Has anyone thought about importing a diesel to convert their 3rd gen to one? I have found 2 sites:

http://www.japan-partner.com/

http://www.monkys.jp/e/


Has anyone dealt with them?
Thanks

 

why would you import a perfectly good Hilux Surf and do an engine swap, when it would be easier just to take all the tings of your 4Runner and put it on the Surf. I was thinking about it for awhile, but it all dependson would it pass US emissions standards? could you do that and drive it legally?

 

i dont think id import a whole new vehicle. If it were left hand drive, then i would and then build up the deisel, but its right hand drive, which would be a pain in the butt to do things to...

 

Cant pass crash ratings I think if you were to import the surf. Could be wrong but thats why we dont see a ton of models they have over there.

 

Here is what I remember...

There is a list of approved vehicles actually... just b/c its offered in the Us doesn't mean it will be allowed from overseas easily... to get a vehicle on the approved list they crash and tear apart 5-6 working vehicles which have to meet emissions.

Example: the RX7 93-95 (us) and 93-99(jpn) is not on the list... shipping is about $3500 then there are all the duties and taxes and in most cases an attorney needs to take care of all of it... Final cost is usually about $6-8K to get it here.

Getting the diesel engine and all components to the Us would be much more cost effective, then register the vehicle in an area that does not do emissions (Louisiana/ Mississippi, etc)

 

Interesting links. This Toyota looks oddly familiar, a Japanese version of the H1.



1996 Toyota Megacruiser

 

The diesel engines don't meet US emission standards.

 

there are heaps of JDM imports out here, especially hilux (and surfs) and LC prados. However, here in canada,there is a 15 year restriction on them, so they have to be 15 years or older. So anything newer than 93 cant be imported. Hence, no 3rd gen (or 96+) surfs here...

but if you want the diesel, might as well keep it the RHD. its a pain and very spendy to convert to LHD properly and safely. swapping the diesel lump into a US spec truck..well thats probably just as difficult.

they are wicked motors though. have wheeled with a few hiluxes and seen plenty a nice prado, fully equipped with PTO winches and oem rear tire carriers. and SA's...of course.

 

If I wanted the diesel engine, I would go to one of the Central American countries and buy a used vehiclce there. They are left hand drive and had diesel engines offered. You could also maybe drive it back to the US...

 

heres one in Brazil, 2002 4x4 3.0lt Turbo Diesel...
http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/M...-novissima-_JM
Not cheap though... I think it works out to be about US$42,000

 

when i did JDM stuff for mazda's we would get the whole front clip brought in it would be a lot cheaper than the whole truck (a shipping cont. was like $2k-$2500 to ship it over here)

 

techno...i have a bit of advise for you. YOU could buy a used vehicle,except down here they unplug the speedo at an average mileage of 150-200, 000 miles, and this is years ago they unplug it, they still do it to newer vehicles, it is so that they can do that, take it to the states and sell it at a high price due to low mileage. But you can buy a brand new diesel Toyota Hilux double cab fully loaded for about 70,000bz which would be like 35us. the Fourtuner is even cheaper and it is like a Highlander but looks like a RAV4/4Runner cross. And you are right, it is left hand drive and turbo diesel intercooled 3.0/4.0L available. And they even special order left hand drive japanese vehicles such as a brand new Hi-Ace. But if i had the money i would import Toyota's brand new V8 Turo Diesel from Austrailia in the Land Cruiser series.

As fr the Toyota Mega Cruiser. it is like the H1 but so much more sophisticated, it has4 wheel steering capability, a V10 gas or Diesel, front and rear solid axel, front and rear selectable lockers, deflate/inflate tires with an onboard air compressor like the H1. Adjustable air suspension. nad the list goes on. i drove a fully loaded one, and BOY was it a joy ride, best thing i ever drove in my life, and i have even driven my friends H1.

 

What i want to know is why it takes SOOOOooooo long for all the neat toys they have on the JDM surfs and other cars to reach the US?

 

The thing with the JDM vehicles is that they often have less then 60kmiles on them. Japan requires vehicles to be very well maintained also.
That's what makes them so attractive to import.

 

The US is just boreing lol

Probably a lame conspiracy to keep US automakers in business by keeping all the better vehicles out of the country.

 

BINGO we have a winner

 

I saw someplace that in Japan it is not uncommon for 60% of someones income to go to there car. and this is not just the guys with the rice cars, this is as a whole even the moms will do this...

 

I can think of many American's who spend at least half their income on their vehicles as well, but probably not nearly as many as you are talking about in japan.

 

Yeah, people like you and me will do that easy..lol

But this was saying that the national avarge was %60 of income went to there cars. Then you have the guys like you and me that would spend %90 on the car.

And the parts over there are way cheaper and better then here as well... just think what you could do...

 

Better vehicles? There are a few but there are also cool USDM vehicles they can't get anywhere outside of north america and some rich folks love to export them from the US and they pay for it.

Grass is always greener looking at it from here.

What vehicles are on your wishlist that we don't have a version we can't get here?