KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Overall it is sad, yes. I'll say this objectively as to the intent: I do understand and support the reasons for the need to make sure the majority of cars over there are running as clean as their original OEM designs intended them to. If you look back at footage, photos and air quality data from the 1970's and 1980's in southern California alone and compare it to today the regulations have made a big difference. Also, the air really doesn't MOVE over there which is why it's such a big problem. So whatever is in the air just hangs as more of the same emissions keep getting added.

Where I take issue is with the visual inspection only being excepted by CARB E.O. approved aftermarket parts being more important than measured tail pipe numbers (thanks to Edelbrock lobbying CARB in the mid-1980's) or how it's not legal to update the emission system on your really old 70's/80's engine in such a way that it actually pollutes LESS than when totally stock.

And then there is the death of the 30-year rolling exemption many years ago. Some people drive really old cars on a regular basis but it is not a large portion of the population for a myriad of reasons. There was a bill aimed at raising the exempted model year threshold from 1975 and older to 1980 and older but even that reasonable arrangement was flatly shot down.

It is what it is. I just focus on finding the best way I can to enjoy the vehicle I like and jump through the hoops required. As demanding as the rules are when it comes to some engine swaps I feel it's worth it when you can still enjoy the car you like in the end

Thank you for saying that, dclevs. To me it's a build limited in scope and reward compared to many other more impressive ones that have been done over the years but the number of steps involved have kept me busy, haha.

I've learned many things about building an engine for the first time while going through this long saga and I was inspired by the builds and DIY threads of many other members before beginning mine. And there has been a lot of help and advice given to me along the way. A lot of what I've documented in my thread has been me wanting to be sure I've done something right because I've never done it before, lol! Another intention has been to do my best to show as I go how to do a USDM 2JZGTE swap for the purposes of getting one legally registered in CA and what specifics are required. Neither CA or Toyota make it easy.

I'd certainly have liked to have made it come together much faster but I should have it up and running very soon

You may want to check the health of your OEM fuel tank fuel level sending unit. Will have to check the EPC diagrams for the SC300 and Soarer to determine if it's the same part or not. I'd suggest checking your dash gauge also but yours is all digital so no need

kartel876

Nice Soarer man! i have a black hardtop 1991 Soarer. 1jzgte with R154 trans LSD too.

dclevs

Thanks Kahn for the info there, I went with the Denso unit and dropped it in a few nights back and it's been working great for me, pushed it on the highway and haven't seen it heat up past it's normal operating temperature so that's a good sign. Like someone said in another post I found, the old radiator emptied with as much fluid as I could still weighed about 5 times as much as the new one (it was time for it to go). I did a follow up flush and cleaned it out, and it's been happy since then. Currently working on sanding down the entire car and priming it to get ready for paint. it's a slow process as I'd like to do it right and leave as little imperfections as possible, but I'm sure somehow somewhere the paint will come out funky and it's gonna bug the heck outa me XD

dclevs

Thanks Kartel, I've been enjoying it. I'd like a manual with the LSD but the automatic has been a nice ride so far, for awhile it's just going to get me from point A to point B in style lol. Every here and there I do some work on it, but after a few years if I fall in love I may begin to modify it. The st205 still beckons to me in a few years lol.

SC_coupe

I had the swap done at a shop along with a bunch of other stuff, but my mechanic said it was direct swap and near identical. I have not noticed the car running any hotter, but also installed the GP Sports 1JZ cooling fan at the same time.

Glad to hear you got it sorted

VIP161

iTrader: (3)

Congratulations on the recent purchase! Your Soarer looks great! I'm glad to hear that the entire importation process was not as difficult as most make it out to be. Lately I've been in the market for an SC300 but most of them seem to be banged up and drifted out then put up for sale at a ridiculous price. I used to own an SC close to 10 years ago. Over the years I've gone through 3 GSs. Two of them which I've swapped out to a 2JZGTE. Nothing beats the style and reliability of an SC/Soarer. Which is why I am now in the market to purchase. After reading your story, I've been very inclined to have a Soarer imported through Pacific Coast Imports. Your total cost to import is very reasonable. My only concern is experiencing difficulties with registering or importing one in to California. My thoughts are that if I am going to go through with this, I am going to do it legit. I'm very curious to read about other peoples experiences with importing and registering in California.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

I don't want to get too into this and divert from dclevs' own build in his thread but the difficulties you will have registering a Soarer in California is first with the DMV recognizing the VIN correctly... although that's minor because there are policy rules that dictate how "grey import" car registration is handled... and second and most importantly smog for the engine. The DMV will want a regular smog printout (which they will have in their computers as well) showing that the car passed... or they will want a similar piece of information from a BAR Referee at one of the designated field offices.

You can't just get it smogged because the Z30 Soarer itself with the JDM VIN will not come up in the ARB vehicle database to begin with. The smog test computer and dyno literally cannot even be taken through the process of going through every required emission test while in the official operation mode. In "manual" test mode a smog tech can do any test they want to with their equipment and write down the live test numbers on a notepad but it won't count for anything official.

