I AM LOST

[M37UK]

We offer completely rebuilt engines with warranty. They are run in and all final adjustments are made on the stand. Our engines get every last component rebuilt, even to the smallest accessory item. Install a complete engine and go when you get it back. You can check out our website to see photos and information concerning rebuilt engines. Call or email if we can help, or if you have further questions.

HELLO CHARLES, LIKE I HAVE MENTIONED IN THE PAST HERE IN THE FORUM, I WISH THERE WAS A WAY TO SHIP MY TRUCK HERE AND HAVE IT REDONE BY YOU. I ADMIRE THE WORK YOU DO, AND I WAS REALLY PLEASED WITH THE STEERING SETUP YOU HAD PROVIDED ME MANY YEARS AGO. HOWEVER, I HAVE DECIDED TO GO WITH A V8, AND I REMEMBER YOU TELLING ME THAT YOU DO NOT WORK WITH V8 CONVERSIONS. ALSO A DIESEL IS OUT OF THE QUESTION DUE TO STUPID GREEK LEGISLATION.

Sotven, what exactly are the "stupid Greek legislation" on diesel engines ?? I find this interesting.

Cheers
Stu

[SOTVEN]

We offer completely rebuilt engines with warranty. They are run in and all final adjustments are made on the stand. Our engines get every last component rebuilt, even to the smallest accessory item. Install a complete engine and go when you get it back. You can check out our website to see photos and information concerning rebuilt engines. Call or email if we can help, or if you have further questions.

HELLO CHARLES, LIKE I HAVE MENTIONED IN THE PAST HERE IN THE FORUM, I WISH THERE WAS A WAY TO SHIP MY TRUCK HERE AND HAVE IT REDONE BY YOU. I ADMIRE THE WORK YOU DO, AND I WAS REALLY PLEASED WITH THE STEERING SETUP YOU HAD PROVIDED ME MANY YEARS AGO. HOWEVER, I HAVE DECIDED TO GO WITH A V8, AND I REMEMBER YOU TELLING ME THAT YOU DO NOT WORK WITH V8 CONVERSIONS. ALSO A DIESEL IS OUT OF THE QUESTION DUE TO STUPID GREEK LEGISLATION.

Sotven, what exactly are the "stupid Greek legislation" on diesel engines ?? I find this interesting.

