engineering questions

[rocknferoza]

A mate of mine owns a sierra ute and wants more lift. He was thinking of maybe doing a SPOA conversion on it.

Is a SPOA conversion engineerable in NSW as I know it can't be done in QLD?

Also say u want 2 sell a 4WD thats been modifed in NSW and has an engineers cert is it possible 2 get it registered in another state?
Example: U have done SPOA and it's been engineered in NSW and someone in QLD buys it but an SPOA is illegal 2 do in QLD.

Thanx

[mike]

I have spent hours on the phone discussing these issues with QLD DOT. and their take on it was this:

Under no circumstances would they approve a SPOA in a QLD roadworthy inspection for new, or modified existing, QLD registration, irrevelant of engineering/documentation.
If a vehicle was brought in from another state with current registration and appropriate engineering compliance for that state they probably would approve the transfer of registration to QLD.

Yup it's a gotta be a Govt thing...
Mike

[mick!]

have you spoken to the fellas at 4wd monthly they are doing up a little suzook and should be able to point you in the right direction and tell you the info you need

Mick !

[mick!]

have you spoken to the fellas at 4wd monthly they are doing up a little suzook and should be able to point you in the right direction and tell you the info you need

Mick !

[mike]

BTW the answer to the can it be engineered in NSW (for NSW registration) the answer is YES but I'm sure there are those on this board with first hand experience with this on this board.
If you wanted to get it engineered in NSW for QLD rego then it's a negative ghost-rider, unless of course in the case of a transfer as mentioned above.

[NICK]

If a vehicle was brought in from another state with current registration and appropriate engineering compliance for that state they probably would approve the transfer of registration to QLD.

i was told buy transport if a vechicle had been legally registered in another state, had all the paper work to do so and had been for over 12 months, bearing in mind that is 2 RWC checks it could be registered in QLD without a problem, the problem is, as stated by QLDT the inspectors WILL get to know you on a first name basis if your car/4x4 stands out.

But yeah, this is what i am working on at the moment.

NICK

[WICKED]

who do i talk to about 2" body spacers? RTO or an engineer?

what size should i do 2" or 3"?

[Area54]

what state are you in?

In QLD you need to apply to QLD transport to modify, ie body lift. Once you are granted approval - 50mm is max allowed - you go ahead. All blocks must be steel or aluminium, and longer bolts must be grade 8 or higher, with nyloc or other type of locking nut system. The vehicle then goes over the pits for a thorough inspection. They'll nab you for everything nowadays, so it's best to do this mod before anything else. once approved, they (DOT) stamp your little piece of paper to keep in your glovebox to show officer plod when he pulls you over for jumping that gutter...

But most people just do the bodylift and not worry about DOT. (helluva lot simpler)

[NICK]

what state are you in?

In QLD you need to apply to QLD transport to modify, ie body lift. Once you are granted approval - 50mm is max allowed - you go ahead. All blocks must be steel or aluminium, and longer bolts must be grade 8 or higher, with nyloc or other type of locking nut system. The vehicle then goes over the pits for a thorough inspection. They'll nab you for everything nowadays, so it's best to do this mod before anything else. once approved, they (DOT) stamp your little piece of paper to keep in your glovebox to show officer plod when he pulls you over for jumping that gutter...

But most people just do the bodylift and not worry about DOT. (helluva lot simpler)

Mine is DOT approved, by atthol might i add, and the blocks are plastic with no crush tubes and the transport nazi still approved it. He also told me that i should have done it 50mm over standard, being that i take the thickness of the standard rubber mount, add 50mm then reassemble it with the rubber mount in, making it close to 75mm

NICK

[Brad]

Once the rule change occurs it will all become easier. I am going to have a chat to the contractor in the next few weeks about them. They are pretty much finshed now and should be in very soon. Well at least as soon as this so called Federal Initiative gets its bull shit sorted out.
The new rules are Aust Wide and are much better than teh current ones. They will allow me to run teh 285 x 75 x 16 tyres on my Manx Buggy which must be a good thing.

