The JDM Authority
Import guides, engine breakdowns, and mountain-pass culture for right-hand-drive obsessives. Published by CMBMV LLC.
Featured Guides
R34 Skyline Import Guide
How to legally import a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R.
2JZ vs RB26
The definitive engine breakdown.
Japan Auction Guide
How to read grades and buy direct.
AE86 Buyer's Guide
Finding a clean Hachi-Roku.
How to Import
Step-by-step from Japan to your driveway.
NHTSA Requirements
Clearing customs without issues.
Buyer's Guide
\nNissan Skyline R34 GT-R Import Guide (2026)
How to legally import a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R to the USA in 2026. 25-year rule eligibility, shipping, compliance, pricing, and what to look for when buying.
\nNissan Skyline R32 GT-R: The Complete Buyer's Guide
The R32 GT-R is fully US-legal. Specs, common problems, fair market pricing in 2026, and what separates Nismo and V-Spec cars from the rest.
\nMazda RX-7 FD3S Buying Guide
FD3S RX-7 buying guide: 13B-REW rotary basics, common failure points, pricing by year, and why the apex seal myth still costs buyers money.
\nHonda S2000: The Complete Buyer's Guide
AP1 vs AP2 S2000 differences, known issues (rear subframe, oil consumption), transmission rebuild cost, and current market values for 2026.
\nHonda Civic Type R EK9: The JDM-Only Hot Hatch
EK9 Type R buyer's guide. B16B engine quirks, LSD spec, how to spot a retagged car, and what a clean EK9 costs in 2026.
\nToyota AE86 Buyer's Guide (2026)
Hachi-Roku buyer's guide. Coupe vs Levin vs Trueno, 4A-GE variants, rust hotspots, current pricing, and what Initial D hype did to the market.
\nImport/Legal
\nHow to Import a JDM Car to the USA
Step-by-step import process for a JDM car to the USA. 25-year rule, auction purchase, shipping, NHTSA clearance, EPA, customs, title, and state registration.
\n2001 JDM Imports: Now Legal in 2026
What 2001 JDM cars are now 25 years old and legal to import to the USA in 2026. Complete list with pricing, shipping costs, and how to source from Japan.
\nJDM Cars Turning 25 & Import-Eligible in 2026
Every JDM car turning 25 years old in 2026 and newly eligible under the federal 25-year import rule. Monthly eligibility windows and how to plan ahead.
\n2026 JDM Imports: Evo VII, Integra DC5, and the 25-Year Rule
The Evo VII, Integra DC5 Type R, and other 2001-era JDM legends are import-eligible in 2026. What you need to know before buying.
\nNHTSA Import Requirements: The Complete Guide
NHTSA HS-7 form, 25-year rule, show-or-display exemptions, and what documentation you need to clear a JDM car through US customs without issue.
\nJDM Import State Registration Guide
Which US states are easiest to register imported JDM cars in (Montana, South Dakota, Vermont) and which states actively block gray-market imports.
\nEngine/Tech
\n2JZ-GTE vs RB26DETT: The Real Comparison
2JZ vs RB26 breakdown across stock output, reliability, tuning ceiling, parts availability, and community support. The answer depends on what you're building.
\nRB26DETT Engine Guide
RB26DETT deep dive. Architecture, common failure points (head gasket, oil starvation), build costs at 500/700/1000+ hp, and parts availability in 2026.
\nSR20DET Build Parts Guide
SR20DET build parts: turbo, ECU, fuel system, cams, rods, pistons. What you actually need at 400 hp, 500 hp, and 600+ hp, and where to source reliably.
\nBest JDM Engines to Swap in 2026
Ranked guide to the best JDM engine swaps in 2026. 2JZ-GTE, RB26, SR20DET, 4G63, K20A, B18C — pros, cons, donor car pricing, and install complexity.
\nMishimoto vs OEM Cooling for JDM Builds
Aftermarket vs OEM radiators and cooling for JDM builds. When Mishimoto makes sense, when OEM is the right call, and what the pros are running.
\nTouge Suspension Setup Guide
What a touge-focused suspension actually needs. Spring rate, damper valving, camber, alignment numbers, and the difference between a time-attack and a street-touge setup.
\nCulture
\nInitial D & Touge Culture: The Real History
Where touge racing came from in Japan, how Initial D mainstreamed it globally, and what the culture looks like in 2026 — in Japan and in the diaspora.
\nJDM vs USDM: The Real Differences
Beyond the badges: how JDM and USDM versions of the same car differ in specs, compliance equipment, lighting, electronics, and resale value.
\nBest JDM Cars Under $15K (2026)
Realistic 2026 picks for JDM cars under $15K. What you get at that budget, what to avoid, and where the still-affordable enthusiast market lives.
\nBest JDM Drift Cars for Beginners (2026)
Beginner-friendly JDM drift car picks for 2026. S13, AE86, FC RX-7, SC300 — what to buy, how much to spend, and the parts you need before the first event.
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