New to this site, but am willing to help with any questions regardig the TAC? (All smart comments with be ignored).

Welcome to the forum NT1200 - I hope the few that spoil the many don't scare you away

Hi welcome to the forum. Do you work directly in the TAC process?

Corey- Tac is required when you make modifications to your car like a roll cage, engine upgrade (somthing that the car was not produced with) etc etc. Planning has to be done and it goes to a board for approval I believe. Then it has to go over the pits yearly.

welcome to the forum mate. will let my housemate know ur on here and when he gets back from bathurst island he will be intouch with you because I know he needs TAC aprooval before the next time his rego is due...

Hi NT1200. Welcome to Boost. You will have many intersting questions thrown at you here.

Cheers,

Ken

ok so my car has NSW rego, when its renewal time for me in NT what will have to be done??

some mods on my car include:
big single turbo
bigger fuel system
stand alone ECU
etc
etc

any help would be great.

cheers
Adrian

appsolutly nothing

u have modified the engine, and that's about it, so none of that would have to be tac approved!

what sort of mods would have to be TAC approved??

brakes up grades, engine swaps, cages, modifying the / welding the body fabrication

http://www.nt.gov.au/transport/mvr/vehicle...etins/ibv32.pdf

That's a link to the form that needs filling out when making the mentioned modifications to your car - has a little bit of info too.

I'm not sure if it's the case up here, but I've heard that in certain states an engine capacity can be increased by up to 20-25% without the need for engineer's/TAC approval. I presume this is when the same motor is being kept, just with increased internals.

For instance, I'm looking at putting a DOHC 1600cc engine into a mid-80's Corolla. The shell I'm looking at using had a 1300cc engine from a different family of motors, but there was another Corolla model available in the same body style & chassis with a different engine crossmember that bolts directly to the chassis and the engine. This different model Corolla had a 1600cc engine from the same family as the one I plan on bolting in, but didn't have the DOHC head, and hence had significantly less power (about 70hp vs 120hp).

As this engine swap would be using entirely standard Toyota parts, with absolutely no welding or cutting of any components, would TAC approval still be required?

A bit of advice for corey
Sometimes its best to say nothing and have people think your a fool than to open your mouth and confirm that you are a fool.

still wasting time with toyota's



but anyways as long as u use the factory cross members etc same engine family u wont have a drama

strocking an engine really isn't an issue, as no one can tell what's inside, yes technically it does, but mvr arn't going to pull your engine down and check the engine volume, so there's ways around allot of things!

As long as the new engine is of the same year (emmsision standard) as the one it is replacing or is a newer version it shouldnt be a problem

Hrrm I was just getting around to thinking about TAC.

I was thinking that I would have to

Motor is currently a 4age 20V in an ae82 sedan

Plan is to get a
Stane Alone ECU
Turbo
Accompanying mods etc

Would I need tac approval(I am guessing yes having had a quick look at form).

Cheers

Mmmm, better be filling one of them out. Should be pretty easy to get mine through as my mods (brakes and suspension) pass engineering in other states.

if it's adar approved, that's a Australian Standard and does not need to be tac approved

hence why buying Adar approved stuff is a bit more expensive as it's road legal in all states

god i'm good at this

Welcome

I have a vehicle i am currently building, which i have already got approval for and engine and transmission change, but i've had to recess the firewall to get the engine/box to sit correctly.

My question is, will it still be registerable now that i've cut the firewall??

I'll probably need someone to have a look at the adapters for the rear brakes though......the rest is straight swap from an STi.

Yes, I do work direclty with the TAC process. We meet the 1st Wednesday of each month. The meetings at held at MVR in Parap.

My background is rally, drags and black track. I got involved with the TAC after getting my one car approved for street use (Datsun 1200).

I dont push any suppliers or shops. If you have a gripe with a supplier (as in NT tuners forum), I sugest that you speak to them face to face and not go around slagging them.