Anyway once they come in a great deal of things will chnage. Biggest change is that power goes back to teh approved engineers, if they are happy to sign off on it then it is legal. Much better then teh current setup.

[Area54]

how would this achieve more than 50mm lift? unless you mean putting body isolating rubbers on top and bottom of lift block.

[Wendle]

Once the rule change occurs it will all become easier. I am going to have a chat to the contractor in the next few weeks about them. They are pretty much finshed now and should be in very soon. Well at least as soon as this so called Federal Initiative gets its bull shit sorted out.
The new rules are Aust Wide and are much better than the current ones. They will allow me to run the 285 x 75 x 16 tyres on my Manx Buggy which must be a good thing.

Anyway once they come in a great deal of things will chnage. Biggest change is that power goes back to the approved engineers, if they are happy to sign off on it then it is legal. Much better then the current setup.

The new laws won't be good for everyone. The new handling tests that have to be conducted loaded to GVM will stop alot of vehicles from passing. Also, if they are doubtful of a vehicles safety, the RTA (or it's contractors/agents) can ask for individual ADR compliances to be listed in the report, this will amount to around 8-10 pages for most vehicles, and the pure $ factor in getting an engineer to research, measure, calculate, etc, etc each individual ruling will put a lot of people off.

[Ferwoaza]

Anyone know the general details on these new laws? Will they be national, does this mean SPOA is going to end up being legal in QLD? When are they coming into place etc?

[Wendle]

The legislation is being passed now. It is based around standardised testing for all of Australia. Good idea, apart from the fact that all the tests are based on whichever state had the hardest existing tests. So for modified suspension handling test, they used South Australia's 18-cone ISO lane change test. I have just done this in Canberra, and CBR is about to have a lash at it in WA, and is by no means easy. Theoretically once the legislation is in place a spring-over will be passable in QLD as long as all the handling tests are passed. There are a few other difficult tests as well, but the lane change one is the killer. (100kmh)

[rocknferoza]

Thanx for the imfo guys

I'll pass the imformation onto my mate

The main reason I asked about changing 2 another state with a vehicle thats had an engineers cert in another state was that while a few mates were discusing weather or not a SPOA was engineerable in NSW the topic of changing 2 another state was brought up and no one knew.

Thanx again

[murcod]

So for modified suspension handling test, they used South Australia's 18-cone ISO lane change test.

I doubt anyone has ever done that test here in SA! There are absolutely no inspections ever here- and you'd have to be really unlucky to get pulled over by the cops.

I got pulled over for a breathalyser a few years back in a loan hack that the rear lights didn't work on. It was night and the cops didn't say a thing after walking around the back of it- I was hoping to get it defected.

My last car was an '84 Charade fitted with a Jap import EFI twin cam turbo engine, even had the engine number on the rego papers..... So easy to do over here. Drove it around like that for over six years having awesome fun draging off HSV Commodores at the lights!

[Brad]

When I talk to the guy who is actually writting teh new Code I will ask him. There is a lot of bull shit flying around and I don't knwo wht to believe. Once I have spoken to Richard I will post the jist of it.

[Wendle]

I doubt anyone has ever done that test here in SA! There are absolutely no inspections ever here- and you'd have to be really unlucky to get pulled over by the cops.

It doesn't effect the bodgy bloke who throws in some tall springs and hopes he doesn't get pulled over. It effects the bloke who tries to do the right thing by getting his truck engineer and RTA certifified as it it being built.
And it has been done plenty of times in SA, I know this, as my engineer showed me a lot of photos of various cars and trucks running the test before I did it. In SA you don't even get to do it yourself, the RTA have their own proffesional driver.

[Wendle]

When I talk to the guy who is actually writting the new Code I will ask him. There is a lot of bull shit flying around and I don't knwo wht to believe. Once I have spoken to Richard I will post the jist of it.

