New Surf owner 3.0L Turbo Diesel!!!!

[KZN-185]

Here's a good FAQ about importing vehicles to the US

Importation and Certification FAQ's Directory--All Vehicles

And here's the list of vehicles eligible for import.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/elig082610.pdf
The 1998 4Runner is approved based on it's similarity to the U.S. version but only the 1998.

I do have an airbag and since my Surf is a 1996, that would mean all 96-02 models have them. From what I've read, if someone or an import company wants to import non-US spec vehicles, a number must be brought into the country to undergo testing, crash and emissions most importantly. Those sample vehicles are used approve future imports and are destructive. So Surfs are most likely not approved because you can get the exact same car in the US so the market and profit margin is very small on a JDM version. This would be in comparison to say a Skyline or Slivia which are often imported and have a higher profit margin.

The turn signals are not OEM, you can probably find some on ebay.

 

[nighthawk]

I'm waiting for next year to see if people start importing the 3rd gen Surf's and see how the prices are. Next year, the 3rd gens are allowed into Canada (well, at least the 1996 ones).

 

[KZN-185]

Daylight lift pics.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5016708179/" title="DSC01936 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5016708179_ce841157f6.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="DSC01936" /></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5017313054/" title="DSC01933 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5017313054_cef260a70a.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="DSC01933" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5016705779/" title="DSC01930 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5016705779_342deb45c7_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="DSC01930" /></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5017312286/" title="DSC01931 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5017312286_94f245830c.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="DSC01931" /></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5016705355/" title="DSC01929 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5016705355_b2a4f691db_z.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="DSC01929" /></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5016704051/" title="DSC01926 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5016704051_72b8c43909_z.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="DSC01926" /></a>

 

[nighthawk]

Your Surf looks awesome. Thanks for sharing the pics. Can you take a pic of how the tailgate looks with the rear tire rack swung out? Basically, it would be interesting for me to see how the back looks behind the spare tire.

 

[KZN-185]

Here you go.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5046230396/" title="DSC01942 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5046230396_faafc4d0ee_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01942" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5045608359/" title="DSC01943 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/5045608359_9bf5cab136_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01943" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5045609019/" title="DSC01944 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5045609019_223c6bb503_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01944" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5046232434/" title="DSC01945 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/5046232434_bfa43c9f3d_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01945" /></a>

 

[KZN-185]

And some trail pictures from the weekend.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5046237414/" title="DSC01957 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5046237414_fa3dcbf996_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01957" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5045612947/" title="DSC01949 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5045612947_d5c21b4dc4_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01949" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5046234898/" title="DSC01948 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5046234898_dcddd1dee5_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01948" /></a>

 

[nrgwar]

Here you go.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5046230396/" title="DSC01942 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5046230396_faafc4d0ee_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01942" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5045608359/" title="DSC01943 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/5045608359_9bf5cab136_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01943" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5045609019/" title="DSC01944 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5045609019_223c6bb503_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01944" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5046232434/" title="DSC01945 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/5046232434_bfa43c9f3d_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01945" /></a>

And some trail pictures from the weekend.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5046237414/" title="DSC01957 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5046237414_fa3dcbf996_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01957" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5045612947/" title="DSC01949 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5045612947_d5c21b4dc4_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01949" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46475195@N06/5046234898/" title="DSC01948 by KZN-185, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5046234898_dcddd1dee5_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01948" /></a>

I want that read tire mount I do not think it will work with my USDM hatch or I could be wrong. Where can I buy that tire mount at?

 

[KZN-185]

Yeah you'd have to get a JDM Surf rear hatch and tire carrier for this setup to work but you had asked for pics on your other post. I believe the best I have seen from my time on T4R is to get one of the aftermarket bumpers that are setup for a rear tire carrier. I'm not sure who has them but you can use "search" and find a bunch along with links to some other sites.

 

[Paulos]

Awesome

That diesel will run forever...nice buy!

 

[4x4RunnerSR5]

beautiful car. when i was a kid i lived in honduras and we had a hilux and a 4runner, i guess in HN the hilux is the truck and they call the SUV 4runner.

 

[nighthawk]

Thanks for the pics. Love your rig.

 

[KZN-185]

Appreciate it y'all.
I finally received my sway bar end links (broke during lift install) yesterday and installed, what a difference in handling! Unfortunately, being under there gave me a good look at my ripped inner CV boot. Ordered from the US and waiting on parts again.
Snow tires going on this weekend, I can't wait to see how she does this winter!

 

[cek77]

Your truck looks great! I figure you could answer this one, does the SR5 = SSR-G or SSR-X? Or is it a whole different system? Ive been searching and cant seem to find a clear answer.

 

[KZN-185]

A little different since *i believe* options were more configurable for JDM.
As I understand it;
SSR = Base
SSR-V = Base plus a few options,
SSR-X = SR5
SSR-X Ltd. = SR5 plus Limited options
SSR-G = Limited

 

[IanB]

I actually joined the forum to compliment your truck, I love it! I'm looking to get a Surf in the very near future, and I'm considering importing a '95-'96 rather than picking from what's already here in Canada, slim pickings.

 

[IanB]

I actually joined the forum to compliment your truck, I love it! I'm looking to get a Surf in the very near future, and I'm considering importing a '95-'96 rather than picking from what's already here in Canada, slim pickings.

Figured I'd give you a bump, and update that I've now purchased a KZN185 of my own! Comes over on boat in Feb, I pick it up at the port in Vancouver!

 

[KZN-185]

Good luck, I hope you enjoy it! Outside of the CV boots after I installed the lift, I haven't had any problems. I just reaffirmed how glad I am for getting the lift and the truck after towing 4 people in the past week who couldn't make it out the road in front of work. That's 1 down and 3 more steak dinners to go haha!

 

[Avarice]

If only you could get cars with such low km's in North America. In a few years I fully intend to get a 99 Surf from Japan once they are finally legal in Canada. I know I could get a 96 now, but the 99 and 00 are the best years IMO, and mine will easily last until then.

The question is, how hard would it be to convert to LHD. I know people have done it in Civics and Integras. I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to source out the necessary LHD stuff from a Junkyard. What I wouldn't do for a LHD turbo diesel with under 60k and zero rust. :reddance:

 

[KZN-185]

I was blown away when I compared price vs miles in Japan vs the U.S. Mine had about 40,000 mi when I bought it for $5400. Those same miles and condition in the U.S. well, I couldn't even find. Anything close was around $10k. I didn't have any rust since they don't salt or sand the roads here. I've seen that a number of used car places will sand and repaint the underbody before putting it up for sale. Since the vehicle inspections here are much more stringent than the U.S. the quality of used cars is usually much better. I don't know the prices for LHD/RHD conversions but I imagine that it may be better to do an engine and tranny swap, new bushings and suspension on a U.S. model than trying the conversion.

 

[J i m s t e r]

The Surf is very popular in the UK, I have a '96 185 3.0D with the intercooler. It's pretty filthy at the moment and I am still finishing it (just the stereo to complete this week) and will post pics.

It has airbags driver and passenger side. It's SSR-G spec but no sunroof. The specs are very vague guides.