Be very careful when you cut the fire wall. It costs nothing to go and ask the boys at the test shed BEFORE you do anything. Remember that the MVR test shed is there to help you (you may even see that they are human like you and me).

I have seen too many people do mods to thier cars without thinking the whole job thru.

Ask yourself:

Do I have to cut - can I do it another way?
If I (eg:you) was to look at buying this car, would the mod be a good or a bad thing?
How is a member of the police force going to view this ?
How good is the mod going to be - can the person cutting your fire wall weld to AS1980-2004?

Also have a look at

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/veh...n/vsb_ncop.aspx

LINK UPDATED 09/03/2009

This is the national set of standards.

Welcome aboard I guess I'll get to know yourself as time passes...... Had 3 vehicles through TAC... all no worries, I think honesty and attitude are your friends when dealing with MVR Test shed and TAC

Think I have opened a can of worms here...

Dont forget that your new engine will be running on unleaded fuel. Change over the tank inlet is a thing most forget. Also make sure your new fuel system is installed corretly.

Things I have seem people try and get passed include:

Self tappers holding in seat and seat belts
Gutter bolts holding in roll cages
8mm bolts in 12mm holes with no wahers ("it didnt line up...)
Cocking s*it welding
Electrical wiring twisted and then taped togeather
Dashes held in with double sided tape
Wooden lowering blocks
"Masking tape" sills
Coil springs held in with cable ties (at least they were yellow)
Rust repairs done with silicon (looked real good too)






Thanks,

You hit the nail on the head...honesty and attitude.

Is the fuel filler still an issue when there is no longer leaded fuel available with larger nozzles..... just asking and the welding ........ is it AS2980, as thats what I did to do my own chassis and all was good or are there new standards with different certifications???

im thinking of putting a cage in my car this year and don't want to go bolt in.
the cage im looking at is a cams approved and will be installed by a former member of tac. my main questions are i don't want the bars to go around the dash want is the go with the bars going through the dash?

also the bolt in cages you commonly find for my vehicle originate from japan and bend around the dash, even though they are a perfect fit what would be the dramas involved in approving it for street use here

cheers

Yes, its a typo = AS2980

: )



Have a look at

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/saf...on_3Feb2006.pdf

This is what all roll bars have to meet. - Info starts on page 33.

The former TAC member will be familiar with the tool to check the head clearance

: )

How you going $%^. Did you get your house without walls approved

I have already cut it, im a panelbeater by trade with all the current welding certificates.

The reason i asked is it is being built as a drag/skid car, and being this i have sat the motor so that it is right over the front axel for weight tranfser etc, and also for radiator clearance.

It's a full chassis hilux, so i cant see it being a big problem, but im not 100% as i havent asked.

Only really want to rego it to get to motorsport events etc instead of buggering around with trailers etc.

Thanks for your reply though

Just some constructive criticism, but the Automotive engineers listed on your forms are very loosely based from being in the Automotive industry, one listed was no longer in operations the other mainly does housing and the third is a Mining company who have said in a nice way they do not need my business. Second point, if your vehicle needs to have a swerve test done to by one of the engineers as part of getting a report on the vehicle as being road worthy, but the engineer advises you they will not do a swerve test as if the test causes a accident they don't want to be liable or injured how can you get your vehicle on the road....?

How come rose joints cant be used in suspension parts of a Vehicle.........? Whilst they are used in most extreme offroad and road racing vehicles...?

How come a true- Sealed battery still cant be stored in a battery box on the inside of a vehicle, when the reason given for not being able to have a normal battery in your vehicle is because of toxic battery fumes being emitted...?

Why is it that if a vehicle that has been engineered and registered from another state still needs to have a T.A.C form filled out, then inspected by someone outside of MVR, but then a final inspection is then done at MVR, the staff that work in the Pits doing inspections are only inspectors (no offence meant to them) not qualified engineers, how do they know what they are looking at is correct and to standard.

