Getting an engineers certifictae

[toy75]

I am in SA and thinking of getting an engineers citificate for insurance and legal purposes. I have got a 75 series with a two inch body lift a 33 inch tyres. The lift is legal, but the tyres are not. Of those that have had there cars engineered, how much did it cost, and how hard was it.

[Sixty]

Any mod done to vehicles have to be pre-approved by SA TPT.
Four year ago they even supplied a list of approved engineers.

[-Scott-]

Mate, I'm going through this right now! Transfering a modified vehicle from Qld to SA.

Sent in the mod form to SA Transport, listing 50mm body lift, 50mm suspension lift, 33" tyres, +20mm track and long range tank. Paperwork came back telling me to book an inspection for the "50mm lift kit." Suspension or body lift?

Booked an inspection (3 week wait) and asked if that meant the tyres weren't an issue. Hold for 5 minutes, speak to fella in Vehicle Standards. He pulls up my form and says "yep, the suspension lift is all we're interested in."

Me: "So the larger tyres aren't a problem?"

Him: "You're allowed 15mm overall diameter."

Me: "The tyres on my form are larger than that."

Him: "Huh?"

Hold again.

Finally, they've told me they want an engineer's report on Load Rating, speedo accuracy, vehicle stability and braking. Gave me a list of engineers to talk to. Number one on the list is the engineer everybody tells me to talk to.

Speak to engineer, he wants full details of modifications - fair enough. I've emailed him a scan of the form from SA Transport, he'll speak to them about what they want. BUT - he's not prepared to sign off on a "Handling" test, because it leaves him hanging in the breeze for liability.

I've sent the engineer all the information I think is relevant, and a whole lot more which probably isn't.

So now I wait. If you're ready to go, I can PM you the engineer I'm using - perhaps it'll be easier for him to do two at once?

Cheers,

Scott

[-Scott-]

Update:

Since contacting the engineer, I've called to speak to him 4 times - he's never available. Left my number 3 times, he's never called me back. Last time he wasn't available, I declined to leave my number.

Rang SA Transport, cancelled my inspection, asked for engineers names again (I lost the last list... ) The Paj is now booked with the next engineer, inspection is next week.

Fingers crossed,

Scott

[bogged]

Since contacting the engineer, I've called to speak to him 4 times - he's never available. Left my number 3 times, he's never called me back. Last time he wasn't available, I declined to leave my number.

sounds like lack of interest - or scared of liability...

[Nutter®]

Anyone had any luck with engineers in vic, I have a LWB GQ with 2 inch body lift, 2 inch Spring lift an 35's , started going through vic roads engineering list and found a couple that will look at it but for $1200 plus...seems they charge more for 4 wheelers..

[toy75]

Thanks for the updates Scott. I look forward to seeing how you go

[bogged]

Anyone had any luck with engineers in vic, I have a LWB GQ with 2 inch body lift, 2 inch Spring lift an 35's , started going through vic roads engineering list and found a couple that will look at it but for $1200 plus...seems they charge more for 4 wheelers..

Theres one in packenham that a mate used to increase the GVM on his troopy, might be worth chasing up

[Bundy Chick]

There is an engineer in Bayswater, Archie Robertson 9729 9776. He's good.
Done alot for our vehicles. New laws are coming in about 35" tyres becoming legal. Archie has got "The Bilble" on these new laws and he should know when they should be in place. I'd speak to him about it.

[toy75]

How much has it roughly been costing you bundy chick, for just getting suspension and tyre mods engineered.

[Bundy Chick]

I work at Marks 4WD Adaptors. We get all our vehicles engineered by Archie. I couldn't really say how much he has charged us in the past, as I dont pay the bills!!! Sorry can't help with that side of it.

[bogged]

How much has it roughly been costing you bundy chick, for just getting suspension and tyre mods engineered.

from another thread a dude was $1000 recently

[-Scott-]

Engineer has spoken to SA Transport, who dug out my original application and admitted they screwed up. They are now asking for a brake test and lane change test, which will be on a new statement of requirement.

Brake Test: $375
Lane Change Test: $375
Track Hire: $165 (ish?)
Report: $150 (ish)
Today: $150 - to find out SA Transport screwed up, and new statement of requirement will be issued. If SA Transport hadn't screwed up, I probably wouldn't have needed today's $150.

