HanSoloWS6

I'm thinking about moving to the UK in a year or 2, Nottingham/Derby vacinity, and I'm thinking about bringing my 3rd gen along when I get settled in and licensed.

What are some things I should know to help with it passing MoT and other issues? My car details are in my sig. What should I try to do over time to be prepared while still in the States? We have an emissions test where I live, so that's about the only inspection we have here. Any mod's I can do here would be great and would save me the hassle and time of trying to get it done when I get the car over there.

Do you think it would pass inspection if most of my performance mod's happen here? Like the chassis upgrade with all the tubular parts from Spohn and tubular K-member, also lowered by springs or coilovers. And if I get my twin turbo set up done on a new motor? I expect the tax to be around $160GBP/$257USD every 6 months I think it was or a year. I can't remember right now.

On the lighting issue, would I have to change the front and rear side fender marker lights to clear or leave them amber(front) and red(rear)? And I guess I have to add flashing side marker lights(wings) on the front fenders, correct? And I read something about the headlight needs to be aimed left on lowbeam. Is there something else on that, or is it just aim it with the adjusting screws?

General maintenance parts availability. How hard is it to get brakes, tune-up, oil/lube and engine parts?

Lastly, what is the drag scene like? Is it similar to here in the States and something held every weekend? Are there test and tune nights or just regular racing? I'm planning on moving relativly close to Shakespere Raceway, so I'd like to know how often I can hit the track.

It's going to cost about $1500+USD insured to ship it, not including any other taxes and expenses, but I don't want to leave my "baby" behind. It would be like leaving a member of the family or favorite pet behind . Thanks and sorry so long.

cunawarit

I’ll try and answer some of your queries, but I am new to 3rd gen F-Body ownership in the UK so there are many things I don’t know myself.

Emissions wise you shouldn’t have any problems. Emissions tests here are much less stringent than in most American states. So you’ll be OK. Performance mods should not be a problem, the UK is nothing like Germany for instance where all mods are checked and re-checked... But before you go nuts with mods remember that fuel here is MEGA expensive.

The MOT is a basic safety and emissions test and unless there’s something terribly wrong no car should have trouble passing it. As for the lights, well it can be an issue with American cars, the quick and ‘naughty’ workaround is to put tape on the lights for the test and then remove it afterwards.

Indicators HAVE to be amber, both sides and rear…. Am I wrong in thinking that all 3rd gen Camaros come with Euro-lights??? Did Firebirds and TAs not do the same thing? Sorry, I don’t know, but if your car has red indicators at the back you will have to change them...

Road tax, well you fall in the higher tax bracket and that is £160 a year. There are two brackets for older cars (under 1.5 litres) and above.

Parts aren’t a problem as long as you know who to order them from. Obviously they cost more than they do in the USA but still compare well to even lowly European cars like VWs. Service shouldn’t be a problem, but for bigger repairs you’ll have to take the car to a specialist garage, I am fortunate that I have a garage really close to where I live.

I hope that has been helpful, but as I said I am still very new to F-body ownership in the UK... So some of the older members might be of more help

ZZ42Fast

iTrader: (2)

cuarwarit is right with all his answers. As for the darg scene, it is pretty lively over here with a run taking place virtually every weekend at either Shakespeare County, Santa Pod or North Weald (London). Many are run what ya brung and really just a bit of fun. I've never looked into it seriously but have been to about 7 meets or so.

Twin turbo set up? Wow sounds mean and shouldn't be a problem passing any tests over here.

I haven't touched the lights on the IROC since it's been over here. You can adjust the beam angle easily enough by the adjusting screws. You may have trouble by not having rear foglights which is a legal requirement. They have high intensity bulbs. This can be overcome by knowing where to take the car for its MOT or by putting an ugly stick on light underneath the rear bumper.

Look forward to meeting you at the strip when you come over!

Felix

cunawarit

ZZ42Fast, right... I have not had to do an MOT on my car yet, but it has been here since early 1991 and it has passed all its MOTs. Without a rear fog light!?!?!

Will I have to find an "understanding" MOT tester?

RMK

Get as many mods and parts fitted to the car as possible before bringing it into the country. By doing so you will get all of the stuff in without having to pay postage, 10% import duty and then the 17.5% TAX on anything that you get sent over.

Everything else has pretty much been discussed.

Just a thought.

Robert

ZZ42Fast

iTrader: (2)

cunawarit, yes you will need to find a good local tester. I have one near me that I use. There is a slim chance of getting away with it otherwise but it is a legality over here in the land of fog

Cheers,
Felix

irocfan

well you seem to have been pretty much covered by what the other brits on here have said - mind you a lot of it does change I believe if you are over here as part of the USAF

in theory you need to change the rear lights (gm have a euro spec set available but I should imagine knowing the general that they are $$$$$) or get some sort of adaptor for the turn lights (a lot of people use the reversing lights)... in practice it MAY be worth your while getting over here and seeing if you can find an understanding test centre... but most will insist on a rear fog light passenger side (on a removeable bracket is fine)

as RMK said get as much done on the car before it comes over here otherwise both in terms of parts costs and labour charges you will freak that you didn't get it done before-hand... having said that be aware that the price of gas over here is criminal

check out insurance costs since you will not have a UK driving record and this may casue a little extra hiccup/expense

as an aside to cuna... the euro-spec lights on the camaro sit on the outside rather than towards the centre like most of ours are - get the feeling that this is one of those things that MOT centres really just can't be arsed with

HanSoloWS6

Well, getting the parts installed is not a problem since I am a mechanic and do all of my own work here. The tail lights on my Firebird have an amber signal light. But from what I understand, it has to be on the outer edge or just has to be amber?

