To tell or not to tell? that is the question....

pete wood · 2007-04-30T04:01:34+00:00

In the last month I've had a number of conversations about illegally modding cars. Call it a hobby horse of mine, but I was interested to know. How many people on here have deliberately avoided getting engineers certificates and the like for their cars after serious mods. On a similar note, another two people said to me words to the effect that once you have the car regoed with an engineers certificate, it's open season to do whatever you like afterwards. I'm a bit worried I have to say. What do the rest of you think?

whatnow Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 2 May 2007, 2:16 am

#588732

while i votes "plan to ' in the near future" an engineers cert is still a long way from being needed.

i'm currently about to embark on the long term rebuild on my beetle (i'm expecting 5+ years). after cleaning/organising my shed the first thing i have done is start writting a submission (and a set of Q's) to the local engineer, to put down what i want to do and to find out how i can make it easier on myself to get my car legal + to cement my ideas in my own head (btw it's 14 pages so far with many more to go). to me it makes sense to have my car legal... a better chance of being able to avoid defects and if i do have an accident my family will still have a house to live in + while an engeneers cert won't be cheap, compaired to some of the expenses it won't be much (if you don't belive me give me $5k and an internet connection and watch me spend it in 20 minutes... please 🙂 ).
to my finances my car will be a huge investment (that i will never make back in $ terms) so the extra months it will take to save to have it engineered will be well worth it. if it means getting to keep it/it's remains or get the insurance money if i have an accident it's money well spent.

i guess though when it comes down to it i'm not a gambler and i like knowing that i'm inside the law (may be not always the speed limit but...), that is the kind of security i like.

henry.

aussiebaja Insano Dub Head

738 posts · joined Jun 2006 · 2 May 2007, 5:57 am

#588733

9 times out of 10 it comes down to the clown behind the wheel and how they choose to use the cars ,not the mods done ,and 9 out 10 mods can be legally certified if done properly

BETTER TO BE THOUGHT A FOOL THAN TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND REMOVE ALL DOUBT:puke

LUFTMEISTER Veteran Volks Folk

2,041 posts · joined Jul 2005 · 2 May 2007, 8:17 am

#588749

Q1. fitting a 1300/1600 dual port engine in a oval window require an engineers approval since you are changing the power to weight ratio and not improving the braking system?

Q2. Is the above mod LEGAL if fitted by a mechanic working for a business without one?

Customer service is not dead in Australia.

Always after HAZET & MATRA & VW factory tools

Baja Wes V6 Baja Pioneer

3,119 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 2 May 2007, 8:49 am

#588761

In QLD you must upgrade the brakes to those used on the vehicle the 1300/1600 came from. This is pretty common sense really. In QLD you would need a blue plate with the LA mod code to approve this modication, and you can get one of these for around $100.

If a workshop completed the same modification then they would also need to get a mod plate done.

Wes - www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control... 🙂
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.

LUFTMEISTER Veteran Volks Folk

2,041 posts · joined Jul 2005 · 2 May 2007, 8:58 am

#588762

so if the 1600dp came from a superbug you would have to put in a macpherson strut front end then? commonsense really!?

Customer service is not dead in Australia.

Always after HAZET & MATRA & VW factory tools

Midlife crisis Nartispuddlejumper, Bureau of Toxicity

2,282 posts · joined May 2003 · 2 May 2007, 8:59 am

#588763

I have the mod plate for the subi in the BAJA and just as well ,I was pulled over by the boys in blue who just happens to Like VW's and asked to see the plate for the subie.
It was a great feeling been able to show him, he was happy and so was I !!!

Marc

If you can't laugh at yourself you can't laugh at anyone else! Because life is to short not to LAUGH

Baja Wes V6 Baja Pioneer

3,119 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 2 May 2007, 9:18 am

#588767

DUBB61 wrote:so if the 1600dp came from a superbug you would have to put in a macpherson strut front end then? commonsense really!?

If you wanted to you could. Obviously you haven't reached the common level of sense if that's the easiest way your brain can think of doing the transplant. There were torsion bar cars that used that engine.

Besides, if you knew the modification rules you'd know that QLD has what they call "schedule A" acceptable non-equivalent engine transplants. In there they state a pre1968 beetle can have a 1600cc engine installed with no brake upgrade required.

A post 1968 can have up to a 2L sohc with only front disc brakes required.

Then if you want more you go to schedule B and the capacity = weight x multiplier rule.

[ Edited on 1-5-2007 by Baja Wes ]

Wes - www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control... 🙂
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.

LUFTMEISTER Veteran Volks Folk

2,041 posts · joined Jul 2005 · 2 May 2007, 9:39 am

#588772

Baja Wes wrote:In QLD you must upgrade the brakes to those used on the vehicle the 1300/1600 came from. This is pretty common sense really.

Maybe my brain transplant will let me understand english a bit better too, but I would have sworn you stated vehicle not engine?
And the later answer on the equivilent engine swap would have answered Q1. So anyone driving a early with a dual port engine without a mod plate is a Mad Max type road warrior killer because they did not ask permission off an engineer. lord help us all. welcome to the end of life as we know it.

Customer service is not dead in Australia.

Always after HAZET & MATRA & VW factory tools

Rural Baja #tassievwpickers

1,075 posts · joined Jan 2006 · 2 May 2007, 3:34 pm

#588831

Ok what about a standed 63 beetle raised up at the back 1 notch with a 1600tp engine and no roof lining. Is that legal?
Look i am gonna get my bug on the road one day but when i turn 17 (Another 3 years look at all that bullshit i got to go through. Also it was never fitted with seat belts. Now it has some out of a 65 so can it be done?

amazeer Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,029 posts · joined Nov 2005 · 2 May 2007, 3:43 pm

#588833

Dude, thats a 23% capacity increase. Are you still on drum brakes? A P plater in that kind of thing is going to be lethal. You had better get it engineered.

I dont think the lawmakers know that a 2.4 litre F1 engine is any different to a 2.4 litre pintara. It all seems to be about capacity not performance.:duh

Rural Baja #tassievwpickers

1,075 posts · joined Jan 2006 · 2 May 2007, 3:47 pm

#588836

Yep still on drum. been driving it around the country side around paddocks and on the beachf for about three years. Is she a death trap and should i take her back to standed height?

Rural Baja #tassievwpickers

1,075 posts · joined Jan 2006 · 2 May 2007, 3:49 pm

#588837

But sheesa standed 1600tp with bigger heads etc. And it sarts and stops well.