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Question for Engineers RWC guys
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:56 am
by grimbo
What is the go with using a tube front ala Overkills Suzuki and the rear of Cheezy's Mav. Is it possible to do legally (I'm sure their rigs were legal) or am I dreaming. I would like to tube the front of my Zuk for easy tire clearance. Granted i will have to fit flares to cover the wheels, but what about the replacement/moving of headlights and indicators. Also what about removal of inner wheel wells.
I want to sort of do something like this
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 12:50 pm
by greg
I'm no engineer, however, our recent reading of the guidelines for roadworthiness of cars in victoria suggested that modifications to the car body forward of the firewall are a bit of a no-no. For this reason we are going to fit some inner guards to my car sometime soon.
Hope that helps.
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 12:58 pm
by robbie
greg wrote:I'm no engineer, however, our recent reading of the guidelines for roadworthiness of cars in victoria suggested that modifications to the car body forward of the firewall are a bit of a no-no. For this reason we are going to fit some inner guards to my car sometime soon.
Hope that helps.
I would say it has something to do with the crumple zone - but I'm no engineer, only guesstimating.
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:00 pm
by greg
robbie wrote:I would say it has something to do with the crumple zone - but I'm no engineer, only guesstimating.
If that were the case i'd expect that fitment of a bull bar would be a no-no too - as it connects straight to the chassis, and stops any 'crumpling' from occurring.
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:02 pm
by robbie
"Occasionally, crumple zones are used in the actual frame of the automobile, creating a point for the frame to buckle when subjected to extreme stress."
taken from a site that writes about crumple zones, but it could be BS.
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:05 pm
by greg
Here's the writeup i was talking about discussing mods to body:
From:
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrn ... 1BCD2A5F8F
...
10. BODY-CHASSIS STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS
An Approval Certificate is required for any modification to the chassis or frame of a vehicle. An Approval Certificate is also required for modifications to the occupant compartment and panels forward of the firewall of any passenger car manufactured after 1972.
A sectionalised repair (cut and shut) carried out in accordance with VSI No. 25 is not considered to be a modification.
However, if the repair involves replacing the front section of the vehicle or a section in which the VIN is located then the vehicle's identity will have to be confirmed and you will need to contact a VASS signatory before proceeding with the repair. The damaged vehicle together with the replacement section must be available for inspection by the signatory
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:33 pm
by grimbo
Doesn't say you can't just that you need a certificate
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:48 pm
by greg
grimbo wrote:Doesn't say you can't just that you need a certificate
Agreed.
perhaps you should look at the Bull bar standards... I'm thinking that to do a front clip out of tube, you are simply going to need to meet the r/w requirements for everything you change: i.e. lights, indicators, bull bar, maybe chassis changes, mud guards and flares and body mods (inner guards etc)...
I don't think it looks too bad
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:53 pm
by N*A*M
when i was talking to kcw about engineering my yella varmint, i told him i was going to make a tube front like sam keck's original buggy and the rear like seabass44's old rear tray/shopping trolley. i showed him the pics and everything. he had no issues with this as long as tyres were covered, headlights and indicators worked, etc... there may have been some other points to note but he was quite accepting.
here's an extract from my proposal doco:
The front section will be reconstructed with round tube and will incorporate panels, guards, grill, lights and indicators. The factory bonnet will be retained. The overall look will be similar to the yellow Suzuki pictured in Appendix F. The main differences are there will be proper headlights and indicators; and the tyres will be covered with mudguards to the legal requirement. The new bodywork will be bolted to the body and the chassis through existing mounting points (same as those used by the original factory panels). The cab will be converted to a single cab ute style like the one pictured in Appendix G. The rear will have a tray which follows the body line. There will be a 4 point external rollcage. All rules regarding indicators and lights, tyre coverage with flares, no dangerous edges etc... will be adhered to. Below are diagrams illustrating the likely appearance.
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 2:01 pm
by greg
Right - that's it... Comon Grimbo, what are you planning now? And what size tyre is it going to be?
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 2:14 pm
by grimbo
Well I'm thinking if I have to get a n engineers cert for the engine i may as well make it worthwhile and get a few things done. Always been keen on the tube front for clearance issues, will allow me to run nice and low with a big tyre (not sure how big yet) time and $ will see
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 7:29 pm
by bigsteve
grimbo wrote:Well I'm thinking if I have to get a n engineers cert for the engine i may as well make it worthwhile and get a few things done. Always been keen on the tube front for clearance issues, will allow me to run nice and low with a big tyre (not sure how big yet) time and $ will see
Sounds like a chance to beat Greg in fitting some Q78's
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 8:40 pm
by Fathillbilly
there is a car that's full bar work "open Space frame" that can be fully registered. it's basically a moto bike with 4 wheels and no fairing.
the biggest thing to look at would side and frontal protrusions that are sharp or just out right dangerous.
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:26 pm
by Beastmavster
greg wrote:Here's the writeup i was talking about discussing mods to body:
From:
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrn ... 1BCD2A5F8F...
10. BODY-CHASSIS STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS
An Approval Certificate is required for any modification to the chassis or frame of a vehicle. An Approval Certificate is also required for modifications to the occupant compartment and panels forward of the firewall of any passenger car manufactured after 1972.
A sectionalised repair (cut and shut) carried out in accordance with VSI No. 25 is not considered to be a modification.
However, if the repair involves replacing the front section of the vehicle or a section in which the VIN is located then the vehicle's identity will have to be confirmed and you will need to contact a VASS signatory before proceeding with the repair. The damaged vehicle together with the replacement section must be available for inspection by the signatory
I thought that 4wd's are not classified as "passenger vehicles" anyway so this is irrelevant to a 4wd.....