<< back to main build-up page
Page 1 of 2 | Page 2 >>
PART 17
DONE AND DUSTED
So, Oscar is finally done! He can strut his stuff with the big boys without embarrassing himself too much, thanks to a heap of fantastic aftermarket gear.
We were very happy with his testing, with the only real hassles being the fact that he is a short-wheel-based vehicle... can’t do much about that, and the usual IFS Vs solid axle issues. Once again, can’t do much about that... or can we? Let’s see what we can come up in the future, eh? I’ve heard rumour of some pretty awesome solid front end conversions in the States...
Okay, so we’ve managed to turn an X-90 into a rock-crawler, but we still have to keep him legal as he is also my daily driver. Yep, Oscar carries me to work and back every day along the freeway, so keeping him reliable was a major factor... but who said reliable has to be boring? However, this was where the issue of rego, insurance and engineering reared it’s potentially ugly head.
In NSW we had the following points to deal with:
Oversized tyres in both track and diameter
The ability of the standard brakes to work efficiently with these larger tyres
The speedo now being a whopping 13% out
A 3in bodylift and 3in suspension lift - overall height and stability
GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass)
Oscar needed to be inspected by an RTA authorised Automotive Engineer to make sure he was basically safe and no threat to the general public (excuse me while I pause to slap a co-worker who snickered about life threatening ugliness).
We jumped onto the RTA website and scanned through their list of authorised engineers. After making a few phone calls, and asking a heap of questions, I was advised that I would need to do a few things before the engineer could start his inspection.
Firstly, I needed to have my speedo recalibrated to compensate for my oversized tyres. Now, while some people may not see this as necessary, trust me, it’s worth the few extra bucks to do it anyway. Not having to continually mentally calculate/compensate for my speed makes driving so much more relaxing. I dropped Oscar over at General Auto Instruments in Lidcombe and it only took them a couple of hours to fit a ratio box and calibrate it. The bonus is that you receive a certificate to keep with your papers stating you have had it done, keeping the defect stickers at bay if you are pulled over for your tyres.
Tyres? Yep, Oscar had overhang issues so we needed to tidy up a few loose ends there. We’d already fitted some Bushranger Flexy Flares, but we needed to sort out some mud flaps. Current RTA rules state that the bottom edge of your mud flap must extend to at least the centre of your hub and extend both inwards and out to cover the width of your tyres. As said in the previous section, I popped into Supercheap Auto and grabbed a four-pack of rubber floor mats and chopped them to size. Easy...
Next up were the brakes. Bigger tyres don’t pull up as quickly as standard ones, so regardless of whether yours need to be engineered, it’s vital to ensure your brakes are working their best. I popped Oscar into Mannell’s to have his brakes checked and adjusted, and got Nick to give him a final once over to make sure everything was ready to go. It’s a good idea to have your mechanic service your 4WD prior to inspection as he will spot anything that may cause hassles. Bad oil leaks, stretched or cracked brake lines and broken or worn brackets will all be looked at. The engineer’s job is to ensure that your vehicle, above all, is safe for you to drive.
The final thing to take care of was a weigh bridge certificate. Oscar had taken on some extra weight (yes, Brenno just copped a coffee mug to the side of the head) in the way of accessories and bar work, so we had to make sure he wasn’t overweight. We scraped in, fully loaded, with 6kg to spare... whew!
So, the big day came and Oscar was placed under full scrutiny... the most stressful two hours of my life! He was swerve and brake tested, headlight height measured (we scraped it in by 7mm!) brake lines were measured at full drop, heim joint throughly inspected and tested, steering extension was closely examined, the bodylift was checked for strength and alignment... add to that body mods checked, bull bar mounts checked... seatbelts...
<yawn>
...rear bumper lift brackets... exhaust noise levels recorded... chassis inspected... I went and made a cup of coffee and flicked through a newspaper... indicator placement on the winch bar... steering at full lock inspection... steering at full lock under full articulation inspection... every component of the Calmini kit was checked for weld quality and strength... blah... blah... blah...
... and we passed! Final thing to do was drop in to an authorised mechanic to have a blue slip done and as rego was due... a pink slip while I was at it.
It was then off to the RTA with a tonne of paperwork, where I was issued with new rego papers and a new sticker displaying my modification code. The engineer also provide me with a new tyre placard and engineering plate... which were promptly whacked onto Oscar, making him legal and allowing me to relax somewhat! Throughout the buildup, I’d kept my insurance company (DGA Insurance who will cover all 4WD accessories and modifications) notified as each accessory and mod was added, so I was covered all the way through.
Page 1 of 2 | Page 2 >> |
