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[VIC]Getting RWC these days


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Hello everyone.

 

Just want to get everybody's opinions about the difficulty of acquiring a RWC these days...

 

I was with a close mate of mine yesterday, he used to be in the jap car import business, and he was telling me how hard it is these days; He had to go to 6 different places to get his brand new 2008 Holden Caprice with a cert.

Not only that, but his mate who also has an 84 Ford GT, spent 25k fixing the car and he still can't obtain a cert.

 

 

So I was just thinking - Its gonna cost me heaps to do up the body (+ fresh paint = $5000) of my Z and what is the likelihood that I will be able to obtain a RWC???

 

 

 

Is the amount of money + effort worth the uncertain chance that perhaps one day maybe my Z will be driven on the roads???

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What I've experienced with different RWC places it all depends on their opinion. What one thinks is alright, the other thinks it's a death trap. If your zed is structually sound with no visible rust, it should be fine depending on the rest of the mechanicals. I've never had any real issues with a RWC in my dealings. Was your friends Caprice modified at all? Safest bet is to take it through as stock as a rock and then do your mods as long as they are legal!

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A RWC is going to cost you what it requires for your safety and the safety of others.  After restoring a number of Zeds I can tell you that RWC has picked up a few things that have saved me money further down the track.  Restoration of a Zed is never cheap, so if you think that you don't have the dollars or you really don't give a toss about what your Zed looks like or goes like you're probably better off getting something more affordable like a Hyundai or Daewoo, I think there is even some clubs that cater for the Korean import market and i'm sure they would be lots of fun to cruise in and easier to get a RWC.

Rev. ;)

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I was just thinking - Its gonna cost me heaps to do up the body (+ fresh paint = $5000) of my Z and what is the likelihood that I will be able to obtain a RWC???

Is the amount of money + effort worth the uncertain chance that perhaps one day maybe my Z will be driven on the roads???

 

Sorry guys but I find the question a little incredulous! it's going to cost you what it's going to cost you!  If you search these forums you will find that RWC requirements do not differ for Zeds from any other classic vehicle.  My comment is based on the reality that if you don't have the money, ability or time to get the vehicle to the required standard then don't own a Zed.  To ask the question whether the amount of  money and effort is worth it is at best subjective, it depends on your perseverance and how much joy you anticipate getting from restoring a 30+year old car.

 

Not trying to discourage anyone but honestly you need to do your own homework to determine affordability.

 

Rev.

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i've got assorted cars roadworthied for quite a few people but they are not Dodgy. They treat me with respect since i bring them business from other people. They are fair but concentrate on all the essentials.

 

A word of mention but, i had my car Roadworthied 3 Years ago but the list of improvements, mods and just little things that i have fixed is Huge. Our Zeds are driven a certain way that demands a level of saftey. Would you really want to go for a Great Ocean Road cruise and put your pride and joy into a barrier because of a faulty part?

 

It can be daunting to take to a Roadworthy but it is just a list, when you start knocking things over on that list it's a good feeling.

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There is a basic saftey check list that we use for Club permit plates (a cut down RWC) that pretty much sums up what is required for RWC.

(PM me if you want a copy)

 

As soon as you start modifying your car (brakes, suspension are the most common issues) then you can struggle to get an RWC.

From what I have seen over the last 20 odd years ............most Zeds fail on :

Too low

Too loud

Too Rusty

Emmision control sytems removed (post Aug 76 cars had Air pump, EGR and carbon canistor fitted)

followed by mechanical issues (usually the easiset to fix)

sloppy ball joints, steering rack play, stuffed shocks, poor brakes 

 

Keep the mods to a minimum and make the car safe and you should not have a problem

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As an ex-inspector i agree wholeheartedly with Rev's statements on the matter.

Present your car nicely and show that you have a respect/passion for it and the inspector will treat you accordingly.

Present a dirty sh*&ter and your saying that you dont care about the condition of the car and have no interest in maintaining it in roadworthy condition.

Dont be surprised if the inspector is harsh then.

 

all the requirements to maintain a car in roadworthy condition are FREELY AVAILABLE (conact your local RTA or tech standards dept) and should be checked as part of your annual maintenance checks and servicing.

understand that if you feel that the inspector has been unfair, or in-accurate in his inspection, you can contact the tech standards division to have the inspection looked over.

unfortunately that is more common with older cars, as some of the inspectors have never seen or worked on them, so dont know the intricacies of them.

 

Also, dont EVER jump around inspectors, you'll leave a paper trail that will flag your car for a random inspection later on.

If you get knocked for a few inspectors then magically pass for one of them, they will assume a dodgy inspection until proved otehrwise.

Records of ALL inspections are kept.

In the ACT, the records are collected every 2 weeks, and usually processed into the system within another week or so.

So, your dodgy rego may only last you a month or so.

not worth it.

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Thanx guys, thats a lot of confidence you have provided here in this thread.

 

Yes I do plan to look after the car and maintain it like its my petit virgin japanese wife.

 

 

 

I'm just worried that RWC certifiers will fuck me around to make a few bucks - especially if they see that I'm a young fellow...

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What you guys probably don't know is the content of the latest Vicroads course which all inspectors are required to take.  By July this year, ALL inspectors must have completed this course, and believe me, this is bad news.  The roadworthy guy we use through work (mechanical workshop, but without our own RWC licence) did his around the middle of last year, and ever since it has been a nightmare to get old cars roadworthied.

 

The biggest issue has been that if he spots any indicators of body repairs or rust, you need to supply him with a certificate from a registered panel beater, on an official Vicroads form that states the car is structurally sound.  Vicroads now don't consider RW inspectors to be qualified to assess the condition of the body of a car.  Of course, how many panel beaters, especially with older cars, are going to sign off on a car when they have no idea what lurks beneath the paint until the paint is removed?  Particularly when the piece of paper they sign goes into a Vicroads filing cabinet, so that if the car is in an accident 6 months later and splits in half due to bogged over rust in the sills, Vicroads will come back to the panel beater and say 'Well, you certified this car as sound, what gives?"

 

The course also addresses tightening of the tolerance on oil leaks and various other points, and an dramatic increase in the amount of paperwork a RW inspector must complete, both for each car, and overall for each month.

 

For what it's worth, the display car at this Vicroads course is a BA falcon which looks to be immaculate when it sits on the ground.  Putting it up in the air however, reveals that the sound deadener has been chipped off, and it's actually two cars joined together right through the middle....  Which is a part of what this latest tightening of regulations has been about, but it has the side effect of making it very difficult to get old cars roadworthied.

 

 

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