Good points, Billy. Perhaps the NHTSA crash testing could be waved with the right palms greased. If I were going to deal these cars in the US, clearly I'd research that.

For the average Joe (that'd be me), the whole process was daunting and essentially not worth it. Despite my love for the MC blue, and the total coolness of having a true JDM car in the US, my life is too cluttered to go down that road.

 

Wicky, good point on the gas. That was something I thoguht as well. Plus, if necessary, of course octane boosters exist.

 

the AEM EMS also exists.....

 

I didn't say it couldn't be done, wicky... I just said it was too much for l'il ole me.

Yes, I think if you replaced the ECU, it'd be technically possible to certify it.

 

NHTSA is the definition of anal. There's not enough grease in the world for those palms.

 

actually probably not, I don't think the EMS will hook up to OBD2..... oh well.

I agree, pain in the ass....

 

Right, guys. That's essentially the same decision I arrived at... too difficult and likely too expensive.

Wick, why the heck would anyone sell an ECU that doesn't support OBDII -- that's guaranteed disaster for anyone with emissions certification in the states...

 

Below is a link to the Evo7 information. You can see how little Mitsubishi had to do to coerce NHTSA to force a crash test requirement onto EI. Having to do a crash test is pretty much a sure fire way to end a legalization, as it costs upwards of $1 million per crash, and I think there are 5 tests required.

http://dms.dot.gov/search/searchResultsSim...mberValue=16031

For what it's worth (not much), I really despise NHTSA. It's a bureaucracy of engineers and lawyers, and the lawyers generally disregard the engineers' input. I've dealt with FMVSS issues a few times, and the engineers will say "yes, that's the intent of the rule, it's ok" and the lawyers will override them and say "it doesn't meet the letter of the rule, it's not compliant".

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chazmo
Right, guys.

 

MAD POWER!!!!!

[TimAllen]... so I re-wired it ...[/TimAllen]