Taking diesel converted Rover out of the country

[mongosd2]

And this is why it's so hard to get solid info about diesel Land Rovers on the web.

It reminds me of trying to get info on street plating a dirt bike. Theoretically it's illegal and impossible, but lots of guys did it. Once I learned the secret handshake and got the info (verbally), I did it too.

This is where your wrong...actual,solid information was given. Examples of truck being driven across the border and back, with swapped engines with zero issues...given the proper process of exporting a truck, and backed up by someone who exports/imports vehicles...

whatever

 

[Antichrist]

What about replacing your front or rear bumper with a non-DOT approved bumper? One that disables your airbags? If you get in a crash and your passenger is injured, did you know the insurance companies can refuse to cover you if you have installed non-approved parts?

This is a common misconception. DOT regs on bumpers have exactly zero to do with airbags or their deployment. The US DOT bumper regulations only address protecting the lights, radiator and limiting body damage to the vehicle.
I've never seen a bumper for a 4WD that disables airbags. At most they change the deployment time by a few milliseconds.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

This is where your wrong...actual,solid information was given. Examples of truck being driven across the border and back, with swapped engines with zero issues...given the proper process of exporting a truck, and backed up by someone who exports/imports vehicles...

No, you got me wrong. That's not what I meant at all.

What I'm saying is that the argument that ALWAYS ensues, is why the people who are actually doing this, usually just keep their mouths shut. On the rare occaision they speak up, this just happens again.

I'm siding with Doug on this.

 

[David Harris]

And this is why it's so hard to get solid info about diesel Land Rovers on the web.

It reminds me of trying to get info on street plating a dirt bike. Theoretically it's illegal and impossible, but lots of guys did it. Once I learned the secret handshake and got the info (verbally), I did it too.

And I thought it was tough to get advice on where to put my Hi-Lift . . .

 

[AxeAngel]

No one is this argumentative or stubborn. I just wish your typing was worse than it would definitely be chapman.

Too funny...

Doug, you going to the rally? I'm interested in checking out the new pres.

-Sam

 

[Maryland 110]

the adage holds true:
No good deed goes unpunished. Should have left him to his own devices.

I'm going to go take a ride in my Tdi 130.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

And I thought it was tough to get advice on where to put my Hi-Lift . . .

If you want some real fun, go ask the same question at some other forums. You'll be told if you put a diesel in your Rover, men in black helicopters will show up. I'm surprised Doug even said as much as he did here, it's gotta be frustrating.

If you want the real answers, find the guys who are actually doing these swaps (Doug, Dendy, ECR, etc.) , talk to them in person. Believe what they tell you, or don't. But it's impossible to have an honest discussion about this on the boards. Too many people have opinions about it.

 

[Viggen]

I am acquiring a 300tdi "kit" for my 95 D1 as we speak. It will be here in a couple of weeks at which point, it will reside in the truck within a week or two and the 3.9 will take its rightful place on the garage floor (or maybe my dads 79 MGB). I will go through and remove any evidence that there was ever a gas motor in there and replace them with as many diesel specific items as possible (with the exception of the VIN, obviously). I will then take it to my local DEQ branch office where the officer on duty will verify that it is now a diesel vehicle under Va law. I will then take that verification on DEQ letter head to the DMV and have a new title issued that officially lists my truck as a diesel. After that is all done, Ill have nothing left to do as, officially, the truck will now be a diesel to all concerned and I will drive it everywhere I can.

I never thought about border crossings until now and having now read the official Customs and Border Protection guidelines, if you make it out of the country, you will make it back in. They are on the lookout for stolen vehicles or people trying to avoid paying taxes by purchasing out of the country. Per their site, you show up, have proof of person and proof of ownership, have a destination in mind, do not have firearms or other restricted items, you are good to go.

By the way, the above process steps came directly from the Va. DEQ and I plan on following it to the letter so that it is legally mine.

IF you stick to everything that the EPA outlines, nothing related to your car is actually legal. Chevy motor in a Ford? Illegal as it changes your emissions and possibly your weight restrictions (one ton in a half ton thats a big no no). V8 in a V6 car. Illegal. Aftermarket dual exhaust? Changes to your emissions system and thats illegal. 4BT or Isuzu diesel in your half, three quarter or one ton? Illegal.

 

[Dendy Jarrett]

This is a funny subject to me. Let's see ... If I take a 2009 Jeep and put a Hemi in it ... does that make it illegal to take across the boarder? Jeep (the company) didn't do the work ... instead ... an aftermarket company did the work (hypothetical ... as I only own rovers!)

Let's say I own a 2009 Full Size Range Rover ... and I make a stretch limo out of it ... 52 feet long and 25 passenger ... is that illegal?

Technically ... yes, but really?

I have a friend that recently did the unthinkable. Bought a "goat" body from Land Rover (a goat is a show truck shell only), Bought a chassis, and a crated 300Tdi. He built the most fantastic 2009 110 I have ever seen. He went down to the DMV, got all the receipts for work performed, and they assigned him a VIN as a custom build. Would he dare cross the border in this? Would they take his truck?
Technically, it is a truck never offered or sold in the States ... but it is a legally built truck.
If he got the wrong guy in the wrong mood at Customs ... technically, they could make him jump through hoops, but in the end, ... I think he would "overcome" the obstacles!

This area gets to grey so fast that I don't think there are any black or whites.

