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Turnkey's from Overseas

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Ollie Yeah Buddy

840 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·

#791369
Hey guys,

I've been doing some research and looking at some prices of performance turnkey engines in the states.
I was wondering whether anyone here had done this and whether they would advise it or not?
Also, are there any hidden taxes etc when brining in an engine from overseas?

Cheers,
Ollie
Follow the Photo Fun:
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=95238

- '70 1500 Beetle (The Clean One)
- '76 1300 Beetle (The In-between One)
- '69 1500 Beetle (The Mean One)

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#791372
Mmmmm.........risky.

I have 1915 in my shed that cost $3k landed, but seized with no oil pressure on start up......

Turns out was not to badly assembled/built, just inexperienced owner!!!
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

Ollie Yeah Buddy

840 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·

#791378
Yeah I have herd some horror stories about that.
However if I get one I'm thinking of taking it to a workshop to be run in.
Follow the Photo Fun:
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=95238

- '70 1500 Beetle (The Clean One)
- '76 1300 Beetle (The In-between One)
- '69 1500 Beetle (The Mean One)

h fractals - an ever changing lifestyle

7,671 posts · joined Feb 2005 ·

#791379
we got a complete mtr several yrs back
it ran great until it began to leak oil
pulled it down to discover the case was cracked
not happy jan still rings in my ears
fractal geometry; the inner most limits of mind altering abuse

Fantasy http://seventhchronicle.com

Z = Z2 + C1/r = 1/0 = infinity

Barrels www.barrelman.com.au

VW Workshop - aircooledgarage.com.au
allcooled.com.au

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#791399
get yours rebuilt here much cheaper and you know what will go into it
I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,785 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#791401
OMClarke wrote:However if I get one I'm thinking of taking it to a workshop to be run in.
Find that person first

I reckon most people would be not that interested in having a motor (that someone else made all the money on the parts) given to them to do the scary bit
Futue te ipsum!!!

Bookwus Seriously Crusin Dubber

120 posts · joined Aug 2007 ·

#791431
Hiya OMC,

I am overseas in the States and I don't think I'd be taking a chance ordering an engine if it had to be shipped. It's akin to buying a pig in a poke. You really don't know what you're going to get.

Now I realize that some builders have excellent reputations. A few years ago when I did order an engine I ordered from what was then considered the finest builder of 1600s in the States. This guy had the best of excellent reputations. I had to wait six months for the engine. It detonated less than three thousand miles later due to parts quality issues. The builder was cross country from me. Sure, it could have been adjusted (pull the engine, more crating and shipping, waiting, waiting) but the builder died the same week I received the engine.

The further away you are from the source, the more expensive and the more protracted any future problems will be. I've never been to Oz (I'm hoping to get down there sometime soon) but I've just gotta believe that there are folks who are local to you that can do a super job rebuilding a 1600 or modifying it for performance. Why not go with one of your mates?

Anyway, I learned my lesson from my experience. I rebuild my own engines. I now have a much more responsive builder and he offers a lifetime guarantee. 😊
Mike

1970 AS Bug
1970 Bus - The Ruptured Duck

Have an AutoStick? Check out www.auto-stick.com

vassy66T1 Wow ... are U reading this?

2,120 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#791438
Good advice.

It's like buying a lucky dip from the travelling carnival .. who are you going to go to if it all goes wrong?
Warranty is always a pain in the bum, but it is better if it is somewhere nearby from someone you know.
A few more $ spent now is a lot less $ spent later on. My thoughts.

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 ·

#791439
Agree with all the comments above re warranty etc, but on the purely import side of things... yes, there are hidden costs.

- First up, there's the customs entry fee... last time I copped it was a couple of years ago, and from memory was around $57... but may have gone up since.
- There may also be duty payable, but generally VW stuff is exempt from that due to the age (basically exemptions for anything over 30 years old)
- Finally there's GST... Free Trade Agreement or not, you still gotta pay it - so add on 10% of the Australian Dollar equivalent value, excluding shipping, but including the customs fee and any duty.

There's also some paperwork you have to do... registering both you and the sender with Customs and so-on, but that's just messing around, phone calls, sending faxes etc - no $$$ charged.

To be really sure tho, give the Customs people a call... I've always found them really helpful answering questions, explaining what duties etc. there are.

🙂
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 ·

#791441
Customs contact info:

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page5834.asp
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

waltermitty Legend when my beer goggles are on

1,993 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#791449
Sides wrote:- Finally there's GST... Free Trade Agreement or not, you still gotta pay it - so add on 10% of the Australian Dollar equivalent value, excluding shipping, but including the customs fee and any duty.
🙂
Actually the GST is including shipping costs But also now days you add prior to the GST %5 import duty (thank KEVIN for that)

so say the motor cost $4000
shipping $ 500
import fees $ 57
Duty (on motor value) $ 400
now %10 GST $ 495

And dont think youy can undervalue items they know what things are worth and thats a hole other nightmare.

Of course you can get anything under $1000 AUD value in via post no duty or GST and you can do that as much as you like bringing bits in week at a time but the shipping is a killer
Mitchell
23 windows ...8 too many!

modulus Veteran Volks Folk

2,009 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#791452
waltermitty wrote:also now days you add prior to the GST %5 import duty (thank KEVIN for that)
Import duty has been payable since Noah was a lad; it's not recent policy.

hth
Peter Hill
1975 Type 2 Double Cab
modulus.com.au

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 ·

#791453
waltermitty wrote:Actually the GST is including shipping costs But also now days you add prior to the GST %5 import duty (thank KEVIN for that)
Really... GST on the shipping now too ??? Well that bites !!!

😬

Guess makes it slightly sweeter that most volksy related stuff is exempt from duty...
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,785 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#791483
What i find funny/strange is that people want to buy a turn key motors cause they cant buy the parts for the same price

Surely it is the same price to ship a motor in pieces as it is to ship a complete motor??

So - you are saving the assembly cost from overseas.
The difference in assembly costs cant be more than ....... what and additional $750 here cause we pay propper wages???

So... if you are buying a complete turnkey motor from overseas for cheaper than you can buy the same parts parts.................................... maybe you aint getting what you thought you were getting???
Futue te ipsum!!!

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#791498
I just had my Country buggy motor assembled for $450 by Stan Pobjoy.........so why people have motors assembled O/S amazes me!


Uber Kafer Wolfsburg Wizard

414 posts · joined Nov 2009 ·

#791503
do some research as to what constitutes an engine...versus parts.

A guy who was importing big V8s from the US once told me if you took out the distributor and some other key part it was no longer an 'engine' and was partially assembled..... something like that.
Could save you some bucks... maybe.