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View Full Version : how to notice if a car is really imported from japan??

luckie2hav3her
10-27-2005, 07:32 PM
theres a 240 or "180sx" for sale on ebay right now, its blue.... and the guy is saying he imported it from japan and has paper work.... wat i wanna know is if theres a physical way to prove on the car that it really is from japan.... all i can think of is to check for welds around the firewall too see if the car was originally a 240.... thx for the advice
chmercer
10-27-2005, 07:41 PM
if the only reason you are buying it is because where its from, you suck. if you like the car, buy it.
Andrew Bohan
10-27-2005, 07:43 PM
all s-chassis in america come from japan
krustindumm
10-27-2005, 07:43 PM
look at the VIN plates.
alexchanman
10-27-2005, 08:00 PM
check if its RHD!! and vin.
TheSnail
10-27-2005, 08:03 PM
If you dont get a title with it, then its real.
90RS13
10-27-2005, 08:17 PM
or stolen lol
FaLKoN240
10-27-2005, 08:53 PM
The title, the Vehicle ID plate that is located in the engine bay. All the JDM bullshit that is different about their cars than our cars, climate control, interior, etc. There's probably a bunch of little differences.
mrmephistopheles
10-27-2005, 09:23 PM
biggest indicator that it's from Japan (something that's not likely to be 'converted') is the lack of complete framerails.
TheSnail
10-27-2005, 09:28 PM
^^^like M said. A real silvia is around 2550lbs, where our coupes are around 2700. My friend has a real one, and makes fun of my stripped out usd one weighing as much as his stock.
ranisron
10-27-2005, 10:17 PM
Mod, what exactly is this frame rail thing? could you enlighten me on this thing please? thank you.

biggest indicator that it's from Japan (something that's not likely to be 'converted') is the lack of complete framerails.
infinitexsound
10-27-2005, 10:45 PM
frame rails are beams that run the length of the car.. kinda like when u look under u see a 2 beams 1 on each side..
Ian
10-27-2005, 10:46 PM
check the vin plates...it should have matching japanese ones all around (they are noticably different then ours)
unwed_transient
10-28-2005, 12:55 AM
why would you want a jdm s13 since you live in california? you realize cops where we live are complete asshats and hate imports like no other? you realize rhd cars do nothing more than attract unwanted attention from the po-po?

just a reminder: driver's side=left side.
!Zar!
10-28-2005, 02:37 AM
why would you want a jdm s13 since you live in california? you realize cops where we live are complete asshats and hate imports like no other? you realize rhd cars do nothing more than attract unwanted attention from the po-po?

just a reminder: driver's side=left side.
But RHD make you a jdm hardparker~
nrg
10-28-2005, 03:16 AM
Check to see if there any JDM dirt in the car.

btw, so cal has tons of rhd cars. they're a dime a dozen.
TheSnail
10-28-2005, 03:21 AM
My old car was rhd, and didnt I look like a dumbass yelling at the Wendys drive through speaker. Not to mention picking up the food.
unwed_transient
10-28-2005, 03:42 AM
well, there is one (1!!!) drive through that is set up for rhd in my area, and i guarantee it's a entepreneurial mistake. but i guarantee no-one from my area does a rhd conversion to be able to hit up this one obscure drive-thru.


btw:Zar, i park hard. real f'n hard. lol :rofl:
Rkesh88
10-28-2005, 04:55 AM
all 240sx's were made in japan until the last day of june 23rd, 1998
Romeyo07
10-28-2005, 06:01 AM
I'd imagine trying to pass people up wouldn't be as easy either, but parallel parking would be better.
sciamop
10-28-2005, 07:40 AM
biggest indicator that it's from Japan (something that's not likely to be 'converted') is the lack of complete framerails.

Interesting piece of trivia. Thanks Meph!
Var
10-28-2005, 10:13 AM
That's why US chassis is stronger.

