Hi

I just had my son David's 1303 inspected and passed by an approved RTA engineer, this was for modified front and rear suspension, upgraded brakes, modified seating and bigger wheels.

It takes time and a bit of money but now car is 100% legal.

It is relief now that the car is now legally insured as well.

Steve

Nice one Steve again, awesome car!! Love it.

good work steve.... glad to hear it.... who did u use for ur engineers report and what was his criteria, just basic safe and solid structure etc?

Congrats,always glad to hear that people are prepared to follow the set rules as it makes our job easier.Cheers Les

good work steve i know the hassle mate trust me. it makes it easier in the long run

Hope Steve doesn't mind me pointing out that it was his sons car, not Steve's with the WRX motor. Also, in NSW you dont have a mod plate attached or they didn't on the last couple I had done. Unless things have changed in the last 3-4 years.

Well done Steve, it will put your mind at ease every time you drive it or when Dave lets you LOL

Kev

No we don't need a mod plate in NSW. Just a copy of the engineer's report in the car

I'm onto my third mod plate. I have engine, gearbox, brake design, brake install, seat belt anchorages, child restraints anchorages and modified seats. I think Plus the Queensland Transport bit of paper for the Baja conversion which has weird scrawlings on it for the bigger tyres.

Hi

The modifications were not very radical but they did need signing off by an engineer. The guy who did the report has extensive Formula Vee experience and understands VWs well, it cost $300, then I had to get a blue slip done and visit the RTA where to my surprise they didn't charge anything. I will PM anyone who needs to know the engineers name, I don't think its fair to broadcast here.

The seats are from a Honda Prelude and are mounted on the stock runners.

The front end is lowered with skinny adjustable struts, the front brakes are stock apart from some early Type 3 callipers, these have a slightly bigger piston size than Beetle ones. The whole front end has been treated to Urethane bushes and a strut brace has also been fitted on the front strut tops.

The rear end is from a pre 1986 Porsche 944, this just about bolts straight in with very few modifications, it uses the same 23.5 mm torsion bars, same as a Type 3 wagon, has adjustable height spring plates and easily adjustable camber & caster and the most important improvement is rear disc brakes, the 944 calipers have been replaced with lightweight Brembo two piston calipers from a Porsche 911 Carrera. A 24 mm Whiteline sway bar is fitted as well. A three bar Kafer Cup bar from Vee Dub Engineering in Canada keeps the back end tied down and mid transmission mount has been fabricated and the bell housing mounts have been swapped to the pre 1972 type.
Wheels are BBS 17x7 with a 55ET from a Subaru Liberty, these wheels are very light. They fitted easily on the front with the skinny struts, on the rear end they went in too far, the 944 rear end was chosen to correct this issue as it pushes the wheels out 25 mm per side.

Steve

I'd like to know a bit more about your "Engineer's reports" if you could spare the time, please.

I'm in the UK and basically we can do whatever and declare it to our Ins Co's. No reports, no testing (all bar MOT)

Would you need an engineer's report just to change the seats?

Cheers

Basically because idiots over here put racing seats in their cars in many dodgy ways. I have seen racing seats screwed to a plank of wood which was then screwed to the floor of the car. So over here anything that doesn't bolt directly on to your car / wasn't originally an option on your car, requried approval. A certified person has to check that everything was done to an acceptable standard. It's to save dodgy people from themselves.

Hi ElusiveStranger

Wes and Joel gave very good reasons why this needs to be done, another very important reason, if your unlucky enough to have an accident, even if it's not your fault, insurance companies love to shift blame.

So if your car isn't legally modified and registered your insurance company can wipe its hand of your claim. Ive heard of insurance companies employing engineers to find a fault with a car so that they can get out of a claim.

I was 100% sure the car was safe, I wouldn't let my son drive it if it wasn't.

My son is on his second year of driving and must wear a "P" plate to show he is young driver, the popo love to pick on these people so having a properly engineered car will go a long way with the popo.

Steve

Kin ell, that's one scary car!

Didn't really occur to me that people would bodge like that TBH. I suppose it's because I know people who take the time and effort to do a good job.

Hey steve, im going to get my brakes redrilled but no body around here does it, did you have to get the new hole patterns approveed or did the company that drill them certify them.

Hi

As long as you start off with blanks your OK, its when you re-drill old rotors that it gets dodgy.

Steve

OKay, that sucks to hear, guess ill look for new rotors

I heard on here that a p-plater cant drive a car that has an engine modification done that is a certain percentage larger than what came stock.

Is this true and if so whats the limit if a car came with a 1600.

15%

10% in Victoria.

so the max i could go to in my bug is1840 and the engine size under is 1835.

The engine displacement is probably the easiest one to get away with. how can they tell? So long as the other engine mods is listed on your insurance policy who cares.