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Advice on Importing from Canada to US

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Offline zukisuzi

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Advice on Importing from Canada to US
« on: September 09, 2004, 03:42:20 PM »
Hello:



  I have a Samurai LWB that I'm trying to buy in Ontario. I live in Ohio. From what I have found out from my research, the truck will need quite a bit of work to meet U.S. Standards (mostly for emissions). I have a 1.6 16v that I want to put in which would take care of most problems. I hear I would need to post bond & use a Registered Importer to bring it in and would have 120 days to bring it up to standards. So far, kind of a pain but not too bad. But the R.I. says that I can't do the modifications myself, I'd need them done and documented by a licensed Suzuki Dealer. AND, since the LWB's were never okayed for import, if it has never been "petitioned" to the DOT, then "it will need to be run through an ICI Inspector and just so you know this can cost anywhere from $4,000 U.S. up." Now I know that the dozen or so that I know of in the U.S. haven't gone through all this, and they probably weren't all brought in way back before these restrictions!



  I REALLY want this truck and would VERY MUCH appreciate any help you could provide! Thanks.







Scott







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Offline idaholwb

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Re:  Advice on Importing from Canada to US
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2004, 03:59:08 PM »
 Contact Shogun Samuraiz at 403-236-5888, Trailtough at 877-789-8547, Hawk Strictly Suzuki at 888-726-8724 and get a general consensus or find out who and how to do it. Shogun will probably be your best bet. Hope that helps. And the numbers that I have seen for our precious lwb sammys are as high as less than 30 in the U.S.
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97 Sport
265/70-16s
2" lift
2.0 swap
I know...Pretty boring... FOR NOW...
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Offline zukisuzi

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Re:  Advice on Importing from Canada to U
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2004, 04:10:23 PM »
Hey, thanks! I'll work on that tomorrow. It's near midnight here & the shower's gonna take precious time that's left before the 5:30 alarm! So you've got a LWB, huh? Did you buy it in the states, I guess? If you get a chance, I'd love to see some pics. I need to start closing up shop here. I'll catch you later. Have a good one!



Scott

curlys8up|removethispart|@aol.com
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"I was so poor growin' up, if I wasn't a boy I'd've had nothin' to play with..."
--Rodney Dangerfield
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Offline idaholwb

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Re:  Advice on Importing from Canada to US
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2004, 04:36:21 PM »
 Mine snuck over from Europe, it came from England, was built in the Santana plant in Spain. I got it in pieces, had to reassemble it and I had to convert it from right to left hand drive at the same time. I used a Japanese built 88.5 swb sammy for the front clip and the front part of the tub. Funny enough, all I was out for this truck, including the factory 2 piece hardtop, was a smoking rustbucket parts sammy that I paid $200 for. But I'm into the truck roughly about 500 hours of my own time putting it on the road, which is off the road right now till I get done with about another 100 hours worth of work. Right now, I'm in the midst of doing a Suzuki 2.5L V6 swap with an auto with a kicker3 and a sammy case. The truck has front and rear springs from a 1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, the one with the fake wood trim and leaf springs all around. The front springs are 10.5" longer than sammy fronts and the rears are 17" longer than sammy rears. I have a kick rear axle in it with a custom front axle made to match width with Trailtough Doubletough birfs and heavy 26 spline chromoly shafts from OTT Industries in B.C., it also utilizes a kick rear diff for strength. It also has power steering with spring over steering. I have seats out of a 99 Suzuki Esteem. I love keeping it as much Suzuki as possible. 8)
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97 Sport
265/70-16s
2" lift
2.0 swap
I know...Pretty boring... FOR NOW...
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Offline keith

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Re:  Advice on Importing from Canada to US
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2004, 03:32:24 PM »
What if you were to get a junker Samurai in the US and move it's vin plate and any other vin references over to the LWB and just drive it with the plates and title from the junker?  It wouldn't be strickly legal, but who would ever notice if the registration was for a Samurai and the vehicle is a Samurai.  I know you would have issues when trying to sell it if you ever did.
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Offline steveofrost

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Re:  Advice on Importing from Canada to US
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2004, 05:39:59 PM »
Quote
and I had to convert it from right to left hand drive at the same time.


Did you HAVE to do that? I think it would be cool the other way around. We have a few old cars with the European drivers side, and the laws permit it. As long as you stay on the right side of the road however ;D

This post has brought up an interesting topic: How far would you go for your Suzuki?

