Quote:
Originally Posted by jay_bob
Mach4 is right. That engine, if it does not have the blessing of the EPA, will not make it past the border. If you somehow slide it into the US and the government finds out they will not be happy.
Look over at the Range Rover forums for real tales of woe. People who manage to get Euro market RRs in past customs get them seized by the government.
Much easier to find a wrecked/rusted out US market 300D with a OM617 (better yet a turbo 617) and install that engine into your car. Pretty much a drop in because the 123 body used both engines.
Welcome to the forum and thanks for your service.
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This is because you have not read all the rules.
The EPA will allow you to import a brand new engine into the US, INTACT, if it is for an antique car.
I know this because there is a brand new (rebuilt) Citroen engine sitting in a crate in my basement, shipped from England. There is paperwork to fill out and there is a provision for shipping antique car engines in low quantity.
You might have issues getting 100 of them into the country, but not one.
I don't have the paperwork handy, but it's useful to carry the EPA reg with you to show Customs because they are not real well-informed. In fact, the customs form also includes this.
A good carrier to handle this is a company called Econo Caribe. Despite the name, they do handle this stuff.
Explain that you want to buy an engine that is for an antique car. Call up your seller and be sure that he/she knows it's for what American Customs considers to be an antique car as well.
Good luck! It takes about three months to do, have now done it twice.