What i would like to know is what's the difference if the shell is really from Japan or not? If someone's taken the time to do a RHD conversion and that's the kinda gay stuff you're into, then it shouldn't matter as long as it's clean and functioning like it's supposed to.
DaPCWiz
10-28-2005, 10:28 AM
There's a Checkers with a RHD drivethru around my way.... no clue why. You can go around either side of the building so its RHD and LHD friendly.
rps13_fastback
10-28-2005, 01:03 PM
you guys know you'd be jocking that RHD if you saw it on the streets stop frontin'

unless you're in socal
nrg
10-28-2005, 01:35 PM
many In and Out in so cal have both LHD and RHD drive thrus.
TheSnail
10-28-2005, 01:48 PM
you guys know you'd be jocking that RHD if you saw it on the streets stop frontin'


Not really. I dont see why people would spend the time to do it. Its a pain in the ass especially if you have power doors. The only reason I did was to clear a pair of turbo's rather then spending 2k for a mount kit. But then having rhd, the car turned into a 16yr old dick magnet. So if you’re into being surrounded by a bunch of penises when ever you park, go for it. Whatever floats your boat.
Romeyo07
10-28-2005, 01:54 PM
+1

Interesting to see if you've never seen it. I have, so no thrill here.
ramblux
10-28-2005, 04:46 PM
There's a Checkers with a RHD drivethru around my way.... no clue why. You can go around either side of the building so its RHD and LHD friendly.

They're all like that. I have one on my corner. I just use the left one because I have no problem reaching over. I always get my food faster that way :)
sblack13
10-28-2005, 10:39 PM
yeah look at the vins i believe the japanese cars vin's start with something like

if it were a fastback the first part of the vin on firewall would be

rps13 (japan)

and

jn1ms or jn1hs (u.s)
Ghettokracker71
10-28-2005, 10:44 PM
Hahah->there is a guy on the boards(his name is sepurel or something like that) with a RHD converted 240sx. Real clean job. I've ridden in it. Theres some dead giveaways its USDM though. (USDM 8K RPM gauges for one) but he was telling me about going through a drivethrough in reverse haha
Gnnr
10-29-2005, 11:34 PM
Post office trucks are JDM tizzyte yo!

RHD drive would suck for right handed people wouldn't it? Atleast I think it would for me, I like shifting with my right hand. I bet you the Japan tuners are going to start doing LHD conversions since they want to be like us now. lol
Tenchuu
10-29-2005, 11:59 PM
Post office trucks are JDM tizzyte yo!

RHD drive would suck for right handed people wouldn't it? Atleast I think it would for me, I like shifting with my right hand. I bet you the Japan tuners are going to start doing LHD conversions since they want to be like us now. lol

yes shifting with your left hand does suck for us americans. i remember it was like a monkey doing a math problem for me when i lived in japan. hated the shit outa the left handed shifting. but i could shift from the passenger seat like a pro.
mrmephistopheles
10-30-2005, 02:25 AM
yes shifting with your left hand does suck for us americans. i remember it was like a monkey doing a math problem for me when i lived in japan. hated the shit outa the left handed shifting. but i could shift from the passenger seat like a pro.


Meh, it's not so bad.
Now - COLUMN shifting in a RHD configuration - THAT'S a pain in the ass.
SilviaNinja240
10-30-2005, 03:00 AM
took me like 2 minutes to get used to RHD, you get used to it real quick
I don't see any difference from LHD and RHD, other than how you enter the car.

btw, could you post the ebay link to this car we've been talking about all this time?
Var
10-30-2005, 01:18 PM
Luke, Egay links are not allowed anymore per MrMeph. It's "free advertising" and mostly just a waste of time.
FRpilot
10-30-2005, 01:25 PM
Post office trucks are JDM tizzyte yo!

RHD drive would suck for right handed people wouldn't it? Atleast I think it would for me, I like shifting with my right hand. I bet you the Japan tuners are going to start doing LHD conversions since they want to be like us now. lol

maybe they can start a new driving technique where right handed drivers would reach over and shift with the right hand. haha