That would be awesome! I only know bits and pieces that were relevant to me, as I have just battled the RTA for 6 months to get my rego renewed, as they thought I would make a good guinea pig to throw some of the new tests and standards at.
It will be good having someone who knows the bloke that makes the rules up on this board..
Cheers dude..

[bj on roids]

Once the rule change occurs it will all become easier. I am going to have a chat to the contractor in the next few weeks about them. They are pretty much finshed now and should be in very soon. Well at least as soon as this so called Federal Initiative gets its bull shit sorted out.
The new rules are Aust Wide and are much better than the current ones. They will allow me to run the 285 x 75 x 16 tyres on my Manx Buggy which must be a good thing.

Anyway once they come in a great deal of things will chnage. Biggest change is that power goes back to the approved engineers, if they are happy to sign off on it then it is legal. Much better then the current setup.

any dates as yet?

[bj on roids]

When I talk to the guy who is actually writting the new Code I will ask him. There is a lot of bull shit flying around and I don't knwo wht to believe. Once I have spoken to Richard I will post the jist of it.

That would be awesome! I only know bits and pieces that were relevant to me, as I have just battled the RTA for 6 months to get my rego renewed, as they thought I would make a good guinea pig to throw some of the new tests and standards at.
It will be good having someone who knows the bloke that makes the rules up on this board..
Cheers dude..

brad is quite knowledgeable in some areas. I am hoping he tells me when its all ready, maybe for once i can have legal vehicles.

[murcod]

I doubt anyone has ever done that test here in SA! There are absolutely no inspections ever here- and you'd have to be really unlucky to get pulled over by the cops.

It doesn't effect the bodgy bloke who throws in some tall springs and hopes he doesn't get pulled over. It effects the bloke who tries to do the right thing by getting his truck engineer and RTA certifified as it it being built.
And it has been done plenty of times in SA, I know this, as my engineer showed me a lot of photos of various cars and trucks running the test before I did it. In SA you don't even get to do it yourself, the RTA have their own proffesional driver.

So should this test be done on every 4WD that has been raised? Or are there going to be set maximum height increases before it's necessary?

[Wendle]

up to a certain height lift is classified as an "owner certified modification" I believe this is 50mm ATM, but may change as well.

[Brad]

Just did deal with the guy and he is gunna get a nice new webpage and I m going to get an approved V6 powered Manx Buggy ....

Talking to him next week so will see if I can get hold of a draft copy or at least info on suspension and tyres to keep you all interested.
You have to realise that the guy who is writting them is the same one who told us to piss of teh VW engines and start stuffing V6's into them.

Just approved a mazda V6 implant into a Baja Bug, plates our 4 wheel disc conversion, suspension substitution, transmissions substitution, front and rear seats, roll cage and a few other things while he was at it ....

www.offroadvw.net

[NICK]

Just approved a mazda V6 implant into a Baja Bug, plates our 4 wheel disc conversion, suspension substitution, transmissions substitution, front and rear seats, roll cage and a few other things while he was at it ....

www.offroadvw.net

so what makes him different from any other engineer? does he drive a train? no seriously, why cant a normal QLD-T engineer do all of what is listed above?


NICK

[purefmx]

I have to laugh at the responses to this topic. No matter what modifications you make, the answers at the RTA or (i)D(i)OT always differ, however most officers will never put their name to what thaey have just told you. I have enquired about numerous different mods, both in writing and over the phone, and each time i have been told a different answer.
My theory is....if ya dont like what the first officer had to say then hang up and call back, hoping to get a different person. 9 times outta 10 the answer will differ.

[Wendle]

My theory is....if ya dont like what the first officer had to say then hang up and call back, hoping to get a different person. 9 times outta 10 the answer will differ.

That won't help you when you actually go in for the inspection though.
"But the man on the phone said"
"I don't give a fuck what the man on the phone said"