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legalitys of dash removal
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 9:02 pm
by bru21
I want to remove the dash to save weight and make the cab more roomy. i no longer need any factory lights / gagues as i changed when i did the ls1 to aftermarket. so speedo and batt will now be gps, odo will be hour meter and gps, tacho, oil pressure, temp, will be aftermarket. and cab fan, heater etc is gone (might have an electric demister stuck onto the glass if needed v8 supercar style)
so as the dash is steel has no air bags and you cannot conceivebly hit the firewall (seats will be fixed as to move a few clicks foward of my driving pos, and far back as slide go) can i remove the dash legally. might have to run factory speedo under the seat of something to retain odo legally.
is it legal in qld, will it pass scruitineering for obc, winch etc.
I will mount gauges gps'es, extinguisher, etc on an internal roll cage bar across the front, with canvas bags for winch extension straps, epirb etc. I am about to paint behind the dash and would like to remove all brackets first.
so help if you are 100% sure (or you will be welding the brackets back on)
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:10 pm
by krimnl
removal of the dash is illegal , a "soft" dash pad is a part of ADR's and must be maintained
I run a full roll cage that runs accross the firewall , small smiths type heater that blows on the windscreen for demist (another must have)
and the bare dash bolted in over the top , weighs stuff all and keeps it legal
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:23 pm
by bru21
can i pad the firewall. when i asked the engineer about the 7 replica we are building he said a steel dash is fine as long as there is a bit of foam, but there was a distance that after which it didn't matter and there was no requirement for padding, i cannot remember what it was as we needed it so i took no notice. the gq fire wall is miles away from the passenger i might be far enough!.
i mainly want rid of the dash as there is no need for it at all, none of the factory gauges work, the 2 gps's are so big they block the vision, and i hate that doof doof gauge all over dash look. the glove box is just a door for the relay box, and the jesus bar is marginal after the fans etc were removed.
what kind of fan did you use eg brand part numbe cost etc, will need one
cheers bru
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:32 pm
by krimnl
i used an old smiths heater came out of a really old holden FB or EK??
just has heater hoses running into it and a single speed fan , small peice of plastic duct to direct onto windscreen.
as for the dash speak to an engineer , i know that some wont pass roll cages as they are not padded with a ADR approved padding (there is no ADR approved padding available) i have heard of someone using sunvisors to pad sections of roll cages to get passed engineers .

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:54 pm
by landy_man
roll cages dont need to be engineered (in Vic) as long as you build them according to Vic Roads guidelines
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrpdf/rd ... I%2028.pdf
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:57 pm
by bru21
not fussed at all about roll cage engineering have it all lined up, its easy as in qld, i need 8 codes so the guy thinks all his christmasses have come at once!
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 11:01 pm
by krimnl
no they dont need to be engineered indavidually but when you are engineering a car for other mods it comes into play , as the car must pass ALL standards right down to tyre size and mudflaps
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 11:58 pm
by bru21
i am not engineering anything at all as all is covered by mod codes so other stuff doesn't matter. codes i need will be front suspension linkages/coil overs, rear coilovers 3rds arms, chassis chop, diff swap if i can so i can argue width is plated, cage, harnesses, seats, v8, i am sure i would get it passed without the dash but if i get defected i will be pissed, that is my main concern.
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:13 am
by Swerve
I'm building a replica Lotus7 (Westfield SEI kit). The ADR's quote we need to have a
1- Soft dash material
2- Heater demister
3- Sunvisor
In a 500kg convertiable with no roof, dont ask why we would need a demister and sun visor but thats the rules
Steve
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:39 am
by krimnl
bru21 wrote:i am not engineering anything at all as all is covered by mod codes so other stuff doesn't matter. codes i need will be front suspension linkages/coil overs, rear coilovers 3rds arms, chassis chop, diff swap if i can so i can argue width is plated, cage, harnesses, seats, v8, i am sure i would get it passed without the dash but if i get defected i will be pissed, that is my main concern.
i think your rules are a fair bit different to here
in vic there is no such thing as a engineers cert. anymore
it is a VASS cert, and it is basically a check to ensure the entire car is
up to scratch.
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:08 am
by ISUZUROVER
AFAIK, speedo (to the required accuracy), odo, soft dash and demister are all required by ADRs if you want to be legal.
Other guages are AFAIK not required for adrs - except safety things like brake failure warning etc (if fitted)
But I am not 100% sure, things may have changed since I last spoke to an approved person about it - so check with an engineer/mod approver!!!
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 8:14 pm
by Spartacus
i dont have a copy handy of ADR, QTransport guidelines so:
can u remove the old dash and replace with a smaller DIY item?
ive pulled mine for room and want to replace it with a DIY of my own
design?
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:17 pm
by andrew e
ISUZUROVER wrote:AFAIK, speedo (to the required accuracy), odo, soft dash and demister are all required by ADRs if you want to be legal.
Hows the soft dash in the 2a going Ben?
I know, if fitted OEM.
Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:53 pm
by "CANADA"
gps arent alowed due to dropouts or failure from memory

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:00 pm
by ISUZUROVER
andrew e wrote:
Hows the soft dash in the 2a going Ben?
The "soft" steering wheel in front of it is more of a concern
