Importing crate engine from aus ?????

[pruggerdore]

Looking for advise on importing from aus. mostly on the customs? and import duties? gst tax's etc? Pit falls. rookie mistakes.
want to hear from those that have and do do it. not so much those that think they know. Thinking cheaper to bring in a modded engine done by people that do it everyday rather than the cost of doing it here and hopeing the rebuilder knows his shit. there's some horror stories out there
Thanks Clive

[Weemsy]

What motor you looking at getting ?

I can ask a guy I used to work with, he brought in a couple of old holdens and some motors etc, but it was a fair few years ago.....

[nismo26]

Use a Freight broker they will handle everything, GST is 15% of the total amount have to pay this when it lands no duty on car parts. Get the company to make a sturdy box for it that can take a few knocks during shipping. The freight broker will contact the company and arrange for it to be picked up and dropped to their container then it will be packed and be on its way to NZ.

Better off using a freight broker at this end then you get a really close idea on what it will cost, if you use their one they may not include their NZ agents fees so when it gets here you will have to pay the extra amount.


You will have to get a importers code it's free just need to fill out a form.

[pruggerdore]

Where do I find a freight broker?whats he worth? isn't he just another person to pay for not a lot. The costs are going to be the costs regardless right. the company exports to all over so was hoping to leave there side to them.

[TJ]

Who will be doing your clearance formalities at point of import? Delivery to your address? Paperwork? Which mode of freight. Customs at export port? A freight broker manages all that on your behalf and you get the stuff with minimum effort.

[4WDbits]

Freight broker will get things through customs faster and save a lot of hassle for little extra.

Why Australia? We find the freight cheaper from US for same size/weight, sea freight that is.

[nismo26]

Where do I find a freight broker?whats he worth? isn't he just another person to pay for not a lot. The costs are going to be the costs regardless right. the company exports to all over so was hoping to leave there side to them.

I can pm you the company I use.

When you send a small parcel with air freight with say DHL, DHL would be the freight broker they get the item to your door with little fuss,

The freight broker will have LCL containers that the goods can go in then they handle the paper work that goes with it, it's like using DHL for heavy sh*t.

I'd get a quote at this end and compare it to their shipping price, if its the same all good if not you can find out why.

[TJ]

Freight broker will get things through customs faster and save a lot of hassle for little extra.

Why Australia? We find the freight cheaper from US for same size/weight, sea freight that is.

I agree. Even for smaller items I find US cheaper to get from.

[pruggerdore]

A somewhat tickled v6 are cheap from aus re-builders compared to nz. but freight maybe the killer. what would be the guess from you guys as to what it would cost? looks like I shall be looking for a broker. any recomendations for brokers? USA well figure being an aussie engine....
May just get a set of heads yet. Thats where the most power is to be found. Rebuild balance the rest here. I know what you guys are thinking. why? lexus or ls1 and be done with it. Thing is my whole truck is set up around the v6 including virtually mid mounted and Im happy with it but just want a bit more power.
Should really start another thread but any recommendations for an NZ head specialist to port build a set of heads. Thing is here it's an individual case by case job =$$$ Whereas the aussies bang them out cnc styles and have them siting on the shelf . Thoughts people???
and thanks
Clive

[ChurchurDan]

Ring some engine builders and head specialists tell them what you have and what you want and ask for a ball park figure.
Personally I would be hesitant to import a built engine, if something goes wrong it is a long way to send it back. At least if something goes wrong with an engine built here you will have some comeback on the builder.

Have you thought about a supercharged version or stick a turbo on it, A well set up and sized turbo on one of them should add about 40% more power on 7psi without blowing it to pieces.

[1000dollamitzy]

Hi Clive
I don't know what sort of a motor you want, but if you want to import I can help get that sorted for you. A good broker will save you money not cost you money, and I just happen to know one of the best. Don't forget what I do for a job....if you call it that......

[pruggerdore]

yea rick was getting around to talking to you. supercharger turbo, problem is space. yep will be getting hold of a few engine builders this week. no of hours going in on head work scares me $ wise. just bouncing around ideas at this stage.

[on2it]

Ring some engine builders and head specialists tell them what you have and what you want and ask for a ball park figure.
Personally I would be hesitant to import a built engine, if something goes wrong it is a long way to send it back. At least if something goes wrong with an engine built here you will have some comeback on the builder.

Have you thought about a supercharged version or stick a turbo on it, A well set up and sized turbo on one of them should add about 40% more power on 7psi without blowing it to pieces.

+1

[slidenyo]

I'd account for a flight to oz just to check any said motor out,
they weren't labelled p.o.m.e's for nothing,
if you're running s2 I believe the super six guys were running a reasonably aggressive cam, headwork , balance shaft removal (then rebalance).
but in saying that I have been for a strop in a factory supercharged commodore with a "pulley" boost upgrade and a 3" straight through.
that was running consistent 12 sec quarters.
Guy at work has an unmolested factory supercharged one also he's been whinging that he can't get much more than $4k for it.

I'd be weighing up the outlay of a rewire to a factory blown one from nz,which will still retain factory replaceable parts but maybe more expensive on the outlay vs dealing with a worked engine from another country that you're going to pay wedge just to get here.

