NSW engineer

[Tenrocca]

Saw a concerning post on the FB page about the struggles of finding an engineer in NSW willing to do icv's and not charge $20k+. What is the current situation?

[Zedn]

Current situation is bad. RMS are doing what they were doing 4 years ago when nothing would pass. From what I hear they are taking ages to process records and then coming back with silly findings. Not sure if they are unhappy with the engineers again or the people that are making non compliant changes to their cars after rego.

I'm hoping it blows over soon as I want to get my car done in 2017. My engineer has put up his rates understandably.

[Jethrow]

Ouch - that's gunna sting!

[Treeve]

The RMS were directed by the minister to inspect a number pfICVs post registration and found 100% to be non compliant. Cobras got a lot of airtime in the 2.5 hour discussion about ICVs at a recent conference with the RMS on this topic.

The process is now longer to prevent reoccurrences.

I know what the goal posts look like so I'm happy to certify ICVs, however I do still run my own business so I choose not to take every customer in order to provide the high quality that is expected of myself. This means: no AP cars, only 2 scratch builds at any time, and currently most of my work covers heavy vehicles.

Treeve

[mudbrick]

If you can say, what were the areas of non compliance

[albanycobra]

Wow.....no Pace...can I ask why? Is it a compliance issue? That's bad news for NSW Builders Treeve.

[Treeve]

To answer the questions:

No, I can't say what the areas of non compliances are because we weren't told, other than all vehicles that were inspected were found to be non compliant.

Yes you can ask why no AP vehicles. I've seen enough from this forum of positives and negatives writ large by various parties to the point where I don't want to involve myself in the slightest. On other forums I've been asked for supporting documentation for legal proceedings all because of words written on a forum. With the polarising nature of the brand I don't want to involve myself in the slightest so that I'm never asked to pick a side - because I don't want or need that kind of thing in a job which I do as a hobby to really involve myself in a car scene that I love (kit cars).

Treeve

[mudbrick]

If these cars have been found to be non compliant, are they issued with defect notice? and then non compliant issues fixed and cars are then re-inspected by RMS to insure compliance
Excuse my ignorance

[Treeve]

I have no idea as to the detail of the inspections or the aftermath. We were informed in a briefing by the Vehicle Standards department of the RMS and that the inspections were at the request of Duncan Gay (minister for roads).

Edit to add:

This also comes down to the "bits falling off after registration" that always seems to get a good bit of airtime round here. If it's not compliant, then make it right in the first place.

[Jethrow]

I wonder if making the task to comply harder will just result in even more bits that seem to fall off .....

It might be smarter to reduce the compliancing requirements to a level the department AND the customer is both happy with ...

[mudbrick]

Originally Posted by Jethrow

I wonder if making the task to comply harder will just result in even more bits that seem to fall off .....

It might be smarter to reduce the compliancing requirements to a level the department AND the customer is both happy with ...

I would think not likely.
I could think of a few things that could have "fallen off" after rego, probably padded sunvisors/dash pad/passenger warning sign/under car exhaust to live side pipes.........but I'm only guessing because I have no knowledge of such things

[Treeve]

Compliance is no harder than it used to be.
They have demonstrated that the RMS's record keeping requirements are not being met.
They have shown that people are using non compliant fittings and certifiers are letting them through, or that people are changing things after registration.
I have compliant side pipes on a V8 clubman.
Indicators appear to be a major area that people always get wrong. Side repeaters and rear indicators included in this.
All the e-markings need to be decoded and demonstrated as meeting the right parts of the ADRs.
Why do sun visors need to be replaced for non compliant ones? That baffles me.
The warning sticker is what it is. You can also get the same thing on your seat belts in you don't want it on your dashboard.
I make my dashboards with the padding built in. I've poured a GT40 dash from the right density foam so that it is compliant.

Most of this stuff just needs a bit of thought and then it can all stay on and doesn't need to 'fall off', will look correct and no one has the problem.

But I'm not one of the cool kids who wants a carbied V8 because that's what the original had. I don't see anyone running side oilers but they want carbs... so it's just a wank factor thing and nothing to do with originality.

Treeve

[albanycobra]

Hmmm I want to be a cool kid....I didn't realise they all had carbies.....

WTD: Wank spec 350 Holley for my GT40. Don't waste my time if it's not wank.

[SydneyChris]

There is a NSW engineer is based near Wollongong I think, Fink Engineering.. he does a few AP cars via Neil Streeting's shop and other kits too. Not sure on his workload or status re new builds at the moment.

He would repeat a lot of what Treeve has said. I had heard that there was a few bad engineers passing cars allegedly 'sight unseen' which has led to the RMS to crack down... from our point of view, disproportionately so.

[spookypt]

Buy stock legal commodore, lower it, add wide wheels, dark tint, small steering wheel, noisy exhaust, rear spoiler etc all stock legal bits removed and non compliant bits added. It's not legal of course but pretty standard across the board.

Is it not the same that the owner has the issue rather than the engineer who certified it when it was compliant?

[Zedn]

Yes but it's impossible for them to control what goes on after rego but they can stop them getting rego in the first place. In the past there has always been some assumptions made for compliance as it is not possible to physically do every test method and meet every clause to the letter without alternative means. Hence it is very easy form some unqualified person to apply the words of the ADR and say sorry you don't meet this no VIN.

[Tenrocca]

I see our new premier has dumped Duncan Gay as roads Minister. New Minister is Melinda Pavey - hope she's a car chick. Duncan Guy was was a self confessed car enthusiast and overall I reckon having him in there was advantageous to the cause.