Hey all, sorry I haven't reported back yet.
I did eventually get the van CA registered! Thanks for all your input. See below for my experience and tips:
@4 wheeler is correct in everything they said - follow their advice! Don't use Pacific Choice, they are unhelpful and terrible at communication. They eventually (after ~8 months) got my paperwork through the DMV (making false promises the whole time) and only then told me that the DMV was requiring I go to CHP for the VIN inspection. Pacific Choice said it would be no big deal and not to worry about it. I had read that people were having bad luck at CHP but I figured that since I had a diesel that was already registered in Oregon, maybe it would actually work out.
I didn't know what else to do at the time so I went to a CHP office and spoke to an officer who was surprisingly helpful but still told me I had no other choice but to get the "gray market" CARB modification, through this one specific company that they have apparently partnered with to do this modification (didn't tell me what the company was, whole process was weird and shady). He said that even though my diesel was exempt from regular emissions testing, it still had to be up to spec in U.S. manufacturing emissions standards (not even sure that this is actually true, or just part of the scam). He gave me a phone number to call and after doing some detective work, the phone number was indeed attached to G&K Auto (awful, horrible company, never give them your money!) I got very lucky here because I
wasn't flagged at CHP (but from what I have read, you usually
do get blacklisted, so DON'T even go to CHP, ever) and I did some research about G&K before contacting them. I gave them false info to stay anonymous and they quoted me $7,500 for the repair. Absolutely not. This entire process is entirely a scam.
I then went to a DMV near me and showed them the registration paperwork I had. They mentioned that it said I needed to go to CHP and I may or may not have told them that CHP "denied" me an appointment because they were "too busy." I said that I already did all of the paperwork and paid the fees, all that was needed was a VIN inspection because it's a short VIN. The woman at the desk said sure, and arranged for me to drive around back to do the inspection. Super easy, guys doing the inspections couldn't find the VIN plate (under the carpet below driver's knees) or chassis stamp (stamped into the metal between the driver door and the driver seat) but luckily I was able to point them both out and they passed the car. I walked back into the DMV and picked up my plates right then.
Hopefully this is helpful. Summary of what I learned:
- Don't use Pacific Choice. They used to be helpful in this process, but times have changed. The staff at their shop has changed (for the worse) and the DMV has gotten tougher on imports. They aren't worth your money. Do the research and go to the DMV yourself.
- DON'T go to CHP. You will probably not get lucky like I did, and your dreams of a CA Delica will be squashed.
- DON'T pay money to G&K Auto. They are bullshit. Don't support their scams. Lie if you have to, anything to avoid this.
- If one DMV denies you, go to a different DMV. Or go back a different day. It depends on who you talk to, and if you catch someone in the right mood or who doesn't really know what they are doing you could be saved a lot of money and stress.
- If the DMV tells you to go to CHP, maybe come back another day and tell them CHP wouldn't give you an appointment. I see no issue with a small lie when the only thing it's preventing is more money in G&K Auto's pocket. Any DMV should be able to do the VIN check. They just don't like to because of weird import rules and/or being lazy. But keep trying different DMV employees and hopefully you will get lucky.
Best of luck everyone!
