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Hi everyone,
I've recently accepted a job in California and I'll be moving there from Auckland in the coming months. I'm keen to take my EH project with me and I need a little bit of expert insight into the whole thing!
The car currently drives great with a tidy 179 in it. The next stage of work is to get the rust taken out, fit the fibreglass front guards and get the car in primer.
One thing I'm mindful of is the EPA in the US and their emissions restrictions. I have been considering for a long time about putting a more economical, and reliable, RB20 in it which I hear is a pretty simple conversion. The gearbox tunnel has already been modified due to a previous owner having a pretty hot 186 in it.
Any advice or thoughts on such an undertaking would be greatly appreciated!
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You may have to contact the town your headed to and ask the local RTA over there , some rules do not apply to very old cars just like here.
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A few years back i took a '46 Chev ute street rod to the US and spent 9 weeks cruising around. Getting it licenced was relatively easy because of it's age (pre '65 as is your EH) in spite of the fact it was small block, 4 barrel etc. The biggest issue was getting insurance which is compulsory in California. Every-one has to have it. Not being able to get it nearly torpedoed our trip until a friend of a friend who was an insurance broker put us on to a lurk.
As in any community there are those who are pretty much uninsurable, however because insurance is compulsory the insurance companies are forced to cover them, from recollection, from a "pool" where each is obligated to take a percentage of the "uninsurables".
I am not sure if this is still the case but it might be worth following up.
Cheers
Dave Ryan
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Thanks for the responses guys - I really appreciate it. One of the people I'll be working with over there is into his classics too so I'll ask him for some advice on insurance. Apparently because of the car's age, the EPA guidelines don't apply which is a good bonus!
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Hi There are quite a number of XB Falcon coupe's in the USA. Mainly because of the popularity of the Mad Max movies. Here is a link to a forum in Yahoo: http://autos.groups.yaho...stralianFordFalconClub/
Many of the forum users are Americans and or Aussies who have been involved in getting them over there and also getting rego etc. Join up and ask for some info and help. I am sure they will oblige. Your EH will be a big hit over there. Most of them have no idea of just what happens on this side of the Pacific. You must post some pics of it Cruising Sunset Boulevarde. Cheers Nick. |
"HOLDEN MONARO. OUT TO DRIVE YOU WILD!" |
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Hi Bode
When I took my car from Aus to the U.K I was advised to make sure the car did not leak oil or anything else.
You don't want to give them an excuse for not allowing it onto the road.
Also, with fuel prices being pretty cheap over there I'm not sure you need to worry too much about the running cost difference between a 179 and a RB30.
I would keep the 179 as it would be of more interest to Americans than a relatively modern Japanese motor.
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Hey mate,
Thanks for that. I actually did decide that keeping the 179 was the way to go - it'll be much easier to register given that it is >21 years old.
I'll make sure that my mechanic triple checks that there are no oil leaks or anything so I don't have trouble with that either.
Cheers!
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not sure why you would want to take an unfinished project to the USA. don't get me wrong, the EH is a great car, but so is a 69 camaro ... aussie dollar buying $1.10 today i would be taking a shipping container full of condoms. Edited by user Thursday, 28 July 2011 9:54:39 AM(UTC)
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Old holdens brought on the spot, quick decision, cash paid. |
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True but camaro`s ,mustangs were built in huge numbers there and an EH would have some curiosity.plus it would remind him of OZ.
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quote:
Originally posted by cloudy
True but camaro`s ,mustangs were built in huge numbers there and an EH would have some curiosity.plus it would remind him of OZ.
camaro/ mustang. like a commondore (ie clit) here! every c#*nt got one regards DD www.bellarineclassicautos.com.au
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Glad to see some more posts :)
I should've really been clearer! In it's current state, the EH is completely drivable. The only work that it needs is having the fibreglass front guards fitted and the whole thing will get a respray.
I've had the car since I was 16 (I'm 24 now) so there's a bit of sentimental value there too! I agree that a Fastback or Chevelle would be a cool project, but it's not going to take me much to get this one "finished".
Also, it's going from Auckland - not OZ! We have EH's here too you know ;)
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It really depends on how long you will be living in California. Is it worth 2 lots of freight ? Why not put it in storage in NZ & buy a yank car to drive in the states.
Dr Terry |
If at first you don't succeed, just call it Version 1.0 |
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I'll be in the US indefinitely, and the company I'm going to work for (Blizzard Entertainment) has put up a generous relocation package to help cover the costs. Believe me, I'd toyed with the idea of getting a cheap daily driver over there and then getting another project.
But, given that the amount of work to get this car "done" is quite small, for about the same cost (or even cheaper) I can have the EH over there and driving like a dream!
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Mate take the EH. Sure some of the American cars would be cool to own, but the yanks have seen all those before.
Once you are there you will have a vehicle that is almost totally unique. That's why it's worth doing.
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I have been recently talking to a guy who works for Year One (huge restoration parts supplier in Georgia USA), he was saying he worked in WA for a while and took back a Ford (don't remember the model). He had a bit of trouble. I'd be looking into it a lot further. If you want I can get the contact name and number of the person I was talking to. He's the International salesman for YearOne. Nice bloke - who loves Australian Cars.
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@Pumpa15 - that would be a huge help. I really want to get in touch with someone who's an authority on the subject. At the moment, I'm trying to sift through a heap of contradictory information which isn't making the process any easier!
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Hi, I just sent you an e-mail with the details. Let me know if you don't get it.
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How did you go with Mikes reply?
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I've been meaning to thank you! He was absolutely brilliant :)
He told me to say hi too!
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Thats great.
I hope it works out for you.
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