I live on Long Island, I've seen some cheap odies and engines on E-bay, and was thinking about it. Does anyone here know of anyone in my area that legalizes skylines. I've heard it is done in the pacific region, is that the only place???

I've heard it is done in the pacific region, is that the only place???

Motorex in California is the only place right now.

Ok, so if I order a car and engine from ebay, perhaps I could send it there, have them recive it for me, drop the engine in, and legalize it?? Thing is, now it sounds like it is going to be a lot more complicated than I originally thought... assuming the car and engine are around $8000, how much you think this dream would rum me??
And if that is too much, what about just ordering the body here, and putting some other Nissan engine under the hood, or is that just chessy.

Ok, so if I order a car and engine from ebay, perhaps I could send it there, have them recive it for me, drop the engine in, and legalize it?? Thing is, now it sounds like it is going to be a lot more complicated than I originally thought... assuming the car and engine are around $8000, how much you think this dream would rum me??
And if that is too much, what about just ordering the body here, and putting some other Nissan engine under the hood, or is that just chessy.

Just out of curiosity, why do you say 'car and engine?' It'd really be a lot better if you can find a car that already has the engine you want. Motorex may or may not do installation to that extent. You'd have to call them. On top of that, Motorex may not get the car for you from the port. Again, you'd have to call them to be sure.

The model car you get will determine the cost of legalization. According to Motorex's site, R32s are the cheapest at $16k, a '95 R33 will run $17k, and the '96-98 R33s are $25k. The R34 currently cannot be legalized.

Even if you get the body/chassis of a Skyline, that body is still illegal. Even if you get a US legal engine, like a VQ35DE for example, the legalization work will still have to be done to the body.

Thanx a lot. I'm spending about $16000 on a new car, I thought since skylines were so cheap on Ebay it might be doable, and it would be sick. It seems now, however, that it is too much and too complicated, which is unfortunate. Oh well

Ok here is a huge strech but it is a thought that I have had for a while.

Why were new crash tests needed?

The differences between japanese and american crash standards are two main areas. The american crash test dummies are taller, because americans are taller than asians. And the side impact tests are defined differently 45 degree vs 90 degree impact. Motorex puts in some kind of dash board support to prevent intrusion into the leg area of the front passengers and also some kind of door support because the crash height of the side impact sleds are different too.

Motorex did the right thing. They took prevenative measures to make sure the car would pass crash test standards which also gave them a reasonable ammount of controll of the importation because they put the money in to get the testing done. But this brings about another question...

Is there anything that suggests that a skyline would fail the crash test standards?

Ok the loopy line of logic is that the Skyline had to pass England's crash test standards, which are the same as the DOT standards, so wouldn't someone just have to get the test results from england's regulatory board, show them to the correct people at the DOT get the rest of the changes performed and call it good?

I know this is only one area of the legalization process but if the crash tests are taken care of isn't the rest just a concern of getting the engine approved by the EPA and replacing lightbulbs and such??? At least you don't have to destroy a skyline to find out what you did wrong once you get past the DOT.

Sean I don't want to get into a pissing match with you and your honorable business. I don't want to do anything but praise what you and your company have done. I just want to get a street legal R34 and of course I am going to ask questions... especially untill I can afford it.

Ok the loopy line of logic is that the Skyline had to pass England's crash test standards, which are the same as the DOT standards,


Actualy the Skylines would be sold in the UK, and Europe under the Japanese test standards, since they are considered by the Europeans to of an acceptable standard.

Most of the worlds differnt standards are given an equivlancy rating. For example here in NZ Diablos are imported and complianced useing the Australian standards, since the car was standerdised for Ausie, but not here. However the NZ government considers the Ausie standards equivilant, or better than our own. The same thing happens with Jap imports, as long as the car meets a certian Japanese standard, then its allowed here with out any further tests.

Its not a matter of the car not complying the way it was orginaly made, its a matter of the US singleing itself out from the rest of the world. I mean that in a political sense, in that they are unwilling to accept any over seas standards, it occurs in a lot of other industries as well, ask an enginer who has to work with a mixture of US and overseas products.
It is however done for a good reason, to protect the US market for localy produced products.

Is there anything that suggests that a skyline would fail the crash test standards?

Yes! It would not pass without modifications. The Japanese standards are simply not very hard, next to non-existent. I lived in Japan 4 years and have seen ~5 MPH accidents that have destroyed cars. The reason they don't have the safety requirements is simple, the speed limit. The fastest legal speed in Japan is 80 KPH or ~ 48MPH, that is on their expressways. On the main routes it's 60 KPH or ~ 36 MPH.

As far as meeting England's standards, it's not required to. England will let you import any vehicle you like, it just goes through a MOT inspection to verify nothing's loose/leaking, no holes, lights/brakes/e-brakes work etc. and an emissions test much like a smog test. As far as crash tests, they don't care. They, much like the rest of Europe, believe the way I do, have what ever car you want, if you get yourself killed because it's (or you) are unsafe, that's your fault.

The US has it's requirements for two real reasons. One, because if you look at when the laws where created and how the US car market was doing at the time compared to the foreign market. Just think of how you can stop things (or making it harder) from coming in without actually saying 'we're cutting off foreign trade.' It's not just a coincident.
Second, because Americans are always trying to tell each other what you can and can't do. I am American and I cannot stand that everyone is trying to stick their nose in someone else's (or my) business. Just think about it, who should care if I want a dangerous car. Before the modifications, is that car more dangerous to other vehicles or to me? By modifying it, the car becomes safer for the owner, but now it will cause more damage to whatever it hits. It's someone sticking their nose in and saying that I can't drive a car they don't think is safe, yet I can get on a motorcycle!?!? Try to figure out that logic!

Well said... I think the Government is the biggest scam this nation has ever today. If you want to restrict trade, then do it, don't set up some dumb self-righteous safety standard. I don't know about other americans, but I hate it when other people stick their nose in my business and/or tell me what to do. The damn government is like another set of parents we can never outgrow. I know we live in the so-called most free nation, but I feel like it is selective freedom, aka we don't enjoy freedom, we only get whatever freedom our rulers decide is ok for us to have... what a crock. I think I am old enough to make my own decision without the ****in governemnt telling me what to do!!!
sorry, just a lil hate as you can see.