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Engineering the X-90

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 3:41 pm
by Squik
Fark... what a hassle :?

Had to fit front mudflaps... extend rear ones... just scraped it in under the 1.2m headlight height...recalibrate speedo before the engineer even looked at it (as of Feb next year oversized tyres will require you to carry a cert in your glovebox saying you've had yours done... police WILL be asking for it)... swerve tests... braking tests... stretch test on steering extensions... no lowering of brake brackets down the body, now MUST be longer lines all round...stress testing... blah blah blah.... :bad-words:

As of Feb police will be advised to check anything lifted for eng certs, measure headlight heights, mudflap lengths (the OFFICIAL word is that they must reach the centre of your hubs), check flares etc in a coming blitz... and will now be 'educated' on what to look out for and will carry a checklist :x
Rumour has it there will be impoundings enforced :roll:

A hint for mudflaps though... for $10 at Supercheap you can buy a front and rear rubber floormat kit... just cut them up, they make excellent mudflaps and flares :D

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 3:57 pm
by smileysmoke
fark thanks for the info Squik. they should spend more time checking the ricers than our lil fourbys :D
pays to fix up a few things sooner than later.. less stress hey?

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 4:08 pm
by fool_injected
Looks like I'd better be getting a roll of conveyor belt from work ;)
The way i see is that are not really further restriction just re-inforcing the current ones
They are not saying don't modify your truck, just do it safely

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:37 pm
by NIK
Wow my zuk is engineered and it was a breeze. 3 page esay on ruf but other than that I said it they wrote it down.
I still get questions about my garden edging flares!
Are you saying they will now be hecking all the things you listed?
I was un engineered for years never had a hassle as soon as I was engineered I was pulled over to check the tyre size on the report matched the size on my zuk and thats it thank you have a nice day..
How are we supose to keep up??
Nik

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:59 pm
by alien
keep a log book of when you were pulled over, the officer who pulled you over and the car's rego... if you find you're being pulled over "excessively" you can photocopy the log book and complain to the police about it... it might not achieve anything in particular but at least youll be wasting their time like they wasted yours =)

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:33 pm
by Squik
NIK wrote:Wow my zuk is engineered and it was a breeze. 3 page esay on ruf but other than that I said it they wrote it down.
I still get questions about my garden edging flares!
Are you saying they will now be hecking all the things you listed?
I was un engineered for years never had a hassle as soon as I was engineered I was pulled over to check the tyre size on the report matched the size on my zuk and thats it thank you have a nice day..
How are we supose to keep up??
Nik
It used to be that they would pull you over if you stood out and just ask to see a eng cert number on your rego papers, now it will be a case of random pullovers or at breath testing etc of asking if (eg) you have a speedo cali' cert for your oversized tyres, measure the top of your headlights from the ground against standard same make/model specs and check mudflaps hit hub height/flares etc... if you pass all these you should be ok, but if you are over a 4" lift, they will ask you for an eng cert, if you don't have one... they will impound until an RTA engineer inspection can be done... this is the info I have managed to glean so far... still trying to find out more... hoping most of it is just rumours, but I'm getting the same info more than once :?

Eventually, it's rumoured, that you will not even get standard rego if your tyres are upsized and speedo not recalibrated... will be part of your pink slip, like brake testing.

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:24 pm
by Toecutta
Its all true!

In Canberra you can't lift a car more that 6" in total (including tyres) even with a eng cert.

I might have to start putting turbos on pulsars :roll:

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:02 pm
by DiddyZook
Bigger tyres engineered !!!!!!!!!!! Wow you have it so easy.

I can get everything else engineered but stockies have to go on for engineering rego etc. Engineer reckons it is bullshit too, he has previously certified Zooks with 33s and 34s but is no longer able to do so.

As he put it a bigger tyre provides a larger footprint thereby improving stability and roadholding once you lift the vehicle (still permitted) or increase the power (still permitted)

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 4:45 pm
by Squik
I actually have to put a new tyre placard on.. it's being mailed out :?

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 5:37 pm
by saffrett
wats with the speedo thing anyway y do u need a speedo any way there alway out even when new just use the gps

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 5:53 pm
by gecko270
You guys should move down here to the South. My neighbour (Traffic Instructor at Pol HQ) has told me that soon new regs will be comming in that we can't lift total vehicle height more than 50mm over stock. That includes tyres. What a load of bull. Anything over 50mm needs engineering. And from what I've heard that costs a bit.

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:49 pm
by Squik
Shit... that's harsh :shock:

I was told that the total lift in NSW, and this is INCLUDING tyres, can be no more than 6" above standard height :bad-words:

Speedos must be calibrated so basically, you can't speed without knowing it and your odometer is accurate. Unfortunately, and it's already started, an engineer will not even see your vehicle until you've had it done and can show a certificate. My engineer wouldn't let me have the paperwork until I faxed one through...

$900 minimum to engineer (depends on how much needs to be checked) plus $264 to recalibrate... :cry: ... then add pinkslip, blue slip, green slip and rego... :cry:

Let's just say that keeping the X-90 legal has cost us a packet this year...

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:10 pm
by cj
NCOP.......I've been telling people that it's coming for quite some time but nobody wants to hear it :roll: The individual States may tweak it slightly but the basics are pretty much going to be the same so get used to it.