Cheers
Stu

HAHAHA!!! ARE YOU READY FOR THIS MY FRIEND? THE LAWS IN GREECE CONCERNING MOTORVEHICLES ARE KIND OF COMPLICATED. VEHICLES ARE DIVIDED INTO CATEGORIES IN TERMS OF BODY STYLE AND FUEL. SO A PICK UP TRUCK DUE TO THE BODY STYLE IT HAS, IT CAN NOT BE CONSIDERED A PASSENGER CAR, REGARDLESS IF IT MAY BE A 4 DOOR 6 PASSENGER PICK UP TRUCK (UNTIL RECENTLY YOU WERE OBLIGATED TO REMOVE THE REAR SEATS IN THOSE PICK UPS, AND SEAL THE REAR DOORS AS IF THEY DID NOT EXIST. BUT AT LEAST THIS HAS CHANGED AND NOW ONE MAY TRANSPORT HIS "IMMIDIATE" FAMILY ONLY (NOT FRIENDS) IN ONE OF THOSE.) TO MAKE THINGS EVEN MORE COMPLICATED, TO OWN A PICKUP TRUCK, YOU EITHER HAVE TO BE A FARMER, OR A PROFFESSIONAL WHO NEEDS A PICKUP TRUCK DUE TO THEIR PROFFESSION. THIS IS REGULATED BY THE TAX SERVICE MINISTRY (STRICKTLY FOR GOVERNMENTAL TAX GAIN REASONS). SO, "I WANT A PICK UP TRUCK JUST BECAUSE I WANT ONE" DOES NOT CUT IT. NOW THE FUEL KICKS IN, UNTILL RECENTLY AGAIN, DIESEL FUEL WAS TAXED SOMEWHAT LESS THAN GASOLINE(NOW THEY ARE TAXED THE SAME), HENCE ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES WERE DIESEL, AND MANY STILL ARE. THEREFORE, THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOT WANTING TO LOOSE MONEY ON LESS TAXED FUEL, DID NOT ALLOW ENGINE SWAPS FROM GASOLINE TO DIESEL. HOWEVER, FROM DIESEL TO GASOLINE WAS ALLOWED. (MORE EXPENSIVE FUEL= MORE MONEY FOR OUR INCOMPETENT POLITICIANS) MY M 37 HAS BEEN A GASOLINE TRUCK, AND SINCE THAT IS HOW IT WAS IMPORTED IN 1969 IN GREECE, THAT IS HOW IT HAS TO BE FOR EVER. EVEN THOPUGH IT IS A PICKUP TRUCK, THE "OPEN" BODY STYLE COULD ALSO MAKE IT BE CONSIDERED A "JEEP" BY THE MOTOR REGISTRY (AND THAT IS HOW MY REGISTRATION IS. NOW IF I DECIDE TO SWITCH TO DIESEL, I WILL HAVE TO DECLARE MY SELF FOR TAX PURPOSES EITHER A FARMER OR A PLUMMER FOR EXAMPLE, AND I WILL BE TAXED ACCORDINGLY, AND I AM NEITHER OF THE TWO. PLUS, THE NEW REGISTRATION OF THE VEHICLE, WILL NOW RESTRAIN ME FROM CARRYING THINGS IN THE BED OTHER THAN PROFESSION RELATED SPECIFICALLY MARKED ON THE REGISTRATION. IN OTHER WORDS, BEING A FARMER, IF I GO AND BUY A NEW REFRIGERATOR FOR MY HOME, I WILL HAVE TO HIRE A PROFFESIONAL MOVER TO BRING THAT APPLIANCE TO MY HOME, BECAUSE I AM NOT ALLOWED TO CARRY SUCH THINGS WITH MY TRUCK THAT IS "FARM USE", OR ELSE PAY A FINE, AND I DO NOT WANT SUCH RESTRAINS IN MY LIFE. ALSO DIESEL VEHICLES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE DRIVEN IN ATHENS AND THESSALONIKI, DUE TO AIR POLUTION THEY CREATE!!!!. GO FIGURE!!!! I KNOW SOMEONE IN GREECE WHO RESTORED AN M37 AT THE SAME TIME I DID MINE. HE PUT A MERCEDES BENZ 609 DIESEL ENGINE WITH A 4 SPEED MANUAL. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT TEN YEARS NOW, AND HE STILL HAS NOT MANAGED TO GET PLATES OF ANY KIND. I AM SURE THAT I WILL HAVE TROUBLE WITH MY V8 SWAP ALSO, BUT I WILL FIGHT IT TO THE END. SINCE 1993 THE EUROPEAN UNION MADE IT MANDATORY FOR ALL ITS COUNTRIES TO ALLOW OWNERSHIP OF ANY KIND OF VEHICLE THEIR CITIZENS COULD AFFORD TO BUY. GREECE AND DENMARK, NEVER DID AND ARE BEING HEAVILY FINED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR NOT COMPLYING SINCE. A FEW YEARS BACK, OUR THEN CRETIN MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION HAD SHOWN HIS SELF ON THE NEWS AND SAID "WE ARE BETTER OFF PAYING THE FINES TO EU, THAN LOOSING TAX MONEY FROM ALLOWING EVERYONE TO BUY WHAT THEY WANT!!!! THERE IS PLENTY MORE TO BE SAID IN THIS TOPIC, BUT I DO NOT WANT TO WEAR YOU OUT MY FRIEND.

[M37UK]

Holy smoke, and I thought UK vehicle licensing laws were over complicated !!

Thanks for the info, it was interesting to read.