Hi and welcome to the forum. I am required to submit a report to TAC regarding the suspension modifications on my hilux proir to my next rego (April) so any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

lol, that last post was actually from me. Boosted, were you using my computer while I was away???

ok i am planing to build a tarmac rally car now i need to have side intrusion bar's as part of the cage for the use i will be using it for can i still have this rego'd up here attached is a picture of the style of intrustion bar set up i will be having the reason i ask is cam's require's rego on tarmac rally car's as part of the log booking procdure or is there a race rally rego up here if not it will just be kept rego'd down south as that's the onlt place it is really going to be driven the rest of the time it will be locked in my shed

1. ..."Automotive engineers listed on your forms "...what forms?
2. ..."swerve test"... several people have has this test conducted in Darwin, check the yellow pages for contact details.
3. Not all "rose Joints" are made the same.
4. Battery box must be vented to the outside of the car. Basic common sense to most.
5. If a vehicle has been engineered and registered in another state, most will have a mod plate fitted. The inspection by someone outside of MVR is to confirm that the mods have been done in a safe manner. MVR then carry out their own safety checks including checking engine # and VIN's. All MVR inspectors are trade persons and have worked hard to get to were they are. How would you like 4 out of 5 people acting like assholes to you ??

But remember, you don’t need anything including a licence, rego, and insurance UNTIL something goes wrong.

Then you need EVERYTHING.

Question for you to think about;

You do a simple mod to you car, say fit a 4-point roll bar.
Your "rego mate" passes it for rego for two years.
Then you are driving home from work Friday arvo. A dog runs out in front of you, you serve, car rolls, your best mate hits his head on the roll bar and dies.
Police turn up, carry out an investigation.
Your insurance (both CTP and car insurance) sees the rollbar in your car.
They both ask for the paperwork on the mods - who approved it?
Your rego mate who rego'd the car for you is now in VERY deep shit
You now have no insurance....
You are now in VERY VERY deep shit
Your $50k car is a write off. Your mate’s wife wants you to pay up to support her and the kids.
From my line of work, I guess you will need about $3 million plus to sort this out.
So do you gamble $3 million against a few hours for a TAC person to sign off on it?

This is why I pay for a $10 million insurance policy.

Think I am being a little over the top? Hope nobody who reads this ever finds out.

This is also why I have taken the time to reply to questions on this site. If I can get just one person to change their mind about not going to the TAC, I will be very happy.

And to the few people who know me on this site, they understand why I am doing it.





The NT does not have a club rego system. (and yes, that suxs).

Have a look at

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/saf...on_3Feb2006.pdf

This is what all roll bars have to meet. - Info starts on page 33

This explains what you can and cant do.

: )

well after a quick read of that the car will be getting club rego down south it's my only option as i'm not willing to play with my life so mvr is happy

Once you have filled out the TAC forms you guys then meet up and go over it, we then get a reply in the mail with the conditions as to what has been approved and what processes we can do next, these include a contact list of engineers advising us to contact them if you need help or advice. This list of people is out dated and of no use.



Okay thats good, so do I look in the white pages under Swerve testers....? Or in the front of the Yellow pages, you have posted that you are on here to help people out if your on the committee surely you guys would know who does these sort of tests and could supply a contact..? Or could put this down as the contact if that was part of the conditions of the T.A.C approval...?



The battery is a completely sealed unit there is no need for it to be vented when there is nothing to vent...? thats what my argument is.


At the end of all of this Im not knocking that we shouldn't have to have our modifications such as roll cages and what not approved. Im saying the process in which we have to go through up here is tedious you get sent around in circles and get different yes's and no's when you go in and talk to another inspector. This is what puts people of getting their car properly approved to legally drive on the road. My vehicle is properly engineered and I carry my green card I have no worries, and a note to those that don't know is that once your vehicle is T.A.C approved you have it all through and passed you can only go through MVR for your rego inspections, and thats every year.

Is this a fact.......not good if you don't live in Darwin....