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:55 pm
by NIK
So does this mean while my zuk is engineered and hasnt changed since I could be defected for things that are covered on the certificate? I have spoa with ruf on toys and Im pretty sure this would be over the height restrictions before they take into account the 33s. When I got it done there was no talk of headlight heights or recalabrating speedo. Does this mean mines illegal and if so I cant change anything as it will void the engineers certificate!
Were can we find out more about this?
Nik

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 2:06 pm
by Brendan-s
So what about all the new vehicles that come from the factory with an inaccurate speedo?

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:52 pm
by cj
4130warrior wrote:So what about all the new vehicles that come from the factory with an inaccurate speedo?
My Engineer says that it needs to be within 4% of the true speed. The ADR's do allow for some variance but I haven't checked them to see what that amount is but at a guess I'd say 4%.

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:14 pm
by Toecutta
NIK wrote:So does this mean while my zuk is engineered and hasnt changed since I could be defected for things that are covered on the certificate? I have spoa with ruf on toys and Im pretty sure this would be over the height restrictions before they take into account the 33s. When I got it done there was no talk of headlight heights or recalabrating speedo. Does this mean mines illegal and if so I cant change anything as it will void the engineers certificate!
Were can we find out more about this?
Nik
With the info I have, if you car was already done it complies to old regs and will be fine (at the moment).

Just dont do anything else to your car. If you need to update your cert it will need to compliy to the new regs.........., toyos, 33", SPOA,......... no chance................., it becomes a farm buggy.

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:17 pm
by Toecutta
4130warrior wrote:So what about all the new vehicles that come from the factory with an inaccurate speedo?
They must have there own rules. I tried the old, I can have lights on my roof cause the new cherokee sport has them standard, route. And got nowhere.

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:45 pm
by Dee
cj wrote:
4130warrior wrote:So what about all the new vehicles that come from the factory with an inaccurate speedo?
My Engineer says that it needs to be within 4% of the true speed. The ADR's do allow for some variance but I haven't checked them to see what that amount is but at a guess I'd say 4%.
Well my GU went from std. rims and tyres to 33 x 12.5's. Checked it with a GPS 2 weeks ago, it is now exactly spot on. My standard zuk however reads about 4-5 kays over on the GPS at 100km/h on the speedo... :roll:

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:33 pm
by Squik
Unfortunately GPS readings mean diddly-squat with the RTA :roll:

You must be tested and certed, even if you *know* you are ok, and must carry that cert to say you are ok or have been recalibrated :x

They are actually clamping down HARD on any new eng' certs that come through. I got dragged over the coals on Saturday when I registered the X90 and put the engineers papers through. There was a discrepancy and they took my paperwork off me pending having it all checked out :shock: and I had to wait until today to find out whether I had to go over the pits...

... mind you it was the RTA's screwup (my dummy spit was NOT pretty), they had forgotten to update something and I simply followed the recommendations on THEIR website :bad-words:
I won as they were in the wrong :armsup:
But it just goes to show they are actually looking at certs and reading/checking them, not just blindly adding the details :roll:
So... forget shortcuts... do it right the first time because if figures don't add up, they *will* knock it back!

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 3:35 pm
by mnemonix
So who do you need to see and how do you go about getting your speedo recalibrated and cert'd ?

My DD has been recalibrated on a mates dyno. We know it's accurate, but I don't have a cert to prove so?

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:53 pm
by NIK
Gee that sucks squik but atleast now you SHOULD be safe.
Nik

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:41 pm
by Squik
NIK wrote:Gee that sucks squik but atleast now you SHOULD be safe.
Nik
ARRGH :bad-words: Spoke too soon...

Just as I was leaving, got a call from a head honcho re my... ahhh... complaint :D ... he he... must've made an impression as it's the third call I have had from various people today :D Wonder if the RTA security footage ever ends up on YouTube :rofl: :rofl:

Nice enough bloke though, he explained everything to me and they will just go over my report, make sure it's all been done correctly and I just had to email a few photos of the flares, mudflaps, bodylift blocks and steering extension (thank FARK we didn't change the crush zone)... said all is cool and he can't see a problem, just protocol.

Geezus... :roll:

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:44 pm
by Squik
mnemonix wrote:So who do you need to see and how do you go about getting your speedo recalibrated and cert'd ?

My DD has been recalibrated on a mates dyno. We know it's accurate, but I don't have a cert to prove so?
General Auto in Lidcombe did mine...

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 10:04 am
by Squik
WE HAVE A WINNER :armsup:

Done and dusted :D Just got the call to say that the RTA have gone over my buildup (via the website, step by step documentation of the buildup and pics I had to submit) and it's all been approved (even the heim on the rear end!!) :armsup:

Thank faaaaaaaaaaaark :cool:

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:55 am
by gman79au
Squik, do you know these ppl, seem to have similar intrests don't you think?
Image

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:40 pm
by Squik
He He.. I do actually! The X-90 is owned by a lady called Flic from the Shropshire Suzuki Club in the UK... the name of the Jimny owner escapes me though :D

Seems I'm not the only one with a Jimny/X90 fetish :armsup:

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:16 pm
by gman79au
he calls himself andy

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:48 pm
by ozy1
squick what engineer did you use?

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:54 pm
by Squik
TIC at Kirrawee... who got the gig quite simply because of the six I rang, I was spoken to and had my questions answered without making out like I was silly for asking them... good customer services basically.

...and before anyone starts bagging them, the problem was with the RTA having incorrect information (not updating a change in procedure causing my cert to be invalid)... not with TIC, who did everything to the letter and were proven to be correct in this case :D