successfully bring a car over from japan and make it legal (able to register) for california... i know there is a lot of hear say crap, but i only want to hear from people who have actually done it. i would assume emissions plays a big role in it.

 

You mean like making that engine identical to it's same year/or newer U.S. equivalent?

 

http://www.foreignborn.com/vis...r.htm
that tells you everything you need to know.

 

you don't you jackass

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by limpy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">http://www.foreignborn.com/vis...r.htm
that tells you everything you need to know.</TD></TR></TABLE>

great thanks for the info.. i have seen so many rhd's imported on this board i think i may jump the bandwagon.

 

pick up this months issue of Honda Tunning they have a HUGE article about it.

 

pretty sure hci. had an article this month as well

crx toad: love the quote

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by limpy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">http://www.foreignborn.com/vis...r.htm
that tells you everything you need to know.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Here's a quote from that website...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Documentation

For Customs clearance you will need the shipper's or carrier's original bill of lading, the bill of sale, foreign registration, and any other documents covering the vehicle. You will also need written prior approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which will be evident to the Customs inspector at the port of entry in the form of an approval letter from the EPA, or a manufacturer's label in the English language affixed to the car, stating that the vehicle meets all U.S. emission requirements.

Or, you may make arrangements to import your vehicle with an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI). In this case, the ICI will import your vehicle and perform any EPA-required modifications and be responsible for assuring that all EPA requirements have been met. ICIs can only import certain vehicles, however, and in general, their fees are very high.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

That second paragraph refers to those few companies that import Skylines that you may have heard about. Those companies are the only ones that can import a car BEFORE it meets emissions/crash/etc. standards. The only way to do it cheap would be to figure out a way to have all of the conversion done before the car is shipped.

 

take a trip to the motherland for a few weeks, find a car, and get it to EPA specs.
the you can ship it here and hope you still have enough money left for you own flight back home