Hello People
I am astounded at the responses here, a great inspiration for achieving an end.
Unfortunately there is a fact – I must comply with the rules laid out in the ADR’s in relation to my Cobra if I wish to drive on Australian roads whether I like or not!
Purchasing a car with an RWC\Safety check and an engineers report, completed by organizations authorized to carry out such work by state government authorities. Added to this, conversations prior to purchase with the above mentioned engineer confirming compliance is, on this occasion, completely flawed. Beware Buyer!!
Be wary of transferring vehicles between states and don’t trust anyone selling cars. I’m an old guy enjoying a Sunday drive why pick on me.
This is all very well; however, it doesn’t fix the problem and maybe I just should have known better.
The fix in the short term is simple – comply.
90Db- I can get there somehow. Try and find something about side pipes, noise and compliance on the net. Like me, you will probably find very little, in particular, how to manufacture the things. Regardless, I know it can be done. I’ll post it when I reach 90Db.
Emissions- Go Gas! Gasresearch have a twin throttle body setup. (
http://www.gasresearch.com.au) that works and looks good. I have some doubts as to whether it will fit on a Cobra\460 but there is a gasresearch Cobra kit for small blocks. I have a method of making these throttle bodies fit the 460 if any wants to know.
Impco have a throttle body that replaces a 4 barrel, bolts straight on, looks like a carbie if you have bad eyes! I have some terrible thoughts of a 2*4 barrel manifold with 2 impco throttle bodies with a cobra 2*4 type air cleaner.
The EPA has no problem with the gas conversions and has assured me that this will resolve the emissions issues they have with this car. There should be little loss of power apart from the possible choking of exhaust which I reckon I can fix also.
Whilst separate regulations for ICV’s has some merit I wont be surprised if it comes at a cost, restricted operations, K’s per year etc. Alternatives have to be considered. As for advanced driving I don’t think that will help me. I drive like Miss Daisy!
A consideration is to independently check the Db output of a new HSV’s, WRX’s, trucks (at 100Db I think), Harleys etc. There is a lot of things that make noise maybe the evidence of higher outputs from new cars presented to the EPA and VicRoads might get levels raised under certain circumstances. What I’m trying to say is, my wife’s car is a standard 1998 Ford Explorer, at 3000 RPM it’s 88Db, let’s say 85Db when new, a HSV is a damn sight louder than that. I’d settle for 96Db. Are the major manufactures getting away with it? Get HSV excited and see what happens. Just a thought.
Should we contact the Australian Grand Prix Corporation? Our cars and cars like ours get people excited, that’s how they sell tickets. Now I know this is holy ground but getting the AGPC on side has got to be a positive. The Victorian Car Clubs support the AGPC with special vehicles, events and some festivities on the day. An open letter to Victorian car clubs raising some doubts as to the support for 2006 AustGrandPrix by car clubs may get some people excited! The Vic Government loves the GP. A lot of other big Victorian festivals are also supported by our clubs. Maybe the AGP is too holy, just throwing out an idea!
Aftermarket auto industry is worth many millions in this country. Why don’t retailers start getting fines from the EPA for selling parts for street use that don’t meet relevant ADR’s. Do we have to wait until it starts to get them excited to?
The feeling of criminality associated with being surrounded by a large number of police and EPA officers the numerous photos of my wife (sitting in the car when EPA officers took the photos) and car now on record at the EPA for any future government investigations is not an experience I would wish on anyone. Having left the test site, after the suggestion that the engine has to be replaced, and the implication that the EPA was doing me a favour letting me drive home caused an enormous amount of stress. No doubt anybody driving a car not complying will experience this for themselves eventually.
Certainly, after the event, the EPA has been as helpful as their code allows, however some correspondence with the authorities should be made to ensure there is an understanding by the police and EPA that hoons, Cobra drivers and car club enthusiasts are worlds apart and should be treated as such.
I am now getting on with the job of complying with a few good mates with lots of good will. This has been a huge learning curve for a silly old bloke who does drive like Miss Daisy but does it in a really good looking car that I have waited years for.
Regardless of our initial reluctance to an enormous imposition I am keen to get this car back on the road and would advise others to bite the bullet and comply. The pursuit of overcoming a problem is what makes Cobra owners unique and I find it difficult to believe that government agencies will ever be in a position to understand this. They have a job to do we have a lifestyle to pursue. We need to comply. We need to explore all avenues, until then comply.
Dave