Hello from Wisconsin, USA

Wisconsin Mark

Wisconsin Mark

I just wanted to say hello to all of my fellow Nissan PAO owners out there. We took delivery of our little blue bundle on 1/5/15. It was the coldest day of the year (45 below with the wind). I added Sta-Bil (green formula) filled the tank with 91 octane fuel, no ethanol in that stuff, then parked in our garage. I got to go play around with it last week. It started and ran fine, all the lights work and all else seems OK. There is still plenty of salt on the roads yet but almost all of the snow is gone. I think I'll wait a while before I take it out for a ride.
I look forward to talking to all of you about these cool little cars. I will have many questions about service and parts etc.

Mark
 
The weather was real nice early in the week so I went for a first drive. The car did everything right on it's fifteen mile outing. I think sixty mph (100 kph) is about as fast as I feel comfortable with a 1.0 litre engine. While I was working on it today taking off the wheels, (getting new tires this coming week) I noticed that the splash shields inside the front fenders are broken and or missing. Does anyone out there know where I could find a decent pair of them for a reasonable price? I also need the blue vents in the center of the dashboard as mine were broken. Finally, I need the little blue fastener buttons (3) on the inside of the windshield pillar. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Mark
 
Hi Mark
Welcome to the Forum :)
Pao's are based on the K10 micras underneath the skin. So most things that fit a K10 will fit a PAO
 
Hi h701 micra, I just ordered the Haynes repair manual for the K10 1983-1993 Nissan Micra with what you just posted in mind. Since anything regarding the PAO directly will be printed in Japanese text, I thought this book would be the next best thing. These cars are pretty rare in this part of the world so any little bit helps.

Regards,
Mark
 
No problem. It all helps maintain them and that's what counts
Pao, Be-1 and the Figaro are all K10s underneath. Very simple cars to work on too :)
 
I finally worked up the courage to try opening my canvas top manually. The electric motor opens it about 3" and then stops. I looked at it more closely and the canvas material is badly shrunk up on both sides. This could cause binding that the electric motor can't handle. I then popped off the round plastic cover to reveal a nut with a 3/16 allen head in the center. I carefully and slowly cranked it open and closed several times and then cleaned up the tracks. It's nice to have a functional sunroof even if it has to cranked open by hand.
This car really is a big hit at the local car shows and cruise nights.
Take care.
Mark
 
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Hey Mark,
I'm here in Texas waiting to pick up my PAO on Monday. Been waiting since April but it didn't get shipped until May and arrived end of June. I guess now the fun begins getting it all legal with inspections and what not (at least here in Texas). I see you have the "campus" roof (lol, I saw this in the Japanese advert for one). From the pics I saw, they looked to be a bit shrunken. I decided to pass on the open top after seeing that. I hope your's is actually much more sound than the one I saw pictured as I wouldn't mind that option.
I'll post more once I have collected it from the port.
Happy Motoring
MD
 
Hi MD, It sounds like your wait will soon be over. I hope all goes well with the inspection and registration. I bought mine from a dealer in Florida through ebay so all that was done. I've put on more than a few miles since I bought the car and it's a real pleasure to drive. Please tell us more after you take delivery. Inquiring minds want to know. HA HA. Take care.
Mark
 
Well, it's not gone well with the steamship line. I have paid all the charges up to the date that storage applies but, no one at the steamship line will release my car. The girl who does import is away till Wednesday and that's when storage charges accrue. It's amazing that only one person in the entire WORLD has that power. I guess God is a woman, named Jen who works for Heough autoliners in Florida. I think that will upset a lot of Christians AND Muslims when they find out God has been living in Florida and moonlighting as an import clerk!
 
Hi MD, It's always something stupid like that, right. At least you can talk to Jen today and finally see your car soon. Are you having it shipped from Florida to Texas ? If so, don't contract any of the "big name" shippers. they're very expensive and quite slow. I hope all goes well with your new toy.
Take care.
Mark
 
Okay, been away because I was PICKING UP my car. If only they had told me at the steamship line that the car HAD been released, I could have gotten it Monday instead of dancing with every body at the steamship company's American agents. Was a bit surprised by the condition. It was mostly as described but had been repainted to off white from the blue/gray I have mostly seen. Not a bad job, not a great job but there is some rust to contend with. I've been driving it around (finally got the temporary plates, 2 1/2 hours in the dmv) and have realized it's not really a highway car. I have been offered a grand over what I have in it but upon looking for another one (maybe a bit nicer condition?) they're about 2500 bucks more than I paid for this one. Not being "pristine" means I can use it as a daily driver (as long as I stay off the highways). I thought my girlfriend was going to take it but she's a bit put off by it being right hand drive. I like it, just wish it had a little more top end, maybe another 15 mph and it'd be perfect for me. I have had it inspected and am now waiting for the auto theft division inspection to give me all the paperwork needed to obtain a Texas tittle and be pronounced "legal" for road use everywhere (maybe not in California?) I do need some struts, maybe springs too. Other than the minor rust and the interior lights missing their covers, it seems to be good. Think I'll do it again. Have my eye on a Figaro!
Hey Mark, since I live in the northwest of Houston, didn't need to get it transported (it was in Galveston and I took my GMC 7500 to the docks and loaded the car in the box). The truck didn't even feel the weight of the car! Now that I "know" what I'm doing (famous last words with "hold my beer and watch this") should be real easy next time.


