Importing inspection question (Canada)

[nieve cruiser]

Okay, I am sure the answer to my question is somewhere in the ih8mud site but I could not find it myself. I am in the final stages of importing a hdj81 landcruiser from Japan. I do not live in Vancouver so when I come in to pick it up my time will be limited. Here are my questions:
1) Who do I take the truck to first? And where are they located?
2) What are the rest of the steps (hoops) I have to jump through to complete registration and insurance?
3) Where can I purchase any DOT parts I will need?
4) Can anyone recommend a good landcruiser mechanic in the Vancouver area?

Thanks for any help,

 

[rchalmers3]

Hey there,

Congrats on the purchase. What year is the truck and where will you be registering it?

Rick

 

[nieve cruiser]

It's a 92 and I have a down payment on it. I can buy it or wait for another to come up, it is in mint shape but does not have factory lockers. I will be registering in BC Canada

 

[Dieseler]

Lets start with were are you located
Are bringing it yourself or through a importer.
Most import agents arrange certifacation with the purchase contract.
Is it coming in a container or RoRo
You can get an A-B permit to move vehicle from port to home then home to certified mechanic for certifacation.
There are a few things that need to be changed all external bulbs to DOT usually the coloured lenses are DOT stamped,the headlights have to be changed they never are E4 or DOT,Tires must have the load range on them no necessary DOT mark,probably need daylight running lights depending on year it was introduced to Canada,reflective prism markers on the sides of vehicle red in rear orange in front,may need child restraint seatbelts in rear,front windshield has to have AS1 rating not anything else especially not temperlite.

 

[nieve cruiser]

Thanks for the reply Dieseler, I am located just outside of Nelson BC. It is a solid 8hr drive from Vancouver. I am bringing the car in myself and hiring a broker for the importing paper work. It will arrive in a container. The reason I was thinking of dealing with all the registration and insurance in Van was that I would like to get a full fluid change and some of the bearings repacked or replaced, a wheel alignment etc...before i do the big drive back home. There is not any good toyota help near my location. Any thoughts or ideas would greatly help me out as I don't want to spend a week in Van, just want to pick up the truck get some work done and get home.

 

[9180ltd]

I personally would run it straight to ATEB in burnaby, John does the exact thing your wishing done for OUTBACK IMPORTS with all there toyotas. They are the most knowledgeable on these trucks from what i have found as that is what they specialize in. Also i have found them to be honest altho not the cheapest out there, you get what you pay for. He knows exactly what needs to be changed out and has the resources (Rocky mountain imports) to get what you need quickly and at the end of the day can do the government inspection to make it regestable.

 

[nieve cruiser]

Thanks 9180ltd, thats the info I was looking for. It is always worth it to pay for quality work.

 

[canucksafari]

There are other shops besides ATEB. Personally, I think they are overpriced. So far I have sent a couple people to Steve at EBI and they have been satisfied with the work and price. There are a few others who are excellent and who are here on MUD; but they only do Cruiser work part-time.

 

[nieve cruiser]

Thanks for the options, appreciate it

 

[Radd Cruisers]

Call Dave Bucholtz at ABC Customs to do your brokerage - he is outstanding and he will help you through the process. Dave can be contacted at:

bucholtz@abccustoms.com

There is very little to do to compliance your HDJ - you need headlights (E code or DOT), DRLs, and some reflectors. You will likely also need tires and a thorough going through by a good shop that is familiar with your Land Cruiser.

Commonly brakes need doing, the cooling systems are plugged and needing maintenance and you should do your water pump and timing components (belt, tensioner, spring, seals etc). The wheel bearings are almost always loose and in need of help. The knuckles often are dry and need re-doing at some point early in the game. If you so the knuckles, check to see if the birfs and drive plates need to be replaces - most do.

The BEBs should be done - some of them end up being perfect, and others are on their last legs. Do Not Wait !!

You need to get a Provincial inspection by a shop that will inspect JDMs - not all are willing to do it.

In Vancouver take it to EBI, though Steve may not want to change the BEBs.

If you were on the Island... which you're not, then I'd say bring it here. We do virtually all the work for Outback Imports nowadays, since their Southern operations are located locally in Nanaimo.


~John

 

[Dieseler]

I think he wants a one stop operation to do some maintainance and the inspection all in one and doesn't a long down time in Vancouver
EBI can do the mechanical but doesn't do inspections to certify imports.
On the list of registered inspectors there are only a few that do Landcruisers most do provincial transfers and not JDMs.
Werner automotive in Delta does all my JDM mechanical inspections and certifications but depending on how busy he is it may take a week,but I do most of the changes and prep them myself before he gives them the once over.

 

[nieve cruiser]

Your right about the one stop operataion. If I end up in Van for extra days I will not save any money. I can do some of the work myself, front bearings, brifs etc.. when I get home. The BEBs I will need to get done in Van (not sure I can take that on) as well as anything to pass inspection and get rolling. Thanks for all the advice you guys are really helping me out.

 

[Dieseler]

Just curious on your purchase did you buy from auction or through car broker,some of the japanese car broker exporters will do the required work on them before shipping to help for a extra cost is this a option for you.
Chances are if you have to do some mechanical and wait for inspection appointments you may be here for a week.
Once it has been certified the insurance /registration part is an easy process at any insurance agent just make sure you have all you proper paperwork on hand.

