After taking to a mate who's restoring a Mustang he has mentioned that the vehicle test at regency is so strict he has had to replace a lot of the non-standard parts with stock stuff to be able to get it though the test.

I called the guys there who said that I need to apply for registration and they would send me a list of requirements.

Does anyone have any experience of getting a heavily modded car through this test, specifically one with a larger / different engine + turbo.

For info, my car is a '65 Type 34 fitted with a turbo'd type 4 unit, rear Porsche suspension + Porsche wheels + brakes. The rest of the car is pretty much stock.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

Mick.

get your hands on the SA Vehicle Info Sheets asap... and talk to the lads at Regency. Now. Before you do any more...

hi
did you first get an approval to modify the motor vehicle
they would have advised you then what you can and cant have to start with
i think you barking up the tree with your suspension and engine it wont go through without engineers report only after you get an approval which i doubt! too sorry
ive done many cars ant they are tough it comes down to what the car come out with its max HP to weight ratio
and yours is well over board as for suspension the porsche stuff is it just bolt on parts or welded struts etc wont go through with out reports and strenght tests to prove it all works correctly and handles and that cost big $$$

have a nice day

Hey Mate, ring me friday night I can steer you right. Anythings possible with the right amount of $$$.
I am doing it with turbo etc, Just need to get onto the right engineer.
AH: (08) 8270 2425
Heath T54

Thanks for the advice.

When I called Regency, the guy there was very helpful, he didn't say the mods were a complete no-no, just that they assess each car on it's merits and that when I apply I need to list all of the mods that have been done. He did hint that the turbo MIGHT be a problem but looking at a bulletin I downloaded from their site it mentions that technically there are no restrictions for turbos on cars older than 1971. The main thing that the guy mentioned is that the car and all of the mods must not compromise the safety of the car, which is fair comment.

The Porsche conversion isn't a bolt on mod, the rear IRS frame has to be narrowed as the Porsche arms increase the track too much and although I've not got round to sorting out the front completely, it is likely I will make up some new dropped spindles to accept the Porsche hubs as this seems better than modifying the VW ones.

The brakes and suspension have been uprated this way due to the engine fitted, its both heavier and obviously a lot more powerful.

I may be able to get some structural analysis for the mods done at work (one of the engineers is already helping me with designing the mods), if this is the kind of info I need I'll see if I can get it sorted out.

As for stopping the project before I do any more - Oops - bit too late as it's not too far from finished - Most of the work was done in the UK before I moved out here - I shipped the car with me when I moved - There's not the same restrictions back there.

Heath - thanks for the offer of advice, I'll give you a bell at about 6ish if that's convenient, unless you got a spare hour where I can pay you for your advice in beer.

Cheers.

Mick

[ Edited on 22-3-2007 by T-34 ]

Hey Mick,
Can you make it a bit later, got to put my little girl to sleep about then or yeah maybe a beer after work one night, either way. Regency can fax you a list of engineers, use Potts NOT Michael Tonkin, He's useless. I have not heard from him for over 8 months.
Heath

Any updated work in progress pics Mick.

Web site looks good. Cant wait to see this one in the flesh one day.

Dean

T-34, glad you have chatted to the fellers. It sounds like what you have done so far with teh trailing arms and track narrowing is a-okay for legal rego in Aus but it may be better to retain the standard front spindles, modified with brackets etc to accept larger brakes. Fabbed or aftermarket spindles or fabb'd hot-rod style A-arm suspension will be subject to testing (destructive) to prove strength and continued compliance etc etc
HTH

[ Edited on 22-3-2007 by VWCOOL ]

potts did my skyline (before i had it) have heard alot of good things about him just dont go to regency before u get it engineered as u will get reamed!

Thanks for the advice guys. Much appreciated.

The latest pics are those in the gallery on my site, you can see them Here

Heath, I'll give you a call at about 7:30, hopefully the little one would have settled by then.

Cheers.

Mick.

Spoke to Doug Potts at Regency yesterday (Yeah I know it's taken me a long while to get round to it - I been flat out at work ). He was very helpful and didn't immediately say anything that I was doing was a problem. Main thing was that no mods could compromise the safety of the car - the way he put it was that the car had to be safe to drive on the road.

The next stage is for him to come and assess the car as it is, then we can work out what needs to be done next. Hopefully This should be in a few weeks time.

I'll keep you updated.

Mick.

Nice work,
Keep me posted, and come and have a beer next weekend?
Heath