Advice on 1997 FZJ75 LHD Registration in Kalif

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jfrench said:
I believe that in most (dare I say all) cases, aftermarket bumpers do not comply with FMVSS. Those of us who sport them on our rigs are breaking the law.
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This is interesting. Isn't it the case that in order to be able to sell aftermarket parts, bona fide manufacturers need to have their products FMVSS compliant? But with homemade or small shop modifications? Yeah, you're probably right.

I'm pretty sure it's irrelevant for 25+ year old vehicles, which are exempt from FMVSS. Unlike the EPA exemption, I don't believe FMVSS rules are contingent on the vehicle being unmodified. Need to delve into the text to be certain, though.
 
FWIW, I bought my 1989 BJ74 in Canada with a proper Canadian title, drove it across the border, and then registered it here in PA.

The trip across the Canadian border was nerve wracking because the only way to prove the year built was convincing the guy at customs that my printout from Toyodiy was accurate. He ended up calling his supervisor over and they looked it up themselves, declared it legitimate, confiscated a few bananas from my cargo area and let me on my way. When I got home to PA, the local registration folks had no idea how to handle things, so I had to drive up to Harrisburg to get it titled in PA. Again I was sent to the supervisor, who was very sceptical that my date of import across the border was 4 months prior (I dropped the truck off with Karl @Nitro4x4 to have work done, flew home and then returned out to collect it and drive home a few months later, hence the 4 month delay). After this explanation, he told me to go sit back down and went behind the curtain. To my delight he returned 10 minutes later with a new PA title!

At the end of the day, everything was done properly and I have a legally imported and titled and registered vehicle. That said, it was not without its hiccups and stresses.

Just wanted to share my one specific experience with a 100% legal vehicle that was taken through all the proper channels.
 
gilmorneau said:
This is interesting. Isn't it the case that in order to be able to sell aftermarket parts, bona fide manufacturers need to have their products FMVSS compliant? But with homemade or small shop modifications? Yeah, you're probably right.

I'm pretty sure it's irrelevant for 25+ year old vehicles, which are exempt from FMVSS. Unlike the EPA exemption, I don't believe FMVSS rules are contingent on the vehicle being unmodified. Need to delve into the text to be certain, though.
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Agreed about relevancy on 25+ y/o vehicles. But how many on here have a 2nd Land Cruiser <25 years old with aftermarket armor? And of the gazillion Heep bumpers available, how many are compliant? Only the biggest manufacturers go through compliance testing...ARB, etc. but I believe that’s only in other countries. Not sure they’ve done it for US Federal standards. If so, they’d be stamped with DOT approval.

Just making a point that some people are willing and able to risk things on these grey market vehicles, and in some cases, the rest of us are walking a fine line as well. Trying to follow the letter of the law for those of us that like vintage and/or modified vehicles can be a losing proposition.
 
Yes. I think they even check the day and month of manufacture to calculate a car’s age.
Will you bring it into Norfolk?
 
Joshuak172 said:
In the spirit of not producing redundant threads: so I am to sure that any ‘95 or earlier vehicle can be imported with relative ease? I am looking at importing a 75 series Ute like this one: https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/1995-toyota-landcruiser-manual-4x4/SSE-AD-6645662/?Cr=4
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Just a note of caution: That particular truck may have import issues. I'm unaware of any 95 that has the top mount intercooler. The EPA regs are explicit that it has to have the same engine and transmission that the truck left the factory with at least 25 years earlier.

A 100% stock vehicle is what you want to try this with.
 
John Young said:
Just a note of caution: That particular truck may have import issues. I'm unaware of any 95 that has the top mount intercooler. The EPA regs are explicit that it has to have the same engine and transmission that the truck left the factory with at least 25 years earlier.

A 100% stock vehicle is what you want to try this with.
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Perhaps I’m confused (at my age I confuse easily) but what has the top mount Intercooler have to do with legality?
If I’m reading the ad correctly, the Ute appears to have a 1HZ which I believe is the proper engine for the truck and market.
 
Gun Runner 5 said:
Perhaps I’m confused (at my age I confuse easily) but what has the top mount Intercooler have to do with legality?
If I’m reading the ad correctly, the Ute appears to have a 1HZ which I believe is the proper engine for the truck and market.
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What's that sonny? Speak up!
Oh yeah... Well here's my philosophy on this. The EPA guidance document says "A vehicle is exempted if it has been 21 years or more since its original production year and it is in its original unmodified condition." Is an aftermarket intercooler a modification? Other rules use phrases like 'unmodified configuration'. I personally would never try to import a vehicle that was not in the original drivetrain configuration, or a vehicle that looked like it had aftermarket add-ons on the engine. It may be possible to argue it at the time, but what a nightmare it would be. My imports have come through New York and then get trucked to Virginia. I had no real personal contact with the inspection or importation. I just pay the 4K shipping and import and cross my fingers.

Its hard and nerve-wracking enough to import a vehicle as just a guy not in the business, without worrying about some customs inspector deciding that your vehicle has been modified.

(Nobody should get excited by the '21' in the EPA quote above--it is 25 years due to the NHTSA requirements. Just a slight disconnect between the two sets of regs--but both must be satisfied.)
 
I just took another look at the ad. It says "G Turbo running 15psi" I don't know what a 'G Turbo' is, but I have a 1HZ (edit--actually it is a 1HD-FT) factory turbo and the manuals all say boost in in the 7 PSI range from the factory.

That is DEFINITELY not an engine in the original configuration. I'd expect that to get flagged at the customs inspection. I think they do look at the VIN number on occasion.
 
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Gturbos are made in Australia. Innards are modified but externals look almost stock, especially with a heat shield in place.
Yes, the intercooler might raise suspicion levels.
 
John Young said:
What's that sonny? Speak up!
Oh yeah... Well here's my philosophy on this. The EPA guidance document says "A vehicle is exempted if it has been 21 years or more since its original production year and it is in its original unmodified condition." Is an aftermarket intercooler a modification? Other rules use phrases like 'unmodified configuration'. I personally would never try to import a vehicle that was not in the original drivetrain configuration, or a vehicle that looked like it had aftermarket add-ons on the engine. It may be possible to argue it at the time, but what a nightmare it would be. My imports have come through New York and then get trucked to Virginia. I had no real personal contact with the inspection or importation. I just pay the 4K shipping and import and cross my fingers.

Its hard and nerve-wracking enough to import a vehicle as just a guy not in the business, without worrying about some customs inspector deciding that your vehicle has been modified.

(Nobody should get excited by the '21' in the EPA quote above--it is 25 years due to the NHTSA requirements. Just a slight disconnect between the two sets of regs--but both must be satisfied.)
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It appears I was wrong on a number of levels. Please don’t tell my wife. :)
 
Yeah I meant the ad to represent the earliest year that can be imported under the law which satisfies both EPA and NHTSA. I understand it may be modified and I would not seek to import this particular vehicle.
 
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