Of course, there's no guarantee the vehicle will pass these tests - but if it fails, that's probably something I need to know.

So, I need to make another phone call or two for more quotes, and to try to find out when the NCOP will be adopted in SA - because I reckon my Paj passes. Worst case, I step down a size in tyres.

And, I guess I should fit larger brakes on the front - because I reckon I can, it's not a bad idea anyway, and I'd hate to have to pay the $375 twice.

Am I having fun yet?

Scott

[toy75]

It seems like a lot of money.
I can have the 33's and a body lift, all legal and be covered by insurance, but the tyres can be more than 8.75inches wide due to the 15mm rule.
I was involved in a acident a while back with 31x10.5's and nobody asked any questions.
When you think about it 31x 10.5 is probably the most common tyre size out there on 4wds, therefore leaving many car's unroadworthy and then not insurered.

[-Scott-]

I had another chat to the engineer, and he educated me a little on the NCOP - he's been reading up on it today.

The part I'd missed, was requirements for testing should combined lift exceed 50mm. I thought you only needed the test if any part of the lift exceeded 50mm, or combined lift was more than 150mm. Not so.

He also told me the testing under the NCOP would be more stringent - particularly the brake tests. He commented that the NCOP requires a test to demonstrate that the modified vehicle has braking ability equivalent to the original.

So, I need some more quotes, and some more money.

Scott

[toy75]

How is it going get that engineers certificate going Scott. I am thinking more and more about getting one.

[bogged]

He commented that the NCOP requires a test to demonstrate that the modified vehicle has braking ability equivalent to the original.

Why the shock? I see that as fair enough myself.

[saint_she_aint]

holy hell!

Scott cant you just keep the car registered in Qld? lmao
I have recently moved to SA also and am too scared to even ask about getting my surf registered here now!

Its gonna end up cheaper trading it in on another car and just modding it up again

[N*A*M]

this is one reason why more people should build buggies. put the money you would've spent on your unapproved mods, engineering, registration and insurance to good use. have a stock as a rock fourby for towing and call it good.

[bogged]

this is one reason why more people should build buggies. put the money you would've spent on your unapproved mods, engineering, registration and insurance to good use. have a stock as a rock fourby for towing and call it good.

but it aint for everyone... specially when there are extremely ltd places you can use a buggy legally. also doesnt help take the family away either.

[N*A*M]

agreed. i said more people should, not everyone should. if you're a young bloke with a few mates, pool your resources in and go for it. there's nothing better than the roar of the crowd. at the same time keep your dodgy deathtraps off the road... i know because i've built some!

all you other people, don't kid yourself. you don't need big flex or big tyres. lockers and a brain will do most tracks. and there's always a winch. nothing wrong with winching out and not damaging the track. if you daily drive a heavily modded fourby, you've got rocks in your head. how often do you honestly drive where you _need_ heaps of flex and big muddies? if you do this every other weekend, you will not be one of those that depends on their fourby for during the week because you will be having frequent breakages and maintenance.

many assumptions and generalisations there but you catch my drift.

[justinC]

Looks like I'm going to have to do the legal thing too, no insurance, no cover etc. I have spoken to an engineer, and this looks like the only alternative is to do the testing etc.
I guess the ACE will help my lane change and stability, and I have vented slotted brakes etc, so I hope it will be an easy(!) job. Somehow when red tape gets involved though, it all goes out the window...

JC

[Vulcanised]

i'm glad i got mine done in NSW cost me $428, for engine swap ($308) suspension lift ($40) Body lift ($40) and exhaust sound level test ($40) which it only just passed Got it blue slipped, change of details through the RTA (today actually) and it's all sweet!!

[brighty]

i'm glad i got mine done in NSW cost me $428, for engine swap ($308) suspension lift ($40) Body lift ($40) and exhaust sound level test ($40) which it only just passed Got it blue slipped, change of details through the RTA (today actually) and it's all sweet!!

So who'd you go thru then????

[bogged]

i'm glad i got mine done in NSW cost me $428, for engine swap ($308) suspension lift ($40) Body lift ($40) and exhaust sound level test ($40) which it only just passed Got it blue slipped, change of details through the RTA (today actually) and it's all sweet!!

are these to the "NEW" rules? I'd be asking before getting excited.