[MSeriesRebuild]

Sotven,
I'm just curious; what if you installed a diesel engine into an M37 in the US and transported it to Greece in a shipping container? What makes me ask this is the fact that you said since yours was a gasser when imported in '69, then it had to remain as such. If it was a diesel when imported, would they ever know the difference as far as if it was a conversion engine or not? I realize some of the other rediculous regs might kick in, just wondering.

[SOTVEN]

Sotven,
I'm just curious; what if you installed a diesel engine into an M37 in the US and transported it to Greece in a shipping container? What makes me ask this is the fact that you said since yours was a gasser when imported in '69, then it had to remain as such. If it was a diesel when imported, would they ever know the difference as far as if it was a conversion engine or not? I realize some of the other rediculous regs might kick in, just wondering.

CHARLES, YOU REALISED CORRECT MY FRIEND.THE REST OF THE REDICULOUS REGULATIONS WILL KICK IN. IN ORDER FOR ME TO SHIP A CAR FROM THE STATES TO GREECE AND OBTAIN LEGAL PLATES FOR IT THERE, THIS CAR HAS TO BE A PASSENGER CAR (SEE PREVIOUS POST) IF A TRUCK OR JEEP, THEN IN ORDER TO BE IMPORTED, A "LICENCED AUTO MERCHANT" HAS TO IMPORT IT (WHICH I AM NOT) AND PAY ALL THE TAXES AND TARRIFS THAT CORRESPOND TO THIS VEHICLE (ABOUT 250% OF LIST PRICE. FOR EXAMPLE A NEW JEEP LIBERTY THERE IS ABOUT $56000). NOW ASSUMING I COULD DO ALL THE ABOVE, THE REGISTRY WOULD ASK ME TO FIND THE SPECIFIC GOV'T LAW THAT ALLOWS THE IMPORTING OF THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE (FOR AN M 37 FOR EXAMPLE I SHOULD LOOK IN THE NATIONAL LIBRARY, "NEWSPAPER OF THE GOV'T" YEARS 1967-1969 SINCE ROUGHLY THAT IS WHEN GREECE GOT THEM AND FIND THE LAW. OTHERWISE FORGET THE PLATES). IN THE EVENT I WOULD IMPORT A REFURBISHED DIESEL M37 NOW THERE IS NO SUCH ENTRY IN THE GOV'T NEWSPAPER. NO DEALERS SELL SUCH VEHICLES THERE, AND I DO NOT KNOW OF ANYONE WHO HAS IMPORTED ONE SUCH BEFORE. EVEN IF MIRACULUSLY I OVERCAME THE ABOVE PROBLEMS, THE VEHICLE TO BE IMPORTED CAN NOT BE OLDER THAN 5 YEARS OF MANUFACTURE. A FRIEND OF MINE HERE FROM MASSACHUSETTS, WANTED TO SHIP BACK A REBUILT AND BEEFED UP LAND CRUISER FJ60 THAT HE HAD HERE, AND ENCOUNTERD ALL THE ABOVE. OF COURSE HE NEVER SHIPPED IT.

[Lifer]

SOTVEN: Having traveled around the globe a couple of times or so, I have always paid attention to what vehicles were allowed and how to clear the various hurdles in getting them registered. Your description of the Greek laws leads me to think that your government would prefer to see everyone driving donkey carts! To the best of my knowledge, Greece has no locally owned and operated automotive industry, so it seems to me that all cars on the Greek roads must be imported. (On my quick stopover in Athens, back in 1980, most of the cars I saw were Fiats [Italian] or Citroens [French]. I don't recall ever having seen a Greek car.

