[Damo]

As of November 1 2012 Queensland has adopted the Vehicle Standards Bulletin 14 (VSB14), which is the National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification You may have heard it called the "NCOP". VSB14 in its entirety can be found here

In Queensland the department responsible for managing the approval of vehicle modifications is now called the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR). You'll find TMR's web site on light vehicle modifications here. If you look on that page you'll see that ,as per usual, things are not as simple as they sound. Yes TMR have decided to implement the NCOP, BUT with some exceptions...

Quote:

Please Note: Not all parts of the NCOP have been accepted for use in Queensland, with variations applied for certain sections. For further information about these variations, please refer to the following Vehicle Standards Instructions:

VSI L19.0 – Vehicle lifts under the Queensland Code of Practice — Vehicle Modifications
VSI L20.0 – Engine modifications under the National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification
VSI L21.0 – Certification of Street Rods under the Queensland Code of Practice – Vehicle Modifications
VSI L22.0 – Gas system installations under the National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification.

Obviously we are concerned about VSI L19.0 and VSI L20.0. All the VSI can be found on this page but, they don't give you the information you need in regards to what you can and can't do in terms of vehicle modifications. THAT information you'll find in another document which is more or less an addendum to the NCOP, which is called "Queensland Code of Practice - Vehicle Modifications". This document can be found here

[Rossco]

Is there anyone who can go through these and simplify the new rules for everyone here. I know there has been the odd post in different threads, I think wants33s and Keensy were in the right track. In the interest of having all the information in one place, and hopefully not having to go over this 1000 times in the next year with everyone providing a different answer. It does my head in to, I'm not sure how hard it is to write something thats easy to interpret. clearly to difficult for TMR

[Damo]

Rossco wrote:

Is there anyone who can go through these and simplify the new rules for everyone here. I know there has been the odd post in different threads, I think wants33s and Keensy were in the right track. In the interest of having all the information in one place, and hopefully not having to go over this 1000 times in the next year with everyone providing a different answer. It does my head in to, I'm not sure how hard it is to write something thats easy to interpret. clearly to difficult for TMR

I plan to do that in time, still reading.

[Damo]

Here are some extracts of specific sections more relevant.

Code LS9 of the QCOP, which covers "High Lift - 50mm to 125mm" (Design)
Code LS9 of the QCOP, which covers "High Lift - 50mm to 125mm" (Modification)

[Zook_Fan]

And if you don't want to read them it basically states:

You can do the following without any engineering/blue plates:
25mm lift from tyres (50mm larger diameter)
50mm suspension lift

If you wish to do the following you will require certification:
50mm body lift

If you wish to use suspension components from another vehicle then you must submit the proposed designs for approval before work is commenced you will need someone to check the car. Included in the submission is drawings of proposed changes and cycles of suspension to show things like bumpsteer.

All in all, I like it. You can build a low car on alternative axles and suspension and be legal except for tyres.

Note; This is only my interpretation of the documents regarding lift.

[Fatzook]

Zook_Fan wrote:

And if you don't want to read them it basically states:

You can do the following without any engineering/blue plates:
25mm lift from tyres (50mm larger diameter)
50mm suspension lift

If you wish to do the following you will require certification:
50mm body lift

If you wish to use suspension components from another vehicle then you must submit the proposed designs for approval before work is commenced you will need someone to check the car. Included in the submission is drawings of proposed changes and cycles of suspension to show things like bumpsteer.

All in all, I like it. You can build a low car on alternative axles and suspension and be legal except for tyres.

Note; This is only my interpretation of the documents regarding lift.

I took the same from this document. Looks like a far more logical system than what we have previously been resigned to.

[KEENSY85]

It would be good to have this ncop stuff written up in the tech section

[Damo]

KEENSY85 wrote:

It would be good to have this ncop stuff written up in the tech section

OMG, someone should write it up in a post so it can get moved in there!

[KEENSY85]

)

[Zook_Fan]

As far as engines go the rules are now pretty out there..

The maximum capacity of a replacement engine for vehicles between 800kg and 1100kg is 4x the original weight. I didn't explain that well so here is an example:

1982 1L Ute Kerb Weight - 800kg
Therefore 800 x 4 = 3200
You are allowed a 3.2L naturally aspirated engine

For turbo you times it by 2.75, so for the same vehicle you would be allowed a 2.2L turbo'd engine.

However table LA1, if you're looking, doesn't apply to 4x4's and there are no actual limitations set for these types of vehicles. Continuing from this, the weight of the vehicle is to be taken from the heaviest model of the year except for wagons. So if the ute is actually lighter than the soft top, you can take the weight of the soft top to apply your engine size.

Now you cannot have a NOS system in your car. Even if it isn't connected, it cannot be there.

Don't modify the chassis to do it, maintain the original exhaust system for that engine. The thermostat must be retained. Aftermarket computers will require emission testing.