2007 Fpv Tornado Ute - Tinkering & Setup

[Tocchi]

Couldn't quote so screenshot.

The prices are similar to over east. Not really a mining boom thing. Just the cost of playing with modified cars.

The workshops pay a lot of money for specialised equipment and mechanics. How else do they pay their overheads let alone make profit ?

They aren't learning new skills. They know how to get a car over the pits. They just didn't want to do your car. Straight out.

[Lennox]

People on the mines buy hsvs anyway, duh

[PhilMeUp]

1 hour ago, Tocchi said:

The prices are similar to over east. Not really a mining boom thing. Just the cost of playing with modified cars.

The workshops pay a lot of money for specialised equipment and mechanics. How else do they pay their overheads let alone make profit ?

They aren't learning new skills. They know how to get a car over the pits. They just didn't want to do your car. Straight out.

 

I thought that the $1,500 quote from one place was just a leeeeeeeeeedle bit much.

 

People definitely didn't want to commit to getting this car through an emissions test.  Ok, not a big deal... but if a place doesn't want to do the job then at least refer me to somewhere who will do it.  Instead of just feeding me crap until I give up and leave.  There was very little actual knowledge, and a hell of a lot of bullsh*t.

 

And it turned out to be actually quite easy to get done.  Talk about a storm in a teacup.  

 

I do think that workshops should get into the habit of at least suggesting this stuff to customers.  We're getting away with things pretty well here in WA, but if too much dodgy stuff goes on then sooner or later the state government will spit the dummy and regulate the hell out of it.  The last thing that we need is something like compulsory regular emissions testing (ie such as in California).  If there was a little bit of self regulation in the tuning world then the govt would be much more likely to leave us all alone.  

 

It's like with vehicle inspections.  I tried to find someone who would turn a blind eye to the modifications.  Two years ago no-one would have been fussed about it.  However, because of too many really dodgy inspections it all now has to be done exactly by the book (I heard some good stories).  Mechanics/examiners don't get any leeway at all now, and if someone does let something get through then DOT prosecutes them immediately.  Ouch.  

 

With these projects that I've been doing over the two years I've been learning a lot of new things as I come across each challenge.  I come across something, research the hell out of it, work out a solution and get it done (and then document it on forums for others to see).   My problem this time was getting accurate information, so I didn't know what to do.  

 

Hopefully other people will find this thread in the future, learn from it and be able to keep their Falcons on the road more.

[FiftyOne]

Great to hear that issues done & dusted Phil. Sounds even simpler than I expected it to be for you in the end

[PhilMeUp]

1 hour ago, FiftyOne said:

Great to hear that issues done & dusted Phil. Sounds even simpler than I expected it to be for you in the end

 

Just got off the phone with the automotive engineer.  

 

He's advised me to put absolutely everything in the application form (ie VSB14).

 

If there's a problem with anything then it can easily be deleted later, but things can't be added.

 

What the engineering process will cover:

- The Plazmaman intake manifold and aftermarket injectors.  This is what the emissions test was for.

- I'm going to replace the standard 4-piston front Brembo/single piston PBR brake setup with 6-piston front Brembo and 4-piston rear Brembo calipers.  This might not require certification, but the engineer will include a braking test anyway that will make them legal.  

- I've put Bilstein shock absorbers on the car, with standard height springs.  He's going to measure the height of the car and certify that anyway.  Modified suspension cannot lose more than 1/3 of the original travel.

- There's a possibility that a noise test may be required because of the engine bay modifications.   Everything on the car will be standard factory stuff (ie dump pipe, catalytic converter and mufflers). 

- I'm going to use 18" wheels instead of the original 19" ones. 

 

The engineer will photograph it all and write a report for DOT.  Cost:  $500 for the lot.   

 

Engineering costs:

- Two Temporary Movement Permits (to and from emissions testing):  2 x $23.00 = $46.00

- Fitting standard dump pipe and catalytic converter, and emissions testing:  $580

- Engineering inspection and report:  $500

Total:  $1,126

 

Ok, that's $1,126 that I wouldn't have had to spend if I could have snuck the car through an inspection with its current setup.   But, now I know that was never going to happen, so money was going to have to spent somewhere on getting the car through an inspection.   Even if I had put it back to standard I couldn't see that getting done for less than $500.  To put a standard intake plenum on and then put the Plazmaman one back on after the inspection was quoted at $600 at one place.  

 

As much as I hate spending money, and I really don't have it to spend this year, I just don't have the mechanical skills or knowledge to put the car back to standard. Money was going to have to be spent, and it's turning out that doing it the legal way isn't so expensive or difficult after all.  

 

At the most, I've got a cost difference of roughly $500 between putting the car temporarily back to standard and getting it engineered legally.  That's a no-brainer.  

[skidxr6t]

Any updates on how its going Phil?

[masda74]

I think he sold it after all the hassles he has been through.

[k31th]

Somehow I doubt that  

[Tocchi]

3 months on, where's the skids at? :D

[masda74]

I think he cant afford it, unless you donate tires to him...