Legal Modding

[Turboterrorist]

Ok, I've done some searching but I'm sure you all know typing things like Skyline and R34 into the search doesn't help much, even going through Google.

I believe I've read before that it is legal to dump a GTR motor into the equivilant non-GTRs as they were offered that way from the manufacturer (as GTRs) as it is to put 2JZGTEs (turbos) into N/A Supras. Also heard that you need to add some other GTR bits to get away with the engine swap but dunno if that's true.

I'm wondering, as I believe there are Nismo Z-tunes complied in Aus, would fitting all that gear to a GTT be alright from a legal standpoint? After all, it was offered by the manufactuer that way. 500ps I believe Nismo quote on the Z-tune... Also I'd like to know if it'd be legal to fit it piece by piece or if you have to do it all at once (so I can build it up whilst I save up...).

[levinboy]

Only one Z-tune in the country

i believe it all needs to be engineered aswell

[mad082]

whether it is legal or not depends on a few things. if you are on your p's then no it isn't legal, but then even just driving the gt-t isn't legal either. but as far as legality goes, you can legally put a commodore motor in if you really want. it will still need to be blue plated though. it isn't just a simple drop it in and go type of thing either. well it sort of is. i'm not entirely sure on this, but i have a feeling the sump needs to be changed, and then there is the wiring. you just use the rb25 gearbox, etc.

you would be better off getting all the parts together for the engine and then bolting it in in 1 hit. will save a lot of hassles as the engine is much easier to work on out of the car.

[Turboterrorist]

Not on Ps, why would a P-plater even think of trying to get away with that? Be pretty short sighted...

I'm looking to do a project over the next couple of years. Just considering my options. I'm planning on buying and building an engine, then sticking it in something. If it isn't street legal then I'll just get away with it until I get defected and then retire the car to club rego methinks. Be nice if it were fully street legal though...

According to Vicroads, you can swap an engine without a compliance plate/engineer's tick if it was also offered by the manufactuer for that car as well as any other parts that were also offered. I know the Supra guys fit turbo engines to their N/As all the time and no offical paperwork required.

Maybe I worded my question poorly; if the GTT and GTR Z-tune are considered as varients of the same car, then it WOULD be legal. I'm sure it'd be legal on a GTR 'cause they'd have to be considered a varient of the same model. Does anyone know if the GTT and GTR are considered varients of the same model by public servants?

Also, anyone know if there are any genuine Nismo 400Rs complied in Aus? Would be another possibility if there are.

[.:: GimpS-R34 ::.]

i don't thnk they'd be considered as the same car.. too many variables and changes to be the same car.. whereas going from GT, GT-X GT-V with a GTT motor in it but to be legal would also require the brakes, etc upgrade to meet the requirements..

And police prob wouldnt know the difference and wouldnt be the ones you'd need to worry about generally.. It would be the Transport who would pick up on it.. possibly..

You're obviously looking at an expensive build.. So if you're gonna do it right.. what is wrong with getting it engineered and be done with it?

[mad082]

yeah it would be pretty easy to get it engineered and then it will be street legal (to an extent - wouldn't be if you have atmo bov's etc) so then you wouldn't have to worry about it.

[Turboterrorist]

Engineer's certs don't really do all that much (at least in Victoria). Only last 30 days and a stubborn cop will just tell you you've added stuff after the cert was issued and then you have to go get another one (probably a good few grand on a full build too). Just thought if it was legal, you wouldn't need a cert to say it was 'factory' and thus save a lot of hassle. If I'm going to go through the hassle of engineering I think I'll do a piston RX7 like they do in the States; maybe RB. Still can't find mention of a 400R in Aus.

[R31Nismoid]

You'd need it to be engineered.

As you are Vic, there is no way around this.

GT-T comes with 206kw factory, RB26 is 206kw factory & R34 GT-T brakes are as good as a R32 GTR (first RB26 model)...

Therefore it's a piss easy cert to achieve.

I've had my RB26 legalised in my HR31 body easily enough, you would have an easier time in a GT-T

End of the day it comes down to being smart about it, there are all sorts of little tricks/interpretations of the law about what you can/can't do.

Most things you'll get listed on the eningeers and much of a muchness... EPA is what you really need to worry about.

[.:: GimpS-R34 ::.]

^^^ yeah sorry i didnt mean GTT to GTR motor.. was talking GT to GTT motor.. But yeah i would get an engineer's cert..

[Turboterrorist]

^^ I'd be pretty confident you wouldn't need an engineer's certificate to put a GTT RB25DET into a GT. Surely it would be exactly the same as putting a 2JZGTE into an N/A Supra which I'm very confident does not require engineering.

Now that you remind me, the GTT and GTR are rated with the same factory power aren't they? What a joke. I'm starting to think that this just may be possible. Even just sticking a standard RB26DETT into a GTT would make it quite a bit quicker.

You know, why don't I just ask Vicroads? I think I'll do that... derrrr.

[R31Nismoid]

The body is N/A, you need a Engineers cert.

4-stud, smaller brakes and so on. They need to ensure it's all done legit.

What VicRoads sometimes "tell" you, vs what actually "is" are different. You can rockup on the day and meet someone totally different.

Either way a RB26 into a GT-t needs a cert. Plus once you have it, it then goes on file.

Silly to avoid it for $600.

[s14_boosted]

you are alowed to fit a rb26 to any skyline r32 onwards... i was worried about it when i did it, but then i just went to vicroads and registerd the numbers... only thing u gotta worry about is if the engine fitter doesnt noe what hes doin and starts choppin sh*t like cooler holes etc... thats when you'll get defected and then need to get an engineers report, if its an N/A and your either changing the motor or replacing it with a DET all you gotta do is notify vicroads, but again having the larger brakes is of your own concern not vicroads...

[R31Nismoid]

R32's never came out with a RB26 in a GTS-t.

You need to get an engineers cert.

I argued the rules with them for weeks via formal means and i ended up with the chief engineers for VicRoads as their OWN RULES say you don't need to supply one.

However there is some bullshit sub-clause about grey imports and requirements for it as they are higher risk and whatever other bullshit they rip out.

It's as i said above - sometimes you get lucky with the person on the day and they will let it pass. However to hinge a bet on it is silly when there is a correct way to do it and it's realatively cheap all things considered.

I carry the cert in my glovebox, even though it's "expired", I've not been defected for the RB26 or anything else since then as once i rip the cert out even the TMU understand i've done it all legit.

[Iron Chef]

Please, no more talk of Nismo Z-Tune engines - you'd be looking at a minimum of $50K to buy just the engine and import it.