MD
Oh yeah, would've posted picture but realized a "mentally challenged" ( the scientific name is "bat **** crazy") former "friend" has my camera.
 
Hi, guys! I just got word that my Pao will be on the boat next week. How long did it take for your cars to arrive once shipped?
Does anyone have a source for parts? I will need a set of hub caps and a turn signal indicator lens, and would really like to find an original factory radio. My Pao has an aftermarket radio.
 
Hey Rick, My car car took about a month after it was finally loaded. Actually, as I look at the b/l more like 5 weeks. Of course I used Galveston. I would imagine Seattle would take a week or so less and Baltimore maybe another week. I'm missing the radio too. I really like the car (but having a ton of red tape issues with getting it legal) but I didn't know it was so short geared and highway driving (unless my trans has an issue) is not an option. Breathing hard at 80km and 100km seemed like it was ready to blow. Speed limit here once past the city limits is 75 mph and people routinely cruise at 85. Last thing I want is a Pete running up my backside while I'm going a jaunty 50 mph. I was hoping to use this car on the highway (drive to Del Rio, McAllen, Laredo and Brownsville frequently) but ........I was perusing eBay and checking part prices and found that I could part my car out and get twice what I paid for it.
Haven't found a source for parts yet but I've only just started looking. My original intention was to mount a Maxima v-6 in the back seat and go from there. Might still do that. Decisions..........
Later
 
Another hurdle, the auto theft division now states that I have to get a clearance letter from NHTSA. It's amazing to me that the Customs and Border Patrol's website clearly doesn't state that yet this cop says it need to be. Heads up to anyone else importing a PAO
 
As I suspected, the "inspector" hasn't a clue about what he's doing (it is Texas after all) The HS 7 form is all that is needed. There isn't a "clearance letter" from the NHTSA. I called the NHTSA, 202-366-5291, Vehicle Import Regulations, and was told that all you need is the form and you're good to go. Just posting this stuff in case others trying to import one and making it legal are running across the same issues
 
I don't expect any problems with getting my car throughCustoms, but I will be registering it in Alabama. I know I will have trouble registering it here.
Would any of you Pao owners help me with a project? I want to start working on a MPH face for the Pao speedometer in hopes of having an overlay ready when my car arrives. I need measurements so I can get the proper scale for the overlay.
I need the diameter of the speedometer face across the center. Just measure from the inside of the bezel with the speedo needle pivot shaft in the center.
Then I need the distance from the outside of the KPH scale, also across the needle pivot. And the distance across the inside of the scale.
Finally, if you draw an imaginary line from the 0 on the KPH scale to the last tic mark on the scale, I need the distance from the inside edge of the bezel at the bottom to that imaginary line. If that description isn't clear, I'll try to find a photo of the speedo and draw a diagram.
I'm hoping to make a template for a mph scale that will be available to anyone who wants to do their own speedometer conversion. No one seems to make them for the Pao.
Rick
 
Hey guys. New user here. Attempting to import one in a few weeks. What have you learned from all that? Can you give me any tips please. I really don't know where to begin. Clearing it and all that. Its coming through Freeport. I know I need to fill out some specific forms and so on.. any help would be great thanks.
 
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I can't help you. Perhaps someone else on here can. I purchased mine a few weeks ago after all the paperwork had been completed by the importer. So for me it was no different than buying any other car.
 
Jmelly said:
USA, Texas. Freeport.
I know I need to fill out the
Epa 3520 from and
Dot hs-7
Click to expand...

Hey there Jmelly. Just saw there was a new post. Are you really bringing it in through Freeport? Galveston would have been a better location. Do you have a way to transport it from Freeport? I live about 70 miles from there. Anyway, did you get the paperwork filed for customs BEFORE you shipped the car? If not, you could be facing a boatload of problems. Can't remember what form that is but it's supposed to be filled out BEFORE the car gets loaded. After that, it's just the two forms you stated before. When I called around to some brokers after my car was onboard, I was told by all but one broker that my car would be seized and crushed. One broker told me that I should NOT claim it, let it go to a GO auction and pick it up from the auction since I hadn't filled out the form BEFORE shipping the car. Got lucky with a broker in Houston who was able to electronically file all my paperwork, pay the the tariff and all the fees and bonds. I think in the end that cost me $250 bucks of which $75 was his fees. A good deal since I got the car in without a hitch. Only problem I had was getting it from the docks as I don't have a TWIC and you'll maybe need an escort (unless you're having some company pick it up) to retrieve the car. Since my entry was done electronically, I had to go to customs to get the hs-7 stamped. Other than that no other hiccups. I'd do it again and plan on it once I sell my PAO. The one I bought was an automatic that my girlfriend said she would drive but after about 10 minutes behind the wheel, she said that it being RHD was too much to deal with with. I knew I should have gotten the 5 speed for myself but this was a trial to see how hard it is to import a car. Just make sure when you pick up the car you have the steamship release otherwise nothing will happen and you'll have wasted your time and maybe had to pay an escort all for naught.

Good luck!
 

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