[SOTVEN]

YOU ARE RIGHT LIFER, GREEKS NEVER PRODUCED A CAR, WE HAD INVENTED "TELEPORTING" LOL THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE ALL GREEKS TO BE DRIVING MERCEDES, AND PAY TAXES FOR THEM THROUGH THEIR NOSE. AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS PREETY MUCH THESE DAYS. ALSO, UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ENGINE DISPLACEMENT WAS AN ADDITIONAL FACTOR TO BE TAXED, AND STILL IS THE GUIDELINE OF HOW INSURANCE COMPANIES CHARGE FOR CAR INSURANCE. HENCE YOU SAW, (AND YOU WOULD STILL SEE TODAY) TINY FIAT, CITROEN, SEAT AND OTHER MINIATURE GO=CART LIKE CARS WITH MOPED ENGINES IN THEM. IT HAS GOTTEN A BIT BETTER OVER THE YEARS HOWEVER AND DUE TO THE EU INFLUENCE. LATELY THERE ARE WAYS TO GET A DECENT CAR, WHILE IN THE 80S FOR EXAMPLE IT WAS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

[Lifer]

Must be the result of the ancient Greek's bad experiences with the 2-horse chariot. 1 horse is enough. Tax the second horse to death!

[M37UK]

It must be infuriating living in Greece, with all those rules.
Here in the UK we can import pretty much anything we want providing we pay import duty.
If our vehicle is older than 1973 (classed as Historic) we dont pay road tax (but we still need to display the licence disc)
If the gross weight is over 3 tons and older than 1973 we dont need to MOT the vehicle either. ( MOT (Mileage On Tax) is a test that has to be done with most vehicles in the UK over 3 years old, to make sure it is fit for the road)

So hey!, I dont need to pay any taxes or have any MOT's done. Just pay for fuel and insurance and erm, maintenance!


With the cost of fuel here its just as bloody well !

[SOTVEN]

IT IS INFURIATING ONLY IF YOU LIKE VEHICLES. OTHERWISE ITS FINE LOL. WE ALSO HAVE HISTORIC PLATES AND APLLY TO ALL VEHICLES AFTER 40 YEARS OLD I THINK. HOWEVER THE VEHICLE MUST BE ALL FACTORY STOCK WITHOUT ANY MODIFICATIONS, AND THEN YOU MAY ONLY DRIVE IT ON 2 WEEKENDS PER MONTH. YEAH, RIGHT I DO NOT WANT THAT. ALSO SPEAKING OF GAS PRICES, HOW MUCH IS IT THESE DAYS IN UK? IT WAS 1.65 EUROS PER LITTER (ABOUT $10/GALLON) THIS SUMMER THAT I WAS IN GREECE. NO WONDER EVERYONE STARES AT ME WHEN I DRIVE AS IF I HAD TWO HEADS!!! LOL

[M37UK]

Jeez, that is STEEP !!!
We are £1.17 or 1.39 euro for unleaded and
£1.29 or 1.47 euro for diesel
price per litre.

$7.00 per gallon, unleaded.


Still expensive especially as most of the UK oil comes from the North Sea, off the coast of Scotland !!

[cuz]

All these over bearing rules from the Birthplace of Democracy!

If you look closely at our government today you'll see it won't be long till we catch up with the Greek government.

[SOTVEN]

All these over bearing rules from the Birthplace of Democracy!

If you look closely at our government today you'll see it won't be long till we catch up with the Greek government.

AND THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE RULES THAT APPLY TO VEHICLES. NEVER MIND ALL THE REST OF THE RULES FOR EVERYDAY LIFE. UNFORTUNATELY, DEMOCRACY IS SOMETHING LONG FORGOTEN THESE DAYS. AND I BELIEVE YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THIS COUNTRY ALSO. IDK WHERE YOU LIVE, BUT HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS PEOPLE ADMIT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO CARS (AT LEAST) THINGS ARE NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE. PEOPLE WITH LIFTED JEEPS AND TRUCKS HAVE A VERY HARD TIME GETTING INSPECTION STICKERS THESE DAYS AS OPPOSED TO A FEW YEARS BACK.

[M37UK]

Maybe we should all move to Australia...........

[cuz]

Maybe we should all move to Australia...........

You do know they confiscated the good guy's guns there and violent crime rates have risen sharply there the last few years.

Looking around at the entire planet there aren't many choices today.