 

[canucksafari]

Your right about the one stop operataion. If I end up in Van for extra days I will not save any money. I can do some of the work myself, front bearings, brifs etc.. when I get home. The BEBs I will need to get done in Van (not sure I can take that on) as well as anything to pass inspection and get rolling. Thanks for all the advice you guys are really helping me out.

First off, I have always told people that ask me about importing their JDM to be ready to add another $2-3K on the price to get it here to get it on the road properly.

If you are getting it inspected and registered in the lowermainland, then everything will be done here. ATEB doesn't have any faster access to parts than EBI. Most everyone is getting much of their JDM specific parts through John Hamilton at Rocky Mountain Imports. If he has it, then it goes out on the next bus. If not, then it has to be ordered in by air from Japan($$$). You may want to think about what you will do if the shocks are shot (as they often are). If you are planning a lift, then it is the perfect time to do it. No sense putting money onto replacement shocks for a standard height when you want to do a 3" lift soon.

I think you should plan for a few days in Vancouver to get the work done on it to pass inspection and to make it road worthy. You should also count on spending some decent coin to have a shop do it all - probably over $2k without the lift. Why not take John's list and get a quote from ATEB and EBI.

If you decide to just do an A-B permit, given your drive back, you must have the BEB, cooling system, and all lubricants done. Otherwise you are taking a big gamble. Also, check for loose wheel bearings and have them repacked (replaced if required) and tightened. A guy I know had Steve do the same with his Safari and drove his truck back to Winnepeg on an A-B certificate.

Another option would be to have it clear customs and then have it trailered to Nelson, where you would be free to work on it yourself. There are still lots of lumber haulers heading back up into the interior without a load. You could contact one of the local mills to see if they can put you in contact with a few O/O truckers to set price. Like I said, John Hamlitlon will happily sell and ship you the parts and the non-81 specifc parts are available from Toyota or better yet online from places like Summit racing and Rockauto. Shops like BC Bearing should be able to get you bearings and seals if you give them the part number. There are some good write-ups here on doing BEBs. In terms of difficulty, they don't look too hard to do. Definitely nothing worse than diving into a knuckle.

 

[nieve cruiser]

The truck will be purchased from a broker who has my deposit. I can buy one that is in stock or wait for another. The one in stock has everything I want but factory lockers so I have to decide if they are that important to me. The broker does not safety it and I kind of like the idea of doing as much of the work myself as I can. Thanks for all the input and ideas. I had kind of planned on $2-3K once it landed as I started doing the math once you guys pointed out the common fix ups and another family member has a HDJ81 and mentioned what was done to his. Right now I am leaning towards getting the bare minimum done to register and insure it then doing the rest of the stuff at home. Might get the BEBs done as well just so I won't be stressed on the drive home. Now I just have to come to terms with parting with my HJ60 as it has been good to me.

 

[canucksafari]

Now I just have to come to terms with parting with my HJ60 as it has been good to me.

Looking forward to your foresale ad and a description and pics. BTW, is it an auto or standard.

 

[d0ubledown]

i would just do a fluid change, maybe belts etc...and give the truck a really good once over when it lands and you pick it up. if time is of the essence, get your headlamps and proper reflectors on (and DOT approved tires if neede) then go to CT and get the RIV federal inspection done. then go to an inspection facility to get the provincial inspection done. get a one or two day permit and drive back to nelson and finish off the baslining and maintenance there. the ' insurance binder' is the liability permit that allows you to drive a vehicle (that is not registered) from the point of sale location to the inspection facilities. you can get them for multiple days, but it strictly states that it is for taking the vehicle TO and FROM inspection facilities. nothing more. once you get your provinical inspection done, you can go ahead and get it registered & insured, but id wait till you got back to nelson to do that.

doesnt the nelson toyota work on jdm's there? when i was there last summer, i saw a couple jdm's in their parking lot (not for sale of course). beb's dont seem to be a very difficult job if you're over a 3 wrencher.

im heading out to nelson for 2 weeks at the end of august...maybe i'll see your cruiser out there!

 

[sailor]

I spent $3400.00 at ATEB when I got my 91 hdj81. I have since driven 30,000 k with NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. Overpriced? Bullsh^t. It is called quality service and value.

 

[onefsatchevy]

If you can do front bearings you can do BEB's. I thought the same thing till I started asking around here, there are some really great write up's on how to do it. Any weekend mechanic could handle it on these trucks... Dead easy.

My advice, get done what has to be done to pass inspection, then ship it up and do everything else yourself. Order the Toyota manuals, I have the chassis for 80 series, and a 1HD-T (both by Toyota) best $300 I ever spent. With those some basic mechanical skill and a bit of elbow grease, you can fix damn near anything. If you have ever worked on a small north american car, you will find this simple to work on.

 

[nieve cruiser]

Canucksafari, if you are asking about my hj60 it is a 87 standard with a new engine put in about 100,000k ago or so. The import is looking like auto, i hear they get better mileage? I am starting to get the confidence to do the BEBs myself. Thanks guys