Registering with aftermarket ECU in NSW?

[irwin83r]

wooo
and here i was thinking you could just slap one in and not worry about it

makes sense what your saying, i was under the impression it wasnt something that needed Engineering or siging off by the RTA but can see how it would be.

so im also keen to find out, post up here when you do

[Russellb]

Just Gut the STD ECU and put the Aftermarket one in there no one will Know. Thats what The Engineer I use Said to me,m He also said \"I Didn't Say This\"

[lowmiata]

can be done

cannot be user changed ie no hand controller etc (who would know)

has to have the same features of normal computers etc like i think its called self learning or something

has to be emisions tested and signed off for engineer

main thing is it has to be locked from the user so no tweaks can be done!

[Sean]

I know things have changed since I last looked at this topic some 12 years ago) but before I go bothering an engineer or try to find someone at the RTA that'll get the answer right the first time I thought I'd try here as there's a fair few cluey people around.

So, my question is this:

Can it be done? Can a car with an afterarket ECU be registered in NSW and if so, what's basically involved?

Considering a little project and doing my initial homework to see if my plan can legally make it on to the roads.

I believe it can be done and all that's required on the RTA side is an emmisions test and engineer sign off on the results. Has anyone here done it recently? Is this essentially correct?

TIA.

It is possible, and my car is currently on NSW rego with an engineers cert. The engineers cert confirms this although it does not mention the brand or model of ECU.

We were told teh computer had to be locked aswell, but when we turned up for teh test no-one looked or asked about anything, they ran the car on a rolling road dyno setup with a gas analyser and then gave us a printout with an RTA passed stamp on it...

Took this to the engineer who then makes sure that the emissions are indeed within the required levels. The engineer is also responsible for ensuring all emissions equiptment like charcoal canister etc are all in proper operation.

It's farily common for people to get an emissions tune, pass teh test and then just save it to laptop or CD, then go and get a "real" tune to get the best power/economy.

The process is a PITA, but I really had my heart set on getting full engineer/RTA approval for mine...

The problem for the RTA test is that you only get one go on teh day - you drive in and if it doesn't comply, you can't fiddle teh tune and try again - you need to book another test

[Sean]

Emissions shouldn't be an issue and I agree, tune for emissions then retune later if it's important to get every kw out of it. I need to nail down exactly what emissions standards it'll fall under as IIRC things changed sometime in '72 and the car in question is a '72. Still, going from an old carb engine to a recent EFI it shouldn't be too hard.

Re the ECU lock thing if they did ask do you think it'd be enough to simply have a PIN on he ECU and claim not to know it? I don't know how they'd prove it.

Exactly, I'm assuming they think if you go to the trouble of getting it passed then you are fairly legit.

I'm fairly sure that you will need to meet the emissions standard for the car that the engine origionally came from, rather than the early model that you are fitting it too.

I suspect this is why a lot of guys retrofit the model EFI gear onto thier old holden 253 blocks etc. If you keen the old engine and "improve" it you only need to meet teh emissions standards of back then, if you dropped an LS1 in from a VX commodore you'd need to me the standards in place when teh VX was released with that engine.

Clear as mud?

[Benny]

Another very easy way to get an engine certified, is to convert it to run LPG.
I know a few hot rodders do this so they can put some huge V8 into the chassis and get it certified.
Seems the RTA will pass virtually any engine if it runs on gas as gas is so much cleaner than petrol.