Americans: ever got a Canadian diesel over the border? - IDI Engine - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• Americans: ever got a Canadian diesel over the border? by ilikevwdiesel on 21 Mar, 2009 19:18
• Last summer I went up to Montreal and parted a couple Mk2 TD cars. I went to cross back into the US with 2 motors and the fascist bully boys at the station said, "no EPA tag, no dice". So I went back to Canada with them. I did manage to get them across but it was pure luck (won't go into details). Anybody in the US have any advice for a future attempt?
• #1 by Turbinepowered on 21 Mar, 2009 21:11
• Wait, they rejected just the engines? That's odd, most stories I hear they reject whole cars, not parts.
• #2 by ilikevwdiesel on 21 Mar, 2009 21:38
• yeah they wouldn't let the motors over. I had a bunch of other stuff from the cars that could go but not the motors with the pumps and turbos on them.
• #3 by jtanguay on 21 Mar, 2009 22:48
• the EPA = nazi's
  
  i can't believe you would need an EPA tag... that is totally lame.  maybe they should go after the real polluters and leave people alone.
• #4 by moTthediesel on 21 Mar, 2009 23:04
• I crossed with a couple of Canadian diesel LandCruiser engines a few years back. I just told them they were "some old Toyota engines", and that was all they needed to know, they just waved me through.
  
  moT
• #5 by wolf_walker on 21 Mar, 2009 23:54
• Lie.  A lot.
  
  Screw them.
  
  And the A2 diesel wasn't any different than ours was there?
• #6 by arb on 22 Mar, 2009 00:08
• When I got back from my 16 hour wasted trip to buy what Jeff Desroche said he had - an 1983 complete and running rabbit diesel, I checked first with the detroit agents. Because it was 25 years old, it is exempt from EPA rules.... at my crossing with the consolation diesel parts in the back of my jeep (Jeff flat out lied about having this car) I told the agent I had diesel engine parts, but I had just bee, swindled about buying a entire diesel car. They did not even ask how many dollars in parts I had or years.
  
  So, next time you go for diesel engines, get a "bill of sale" from whom ever you buy from and have it clearly state the year and it will be at least a 25 year old car. You will then have legal rights to bring them here as EXEMPT from EPA sticker laws. (There is such a law, but it has exception at 25 years and older) - OR if the diesel was newer but had a VIN in the range they also sold in the US... the Nazi agents have access to some database with the VIN numbers.
• #7 by subsonic on 22 Mar, 2009 00:55
• I'll find what you need to go get your engines.
• #8 by subsonic on 22 Mar, 2009 01:01
• Search is my friend, besides I did the same thing.  Rock on and go get your engines with this printout.
  
  Jim
  
  

  Quote from: "myke_w"

  Thanks for the reassurance.
  I found the rulkes applying specifically to this situation.
  
  Here is the link http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/quiktext.htm#usversion
  
  B. (2) Engine not in Vehicle or Chassis
  
  EPA regulates the entire vehicle, not individual parts, for cars, light trucks, and motorcycles. If an engine is not installed, and is to be used in a car, motorcycle, or light truck, it may be imported as an automotive part. No approval or Customs bond is required by EPA. Importers should be aware, however, that replacement of an engine in a U.S. version vehicle with an engine of a different type or model year which is not currently covered by an EPA certificate or will be covered by an EPA certificate prior to introduction into commerce may violate EPA regulations.
  
  To import an engine for use in a car, light truck or motorcycle, the importer must file with U.S. Customs, upon entry, an EPA Form 3520-1 and declare code "W" on that form.
  
  link to form
  
  https://www.smartwebmove.navsup.navy.mil/swm/documents/EPA%203520-1.pdf
  
  
  For a "heavy" vehicle or "heavy" truck, EPA regulates the engine, whether or not it is installed. EPA considers a vehicle or truck as "heavy" if it has a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 8,500 pounds, or a curb weight of more than 6,000 pounds. To be imported, such an engine must be either excluded, exempted, covered by an EPA certificate of conformity, or imported by an independent commercial importer.
• #9 by jtanguay on 22 Mar, 2009 01:39
• so the above post basically means that the border guards were full of crap, and should be fired for malconduct.
• #10 by allsierra123 on 22 Mar, 2009 04:38
• I drove my aaz across with no troubles. I declared I had an engine they didnt want to even look at it and waved me through. That was crossing in wa state though.
• #11 by ilikevwdiesel on 22 Mar, 2009 08:15
• Quote from: "allsierra123"

  I drove my aaz across with no troubles. I declared I had an engine they didnt want to even look at it and waved me through. That was crossing in wa state though.

  
  
  you drove the car across the border? whose license plates and registration did you use?
• #12 by subsonic on 22 Mar, 2009 08:19
• It's like any big organization.  Some guys are squared away and know all the regs pretaining to their jobs, some don't but will look it up, and some don't want to be bothered with the hassle.  If you are lucky you deal with the squared away guy's, if not you just need to politely present the reg for reference and your form.  Hopefully the next time they run into the same situation they will remember and not turn back the engines.
• #13 by arb on 22 Mar, 2009 10:42
• Quote from: "jtanguay"

  so the above post basically means that the border guards were full of crap, and should be fired for malconduct.

  
  
  LOL !  That's why we call them the "Department of Homeless Security" because they don't have a clue about real security. My wife is an immigrant from Ukraine and those guys have lost her paper work many times, twice resulting in them making her "an illegal alien". I could go on all day, but this is OT and my blood pressure meds only go so far ;-) .
  
  So, Yes. But the point is to give them a reason to allow you and your 25 year old engine in. The risk of a though search of your car would be worth it if you had to ask for a command agent as you know the law allows your 25 year old car / engine in.
• #14 by subsonic on 09 Apr, 2009 15:07
• Quote from: "arb"

  When I got back from my 16 hour wasted trip to buy what Jeff Desroche said he had - an 1983 complete and running rabbit diesel, I checked first with the detroit agents. Because it was 25 years old, it is exempt from EPA rules.... at my crossing with the consolation diesel parts in the back of my jeep (Jeff flat out lied about having this car) I told the agent I had diesel engine parts, but I had just bee, swindled about buying a entire diesel car. They did not even ask how many dollars in parts I had or years.
  
  So, next time you go for diesel engines, get a "bill of sale" from whom ever you buy from and have it clearly state the year and it will be at least a 25 year old car. You will then have legal rights to bring them here as EXEMPT from EPA sticker laws. (There is such a law, but it has exception at 25 years and older) - OR if the diesel was newer but had a VIN in the range they also sold in the US... the Nazi agents have access to some database with the VIN numbers.

  
  
  You should try and get the vin from the doner vehicle as backup to show that it is an ok US vehicle, or 25 years or older.  You can also call ahead to the crossing you are going to use and ask them to give you the phone number to the closest CBP Import Specialist.  They will be able to give you the full run down on what you need to do.