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Roof Chop Legalities?
baybuscamperkid - November 24th, 2007 at 03:18 PM

I have just started playing with my first roof chop and I need some legality advice from the experts. the car came pre-chopped (started anyway) and the windscreen height is just perfect, but the pillars have been straight cut, and I have heard a rumour that aus engineers only certify a Z cut. is this so? can anyone recomment an outer east melburnian engineer to have a chat too?

cheers
Ryan

helbus - November 25th, 2007 at 11:53 AM

Frank Fordham is VASS engineering a chop on a car I am working on at the moment.

Basically, Yes you need to have a stepped cut. There are a lot of other factors including wiper sweep area and vision height that you have to work within as well. You won't get a heap of information unless you are prepared to proceed with the whole job. An engineer charges between $400 for a simpler job like this to $1000's for more complex and involved unique jobs.

baybuscamperkid - November 25th, 2007 at 03:49 PM

thats cool, The vision isnt an issue, it is only a 2.5" chop and i have checked, 11m infront and 10deg up is easy. it will definitely be a long term project, I was hoping to do all the cutting and sheetmetal welding, then tack the pillars/structure in place so that I could just get an expert to come along and seam everything as i had heard that thisw as the most cost effective and viable method.

Ringwood East is nice and close so I will drop by tomorrow.
Thanks.

baybuscamperkid - November 26th, 2007 at 10:49 AM

do you know the size of the step? rang Frank and he was too busy to talk to me until after christmas.

helbus - November 26th, 2007 at 05:21 PM

50mm will be good, as I have had passed. The preferable way is to have inner plates also, with plug welds to the outer sections of the pillars. Any inner support frames up in and around the roof area that have to be cut if necessary, will need a cover plate with 45 degree ends. All makes more sense and quicker if you see one in the flesh that in the process of being done, or if you can get someone to draw it all down. But like I said, you pay for peoples time in regards to some of these things, as there is quite often a lot of time invested in getting it correct.

baybuscamperkid - November 26th, 2007 at 05:58 PM

hmm, 50mm. no way i can drop the roof that far, will have to find out if it is possible to put enough extra support inside the pillar to make the current straight cut viable, otherwise I will have to transfer onto the rustier 2 door shell.

pezzano - March 27th, 2008 at 08:43 PM

WHAT ABOUT NO ROOF AND A LOW FRONT WINDOW , YOU GUYS GOT ANY IDEA'S ON THE LEGALITIES OF THAT,ROLL BARS ,SEAT BELTS ,ETC ??? ALSO WHAT DO YOUS THINK ABOUT THE DOORS WELDED UP LIKE A T-BUCKET (A BIG TUB) HOW DO YOU THINK THEY WILL TAKE TAHT?
THANK PEZ

pezzano - March 27th, 2008 at 08:49 PM

WHAT ABOUT NO ROOF AND A LOW FRONT WINDOW , YOU GUYS GOT ANY IDEA'S ON THE LEGALITIES OF THAT,ROLL BARS ,SEAT BELTS ,ETC ??? ALSO WHAT DO YOUS THINK ABOUT THE DOORS WELDED UP LIKE A T-BUCKET (A BIG TUB) HOW DO YOU THINK THEY WILL TAKE TAHT?
THANK PEZ

pezzano - March 27th, 2008 at 08:55 PM

LIKE THIS

Flintstones - March 27th, 2008 at 09:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by pezzano
WHAT ABOUT NO ROOF AND A LOW FRONT WINDOW
THANK PEZ


from memory what you are proposing is called a wind deflector and is not considered a windscreen / windshield.

wind deflectors don't have to have wipers whereas a windscreen does.

It's been a while since I've looked at the local rules so things may have changed

Best you readup up the state regs.
Cheers

pezzano - March 27th, 2008 at 09:40 PM

hi any web site addresses for n.s.w that you have came across i've been looking !
i had a t bucket rod with no doors but that was on club rego! abit different i know