Legal Boosted (Non BA+) Falcon?

[JETEL6]

hey all,

i am currently discussing my options with both vicroads and a VASS engineer to get my car both legal and road worthy...
...though my situation (suprise suprise) is looking grim!

So im either looking at driving up to QLD to get a mod plate or flying someone down from QLD to mod plate my car (i am aware this wont make it "legal" but it will take some heat off)

the reason i bring this up on here is we have so many members from so many states and i would like to know the level of difficulty getting your boosted falcon legal in your respective states!

(I've heard that Tassie mod plates are pretty easy, and considering i have family down there so it will provide a good reason for a "suprise visit" haha)

Kind Regards,
Daniel

[JETEL6]

that and from the information i have gathered, although an emissions test is necessary it doesnt have to be the FULL ADR test (which is that $1500, 99.97% fail test)

[BROCKYB8]

well as soon as you find out some info on that let us know .
So many people have tried and failed

[JETEL6]

No worries will do, I'm expecting another phone call today!

[EFFalcon]

From all the information we've heard over the past number of years, the $1500-1700 test is the one thats required, though i'd be happy to hear otherwise)
I don't think that many people have tried, they hear about the costs and can't justify it on their $1000 car.

Dan looked into it a number of years ago, and i think one of the easier options was to get a NSW VASS engineer to pass it, and try and get the emmisions test done in NSW (Where its histoically been free)
not sure on how you'd go getting this sort of stuff done on a car thats got Vic reg on it, i beleive this was one of the issues Dan hit.

[JETEL6]

Yeah i came across Dan's write up when i was doing some reading (on this forum and others) as well as siphoning through the EPA website and it states that to be in the green you can either get an ADR Emissions Test (11ty billion dollars) OR obtain a VASS certificate which requires an "emissions test" but from my understanding it is not specifically the ADR one!

I'm hoping to find out today/this week and ill keep all informed on my findings!

p.s, it would be interesting to find out regarding getting a NSW VASS certificate with a VIC rego, as to my understanding you can get a mod plate without a QLD rego/Residency (correct me where I'm wrong)

[ROOSTA]

From all the research I have done in the past the vehicle has to be engineered to the state it is rego'd in.. Ie a vic rego car cannot get nsw engineering.. Trust me a few of us here on the border have heavily investigated it..

After engineering the car must be rego'd in the state it was engineered in, then you can transfer across to another state and it is all 'legal'..

A hell of a lot of mucking around though and prob end up costing similar coin..

Cheers,
Nik

[EFFalcon]

I don't beleive thats 100% accurate, if the Engineer is on the Victorian VASS list, then Vicroads should accept it.
otherwise they wouldn't be on the list.

[justa6]

In nsw, when I was looking at it, my mate who has a mechanical and efi business said, he's had them pass with just the sniffer on the exhaust to get a afr printout, then pass engineer's .

Sounds to easy ay. Might even look at doing it now my ute is pretty sorted.

[JETEL6]

that was my other thought, go to a reputable dyno tuner, get a sniffer printout of AFR as well as the required gases (carbon monoxide, Nox..etc) printout then go from there, i will ask these questions today!

[AaronEF8]

I don't think that's true either.
This thread needs more official links and information.

[EFFalcon]

The people in NSW that i've seen that have gotten certs have either had to get the proper Emmisions test, or have been allowed to go without one completely, typically based on ECU selection and physical location compared to testing centres.

However, isnt NSW under talks for changes in the certification scheme?

[JETEL6]

another option, i was reading on the EPA website that they will give a green light if the VASS engineer is convinced that the modifications will not drastically increase the tailpipe emissions, so (for example) if you where to run it on E85, prove that it is capable of running on E85 and convince the engineer that you hug trees, have a pin up of a Nissan leaf and rescue orphaned kittens then maybe, JUST MAYBE you could get away with a test!

[EFFalcon]

yes, the emmisions test is at the discresion of the VASS engineer, its them that require it. not Vicroads.
probably to cover their own arses.

[rhys]

So if you were to buy a car which had been owned by someone in QLD, rego'd and mod plated there, its mod plate would also stand in vic? You just cant send a vic rego car up for a mod plate?

Is that what people are saying?

If so, what are the limitations to changing the mods, say for example if you have a tiny little turbo set-up can you upgrade it or will that require re-engineering?

[EFFalcon]

i don't know the validity of the QLD mod plate standing in Victoria.
It might give you *some* leeway, but ultimately i think you could still get defected for it.
as far as Vicroads is concerned, VASS or nothing.

[JETEL6]

i concur, you MAY be able to convince a handful of RW inspectors but its not a guarantee!

although it is alot better than having nothing at all haha!

[JETEL6]

I got a reply from a NSW VASS Signatory, sounds pretty promising!

Hi, Daniel

In NSW the RTA has a test facility that is referred to as IM240 which is not
the full test but the RTA accepts it for such a modification. This is free
of charge. I have been told that VicRoads also accepts this but to be
honest I am not 100% sure as I have not yet done such a certification for
VicRoads customers of mine, although I have done a few in NSW. Perhaps you
can call vehicle standard section of VicRoads and ask for Mr. Michael Chan
or Barry Hendry and see if they would accept IM240 results. This way you
will get the answer from the rule makers.

Best Regards,
Morry Akbarian

HELLS YEAH!

[RobDog]

Does sound promising. Would be great if it worked!

[Dansedgli]

That's the guy I was going to go with.

It didnt happen because somehow my mechanic lost the map out of the ecu the week before and the car wasn't running.

[JETEL6]

it turns out the same test can be conducted in Victoria at their Altona testing facility, I'm awaiting a call back regarding the cost (if any) of the test

[Dansedgli]

That won't do you any good unless an engineer accepts it. I rang all of them when I tried and all wanted the ADR test in a lab.

I had to get the test done before seeing an engineer.

[Mr_4.0]

I also believe certain states don't require emmisions test if running straight gas.

[Dansedgli]

That's only if the car ran leaded from the factory.

[EBOOST]

from what ive read/heard if a come was brought in from qld with a mod plate pre 2010 then it is ceritfied but they have now changed this as people were getting around it.

i have spoken to quite a few people and they have all said my ed is legal, but not sure about epa
cheers josh.

[rainoffire]

Ive read a couple of threads on the skyline forums of people getting engineered cars done. The gist of what I have seen is that if you have a factory boosted car, and are still running stock management (even if modded) you can get away with just haing the idle emissions taken. If you boost an NA car, or go full aftermarket management, its IM240 time. A few people on the R31 forum have got away with turboing an NA RB30, and running it on a VLT computer and just getting idle emissions. It seems like its mostly up to the engineer in question. The IM240 isnt the easiest to pass though, there was one guy with a R33 GTS-T, I think he went for it two or three times, and that was on E85.

Cant wait to finish Mech Eng at uni, a few years in the field and hopefully I can sign a few off Not allowed to do your own though

[AaronEF8]

That's only if the car ran leaded from the factory.

Not entirely true, in SA it's anything pre-2005, when EURO-3 emissions laws came in.

[Dansedgli]

Sorry I was talking Vic. Shoulda specified.

[JETEL6]

so ive spoken to a handful of Vic VASS signatories, and the general consensus is that they all want reports from the ADR 37/01 test im going to keep prodding around and find out what i can manage, but (as before) its looking grim!

watch this space!