Importing a Silvia K to Canada

[walterdixon]

So lately I have been considering importing an r32 skyline gts-t (1989) from japan to canada. The law in canada states that you can drive a car that wasnt originally destined for north america without complying to the safety laws as long as the vehicle is over 15 years old. I have looked into it, and I could get the skyline i want for under 10k canadian, all costs included. The only thing holding me back from doing so is the maintenance aspect. If anything breaks on the car, it's going to be down for a long time while I wait for the parts to get here from japan.

So then I started thinking about Silvia's. They share the same platform as the 240, so most parts other than engine and drivetrain should be interchangeable, right?

If I were to get one, it would be the Silvia K with the CA18DET. Would there be much reliability issues having this car in canada, keeping in mind that I will be fairly easy on the car, with the occasional spirited run. Will the maintenance costs be too high for a student with limited cash?

As for insurance, would it be higher than an average sport compact? I will be 18 with a full G class license when I buy a car.

Thanks to anyone with advice.

[FRpilot]

ca motor aftermarket parts are more difficult to find, but ca18 replacement parts should be available b/c they had a ca engine here in the states. it wasn't a turboed ca, but the parts interechange.

[Keo]

CROSSOVER PARTS (between the USDM CA18DE and the JDM CA18DET)

Oxygen Sensor CA18ET 200sx Bosch 13276 $47.99
Spark Plugs CA18ET* 200sx NGK PFR6A-11 $Varies
PCV Valve CA18DE Pulsar NX Bosch PCV142 $2.99
Thermostat CA18DE Pulsar NX 491-180 $4.99
Thermo Gasket CA18DE Pulsar NX Felpro 35228 $0.89
Water Pump** CA18DE Pulsar NX B150-1350 $33.99
Upper Rad. Hose KA24DE 240SX L-564 $7.99
Lower Rad. Hose KA24DE 240SX M-563 $7.39
Oil Filter CA18DE Pulsar NX Bosch 3400 $5.49
Alt Belt 4pk855 $9.99
PS Belt 4pk845 $8.99
AC Belt 4pk840 $8.99

* Exhaust side needed
** Includes Gasket

Oil filter 15208-H8911 Ryco Z386 or Ryco Z145A
Door bump rubbers 01658-J7000 (Skyline R31)
Exhaust manifold gasket 14036-D4200 (EXA 1.8, S13 CA18) Four separate pieces
Intake manifold gasket 14035-D5710 (CA18 all) Injector rail to cylinder head
Intake manifold gasket 14035-D5711 (CA18 all) Injector rail to intake runner
Intake manifold gasket 14035-53J10 (SR20 all)
Turbo inlet flange gasket 14415-75F10 (200SX)
or 14415-17M00 (S13 all) The Aust 200SX one fits.
Turbo outlet flange gasket 14445-26E00 (S13 all)
Engine front oil seal 13042-42L00 (CA18 all)
Engine rear oil seal 12279-18V00 (CA18 all)
Oil pan seal front 11121-01F10 (CA18 all)
Oil pan seal rear 11121-01F15 (CA18 all)
Head gasket 11044-51E00 (CA18 all)
Head gasket 11044-50F00 (SR20) until 9/92
Head gasket 11044-50F01 (SR20) from 9/92 till 7/93
Head gasket 11044-50F10 (SR20) from7/93 onwards
Engine gasket kit 10101-51E25 (CA18D) Engine rebuild gasket kits
Engine gasket kit 10101-56E25 (CA18DET)
Engine gasket kit 10101-50E25 (SR20DET)
Engine gasket kit 10101-51E26 (SR20D)
Flywheel Bolts 12315-55M00 $2.18
Valve grind gasket kit 11042-51E25 (CA18 all)
Valve grind gasket kit 11042-50F25 (SR20 all)
Fan belt 11720-V7301 (CA18 all) L = 855mm
Fan belt 11720-52F00 (SR20 all)
Compressor belt 11920-V7301 (CA18 all) also suits power steering pump
Compressor belt 11920-30R10 (SR20 all) also suits power steering pump
Water pump 21010-V5528 (CA18) until 8/90
Water pump 21010-V5529 (CA18) from 8/90
Water pump 21010-52F00 (SR20 all)
Thermostat 21200-V0201 (CA18 all) 82.0 C
Thermostat 21200-V0206 (CA18 all) 88.0 C
Thermostat 21200-53J00 (SR20 all)
Radiator cap 21430-01F01
Radiator hose - upper 21501-35F10 (CA18 all)
Radiator hose - lower 21503-35F00 (CA18 all)
Radiator hose - upper 21501-52F00 (SR20 all)
Radiator hose - lower 21503-52F00 (SR20 all)
Bonnet bump rubbers (large) 62840-D0100 (Skyline R31)
Engine coolant 10120-89904 Castrol
Dash switch back lights Nissan Aust, have similar types
$11.00 each **** Smith P8130, with fiddling needed or 12v lamps WT2-12 from WES Components, good fit. 65c each
Radius rods (Tension rods) 54468-35F20 (S13 all) includes bush Genuine Nissan imports (JSVA), Remanufactured with Urethane (Cars of Saigon ).
Wheel nut 62840-21001 (R31 Skyline)
Brake pads See service info page. Bendix and others.
heater hose w/valve part 02-0036 or p/n ch1649 same as 1988/90 holden commodore 3.8ltr
(needs to be cut slightly)