This is what I was referring to in that long footnote that you quoted. It is a very recent development that it may be possible to have some very involved work and emissions equipment added to the Soarer's 1JZ-GTE engine by an officially approved shop like G&K Auto... but they have a long waiting list and this is not a cheap service to have done. Their regular clientele are extremely well heeled customers looking to make very high dollar and rare supercars and other rare, low volume and extreme prestige and collector vehicles emissions compliant.

And if it is indeed possible as Sean Morris claims it is I would want to go through him since he's familiar with this process. But he does everything by the book from the vehicle importation to, if it applies to a particular customer's case, whatever is involved with emissions compliance. To date I only know of him having talked about this regarding Nissan RB engines and specifically the RB26DETT but on his website (or blog?) some time back he did seem to suggest that it might be theoretically possible to apply to other popular JDM engines as well. Anyone reading can't take this thread post as confirmation-- it would have to be brought up to him by someone and determined as a real option or not.

I would NOT call this an open and shut option until someone consults him officially to hear what he has to say as to confirming that this will truly apply beyond making RB26DETTs emissions compliant-- and whether or not this process has always been a smooth one for any prospective California R32 GT-R owners willing to pay extra for it. I still want to see an example of an R32 GT-R that has gone through this lengthy and expensive process and which has received an official stamp of approval by the CA BAR and CA ARB. If Mr. Morris has stated this I will listen closely given his extensive experience in these matters. But I do not think this will ever be a cost effective option no matter what. It is going to be a "how important is it to you to have your grey import vehicle with an engine that was never designed for U.S. emissions be modified extensively to actually comply with U.S. emissions for its original year of manufacture?"

I only brought this up in my original post to make people aware since Z30 1JZ-GTE Soarers are now eligible for importation in the USA and understandably many are interested. I want to stress that in order to confirm what is truly possible one way or the other about getting a Z30 legally registered in CA, I would get in contact with Sean Morris' company and speak to him. G&K Auto is pretty much the only officially sanctioned company in CA that does these kinds of required modifications... and for all I know he may actually work with them... but any way I've looked at it the added cost of this will not exactly be cheap. Better to hear the brass tax from the horse's mouth.

Edit: Also to further clarify, G&K Auto is NOT Sean Morris' company. G&K is a separate specialty company from his specializing in emissions equipment modifications to grey import vehicles but with which I believe Mr. Morris has worked in the past and/or currently.

It is not a 100% confirmed option for a 1JZ at any cost until it is proven to be so by talking to the people who actually do it professionally and are licensed/approved by the CA BAR/ARB to do so.

And with that... my apologies for getting into this so much in your thread dclevs I'm looking forward to seeing the next developments with your Soarer!

chnk

iTrader: (12)

wow had no clue it was 5k to import a soarer, thanks for the information

you should bring the soarer out this weekend there is a meet in gwinnett if youre interested. Also there is quite a bit of local sc guys if you ever need a hand

fabianbra

I'm interested in pics, about to start looking into my own import.

You say the difficult part is registering, however I'm seeing everything about the US import regulations as the more intimidating part. How did that go for you, and what shipping company did you use? I was nearly set on https://www.wcshipping.com/asia because they guided me pretty well through the process I'm not used to, and also gave a generous quote, but I am open to other suggestions, especially when I hear that you had such an easy time.

dclevs

crap, I've been away for a bit too long XD
I have been extremely busy lately with life as well as the soarer, and about to make a post with tons of pics of my progress so far! and I've been searching for some kind of car club around Atlanta or Marietta, as I need other like minded folks to get out and talk about cars and mods.
But I'll post a new thread covering the work done thus far over the last 2 months and why I've been away for so long!

dclevs

That's awesome to see you are looking to import, and trust me, the biggest thing with the importing process is that it takes time, and you just have to keep up on each individual step of the process as you move through importing. I went through Pacific Coast Auto, the guy's name is Derek, and they will help with every single step including working with their contact broker in the US that can do all the paperwork filing for customs. all fees together will come out around 2500-2800 US $ but that includes shipping, the purchase and transportation of vehicle in Japan, the paperwork for exporting from Japan, paperwork for importing through customs, and there are a few smaller fees like the dock fees and shipping company unloading fee that amounts to less than $100, at least for me, because nothing went wrong in the process. The biggest thing is to DOCUMENT, EVERYTHING. if you get a receipt, print it out, put it in a folder. You will build a portfolio for your vehicle, and need all the files and receipts to get it registered. If you have more questions on the process I'd be happy to help, because I'm sure it can go differently for many people, as importing is still a bit of a fuzzy thing in the United States. Especially California, as Kahn has elaborated on the restrictions there.

dclevs

Here's a link to my latest post in regards to the paint job done recently!
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/bui...l#post10296012

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

^^ I'm going to wholeheartedly second all you've posted above earlier today about documenting EVERYTHING when importing a car. I have not done it myself at this time but I have seen the process unfold firsthand while a good friend brought in a grey market vehicle to be registered (in CA no less) and the big file folder(s) to document every aspect of the vehicle and all legal papers and receipts along the way is very key. This is very, very important documentation that needs to stay with the vehicle from that point on and is just as valuable as a normal vehicle title for a USA-spec vehicle.