Registeration (in NSW) involving a QLD Mod plated JAP import

[erik]

So just over a year ago i purchased a 86 trueno from the Gold Coast from a Girl . Flew up with a mate from sydney and drove it back in less than a day. That whole day was a win IMO, until i found out how difficult it is to actually register the bastard.
It was QLD mod plated as a 2 seater, having after market seats (bride brix) and nothing in the rear expect ofcourse a 4 point rollcage.
Anyway, i basically stripped it down and rebuilt it while repairing several dodgy sheberights and welding/bogging as usual with most hachi's these days. Now I have to comply with the ADR's including;
-intrusion bars in the doors (luckily 'borrowing' my mates ADM doors)
-ADM seat belts with the ADR symbols (even though they're the same as JDM)
-replacing the hatch with another that had no duck wing covering the key hole
-wheels that arnt 14x8 buddy clubs.
-Putting a Cat in the Exhaust (=^.^=)

- and many many more things

As far as im aware i have to get this thing engineered by a certified engineer from the RTA.
then blue slip then green slip then all good.
My question to y'all is whether anybody has ever done something as painful as this, and how much did it cost you?

[Matt]

Yep.... been there and lets just say it still hurts quite a few years later even thinking about it.

[erik]

Please do explain.
too much effort or money or both?

[Rice86]

Yup, bought a levin coupe from south Australia, $11 000
Was told it needs to bE engineered then blue slip can come after, car had mod plate from SA and only two seated so finding back seat belts for a coupe was a mission and gave up, bought a ADM shell for $2000 and transferred everything over, sold off the coupe shell as i didn't have any use for it

[johl]

from what i have been told the compliance process in tasmania is alot easier than most other states, if that could be an option for you?
also some people have just plate swapped an adm vin onto the coupe and simply registered it after this. obviously the legalities of this are dodgy at best and imo it will affect the value of the car if you chose to sell it and it could send you to jail/big fine

[erik]

I keep coming close to "fuck it, sell it" because of the amount of time, money and effort something like this takes. But that 86 love is always just enough for me to conclude that i've come this far i shouldnt give up. Its been a massive learning experience however, I'd suggest to anyone thinking about buying mod plated imports to strongly consider otherwise.

[Matt]

You've got to be stupid for even considering that...

My issue was that a mod platted car from qld didn't mean it would pass engineering in sydney... was an rx3 with a 13b turbo in it that could no longer be engineered due to changes in the power to weight rules. I ended up selling it back in qld 3 years after i purchased it.

There are a few engineers down Nowra / Wollongong way who are reasonable and the cage is somewhat easy to engineer providing it doesn't obstruct your vision too much.

[erik]

yeah im down in wollongong, I've only heard bad things about engineers down here. Wish me luck =s

[Matt]

A guy i goto tafe with engineers cars, i'm not sure what his workshop is... If you are still looking for one in a month and a bit i'll get his details....

[t-nol]

If it's been registered in Australia, then you should just need a Blue Slip, if you want to run the risk without an engineers certificate.