How To Modify A Skyline Right To Avoid Defects!

[Spunky Munky]

Hi fellas,

I've owned my Skyline for just over 2 years now. I've spent nearly $50K on little things to big things for the thing and have copped 5 defect notices in the past 2 years. I've had the last straw to say the least.

As most of us know, some of the modifications to our cars is simply not permitted by road laws, so is there actually a way (besides leaving the car stock) to modify our cars legally and get an engineer's certificate?

For example, the two air induction rule...either the pod filter or the aftermarket intercooler...is there any way to have both legally? I do mean a POD as I'm not going back to a panel filter.

An atmospheric Blowoff valve is another thing that cannot be legal and I'm not talking about plumb backs.

Moreover, an aftermarket ECU like a PowerFC - illegal as helll itself, right?

I guess there's no two ways about it then, right? Please let me share with me your thoughts as I'm sure we're all in the same boat when it comes to modifications here.

Cheers,

SM

[WYTSKY]

Its not the best, but my thoughts are to hide stuff as well as possible...

so far its been pretty good, from now, back to even when I was on my p's with a larger aftermarket turbo, I made a heatsheild so you couldnt see it, the cops just assumed it was the standard turbo and with some smooth talking I have gotten out of about 2 fines (power to weight when on p's) and 1 defect.

interms of engine mods, there still are quite a few things you can get away with that you dont have to worry about unless the cop is cluey as hell.....

Injectors

afm

fuel pump

turbo timer?

then you can normally do something about these:

bov - relocate it to a hard to find place?

pod + intercooler - make a good heatsheild

engine management - if powerfc change the front cover so it looks like the standard ecu or put it in a hard to see location...gbox,under the dash,etc

boost controller - its small enough to be hidden almost anywhere

exhaust - install that apexi valve or varex muffler thing

these you'll obveously struggle with, my only thought is a large heat shield.

turbo

ext gate

manifold

but I rekon with an atmo bov your just asking for attention... thats why i stick with my gtr one.

[Sarumatix]

Most of the mods you have mentioned can be done without really presenting a big problem for defects.

The stock airbox is more than adequate for almost all power needs, don't waste your time on them just keep it stock. That said I know of one skyline that had the stock airbox cut up to fit the pod inside it.. so that the stock cover would bolt on over the top and the pod was invisible from above. IC is worth the upgrade. Again Atmo BOV really isnt' worth having, just upgrade to a GT-R unit if you really need to, more than adequate for any boost you are likely to throw at the car (and also avoids the annoying problems with BOV + stock tune). ECU, well either run powerfc but keep the stock cover, or just get nisstune instead.

A well setup exhaust is generally quiet enough to pass EPA.

Injectors, Cam gears, fuel pump are invisible.

Turbo completely agree with WYTSKY just put the heatshield back over the top, almost impossible to tell the difference with that there.

Really don't need to run a car 3mm off the ground and most good suspensions wont be setup under to legal height anyways. Brakes, never heard of anyone getting done.

In terms of performance you can get quiet a lot out of these mods and still be essentially undefectable.

Really it's just about attitude.. if you come across with the attitude of i'll mod my car to the max and with no thought for legality.. of course you will get done. But if you approach it with the attitude of the laws are there as a guideline as long as i'm sticking to the spirit of it i'll be fine.. you wont get defects.

Hi fellas,

I've owned my Skyline for just over 2 years now. I've spent nearly $50K on little things to big things for the thing and have copped 5 defect notices in the past 2 years. I've had the last straw to say the least.

As most of us know, some of the modifications to our cars is simply not permitted by road laws, so is there actually a way (besides leaving the car stock) to modify our cars legally and get an engineer's certificate?

For example, the two air induction rule...either the pod filter or the aftermarket intercooler...is there any way to have both legally? I do mean a POD as I'm not going back to a panel filter.

An atmospheric Blowoff valve is another thing that cannot be legal and I'm not talking about plumb backs.

Moreover, an aftermarket ECU like a PowerFC - illegal as helll itself, right?

I guess there's no two ways about it then, right? Please let me share with me your thoughts as I'm sure we're all in the same boat when it comes to modifications here.

Cheers,

SM

[some_cs_student]

turbo timer?

Turbo timers are not legal in Vic. I've actually been modding my car to make it more legal since I got it....still a little bit of work to do

[toddlls]

Ring the transport dept. before you change anything. You will be surprised at exactly how much is legal when done properly & they will give you the ammo to answer a cop properly to explain what you have done & how it passes the laws.

