Changes required in 1970s/1980s to import/federalize 911 from Europe?

[rsnodgrass]

I'm curious as to what the full list of changes that were required when a 911 was imported into the US and federalized during the 1970s/1980s. Here is what I know changed:

• Replace H4 headlights with US sealed beam version and US headlight rings
• Iron door bars (bolted or welded)
• Speedometer (to MPH instead of km/h)
• Side marker lenses to yellow version (if white)
• Front reflector block outs changed to yellow reflectors
• Rear orange brake lenses to red version
• Replace bumper crash tubes with bumper shocks (was this always required?)

What about the stickers on the rear engine bay such as the tire pressure sticker? What other things were required to change? I know the windshield on 911s didn't need to be changed as Porsche used the same DOT approved version worldwide.

Also, a DOT sticker/decal should have been added somewhere (usually door jamb) to indicate federalization was properly done to spec.

[kodioneill]

Had to be a certain height. Not sure what the number is but the center of the bumper had to be at a specified height.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by rsnodgrass

I'm curious as to what the full list of changes that were required when a 911 was imported into the US and federalized during the 1970s/1980s. Here is what I know changed:

• Replace H4 headlights with US sealed beam version and US headlight rings
• Iron door bars (bolted or welded)
• Speedometer (to MPH instead of km/h)
• Side marker lenses to yellow version (if white)
• Front reflector block outs changed to yellow reflectors
• Rear orange brake lenses to red version
• Replace bumper crash tubes with bumper shocks (was this always required?)

What about the stickers on the rear engine bay such as the tire pressure sticker? What other things were required to change? I know the windshield on 911s didn't need to be changed as Porsche used the same DOT approved version worldwide.

Also, a DOT sticker/decal should have been added somewhere (usually door jamb) to indicate federalization was properly done to spec.

All the DoT stuff was required
glass & sometimes dash warning light/indicators

The car would have been supplied w/ a DoT release.

many of the cars brought in at that time had EPA exemptions, again a document would have been supplied upon release from impound

[porwolf]

Beside required changes due to federal regulations states had their own additional requirements. My California 1979 SC had to comply with those requirements, dealing mostly with smog issues. The car has special factory stickers attached designed for California issue cars.

[will hung]

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

All the DoT stuff was required
glass & sometimes dash warning light/indicators

The car would have been supplied w/ a DoT release.

many of the cars brought in at that time had EPA exemptions, again a document would have been supplied upon release from impound

How strict was this? The bumper shocks, front side reflectors, and tail lenses were the only changes made to my '79 SC.

the headlights could have been changed by the previous owner, but my car still had kph speedo and there are no door bars, nor is there an indication that there were ever door bars.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by will hung

How strict was this? The bumper shocks, front side reflectors, and tail lenses were the only changes made to my '79 SC.

the headlights could have been changed by the previous owner, but my car still had kph speedo and there are no door bars, nor is there an indication that there were ever door bars.

It probably depended on the individual inspector,

wrt DoT mine did not have glass or bumper shocks done, but did have door beams, turn signals and tail lights done, the oe Euro parts were supplied in a box, I re-installed them immediately of course. I remember some controversy about a dash light but they let that slide too. As long as you have the release form you should be good to go, though no one has ever asked for it since the initial registration in NH.

the state of NH did assign a new VIN# w/ a chassis sticker and all. So even though the chassis is 91166 ***** it is registered as NH*****

[rsnodgrass]

It also depends on the year of the car. I believe with the 1978 911 SC Porsche attempted to make more of a world car that didn't need different modifications for each marketplace. In particular the engines were identical between USA/California/RoW by that time rather than having unique engine design for each of those markets. I suspect that door reinforcements were already in place, glass was already DOT approved. This would make sense why there were few changes for Will's 1979 SC as compared to earlier cars.

[Josh D]

Originally Posted by rsnodgrass

In particular the engines were identical between USA/California/RoW by that time rather than having unique engine design for each of those markets.

You are correct in that there wasn't a 49 state + California SC, only a US model. However, RoW models did have differences like no cat and different fuel and ignition curves and different cam timing. In '80, the US SC got the Lambda control in the CIS and smaller intake ports and runners as well as a bump in compression. RoW '80 model just got a little more 'tune' to gain 8 hp and kept the bigger ports and runners. In '81, RoW model got 9.8:1 and a return to retarded cam timing for a boost to 204 hp, while maintaining 197 ft/lbs of tq. RoW SC models never used a cat.

[rsnodgrass]

Josh, thanks for the correction! Good to know.

[vintage guy]

I lived in Europe during the mid-eighties and at that time you were allowed a one time EPA exemption if you wanted to bring a car at least 5 years old back to the states. You did need to modify the car to meet DOT safety standards but for most German cars this meant primarily changing bumpers and lights. As I recall, this cost about $1500 or much less than a full conversion. By 1987 when I returned, the dollar exchange rate had changed to the point that bringing a car back no longer made financial sense and ended the gray market era. I dropped my plan to bring back a 1979 BMW 323i.