Ls1 Vitara

[Daynesy]

"Recommended" and "guidelines" are only used in place of "rules" as they are not rules passed by parliament (happy to be corrected on this as it's just what I've been told) They are NOT open to individual interpretation (again only what I've been told)

If you were an engineer, who owned a house, car etc would you work outside of the "guidelines"?

If it were my job, and it if it is in fact recommendations (which i'm sure it is), then yeah, I'd happily work outside them.
Remember they have to sign off the car when they are happy that it is safe etc.
I think those guidelines are just there to try stop people throwing massive motors in tiny cars.
Hell, look at the power to weight some other cars have these days, it's ridiculous.

[no13b_Coupe]

so the 13bt 900kg ke26 corolla that we just got engineered shouldnt have been.

either that or slip me your engineers number

[Jim]

Why not fudge a weigh bridge ticket?

[Marv]

Why not fudge a weigh bridge ticket?

Just get a heaps fat person (like me) to drive it there

[ALLMTR]

Why not fudge a weigh bridge ticket?

It goes off the weight that the manufacturer lodged with the RTA back when it was new

[Fraud]

From the introduction document on that same page, copy paste won't work for me on my phone right now, but the definitions section has definitions for the following

May: Option
Should: Recommendation
Must: mandatory

So unless it says must, its open to reasonable interpretation..

Plus, I see that page you're looking at as a version change log showing all the changes that have been made from previous versions, not a list of corrections you have to apply to the document yourself

Find version 1.0 of the document and see what is different in that section or in table LA1. Compared to 2.0... If it has changed, then read the current version 2.0 as is, and go forth with whatever conversion you're thinking of. If it is identical, then your current interpretation may be correct

[Fraud]

That said, if ca18escort agrees with chuck then it probably is what it is

[CA18escort]

For the players at home the we have to use the tare weight of the heaviest sedan without other optional bullshit like towbars ect. The 1994 and later Vitara gets across the line because there was a 2lt version that came in at 1170kg so that is why you are good to go.

Regarding the other comments, Engineers don't register cars, the RTA does. Since the broad adoption of the NCOP it has become seen as best practice for assessing the suitability of a vehicle to be on the road regardless of if the code strictly applies or not. There are engineers out there that will sell you a solution, in particular NSW that will see the vehicle defected if anyone with a clue goes over it because the RTA will view it as not being IAW best practice. The reason that commercial vehicles and 4WD were originally exempt from the capacity limitations was the things are so bloody heavy it didn't matter. Now we have people building 6l turbo engines it is a problem unless the tare weight is more that 2000kg.

I can cite a number of examples where customers have come to me wanting to do something, I will tell them they won't get it through. They say that old mate will do it for them and I wish them the best of luck. In all cases they have spent the money only to find out that they can't get the vehicle registered.

I have got an exemption once for a Chev V8 into an LC Torana and it just about broke me. It can be done but you are going to need deep pockets at $120/hr for me to go to all the review panels etc to get it through.

At the end of the day most of us engineers are a little scared to go outside the recommendations. It is not worth putting your professional reputation on the line for $800. I don't do a huge volume of work but I get repeat customers and referrals because I give a no bullshit answer. Most things are pretty straight forward but weight capacity limitations are just not worth fighting over.

[Fraud]

Thanks for the clarification and anecdotal evidence

[jzx83]

So I'm not clear whether Chuck's Vitara is in or out of the race for rego. Is it the later or earlier model?

Come to that, if the only significant change to the car was the difference in the capacity of the newer engine, could the older cars be considered effectively the same thing as the newer ones, or is proving that one of those things that breaks CA18Escort?

[TT]

Chucks is 1989 model with 1.6L.
it is 1040kg

it's out

[Xnke]

Get a destroke crank out of a 4.8L truck engine from the states. Or a complete 4.8L engine....they're always being pulled out to replace with a 5.7 or 6.0. Really, how much displacement do you need?

Problem solved.

Then, after approval, swap it back. 4.8L's are iron block, though, as far as I am aware.

[dirtyrex]

I like how you can only put big engines into cars that are so heavy they can hardly pull up. It makes a lot of sense.

[chartreusehj]

put a 253 in it with 304 EFI top end.

Then bung a 3.75" crank in it, convert to 1/2" head studs and boost the fuck outta it.

edit: im only joking. kinda

[Mighty Mouse]

put a 253 in it with 304 EFI top end.

Then bung a 3.75" crank in it, convert to 1/2" head studs and boost the fuck outta it.

why