Your Attitude will have a big part to play in the amount or type of fine you are facing. So treat the boys'n'blue with a little respect & be polite & you will be half way there.

[R31Nismoid]

POD - no performance gain

ATMO BOV - no performance gain

So why, as they are defectable, even have them?

Silly to have things on there that just attract defects.

If you are not willing to use most of the factory parts, which honestly are perfectly OK, then it is really your own problem.

Add to the fact driving like a moronis does you no favours either.

Stock airbox is fine, stock BOV (or GTR item) are fine, exhausts are easily made legal for everyday use, turbos are easy to hide so you could never tell etc etc.

There is a smart way to mod, and a dumb way. I can make 280rwkw, undefectable. I can make 330-340rwkw in defect mode, but its less than 30mins to reverse the changes.

[Mandingo]

POD - no performance gain

ATMO BOV - no performance gain

You forgot to mention:

POD (Visible/unshielded) - GAY

ATMO BOV - GAY

Stock airbox and bov ftw. Theres half your problem gone, Plus do you think cops are gonna think to look much further when they see these sitting there?

I really dont get people who whinge about getting defected. your car either sticks out, or you hang around places frequented by police.

Ive been in skylines for seven years, had nearly 10 different chassis with plenty of power and mods. I have NEVER copped a defect. But I dont hang around Maccas either. Gotta use your head buddy.

Edited December 2, 2009 by Flipmo

[blitz r33]

You forgot to mention:

POD (Visible/unshielded) - GAY

ATMO BOV - GAY

Stock airbox and bov ftw. Theres half your problem gone, Plus do you think cops are gonna think to look much further when they see these sitting there?

I really dont get people who whinge about getting defected. your car either sticks out, or you hang around places frequented by police.

Ive been in skylines for seven years, had nearly 10 different chassis with plenty of power and mods. I have NEVER copped a defect. But I dont hang around Maccas either. Gotta use your head buddy.

i agree with that,i got pulled over at a random breath test station they had set up,as soon as i passed the test they said pop the bonnet,the cop shined his torch on the airbox then the bov and i said its all stock and he said your one who learned his lesson and i replied no,a pod and atmo bov are completely useless and have no use and you could tell in his face he loved hearing me say that.

he had a look at my exhaust for a while and asked if its turbo back and that was it he let me go on my way.

nearly every time i take my car out im pulled over and checked for mods and its all because of the hoon skyline owners in my town who like doing burnouts and racing each other at maccas and super market car parks and bov'ing groups of people constantly.

i dont know why some owners have to speed up and let the bov off at groups of people?for starters it dont impress them they most likely think your a d*** head or a try hard.

[SargeRX8]

i agree with that,i got pulled over at a random breath test station they had set up,as soon as i passed the test they said pop the bonnet,the cop shined his torch on the airbox then the bov and i said its all stock and he said your one who learned his lesson and i replied no,a pod and atmo bov are completely useless and have no use and you could tell in his face he loved hearing me say that.

he had a look at my exhaust for a while and asked if its turbo back and that was it he let me go on my way.

nearly every time i take my car out im pulled over and checked for mods and its all because of the hoon skyline owners in my town who like doing burnouts and racing each other at maccas and super market car parks and bov'ing groups of people constantly.

i dont know why some owners have to speed up and let the bov off at groups of people?for starters it dont impress them they most likely think your a d*** head or a try hard.

lol, thats not entirely true. There are many people out there who like hearing the sounds of the engine. My mates stock evo has a stock bov which is pretty audible and sounds amazing when it releases pressure. he doesn't hoon either. There is no logical reason that a BOV cannot be legalized. Don't anyone give me tripe about noise levels. All it is is compressed air recirculated into atmosphere so it has nothing to do with pollution.

[.:: GimpS-R34 ::.]

lol, thats not entirely true. There are many people out there who like hearing the sounds of the engine. My mates stock evo has a stock bov which is pretty audible and sounds amazing when it releases pressure. he doesn't hoon either. There is no logical reason that a BOV cannot be legalized. Don't anyone give me tripe about noise levels. All it is is compressed air recirculated into atmosphere so it has nothing to do with pollution.

There are also people out there that like the smell of their own farts.. Doesnt mean others wanna smell it too..

[SargeRX8]

There are also people out there that like the smell of their own farts.. Doesnt mean others wanna smell it too..

