as many know i have a 76 panel kombi converted to camper. it has 3 extra windows (one that needs replacing again) the rear seat/bed is made of wood, the seatbelts may or may not be (havent checked properly yet) simply bolted through the floor (i will fix this), the front seats are RX3, one with a vw rails, passenger with laser rails (the rails i have fited but the seats were in before and i am fixing the cr@p original mounts)the divider behind the seats has been cut, and of course the trakka poptop (factory fitted), not to mention the subaru motor. i canprove that the car was registered with all of these mods, and with the engind number on the rego sticker, but i have no papers. will i need an full engineers certificate, can i get someone to do a quick check as it SHOULD be all alright, or can i get away with it if i can prove that it was registered and roadworthy as is?

I dont know what the regulations are in Victoria, but in NSW if it is modified, it has to have papers from an RTA approved engineer.
I installed a Sopru poptop, in my panel van, I had to cut the roof section out, and install the poptop, to original specifictions, I did not cut the B pillar, so this was not much of a problem, as far as the engineer was concerned.
I sanded, rustproofed and painted (3 coats), the area under the fibreglass before I fixed the frame, I have seen lots of these rust out under this area, I also used stainless screws to fix the fibreglass encased plywood frame, witch I had to glue to the body, using marine grade epoxy adhesive.
I also had to get the windows passed as well, these being 2 pane louvre window's (kingsley enterprises) that were designed to fit the Kombi originally anyway.
And I had to get the two seatbelts in the rear certified as well, I used VW lap belts, the mounting bolts and holes had to be reinforced, by using two 3.5 inch washers on both sides of the sheet metal (sandwiching)
And after all this the RTA made me get a weigh bridge docket, so they could hit me up for more weight tax.
I had to do this, because if the RTA nazi's pulled me over and realised it had been modified, without the papers they could give me a defect notice, and I could not even drive it home, a bit of a bitch if I am on holiday somewhere miles from home.
Ring your state transport authority and find out the state regulations, DONT TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE, find out the nearest authorised engineer and ring them and see if they will tell you what you have to do to make it leagle over the phone, and this will give you some time to get it right!
let me know how you get on.
Rob.....

when you take it for registration, don't say anything.

i had a car with major mods eg seats suspension wheels

if they don't ask you for a engineers cert
you won't need to get one

if they do, then start negotiating

Don't take bug eyed's advice in WA: the police have a pretty open slather on mods here, if you don't have the plate to back up mods it can be extremey difficult to get your car back on the road...

so if i finish everything really well and make it look professional then just try my luck and hope for the best, if they ask for a certificate i get one? hopefully i get a dimwit who doesnt know vdubs !

YEP

aswell as looking professional, make sure everything looks safe.

i had to redo my backseat, and get a plate for it, because the guy didnt think it looked safe... he was kinda right lol. (the people before me negleted the poor kombie )

look around at a couple of different places too, i had a guy who wasnt gonna pass me because i had no glove box, and other guys told me to go else where because they didnt know anything about VWs.

[Edited on 31-5-2003 by Seriously_Individual]

yeah, mine was sorta neglected too , i sorta meant safe as well as professional, but thanks for reminding me.