Offroad-Express

Does anyone know of or done any vehicle drastic modifications and able to get it complied or certified?

ie. A solid Front Axle into a IFS vehicle that is equipped with Air Bags?

I know body lifts can be certified and Bull bars are ok provided they are crash test compatible but unsure on a Solid Axle as obviously this is going to alter the characteristics of the vehicle in an accident.

If you're using coils on your solid axle, then the frontal impact should be similar to IFS apart from a possible weight increase. LVVTA now have a forum operating, where you can ask tricky questions directly. A talk with your local certifier could be useful too. www.lvvta.org.nz also has a list of certifiers.

With more than a little self-interest, I have today personally spoken with several L V V C's ... in brief summation, there is no significant impediment to a SAS (coils) on airbag equipped beasties . Again, one is strongly advised to discuss the vehicle specific proposal with the Certifier prior to commencement of any project.

that is qute surprising really... but good news as well.

i have spoken to my certifier about this exact topic, proposing to do this on a mid 90's prado, his opinion was one of, i would rather not cert this as he was unsure of a few things, basically he said, find a cert guy that would cert this before this was even started and have him involved from the beginning

this is kinda on topic..neone thats dne SAS what are the requirements to get cert? do they want 4711 ticketed welds?
any engineer reports or do they just look at it and say yea she'll be right then do the whole WOF check?

and if one certifier isnt happy to cert aparticular mod how he can say to go find someone that will?? arent they supose to be all on the same page?

Cheers
Ryan

on my car, the cert guy didnt ask to see a ticket, even though the guy was, he mainly wanted to see good strong welds, and as for the cert guys? take invers, i know one cert guy wont cert half of what the other guy does, doesnt mean one is bad, just one is rediculiously fussy, which is a good thing, when mine was done welding wasnt an issue, it was things like spring washers, not enough thread sticking out...

swampa wrote:on my car, the cert guy didnt ask to see a ticket, even though the guy was, he mainly wanted to see good strong welds, and as for the cert guys? take invers, i know one cert guy wont cert half of what the other guy does, doesnt mean one is bad, just one is rediculiously fussy, which is a good thing, when mine was done welding wasnt an issue, it was things like spring washers, not enough thread sticking out...

are certifiers engineers or mechanics?
i can make a beautiful looking weld but hit with a hammer itll fall off, lack of penetration (if i wanted to).
I know one certifier down here..told a bloke take that nyloc off put spring washer underneather and put nyloc back on....defeating the whole purpose of nyloc.

im not wanting to get up them i just cant see how they can pass the buck..

and thanks for answering what they look for in the SAS etc

Cheers

peter in gore would be my first choice, as to his qualifications? i got no idea

swampa wrote:on my car, the cert guy didnt ask to see a ticket, even though the guy was, he mainly wanted to see good strong welds, and as for the cert guys? take invers, i know one cert guy wont cert half of what the other guy does, doesnt mean one is bad, just one is rediculiously fussy, which is a good thing, when mine was done welding wasnt an issue, it was things like spring washers, not enough thread sticking out...

LVVTA does not require a welding ticket to certify a truck, but you have to show the certifier that you are a competent welder.
I dont have a ticket but have done all the structural welding on the hilux including fitting the safari suspension, cutting Panhard rods and fitting and mounting a cruiser steering box and fabricating a gearbox crossmember.

I agree with swampa they were more interested in spring washers

No problem at all

Cheers Richard

If you plan to do significant modifications to vehicles, then it is suggested that you purchase a copy of the 'NZ Hobby Car Manual" from NZ Hot Rod Association. That's the basis of the certification system and if you follow the recommended principles then you won't be too far wrong. The manual specifies when certain welding levels are needed etc.
If you are a NZFWDA member, then a discount on the purchase price is given.

Not all certifiers are equal and there is a grading system that restricts some to certain levels of vehicle modification.

Check the LVVTA 'Standards" too on www.lvvta.org.nz/ as listed under 'documents'.

PeterVahry wrote:
Not all certifiers are equal and there is a grading system that restricts some to certain levels of vehicle modification.

and it all becomes clear....

nstg8a wrote:

PeterVahry wrote:
Not all certifiers are equal and there is a grading system that restricts some to certain levels of vehicle modification.

and it all becomes clear....

Also they take liability so if they aren't sure then they say no... I do the same thing at work, If I don't want to take the risk running a cable through a ceiling, climbing on a roof or whatever, I'll get someone in who will.

Thanks Peter. Clears that all up.

wjw wrote:

nstg8a wrote:

PeterVahry wrote:
Not all certifiers are equal and there is a grading system that restricts some to certain levels of vehicle modification.

and it all becomes clear....

Also they take liability so if they aren't sure then they say no... I do the same thing at work, If I don't want to take the risk running a cable through a ceiling, climbing on a roof or whatever, I'll get someone in who will.

yeah i always just assumed that one cert guy was really the same as any other, and the difference between one saying yes and another saying no was just down to different interpretations of the laws.

i wonder if there is a list of what certifiers can cert what....

Again for that info on certifiers go to www.lvvta.org.nz and the FAQ tab then hit the highlighted 'certifier'. It is all there.