Cert for gearbox swap?

[KiwiBacon]

Is a cert required for a gearbox swap?

It's not my 4wd, it's the shopping cart. I'm sick of the auto being no fun to drive and want to throw a manual in. It's a nissan so it should be all plug and play.
Has anyone done anything similar and how did you get on with the powers that be?

[mike]

Is a cert required for a gearbox swap?

It's not my 4wd, it's the shopping cart. I'm sick of the auto being no fun to drive and want to throw a manual in. It's a nissan so it should be all plug and play.
Has anyone done anything similar and how did you get on with the powers that be?

How would they know? if the model came out with a manual then I would deem it as factory and no drama! But thats just my opinion.

Mike

[KiwiBacon]

Is a cert required for a gearbox swap?

It's not my 4wd, it's the shopping cart. I'm sick of the auto being no fun to drive and want to throw a manual in. It's a nissan so it should be all plug and play.
Has anyone done anything similar and how did you get on with the powers that be?

How would they know? if the model came out with a manual then I would deem it as factory and no drama! But thats just my opinion.

Mike

They'll know because it's listed on the registration. It'd be a pretty dumb WOF inspector not to pick that.
Might have to call LTNZ tomorrow and ask.

[smurf182]

They'll know because it's listed on the registration. It'd be a pretty dumb WOF inspector not to pick that.

Last warrent I failed on non-working window washers (washer bottle empty). The lack of any belts in the back seat went completely unnoticed. Take whatever you want from that mate

[KiwiBacon]

They'll know because it's listed on the registration. It'd be a pretty dumb WOF inspector not to pick that.

Last warrent I failed on non-working window washers (washer bottle empty). The lack of any belts in the back seat went completely unnoticed. Take whatever you want from that mate

If your vehicle is old enough, seat belts in the back aren't needed.
If your vehicle is older still, you might not need a speedo either.

I once got pinged for no rear centre belt. Rear seats had been folded and the belt not poked back through.

[KiwiBacon]

Well according to this sheet:
http://www.lvvta.org.nz/CertThresholdSc ... il04V3.pdf

As long as you perform no structural mods, a gearbox substitution is not a certification issue. That'll save me a few $$.

[gomulletgo]

I'm guessing that the main problem here would be putting in the manual pedal box or clutch pedal and lines etc. good luck. let us know how you get on

[85BJ73]

Going from the gearbox swap I did years ago, you have to use the manufacturers bolts nuts etc, if you use normal engineering bolts, they may (should) notice, and you will fail. I know this because it is what I had to do, and yes, rated engineering bolts are probably stronger than the manufacturers bolts, but they argue they were designed for the job.....go figure.

[KiwiBacon]

Going from the gearbox swap I did years ago, you have to use the manufacturers bolts nuts etc, if you use normal engineering bolts, they may (should) notice, and you will fail. I know this because it is what I had to do, and yes, rated engineering bolts are probably stronger than the manufacturers bolts, but they argue they were designed for the job.....go figure.

Sounds like that certifier is a danger to themselves and others.

[85BJ73]

Not the certifier, he was/is only too happy to use rated bolts nuts etc, but he is governed by what the regs say.
EDIT: that raises another point, just like WoF, Cert does rely on interpritation and the inspector. I back that up with the knowledge that what one certifier may say/think is safe another may not, the same with WoF inspectors. I am sure we have all got a WoF somewhere, only to be failed at another place because they felt it was wrong/unsafe etc etc.

[KiwiBacon]

Not the certifier, he was/is only too happy to use rated bolts nuts etc, but he is governed by what the regs say.

There's nothing in the roadworthy requirements about having to use "genuine part fasteners". Sounds like a very poor excuse.
I wonder if you put genuine looking grade 4 bolts throughout if he'd notice?

Just like springs, shocks or any other part. If a substitute is functionally identical and safe then there's no reason to decline it.
I have heard of some certifiers preferring nylock nuts and others spring washers etc. That's a fair call.

[85BJ73]

Ahhh, well, I guess that is what happens when ya don't know yourself, and ya learn somethin new every day!! I transplanted a top loader into an XD, and was told the nuts had to be the genuine Ford ones, from memory they weren't too dear, so I was not too bothered.

[lanky]

I had an old mitsi diamante, '91 I think, which I converted to manual, went for a warrent the next day and nothing said

My 2c worth

[KiwiBacon]

The spanner in the works is the gearbox.
The engine takes a different bellhousing to most of the other nissans that size. Finding a complete wrecked car would be the only real option, but manuals are scarce enough in working cars.

[lanky]

I had that same problem, took me 8 months to find a manual one being wrecked altough it was a manual 2ltr v6 galant, how many manual 2.5 v6's have you ever seen, probably none, they never made them .

My point is if you wanna do it enough look, look and you shall find.

[KiwiBacon]

I had that same problem, took me 8 months to find a manual one being wrecked altough it was a manual 2ltr v6 galant, how many manual 2.5 v6's have you ever seen, probably none, they never made them .

My point is if you wanna do it enough look, look and you shall find.

I actually gave up on swapping just the gearbox and planned to get a turbo diesel with manual gearbox and throw that in.
I found a donor car, bought it sight unseen and had it shipped down. Then I found it was 4wd and in much better shape than expected. So I kept it as a work car.