General help with safteying.

[krarks]

Hey guys, I'm looking at getting a 90-93 R32 GTR in June. Most likely importing from j-spec too. Anyways, I have just been getting confused with what I will need to get changed to have it safety'd. From what I understand, I know here in Saskatchewan, I'll need to swap out the headlights, tail lights, install a third brake light, ensure the tire's are DOT approved and have DRL's installed.

So basically I need to know what parts I can swap in (like which headlight assembly can go into this car) and what about the tail lights?

So yeah, just confused on that aspect. By the time I purchase this car, I will have graduated from school as a level 2 apprentice auto service tech, so having everything wired and installed will not be a problem. Just looking around I can't get a straight answer as to what needs to be changed. Thanks for your help! - krarks

EDIT: Ok I did more reading around the forum and wow, lots of work to do!! Not really a major issue I just hope it'll be possible to get done. eBay will be my friend haha, well I'm going to still give it a try and look again when it get's closer to June to see if anyone is selling a GTR that is already done up.

[Shadao]

well the tail lights do not need to be changed

the only real issues are the headlights and 3rd brake light...

there are other things to note such as the tires, but they dont have to be DOT approved... they just have to have the tire load ratings on them... there is no where in any manual that says you must have dot tires...

you should also take note of the front windsheild which must be as1 or as2 approved... most glass already is, but in the chance that the glass had been replaced with some other type that isnt recognized here you might have to replace it...

DRL which is an easy fix...

other things too know they will fail a car with are cracked boots on joints, poor brakes, etc etc etc, the things they would fail any car with really, but the above is what they are gonna really look for

[DarkCaporaL]

Rear reflectors also.

[Shadao]

o ya the reflectors...

not only must they reflect but they also must light up

[DogFaceBoy]

Here in Saskatchewan you need DOT approved tires to pass the safety.

[melissachequ]

PM me if you wanna trade headlights, I have accord lights but want to go back to stock.. straight trade, I can pay for shipping .

[Shadao]

Here in Saskatchewan you need DOT approved tires to pass the safety.

well im not from saskatchewan and have never had the chance to read there manual but if you have read it or better yet have a copy of it please show us the regulation stating the requirment for DOT tires...

[Jules965]

I've done numerous safeties for my own vehicles and vehicles for my friends here in Regina, SK. If you need a hand getting your car passed drop me a PM.

I've found that Skyline's are almost always the same thing, and most we're mentioned above. I'm not about to flip through the manual and copy out regulations, but ill make references. so lets call this a guideline. but here is what is going to most likely fail...

Glass is a minor one. Factory Nissan glass carries all the markings required for the glass to pass the safety, specifically a station will be looking for a DOT marking. This is only a concern if the factory glass has been replaced. (No. 7, Driver's Compartment, Ref #8 )

Sometimes shops will try to make you install a neutral safety switch (requires the clutch to be depressed to start the car) but since it wasn't a factory feature in skylines, you can argue it. It does not need to be installed for the car to pass a safety. You will also need a marking somewhere that show's what the shift pattern is. There is usually a factory sticker, or its on the shift knob, but in some cases it get's rubbed off or the knob gets replaced. (No. 18, Driver's Compartment, Ref #1)

Daytime Running Lights (or DRL's). Your front headlights should be on anytime the car is running. a popular choice is just to wire up the headlights to some kind of accessory power. (make sure it wont blow a fuse!) (No. 29, Body Exterior, Ref #6)

The headlight aim and operation is a big one. Since JDM cars use headlights where the beams are angled to point up-left of center, they will not pass an alignment test. DOT headlight all point up-right of center. Accord headlights are a popular swap. (No. 30, Body Exterior, Ref #6)

Side Marker lamps is also a requirement. You will need DOT approved front side marker lamps (orange in colour) as well as rear side marker lamps (red in colour) and they need to light up when the car is running. Best way is to just wire them into the DRL's. (No. 34, Body Exterior, Ref #6)

The GTR rear spoiler doesn't have a 3rd brake light, so one needs to be wired up. Lots of people will just wire up a small lamp at the bottom of the rear window. It only needs to come on when the brake is depressed, and as long as the light is DOT, red, points rearward, and is above the other two brake lights, it'll pass. (No. 35, Body Exterior, Ref #6)

You will need tires with a DOT marking. If they weren't made in North America they wont have a DOT marking, it will be a JIS marking. No inspection station will recognize that. They will just make you get DOT tires. They must also have more than
3/32 of tread life left across the entire contact patch. (No. 44, Undercarriage, Ref #9)

Wheel alignment is another big one. Don't waste your money getting it aligned before you go into a safety though, as soon as you drive a car it more or less falls out of the factory alignment requirements. The place that is doing the safety will have to put it up on a lift to check it, they may as well be the ones to do it, and in Saskatchewan there is only one going price for an alignment, and that is about $80 no matter where you go. (No. 80 & 81, Wheel Alignment, Ref #4)

In addition to that, its mostly stuff that any everyday vehicle would be subject to. Make sure your brakes are good, no leaking fluids, no burned out lights or malfunctioning gauges, no major rust problems, your steering and suspension is good, no glass cracks, wiring to everything, and your boots and such.