Technically (by the letter of the law) Chip Foose breaks the law with almost every car he builds, but he builds some killer cars and they even make a TV show out of it!

I think this goes back to what other have said regarding the fact that for the most part, the border patrols are looking for illegal contraband or illegal alien. They are not really nit-picking over the legality of a particular car or truck (unless it is stolen!).

Carry on.
Just my worthless two cents.

D

 

[Martyn]

Doug

I have a lot of sympathy for you. It's an endless and thankless job trying to explain the legalities of importing vehicles into the USA.

Although US residence and or citizens grasp the fact we live under a Federal system, there seems to be a disconnect when it comes to vehicles. The Federal government sets regulations on imports into the USA, and as such set the rules.

US Customs in theory should check very vehicle that comes into the US to see that it is legally imported, but in practice they don't. However the person who imports the vehicle is still liable for fines, destruction of the vehicle, or re export if they import an illegal vehicle.

Once a vehicle is imported into the US it is then subject to the regulations of the State that it is registered in. This is a secondary process that follows the Federal regulations. Many people base their decision on State regulations when dealing with imported vehicles.

I posted up regulations in another thread;
NHTSA Regulations
EPA Regulations

 

[Maryland 110]

I am acquiring a 300tdi "kit" for my 95 D1 as we speak. It will be here in a couple of weeks at which point, it will reside in the truck within a week or two and the 3.9 will take its rightful place on the garage floor (or maybe my dads 79 MGB). I will go through and remove any evidence that there was ever a gas motor in there and replace them with as many diesel specific items as possible (with the exception of the VIN, obviously). I will then take it to my local DEQ branch office where the officer on duty will verify that it is now a diesel vehicle under Va law. I will then take that verification on DEQ letter head to the DMV and have a new title issued that officially lists my truck as a diesel. After that is all done, Ill have nothing left to do as, officially, the truck will now be a diesel to all concerned and I will drive it everywhere I can.

I never thought about border crossings until now and having now read the official Customs and Border Protection guidelines, if you make it out of the country, you will make it back in. They are on the lookout for stolen vehicles or people trying to avoid paying taxes by purchasing out of the country. Per their site, you show up, have proof of person and proof of ownership, have a destination in mind, do not have firearms or other restricted items, you are good to go.

By the way, the above process steps came directly from the Va. DEQ and I plan on following it to the letter so that it is legally mine.

IF you stick to everything that the EPA outlines, nothing related to your car is actually legal. Chevy motor in a Ford? Illegal as it changes your emissions and possibly your weight restrictions (one ton in a half ton thats a big no no). V8 in a V6 car. Illegal. Aftermarket dual exhaust? Changes to your emissions system and thats illegal. 4BT or Isuzu diesel in your half, three quarter or one ton? Illegal.

Go to the DMV Express in Tysons. I walk in, tell them I have converted a truck to diesel and they change the title and I walk out with the ammended title and registration. 10 mins max. No inspection or letters. This of course only works on pre OBD II vehicles.

 

[David Harris]

Go to the DMV Express in Tysons. I walk in, tell them I have converted a truck to diesel and they change the title and I walk out with the ammended title and registration. 10 mins max. No inspection or letters. This of course only works on pre OBD II vehicles.

Just out of curiosity, what's the deal with pre-OBD II versus OBD II vehicles in your area? I live in Illinois, so my case may be different, but I'm just interested in how they do this there.

David

 

[David Harris]

If you want some real fun, go ask the same question at some other forums. You'll be told if you put a diesel in your Rover, men in black helicopters will show up. I'm surprised Doug even said as much as he did here, it's gotta be frustrating.

If you want the real answers, find the guys who are actually doing these swaps (Doug, Dendy, ECR, etc.) , talk to them in person. Believe what they tell you, or don't. But it's impossible to have an honest discussion about this on the boards. Too many people have opinions about it.

I get what your saying. Most people aren't going to want to be on the record when discussing this. I spoke with ECR on the phone once and they told me that they don't do 300 Tdi conversions because they are illegal . . .

PT Schram has told me his story of having a 4.6L Rover engine seized by customs when he tried to bring it in. They were also threatening to fine him, etc. He had to present documentation showing that the 4.6 was an engine offered in US Rovers. In the course of it they told him not to even try bringing any more in because, "We are on to you Land Rover guys now . . ."

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Go to the DMV Express in Tysons. I walk in, tell them I have converted a truck to diesel and they change the title and I walk out with the ammended title and registration. 10 mins max. No inspection or letters. This of course only works on pre OBD II vehicles.

Exactly the same in Ontario. Walk in, tell them it's a diesel now, they change the registration, $10 and out the door. When it's time for emissions, show them the registration that shows it's diesel, they do a diesel smoke test instead of gasoline sniffer, out the door.

When I bought my dirt bike, I took the Certificate of Origin to the MOT, told them I put lights and a horn on it, they gave me a street plate.

I crossed the border 100 times with a 2001MY car with no cats (shame on me!). You could smell the exhaust from 100 feet away. Nobody cared. Never once heard anything about it. But they did confiscate my Mad Cow sandwiches and South American apples a few times.

 

[gjackson]

I'm looking for actual experiences here. I understand that people haven't had problems driving across the border and returning, but I'd still like to hear from any one who has actually shipped their diesel conversion overseas and brought it back in after their trip. Any problems?

No problems.

cheers