Rover V8 Short Wheel Base Series IIA - NSW Registration

[jdobson]

I have a 1964 Series IIA short wheel base fitted with a 3.5 litre Rover V8 motor. The vehicle looks completely standard on the outside and the 'only' modifications are minor cutting to the footwells to accommodate the engine, Range Rover differentials and uprated exhaust system - that's about it. It retains the standard brakes and gearbox.

The conversion was carried out some ten years ago back in the UK.

Now am I right in my understanding that the vehicle will require inspection by an engineer in order for me to get it registered or, given that it was done so long ago (I have no documentation of the process), can I simply present it for the blue slip and get it registered that way?

I would love to hear any tips / suggestions to make my life as easy as possible! I would suspect that the majority of people looking at the vehicle wouldn't even know it had a non-standard engine (it's on carbs and is from a 1980's Range Rover). How much of a nightmare is the engineering process in NSW?

Thanks

[pop058]

I am sure someone else will be along soon to provide some more detail but I cannot imagine you getting your S1 through to rego without engineering documentation. Not sure about NSW but there is a question on the Qld rego application that asks "is the vehicle modified from original" (or words to that effect.) The first red flag I can see is standard brakes and a V8.

Some pictures would be great [bigsmile1]

[Slunnie]

Based on this, you would need engineering.

Based on todays engineering guielines, You might want to chat with him first.

Wheel & Tyre Guide1979 - www.slunnie.com (http://www.slunnie.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=155)

[101RRS]

Of course you could just try it on - if you have a UK rego document with the V8 engine number on it you could just take it in and go through the process - showing the rego document and see what happens - dont lie and you never know.

If it gets a knock back and needs engineering so be it - nothing has been lost other than the cost of the initial inspection.

Garry

[Mick_Marsh]

What Garry says.

The thing is, if it's on previous registration documents, from Australia, no problems. Has this vehicle been registered in Australia before? If no, as far as what I have seen, it now needs to be engineered to ensure compliance with Australian ADRs. As there were no ADRs applicable back when this vehicle was constructed, we have now entered a grey area.
So, if I were you, I'd try my luck.

[Tins]

I agree. Give it a try. However, when I wanted a RWC for mu basically stock Series 3 the bloke did a brake test with an accelerometer, which the car failed. Dunno if NSW does that. Nothing mechanically wrong with the brakes, BTW, they are just old fashioned. He took the meter out in another car and gave me the slip.

[101RRS]

A drum braked LR will always pass the accelerator test if the brakes are good.

[Mick_Marsh]

I agree. Give it a try. However, when I wanted a RWC for mu basically stock Series 3 the bloke did a brake test with an accelerometer, which the car failed. Dunno if NSW does that. Nothing mechanically wrong with the brakes, BTW, they are just old fashioned. He took the meter out in another car and gave me the slip.
My 1970 Mercedes with 4 wheel power assisted disc brakes only just passed this test. This test is designed for a modern vehicle, and as we know, we only have modern vehicles, right!
I'm not looking forward to presenting the SIIA.

I met a fellow with a recently registered 1920 something buckboard. It had pads on the outside of the drums. I asked him how it did in the brake test. He just said the brakes were more for show. I wonder how the authorities deal with these vehicles?

[101RRS]

The test is standard in the ACT for all vehicles - my old Series 3 passed it first go, as did my 101 and my Haflinger.

[jdobson]

Thanks for all the responses - I am going to just present it and see what happens with the blue slip. I wonder if on the system it shows a V8 and an engine option on a short wheel base Series IIA and will the tester even know it's a Series IIA unless I tell them?

Vehicle has never been registered in Australia before so this is unchartered territory and I imagine the engineering process to be very subjective and dependent on which engineer you end up with.

I will keep you posted.

[101RRS]

If it was registered in the UK and the rego document shows the V8 engine number then I would have that with you.

[aussearcher]

Out of interest, what does it go like?[bigsmile]

[jdobson]

Out of interest, what does it go like?[bigsmile]

It goes really well. I still clearly remember taking it out on its first jaunt after swapping out the original 2.25 petrol motor and I was blown away by the improvement in performance! It actually accelerates and pulls like a train. A lot of people say you'll go through gearboxes like there's no tomorrow but I never had any issues. Can't wait to get it on the road here - fuel is much cheaper than the UK :-)

[aussearcher]

Must be interesting in the wet in roundabouts!