I bet paying the guy to bring it over the border would be cheaper than all that junk you have to do. Just get him to bring it over, park it somewhere safe, drive him home and then come back over the border and tow the rig all the way home. This gives you more time to bring it up to emissions and you can do the engine swap. Just don't drive it- haul it!! Anyway, I'm sure my plan is shit, just thought I'd throw my two-bits in.

steveo
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95XL7

Re:  Advice on Importing from Canada to US
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2004, 08:24:12 AM »
Quote
What if you were to get a junker Samurai in the US and move it's vin plate and any other vin references over to the LWB and just drive it with the plates and title from the junker?  It wouldn't be strickly legal, but who would ever notice if the registration was for a Samurai and the vehicle is a Samurai.  I know you would have issues when trying to sell it if you ever did.


This is exactly what i would do,if it became a hassle the normal way.  ;)
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Offline zukisuzi

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Re:  Advice on Importing from Canada to US
« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2004, 02:05:22 PM »
     The VIN swap is the only thing I've been able to think of. It's a shame there's no practical way to stay legal. I've spent most of the last 2 weeks researching this & I think that's the only way it can realistically be done. I doubt there are any LWBs in the US with an "H" as the 5th digit on the VIN. If that's not there then, from what I've seen, it's been VIN-swapped along the way. I gues that's why more of them haven't migrated south!
    I guess it's either that or wait till they're 25 years old & the EPA & DOT standards no longer need to be met. H*ll, I hope to be retiring around 2013! Yeah, I'm a senior-zuker...   ;D  Thanks for the replies.

Scott
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Offline wildgoody

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Re:  Advice on Importing from Canada to US
« Reply #8 on: September 12, 2004, 02:32:48 PM »
I don't know how this would work, but
bring it into the US, drive over the border,
then get rid of the "old" plates and register
in your state as an old lost plate vehicle that
has not been licenced in a long time.

The VIN is not US registered, so it should
come back as clear, then the only thing is
the bill of sale, I don't know how you want
to handle that, but I think you should be
able to get the plates with out too much
trouble

Good Luck

Wild
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Offline idaholwb

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Re:  Advice on Importing from Canada to US
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2004, 03:06:20 PM »
 The swap is the only way I was able to get mine on the road. Yes I did HAVE to do the RHD to LHD conversion, it was my only transportation. The inconvenience of having RHD would have worn out its novelty after the first week of drive-ins. And I had to fix a massive rust issue on the lower firewall anyway, so I used the front section of tub and dash/VIN from an 88.5 that I had laying around. I have an 88.5 LWB LHD sammy that was originally built in the Santana plant in Spain. It is again doing another conversion, a 2001 2.5L Suzuki V6 and auto. Now I'm having to stretch the front henders and hood 6" to accomodate the length of the drivetrain and still have room for a radiator. Good thing I had an extra 6" worth of frame on it anyway, now I have to redo the front bumper...damnit! Oh well, the things you have to go through for the sake of Zuki! Hehe!
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97 Sport
265/70-16s
2" lift
2.0 swap
I know...Pretty boring... FOR NOW...
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Offline Mike71

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Re:  Advice on Importing from Canada to US
« Reply #10 on: September 12, 2004, 05:58:39 PM »
Quote
It is again doing another conversion, a 2001 2.5L Suzuki V6 and auto.


u say that like itl be fast =)..mwahaha (and sh top secret remember lol)
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Offline Utah_Tracker

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Re:  Advice on Importing from Canada to US
« Reply #11 on: September 13, 2004, 01:34:12 AM »
One thing that you may want to look at is some of your local car dealerships. I know that at least in my area there are a lot of new and used Canadian vehicles that get brought over by them.  If you've got a friend or family in the business ask them for a little help.
  They used to call it "Grey Title", now they don't even have a name for the transfered vehicle.
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Offline Underpressure

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Re:  Advice on Importing from Canada to US
« Reply #12 on: September 13, 2004, 03:00:20 AM »
To get your Zuk across the border, you'll need to make sure it has the EPA sticker under the hood. If it doesn't (which is likely) you can order one from your dealer.
 Do not arrange to get it across the border yourself. Go through a customs broker. They can do things that we can not. Hope that helps.<---Jay,  Shogun Ent.
 edit: a CANADIAN customs broker.
« Last Edit: September 14, 2004, 02:53:26 AM by underpressure »
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Offline zukisuzi

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Re:  Advice on Importing from Canada to US
« Reply #13 on: September 16, 2004, 11:16:06 AM »
Thanks again for the help, guys. I'm still workin' on it! I'll get one, one way or another!!! Thanks, Jay - I've emailed with Geoff at the shop & appreciate your help!

Scott
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"I was so poor growin' up, if I wasn't a boy I'd've had nothin' to play with..."
--Rodney Dangerfield
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