[pruggerdore]

I'd account for a flight to oz just to check any said motor out,
they weren't labelled p.o.m.e's for nothing,
if you're running s2 I believe the super six guys were running a reasonably aggressive cam, headwork , balance shaft removal (then rebalance).
but in saying that I have been for a strop in a factory supercharged commodore with a "pulley" boost upgrade and a 3" straight through.
that was running consistent 12 sec quarters.
Guy at work has an unmolested factory supercharged one also he's been whinging that he can't get much more than $4k for it.

I'd be weighing up the outlay of a rewire to a factory blown one from nz,which will still retain factory replaceable parts but maybe more expensive on the outlay vs dealing with a worked engine from another country that you're going to pay wedge just to get here.

haha yea I was thinkig a trip to aus and a pair of heads as carry on luggage.
Im hearing you guys. and all these things are considerations. superchargedv6 is definitely an option but again means throwing most of the mods out of my hilux and starting again. another truck in the pipeline will be ls1 or factory superchargedv6. alot to be said for factoy replacement parts. yea stockcar style engine is the direction Im heading but tailored to how we want power delivery. which is easy enough. But they pay moonbens getting them built up too. considered doing my own set of heads. porting etc but its very time consuming and an amateur s only going to get mediocre results. Its a art/science. read books on it years ago and its a bit of a can of worms.

Keep your thoughts coming Thanks Clive

[ChurchurDan]

Why would you have to start again to fit the supercharged V6? they are identical except the bit bolted on top and don't take up any more space.

[De-Ranged]

His motor has been pushed back into the cab about a foot the body comes up over the motor for a good portion

[ChurchurDan]

Well yeah that could be an issue.

[pruggerdore]

yep motor under the body and half way thru the dash. no it hasnt got an insane body lift.Actualy the body is lowered an down on to the chassis an inch very well balanced truck. just want to spin tyres a tad faster

[zukmeista]

What diffs/tyres you running, some lower ratios might help to spin them up.

[pruggerdore]

What diffs/tyres you running, some lower ratios might help to spin them up.

na Its pretty well sorted mate 4.8s 35 silverstones.longfields. lockers

[Weemsy]

How about a different trans or transfer box?
My hilux was running 3.9s originally if you remember?
I'm sure reece could knock up an adapter from trans to transfer

[churchill]

US$8000 for an LS3 480hp with electronics form JEGS. I'd say a $1500 for freight door to door, 15%for gst, $1000 for insurance. Around $14k landed I reckon.

[pruggerdore]

mmmmm auto bighorn transfer case is pretty low. you also had a 350chev turning those 3.9s wemsey.
wateva your gearing it takes x amount of power to spin a wheel to a set speed. ie perfectly geared for the application It still going to take x amount of power to spin the wheel of that size to a set speed for a set level of traction resistance
Tho reece did try to tell me that his SR20 would spin tyres better than my commy v6 as he was going to gear it better .
yep reece could adapt anything to anything alright. as long as it dosnt have to leave the shed and the internet it works real well.
wahoo game on.

[pruggerdore]

US$8000 for an LS3 480hp with electronics form JEGS. I'd say a $1500 for freight door to door, 15%for gst, $1000 for insurance. Around $14k landed I reckon.

yea um maybe not 5g have to be the max my insanity will go at this stage.

[pruggerdore]

Thoughts going around my head at present are... as diff is in front of sump drop engine 50mm on mounts which may give me enough top clearance to get super chargedv6 in. need an engine to measure. whats the electrical recipe to run the s/c v6??? can I bolt up to my series 1 trans. beefed up of course. will the motor work without its own trans.? off to do research. might go testdrive a s/c commy and have a measure up lol

[De-Ranged]

Tho reece did try to tell me that his SR20 would spin tyres better than my commy v6 as he was going to gear it better .

shows how little you listen I was talking about the V6 commy and rover box and stated it will be better geared

[zukmeista]

This had a standard 3.8 Commy, then that had a SC14 bolted to it and then ended up with the factory supercharged motor.
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=23622

[Weemsy]

Yeah I had a 350 but look how it just crawled around.
I'm not sure what the transfer box was but it was really well geared.
Having more hp with high gearing just means thing will probably break more as you need to get the engine in the sweet spot for torque to spin tyres.
This requires either re-mapping the ecu for power/torque to be most effective lower down the rev range, or get your gear ratios up to run the motor at the same speed as before, but have slower turning wheels.
This will then let you boot it and get immediate torque to the the wheels, rather than having to get the revs up (and the wheel speeds) before the motor is in the sweet bit of the torque curve

[ChurchurDan]

The SC v6 is bugger all taller if any than the Na v6. Computer wise you will need the ecu from the donor car which will need its security stuff removed. You could either use your existing trans or the later one that suits the motor. The later trans is controlled by the engine ecu. I know a bloke with the Sc v6 in a hotrod he sent the ecu and loom to a crowd in the north island and it came back ready to run with only 5-6 wires to hook up.
Which engine do you have the early vn style or the later ecotec?