Once you have filled out the TAC forms......This list of people is out dated and of no use.

I have fowarded on your comments about the list that MVR send you as been out of date to the Chair if the
TAC. We also take up the matter of more info to be avaiable to people thru MVR.

When you speak to anybody at a MVR (or any big company) ALWAYS write down who you spoke too. Also inform the person that you will be taking notes about what they tell you. I know it is a pain in the ass to do but it is to cover your ass.

Your last point is incorrect - "you can only go through MVR for your rego inspections, and thats every year". If you request that the MVR lock be removed after a few years, this can be done. Once again, YOU have to ask. (If you have a TAC approved car now, have you ever asked for the lock to be removed????) Some cars will be unlocked, some will not. Depends on the mods.


If you have any ideas on how to improve the TAC process, please let me know.

The next meeting is planned for Feb 6th 2008.

: )



another way of looking at this:

you pay rego
you have insurance
you have a licence

you (and I) do all this to keep MVR happy now....

would this need to be TAC approved?

it's a bolt in cage and doesnt go through the dash it goes around it.

cheers

Yes, due to it not being on OEM item.

Also looking at the phots, the read head clearance does not look like it would comply.

Have a look at

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/saf...on_3Feb2006.pdf

This is what all roll bars have to meet. - Info starts on page 33.



I have a head clearance measuring tool if you would like me to check it.

I have had a direct email address for this site (thanks to SR20.biz): tac@sr20.biz

If people send thru crap or abusive emails, it will be deleted and thier names posted here for all to see!

Hi mate, and welcome.

I just had a quick question re the MVR locked inspections. You mentioned that after a few year teh lock MAY be removed, so does this mean that for the years until then we all have to drive to darwin with our cars for rego?

There are MVR inspectors in each major town - Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. I think (but mite be wrong) that some remote police staions also can help you.

A phone call to your local MVR will be able to direct you to the correct inspection place.

: )

Yeah, I understand that but down here in Katherine we don't have "the pits" as such, and calls to the MVR have never born any fruit I'm affraid in regards to registering modified vehicals.

If its your understanding that I can get TAC approved vehicals inspected at Katherine's MVR inspection area (weigh bridge) then I think that awesome, but I also thing someone should tell the people in Katherine MVR

Very valid point!

I have spoke to the Chair of the TAC this morning and forwarded this site to him. Also have requested that several points that have been raised here be put on the next meetings agenda (6th Feb 2008). Will be more than happy to post the outcomes here for all to read and comment on.

: )



There are also TAC inspectors in Katherine....

you say the read head clearance looks like it wont comply?? the roll bar is practically on the roof lining. what is the "read"

cheers

my typing...rear head room, have a read of the guide lines. May help clear up any questions about roll bars.

Realy!? I know it's getting a bit rough people asking for favors, but is there any chance you could tell me who they are, or point me in the direction of the site where they might be listed? I've just now got off the phone with MVR after a 5 minute 'chat' that basicly consisted of them saying "huh?" over and over.

I think what he's trying to say is the bar running along the rear pillars are to intrusive, not enough clearance.

The hoop in itself would be more my worry, if it were passed i doubt it could be rego'd as 4 seater.

And the front bars, because they go around and not through the dash, would cramp leg room, be touch and go there also.

Anything that can intrude when you exit the vehicle in case of emergency, will be very hard to get passed.

ducks is the local tac man luke.

Thanks for the call NT1200. Seems I shouldnt have bothered all those times ringing the offical channels, and should of just asked the local hoons

i'm happy to keep mvr happy as far as my road car goes but the fact is to enter a rally you have to have rego and you also have to have a roll cage that is of a certen spec (and i will admit the spec i will be going to with this one will be well and trully past this) unfortuanatlly the 2 do not mix in day to day rego areas so with mvr giving no other option i will be doing what i have to to do my chosen sport nothing aganst the system at all i just want to look after myself and my co driver