Thread: EPA and customs nosing in on my gti-r clip import

So I get a call today from jdmtigerjapanese saying that the EPA and US customs contacted them from the home office in New York to inquire on what vehicle the engine form my gti-r front clip is going into. The EPA wants the VIN and model of the car the the gtir motor will be going into.

So I am thining hell motha f'n no. I told them that the front clip was imported asa parts car and the engine was broken down and the parts sold off and some used. I do not want them keeping tabs on my car and having the federal government knowing what engine is in my car.

Anyone else import a front clip or engine and have this happen? I was contacted by JDMTiger,not the EPA, but they said the EPA wants a response within 10days or they will contact me directly. SO yeah I sent JDMTiger an email about the intent for parting out the clip.

Anyone?

YEah what ever you do don't let the feds know that info. Tracking you is no good.

If you ever get the cops on your ass, they'll call in the vette to chase you down if they know you got that motor.

Well thanks for the somewhat funny sarcastic post, but I really want to know if anyone else hasdealt with this, if it is something new the EPA is doing to keep pollution down or what.

My calssic se-r came with an sr yes so maybe not a big deal, but no cars came with the sr20det and if the feds know what notor comes in the gti-r, which they do I am sure, then I dont wanna deal with the hassle of offroad use only and making it hard to re-register my car and pass emissions.

Tell them you are building a kit car with no VIN and no intension of running it on the street. If they question it, tell them to prove it. Not sure if this would work either but get a vin off of a car at a dealership or like Autotrader or something.

They will probably check if the VIN matches the owner of the title. If it doesn't you SOL. I believe your best bet is just saying its for parts.

EPA needs to spend it's time and energy elsewhere.

It probably doesn't help much that you live in California either. But I would suggest telling them it's either being parted out or for race use only...my brother purchased a JDM SR20 from Noyan Engines (Higher compression, no EGR) and we've never had these kinds of problems.

I told them the car was for parts. They wanted a copy of the title of the vehicle the engine is going into. So I told them I tore down the engine and sold off the pistons and rods and turbo and so the engine would not be going into any specific vehicle. We will see what they say.

Is noyan outside of the US? Also did you have it delivered to a cali address? I dont know, I never bought a clip before, only engines, and they were not form another country so this is new for me. TigerJDM said it was standard and happens all the time since it goes though customs to a residential address and not business tjhey wanna know what car the engine is going into to see if it is a raplacement or upgrade for smag purposes. I'll be damned if the feds are gonna monitor my engine choice.

Luckily the VIN reflects that a sr20 should be in the chassis, but I dont wanna deal with it, easier to say broken down into parts.