One of the questions I had was refering to the red side light on the rear quarter panel of Firebirds. I read somewhere, maybe I read wrong, but all lenses were supposed to be clear with an amber colored bulb and I'll have to install a flashing side marker light on the upper front fender like VW's, BMW and others common in Europe. A typical r1ce mod here on Hondas lol. I'll get laughed at here, but if it keeps me legal in the UK, then I don't care, lol.

And the rear fog isn't a problem. As long as I know where a good place to put it is, I'll install one or 2 or whatever I need. I think some new Buicks, Jag's and Oldsmobiles here have them now. I can get some from the local salvage yard if they have some wrecks there. It has to be red, not amber or any other color, correct?

Thanks for answering my questions!

HanSoloWS6

I thought I had a pic of the rear side light I was refering to, but I guess it was just a hard copy and not on my computer.

I had a thought on the rear fog. Would putting it where the center section of my lights work, where it says Pontiac, or would it have to be in the bumper? Or could I just convert my 3rd brake light?Either way will be easy for me to install, but I would just like to know for sure.

Here are the lights I have on the tail. Leagal or not? Should be since the amber part stretches across the bottom.

philoldsmobile

in terms of absolute to the letter legality, i'm not sure on the indicators, as they might be too close together, with them being so wide, but i'll be absolutely amazed if they are a problem, ALL of the firebirds i have seen over here with that rear light setup have been perfectley ok

you will need to add an after market for glight (andout $20) from Halfords, motorworld or similar (every town has about 50 of such shops)

front lights are normaly OK, if you have an understanding garage. if not, its only the front side lights that need re wiring - amber is ok if you have wight ones as well (you can buy ones that fit into your headlights, again very cheap)

Thirdgens need very little work to be UK regesterd, you should have very few problems.

Good luck.

erictheviking

You should have no problem getting parts.I get mine from many different uk companies and some in the US.Obviously being a US native you could get someone back home to ship the parts as a "gift" to avoid paying the hefty import duty.This would make getting parts very worthwile.As for drag racing ,I eat breath and sleep the sport.Santa pod is king,with loads of RWYB and pro- racing (They hold 2 rounds of the european FIA championship each year,which must rank as some of the best racing outside the US)Shakespeare county raceway also has loads of RWYB and some pro-racing although not as big as "the pod".

Little known factid you know that the lowest e.t. for any track in the world was set at santa pod in the eighties.

HanSoloWS6

Would the tax, duty and other fee's still apply if I have the parts shipped with the car inside it? Like my drag slicks and wheels would be in there and a stock of other hard to find repair parts. But I'd be afraid if I left them in there, they would get stolen or "misplaced" lol. Especially if I can't afford to have it put in a container and just have it come over RORO(roll-on, roll-off).

si_camaro

Your lights are completely legal. As you mentioned before, you can indeed convert your 3rd brake light to a fog light. The only guidelines for foglights are that they must be 21W or equivalent, and either in the middle or off to the right.

If you're moving to the Nottingham area we should meet up sometime and I'll show you where I take my car for MOT. He charges me less than the going rate (£25 rather than £40) and is very fair with his testing procedures.

Si

Dr G

HanSolo0260:- Make sure the insurance policy for the shipping covers the contents of the car. Specify each and every item, and it's replacement value to the company before paying the premium.

When you said earlier about it costing $1500+ to ship... Have you had written quotes from a few companies? Or was that a ballpark guess? You should be able to find somewhere less expensive than that.

Convert the third brake light before you ship. If you don't find an MOT tester who accepts that then bolt on an aftermarket one so it hangs below the bumper. Then remove it after the test.

Good luck with things!

RMK

Just make sure that you include the wheel and tires etc in the figure that you declare to customs.


They are infact there, you're just forgetting about them. :sillylol:

cunawarit

That is what I will have to do... Although, my car does have a bizzare switch under the dash... It is currently broken and doesn't do anything, I am thinking that maybe it turns on the 3 brake light to be used as a fog light.

HanSoloWS6

The $1500 was a figure from a couple people that I have talked to that just did the RORO. But they had problems as soon as they picked the car up. The license plates were gone and the interior was dirty. Someone got in and got thier greasy hand prints on the doors and steering wheel and boot prints all over the interior. They said if they wanted to foot the extra money for the container they would have done that to save from the headache.

I think I'll dig around here for a switch and pick up some relays and higher wattage bulbs and do my conversion on the 3rd brake light ASAP. And maybe I can get some side markers free from one of these r1cers around here lol and get those on. Or, maybe make some to look like the Pontiac emblem. Hmmmmm.

As soon as I find out about college and things, I'll do what ever needs to be done. I'll have time to get my valve seals replaced, lol. Just hope it's not rings. But thats another story.

Thanks everyone for the great info. If there is anymore, please feel free to let me know!

blackknight2010

If your bringing a heap of spares over then as the guys have advised you...get the contents insured, or just bolt em on. If the customs guy sees your extra bits he may well add on the import tax for the bits to your total import charges. Only guessing from past experience.
I imported a 67 Ford Fairlane in the early 90's from Baltimore to Liverpool & the guys on the ro-ro raided the trunk leaving only the spare wheel. Even the gerry can got nicked !

RMK

That says it all. Insurance is a must. Things like that just make me angry. Too many losers in the world.