Thread: Vehicle Modification in WA - Quite Amusing

I would try again for a second opinion. As it is a factory bolt in-out option.

Have a read of the NCOP and see what it says.

You can immagine how long it would have taken them to determine that policy. Some highly intelligent boffins would have sat around a board room table and mulled it all over for months before arriving at their conclusions.
The bit where you can drive 400 kays on "Highway One" without it being approved was probally just an oversight on their behalf!


Cheers, Mick.

If you did have an accident and the transmission was a contributing factor it would be a very special accident indeed, and dare I say the entire internet would want to see the pics.

Ahhh, you're not thinking like a public servant.

"What IF . . . ummm . . . the manual transmission ran out of oil, seized up, locked up the wheels, and the car skidded into a bus full of nuns?"

"Yes, yes, good point, we could be sued."

"Because the gearbox wasn't engineered. If it was, and then the car killed all of those nuns, it would be okay since it was certified."

"And we'd have lots of papers to say that it's not our fault, because we said that gearbox could be in that car."

"But not for the purpose of killing nuns."

"No, no, that would be too specific."

"Of course, gearboxes that actually came in that sort of car in the first place could run out of oil and kill nuns."

"Oh, but that's different, because a common person didn't put that gearbox in, the factory did."

"Er, now I don't see the difference."

"Mmm. Teatime!"

And thanks for the NCOP reference, Isuzu, because I hadn't heard of it yet and there it is, saying you can change the transmission for whatever else the manufacturer offered.

I'll try and call the department next week and see what else they come up with. (I'm sort of looking forward to it!) Because I honestly don't think anyone really has the answer. I'll also see if they can dig up an engineer for me.

Originally Posted by Davo

Ahhh, you're not thinking like a public servant.

"What IF . . . ummm . . . the manual transmission ran out of oil, seized up, locked up the wheels, and the car skidded into a bus full of nuns?"

"Yes, yes, good point, we could be sued."

"Because the gearbox wasn't engineered. If it was, and then the car killed all of those nuns, it would be okay since it was certified."

"And we'd have lots of papers to say that it's not our fault, because we said that gearbox could be in that car."

"But not for the purpose of killing nuns."

"No, no, that would be too specific."

"Of course, gearboxes that actually came in that sort of car in the first place could run out of oil and kill nuns."

"Oh, but that's different, because a common person didn't put that gearbox in, the factory did."

"Er, now I don't see the difference."

"Mmm. Teatime!"

And thanks for the NCOP reference, Isuzu, because I hadn't heard of it yet and there it is, saying you can change the transmission for whatever else the manufacturer offered.

I'll try and call the department next week and see what else they come up with. (I'm sort of looking forward to it!) Because I honestly don't think anyone really has the answer. I'll also see if they can dig up an engineer for me.

WA has adopted the NCOP, so what the NCOP / VSB14 says should be correct.

http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/media...htVehicles.pdf

Thanks for the link. That's the form the guy on the phone said I had to fill in . . . and then wait two months for a response. At the top of it, it says:

"As part of this process applicants are required to complete this form, unless the modification is one that has been gazetted as a modification not requiring formal approval. This only applies to minor modifications such as fitting roof-racks and alarm systems."

I'm so glad I can fit a roof-rack without approval! Oh, the giddiness of freedom.

Helpfully, the VSB 14 then says:

"1.1 BASIC MODIFICATIONS NOT REQUIRING CERTIFICATION
 Fitting a manufacturer’s optional manual or automatic gearbox; and
 Fitting a manufacturer’s optional differential or final drive gear set."

So I would guess that someone hasn't told The Department of Transport here. I just love State departments. Full of fluffy little pets at desks scratching at bits of paper.

Obviously, it makes sense that you would be able to swap one factory bit for another, and fair enough if any inspection station would then look at it to make sure you didn't do a dodgy job.

Anyway, we'll see what they say.

Why not let the rego run out, remove plates and sticker. Change gearbox and present vehicle with man. ticked in box instead of auto. for whatever rego process is in WA. Sort of start with a clean sheet, do you reckon they'd pick it up ?

Deano

Yup. The VIN would do it. No doubt this is why people change VIN plates and stamp new numbers and all that palaver, which is a Serious Criminal Offence, I believe. I thought the supposed idea of the law is to make it easy - er, at least, realistic - for people to obey it.