That's not a good comparison lol. Some people prefer the sound of a big block. Some prefer the spooling turbo. Some like blow off valves. Some like big exhausts, silent exhausts or what ever. Regardless everyone has their own taste and what people need to remember is the road is there for EVERYONE. Your car is YOUR OWN. If you don't have a BOV on your skyline, no one is gonna go oh your car is shit coz you dont have a BOV. What gives you the right to talk shit about people who have one and like the sound? If someone came up to me and said oh you're a top bloke you got a BOV, id give him one.

I get what I want on my car for my self, not to please anyone else. Its for me to enjoy. I don't understand why people have to hear a BOV and get the shits. I hate the sound of car boots rattling from bass but I don't care if someone else's boot rattles when I'm waiting in traffic. I'm not going to insist he gets some sound dampening or anything.

[.:: GimpS-R34 ::.]

oh don't get me wronjg.. i make everyone smell my farts

[blitz r33]

That's not a good comparison lol. Some people prefer the sound of a big block. Some prefer the spooling turbo. Some like blow off valves. Some like big exhausts, silent exhausts or what ever. Regardless everyone has their own taste and what people need to remember is the road is there for EVERYONE. Your car is YOUR OWN. If you don't have a BOV on your skyline, no one is gonna go oh your car is shit coz you dont have a BOV. What gives you the right to talk shit about people who have one and like the sound? If someone came up to me and said oh you're a top bloke you got a BOV, id give him one.

I get what I want on my car for my self, not to please anyone else. Its for me to enjoy. I don't understand why people have to hear a BOV and get the shits. I hate the sound of car boots rattling from bass but I don't care if someone else's boot rattles when I'm waiting in traffic. I'm not going to insist he gets some sound dampening or anything.

i was going on my experience,where i live no one minds you having an atmo bov but its a different story when you keep going past a group of people flooring it past them and letting it off.

i know guys who have done it to the wrong crowd and they jumped in their cars followed him & waited for him to pull over than beat the living shit out of him,another example of a mate who kept doing it past a few drunks and ended up with a shattered windshield from a beer bottle.

must just be my town,there's a tolerance for import owners but none for owners who drive around like wankers.

if i had a guy who kept doing it past me id abuse him as well,like this wanker in his shit commodore whos pissing me off,cause my skyline sites at the front on my yard he goes past sticks it in neutral and revs the shit out of it.....pretty much falls into the same category for an atmo.you dont mind the 1st few times but you get fed up with it pretty fast when they keep doing it.

[tricky_dan]

i really think its all about attitude and driving style, if you're gonna drive to make your car stand out a cop'll get u, i personally take it pretty easy most of the time and am opposed to BOVs etc, and i think stock air boxes are awesome!

oh and sif use turbo timer, just wait (or THINK first: dont thrash your car right before shut off)

[gotRICE?]

There is no logical reason that a BOV cannot be legalized. Don't anyone give me tripe about noise levels. All it is is compressed air recirculated into atmosphere so it has nothing to do with pollution.

I think the pollution part is actually the oil vapors that get shit out the bov with the compressed air. Not that i care, as either way it goes into the air Either burnt, or unburnt.. lol.

[Brandon]

The air release dont just contain AIR. Or thats what I read, which is why they're illegal. An on the noise, I remember reading somewhere they can book you for UNDUE noise and what is undue noise? Its up to them. Unless you can find a definition of undue noise in db level etc, I'll just stick to my stock bov.

[R31Nismoid]

I think the pollution part is actually the oil vapors that get shit out the bov with the compressed air. Not that i care, as either way it goes into the air Either burnt, or unburnt.. lol.

Don't waste your time.

If he says there is nothing but air then he's never looked into a skyline intake pipe, or any other turbo car that breathes a little

Or the purpose of the actual BOV and metered air and overfuelling on factory ECU's.

It is there for emissions, it must be recirc. Simple as that.

[Swiper the Fox]

im half gay

[Basti]

im half gay

[MSTRshenanigans]

IMHO if the BOV to atmo is not legal in your state... you ARE a dickhead for having one... don't want trouble? Obey teh laws!

Don't waste your time.

If he says there is nothing but air then he's never looked into a skyline intake pipe, or any other turbo car that breathes a little

Or the purpose of the actual BOV and metered air and overfuelling on factory ECU's.

It is there for emissions, it must be recirc. Simple as that.

Gotta love the loosely used term emissions, but it does cover what they want to enforce...