Headlight globe Who cares Any brand. H4 60/55W 12V or H4 100/55W 12V the second one has 100Watt high beam.
Rear Dampers
( shockers ) See Nissan Dealer or Nismo KONI. Part no. 80-401-081 sports kyb.
Approx $315 a pair.
Fuel filter 16400-F5100 (CA18 and SR20) RYCO Z202 or Z201
Air Filter 16546-V0100 (same as R31 Skyline) K&N high flow reusable type P/N 33-2031-1
Spark plugs 22401-58S16 (PFR6A11, CA18) Non resistor type NGK BCP6ES11 (11 = gap of 1.1mm)
Spark plugs 22401-53J16 (PRF6B, SR20DET)
Crank angle sensor 23731-85M10 (CA18 all)
Crank angle sensor 23731-50F01 (SR20 all)
Coolant temp sensor 25080-89903 (S13 all)
Steering Rack Boot (LHS) 48203-10V25 (same as local 300ZX, mabey R32 also)
Oil pressure sender unit 25210 89920 (generic nissan??)
Oil pressure sender 25240-89920 (S13 all)
Cam shaft timing belt 13028-51E25
Cam belt idler bearing 30BD219DWAX
Cam belt tenioner bearing. 35BD219DWAX
Clutch Master Cylinder rebuild kit. PBR Aust. K8690 (contains pistons).
K7689X (rubber components only).
Clutch Slave Cylinder 3062069F03

S13 Main Handbook (English) Nissan Publication SM9E-OS13G0 $230 tax ex.
RS13 Service Manual, Main Issue (Japanese) Nissan A008009 $143 Tax Ex
SR20DET S13 Engine supplement Nissan A008011 $187 Tax Ex
SR20DET S13 Wiring supplement Nissan A108012

crank sprocket - 13021-D4200 - $29.26
woodruff key - 00926-51900 - $1.02
crankshaft plate (behind sprocket) - 13022-42L00 - $1.78

Turbo Manifold gaskets -> head:

14036-D4201 (x2)
14036-D4202 (x2)

www.raretrick.com seems to carry quite a few CA products, including SAMCO CA18DET upper and lower radiator hoses as well as turbo hoses.
-------------------------------------------

Info is from NICO forums:

http://nissaninfiniticlub.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=29573

Enjoy.

[walterdixon]

Thanks Keo.

Does anyone have any reasons to why I shouldn't import a Silvia? I realize it's risky to buy a car from Japan without seeing it in person first, but that's the only set-back I can think of.

[Warwick5s]

the problem is that you're paying a whole lot for something you can get really damn close to without spending 10k getting it here. insurance companies will either not touch it, or will insure it at whatever value you put on it.


for a skyline..ok, i can see that.

for a silvia, with a ca18det? you could build something darn nice, having it all installed for you, for much less than having a whole car imported. or do you have to have RHD too?

[Keo]

Originally posted by walterdixon
Thanks Keo.

Does anyone have any reasons to why I shouldn't import a Silvia? I realize it's risky to buy a car from Japan without seeing it in person first, but that's the only set-back I can think of.

Before you start getting excited of getting an s13 imported, talk to your insurance co. I know that in quebec, insurance co.s insurance anything... and I mean anything for cheap. I pay 350$ a year for my 240sx. But it might be a different story in ontario.

Also, you need to pay an agent in japan to go to the auctions and bid on cars for you. Once it's done, you need to pay service taxes and you need to organise the shipment. Shipping to vancouver is pretty much your only option. It can take up to 6 months to ship it. Once it gets here, you need to get it cleared from customs. Then, you must change all litterature concerning safety usage of the vehicle from japanese to english and french. Then, you either have to fly or drive up to vancouver to pick up your car, or get it shipped by train if it can even fit =) And after all of this, you need to get it e-tested and safetied... and you might have some modifications to make.

Importing a car is alot harder than people think...

[Keo]

Originally posted by Warwick5s
the problem is that you're paying a whole lot for something you can get really damn close to without spending 10k getting it here. insurance companies will either not touch it, or will insure it at whatever value you put on it.


for a skyline..ok, i can see that.

for a silvia, with a ca18det? you could build something darn nice, having it all installed for you, for much less than having a whole car imported. or do you have to have RHD too?

I agree that it can be done for less money, but the chassis that you will have from japan will be in better shape and you can ask your agent to buy a car that already has a few mods. Ask him to buy you some bride seats and install them... give him a nice tip and get it shipped here =) Getting jdm parts is alot more costly when shipped by themselves :/

[walterdixon]

I can get the car to Canada for between 5 and 10k canadian. That's the total cost, including everything needed to legalize it and ship it here. The only problem is that the company I would be going through is located in another province, so I'd have to ship it from there, not a huge deal. www.jns-imports.com

[DaveSev]

Okay, 5k Canadian for a CA18 Silvia shipped from Japan? Isn't that about 3k American?


:bs:

[walterdixon]

Silvia's sell for dirt cheap in Japan. I'm sure the ones going for 5k aren't going to be in great condition, but if I were to spend say 8k I could get a good one.