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Evening all,

I have a 32 GTSt that i'll be building a 30 for and would like some advice on how to satisfy VicRoads and Insurance etc etc.

Just wondering what anyone has done to get their car "legal" with an RB30.

As the 30 wasnt an option from standard just looking for some past experiences as to what problems you may have run into and how you got around them.

Thanks all - Looking forward to the dirty 30!

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I have been through a similar line of thought with a past vehicle.. this time, I'm going to make it look like the engine is standard and restamp my 'old' numbers into the 'new' block. Not exactly what you were after, i know. But been there, done that before. Cost me a bit to much coin and wasted a few days for my efforts..

Please let us all know how you get on..

Looks like im going to have to go through this in a few months before rego comes up.

I've been told that you should have an engineers certificate for the engine conversion before updating the rego papers. AFAIK thats about all it takes.

You cant register it legally, there was no twin cam RB30, its not EPA legal, ADR approved etc etc

That's the only downside to 30DET really.

Realistically all you can do is not tell VicRoads... but as you say if something does come up, if insurance does come into it for some reason, the you will be invalid/void with regards to insurance

Also with regards to re-stamping - i believe there are laws & restrictions around that

Insurance can only be void IF they can prove that the modification in question was the reason for the accident.

eg: If you have an aftermarket control arm and it snaps, causing the accident, and they could prove it, then yes your insurance is void because aftermarket control arm are illegal.

But they can not void your insurance because you have a bov, two intake mods, etc, when you have run up the back of a car or whatever.

That has come straight from an insurance representative.

Thanks for the responses gents - keep the coming.

What if I obtained an engineers certificate? Could the car be registered on that basis?

Or

Perhaps I could tell them its an RB25DET? they wouldn't be able to tell that its the 3l bottom end...

Hmm - I may give them a call and find out what the go is.

I'll report back for all those interested.

Thanks again, and if you have any other helpful info I'd love to hear it.

Cheers,

Ok,

So I have chatted with VicRoads as follows;

You need to obtain approval from one of their VASS (Vehicle Assessment Signatory Scheme) engineers. They have a list available from the VicRoads website.

I contacted one of them and they said they go over the whole car and identify any areas of concern i.e. mounting points etc etc to check that the conversion is "acceptable"

At a cost of $880 + GST ($968) they will provide you with their approval certificate. Provided your car passes this test you CAN register the vehicle as per normal.

Just an update - I'll keep fishing for a better price yet I don't think I'll find to much cheaper.

So I have chatted with VicRoads as follows;

You need to obtain approval from one of their VASS (Vehicle Assessment Signatory Scheme) engineers. They have a list available from the VicRoads website.

I contacted one of them and they said they go over the whole car and identify any areas of concern i.e. mounting points etc etc to check that the conversion is "acceptable"

Yup pretty much what I was told too.

I believe the ADR's allow for a 25% capacity increase without requiring an engineers certificate.

For a car locally delivered - VicRoads here is a pain, there is a fking sub-law/rule for every ADR in the book.

That law is there, but if you own an import it whats classed as a "high risk" category car and needs to be VASS approved here in Vic.

I got shafted going from RB25 to RB26 (no other change), i couldnt do it without a VASS even though it was under the % increase & the % power increase laws because it was 'an import'... :)

Sherrif - Read what i posted :)

I've been (unfortunately) through the EPA/VASS/VicRoads wringer more than i would have liked...

You cannot legally get a VASS for a motor that has not been through testing EPA/ADR wise.

The RB25DET is fine, RB26DETT is fine, RB30DET is not.

Nissan didnt offer it, there is no data on the motor, so IMO getting a VASS is a waste of money as its in no way legal or valid in any way shape or form.

By the way, a VASS Should be $500-$550, or $650 if a brake test is required - so whoever you called is ripping you off.

To get a justified VASS, you will need to have the motor fully emissions tested, which will probably cost more than the motor.

PM me if you need/have questions. I dont mind helping out, if i can avoid someone getting shafted as hard as i did with my conversions its a bonus as far as i see it.

For a car locally delivered - VicRoads here is a pain, there is a fking sub-law/rule for every ADR in the book.

That law is there, but if you own an import it whats classed as a "high risk" category car and needs to be VASS approved here in Vic.

I got shafted going from RB25 to RB26 (no other change), i couldnt do it without a VASS even though it was under the % increase & the % power increase laws because it was 'an import'... :D

Sherrif - Read what i posted :)

I've been (unfortunately) through the EPA/VASS/VicRoads wringer more than i would have liked...

You cannot legally get a VASS for a motor that has not been through testing EPA/ADR wise.

The RB25DET is fine, RB26DETT is fine, RB30DET is not.

Nissan didnt offer it, there is no data on the motor, so IMO getting a VASS is a waste of money as its in no way legal or valid in any way shape or form.

By the way, a VASS Should be $500-$550, or $650 if a brake test is required - so whoever you called is ripping you off.

To get a justified VASS, you will need to have the motor fully emissions tested, which will probably cost more than the motor.

PM me if you need/have questions. I dont mind helping out, if i can avoid someone getting shafted as hard as i did with my conversions its a bonus as far as i see it.

lol so they're no longer really ADR's in vicco but VDR's!

Pretty sure here if it's less than 25% capacity increase (and possibly in the same engine layout i.e turbo i6) then all you need to do is ring up and change the engine number. That's what I was initially going to do but I got a yellow sticker (defect notice) before I had a chance to call up, because my bonnet didn't shut properly :) So took it over the pits shtting myself about having mismatching numbers and turned out it wasn't a drama at all!

ADR's are only referred to really if there is no Vic Ruling... of which there are far too many, and most of them far too dated, most date to the mid/early 90's

Even the EPA sheets date back that far for some things.

Over there you can do that, over here you cant

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