[QLD] Engineering experiences

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:33 am

Hi folks,

Keen to understand the experiences and who you've used to get any/all types of modifications QLD engineered approved.

How much?

How long?

What was approved?

What was knocked back?

Any tips or advice looking back?

G

rob323 · Postby **rob323** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 12:37 pm

Are you looking to get anything in particular engineered?

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:23 pm

Any modifications, such as Turbo, Supercharger, ECU, or suspension etc....

G

Old Dude · Postby **Old Dude** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:10 pm

Got my roll bar engineered by richard at MX5 plus
Cheers
Dale

charlie_91 · Postby **charlie_91** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 2:48 pm

Got my turbo, roll cage, brakes, seat and a few other things I think.
Cost $80. Was done in 10min. Pm for details.

Postby **Okibi** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 5:24 pm

Go chat to MX-5 Plus, Richard and Danny are both engineers and have a fantastic understanding of the ADRs.

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 8:21 pm

charlie_91 wrote:Got my turbo, roll cage, brakes, seat and a few other things I think.
Cost $80. Was done in 10min. Pm for details.

Best reply we will see in this thread! Welcome to QLD!!

But seriously, kind of shows what a farce the whole system is. No offence Charlie, not your fault, good luck to you, we would all like it to be that easy.

charlie_91 · Postby **charlie_91** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 11:22 am

NMX516 wrote:
charlie_91 wrote:Got my turbo, roll cage, brakes, seat and a few other things I think.
Cost $80. Was done in 10min. Pm for details.

Best reply we will see in this thread! Welcome to QLD!!

But seriously, kind of shows what a farce the whole system is. No offence Charlie, not your fault, good luck to you, we would all like it to be that easy.

Lol why would I take offence? To tell the truth, speak to Danny and richard at mx5 plus and they will tell you that you can't legally engineer a turbo or supercharger setup. There is no code. However as a few people have found for example me and tim (zoomzoom) there are a few private engineers that will modplate it under a different code that has a little bit of relevance eg. Engine swap or something like that.
Whether or not it be right/legal it's still a modplate and it will still save you worrying about it If you get pulled up by the police. They will defect you/send you to pits for not complying with the system properly. Only way to clear that defect is to remove it.

There is illegal about my setup ATM (apart from wheels and height) but the engine and all the strengthening mods are completely 'legal'.

Think of it as insurance. And for that cost, why not.

rob323 · Postby **rob323** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:39 pm

LA3 is the code on my mod plate for the supercharger.

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 8:10 pm

rob323 wrote:LA3 is the code on my mod plate for the supercharger.

That's a specific engine mod code for turbo or superchargers. I'm not sure what Charlie91 is on about with being no code?? That is exactly what LA3 is.... a section of the mods allowed under current code.

G

charlie_91 · Postby **charlie_91** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 8:33 pm

Ask Richard or Danny from mx5 plus if it's possible to engineer a turbo on an mx5.
You cant legally do it. It's well known. Research

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:20 am

charlie_91 wrote: It's well known. Research

I'm doing research - that's what this is all about - and it can't be well known given the small number of replies.

You mentioned "No code" before as being the reason Turbos aren't able to be engineered by the MX5 Plus guys.... and yet there is a code for turbos

I've also spoken to 2 other folks, and the view is that engineering a turbo is fine/eassy - so whilst I'm still working on getting more facts together, I'm just puzzled by the MX5 Plus comment - if I can get them on phone, I'll ask them, but if you believe they think "no way" then I'm just happy to just avoid them.

I can only assume they believe an aspect of the LA3 code (that deals with mods to engines where you are adding a turbo) makes it impossible to add them to the MX5. After reading the code guide from QLD Transport, I can't see anything that immediately says you couldn't (not that the guide is easy to follow).
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/b3ea8c53-b6a1-489e-933d-dac4054f21ba/codeofpracticelightvehiclesreductions.pdf

G

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:54 am

gslender wrote:I can only assume they believe an aspect of the LA3 code (that deals with mods to engines where you are adding a turbo) makes it impossible to add them to the MX5. After reading the code guide from QLD Transport, I can't see anything that immediately says you couldn't (not that the guide is easy to follow).
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/b3ea8c53-b6a1-489e-933d-dac4054f21ba/codeofpracticelightvehiclesreductions.pdf

LOL I think I've found the "aspect of the LA3 code" that might be the issue - LA3 deals with adding Turbo/Supercharges to vehicles where that model had it available as an option. It is subtle, and not 100% clearly laid out that way, but the mod must be made available as an option by the OEM.

When you consider that MX5, as a model, did have an option for turbo, you'd wonder if that makes it ok? Obviously I'm not aware of the NA6 ever being made OEM with a Turbo? Does anyone know?

In any case, LA3 requires all other associated upgrades to be performed too (eg brakes, transmission etc), which all kinda makes sense.

So you'd be stretching the rules a bit to cough up the LA3 option - you'd never be able to get a Supercharger done that way.

I'm thinking the LA1 (engine swap) is even more of a stretch, as technically you're also only allowed to swap out an engine within 10% power or same OEM offered engine. And even if no equiv is available, you have to demonstrate that your different swap (ie a rotary instead of 1.6) is primarily due to the lack of 1.6 engines being available.... LOL so that route is even more hilarious to offer up as being legit.

The funny part is that the guide has a section dedicated to Street Rods !! yep, that's right, you can legally grab a 1940s car and drop in a V8, updated brakes and suspension etc, and then legally drive that potential death trap on the road????

Obviously this area is 1) lacking clear/straight forward guides and 2) isn't being enforced to the point that you need to show strict compliance.

Even more bizarre is how upgrading/making improvements to your vehicle is heavily regulated (to the point where making it safer is illegal) whereas you can legally drive any 1960 car on the road with no ABS, substandard tires, substandard suspension, and do all the same speeds on roads with cars 10x safer and more capable. And that's 100% ok according to the government! go figure??

G

Postby **NitroDann** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:26 am

The whole system is sh!t, end of story.
Do what you want to the car, keep it safe, get a mod plate, then its the shops problem.

Dann

trader · Postby **trader** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:37 am

Interesting views on this subject! NA's were never sold in Aus with a turbo option although in England the BBR kit was produced for fitment by Mazda dealers. (I think this kit was sold in US as well). I know there are many NA MX's running around with certified turbos so I wonder how that happens. None of my research indicates that it is not above board.
As far as having a national standard, we havent one (maybe we should'nt push for it either and let sleeping dogs lie). I'm in the middle of such an experience have an XP ute fitted with a v8 which had just been registered in Vic when I bought it without an engineers cert. Brought it to Canberra and have had to put in a dual braking system, collapsible steering column, heater/demister, gear select indicator and many other small items. You could buy them new with a V8 kit which was built in Sydney (without these mods) but that's not factory as far as rego here is concerned.