revinning modified cars

[l1ttle_d3vil]

ive been reading up on revinning vehicles, but its mostly info on imports vs NZ new, late model vs oldschool etc. obviously oldschool is easier but whats the go with revinning an extensively modified oldschool car (1970s corolla)? Last rego ran out mid 2006 and it had just been garaged since, not like it was de-reged because of the condition etc. everything looks pretty straight, no sign of accident damage/rust and/or repairs so that side of it should be OK.

I know if it was completely standard it would be pretty straight forward but i'm a bit wary of the fact that it has already been modified before requiring a re-vin. the mods basically consist of new engine/box/diff//brakes/adjustable suspension etc. This has all been certed previously so is that going to be any advantage? or will it need to be certed again to get revinned? (cert is only a couple of years old). from reading the LTSA website it seems aslong as the mods are up to certifiable standard, VTNZ just check their side of things and aslong as they're happy its all go.

* ive heard of them requiring all brake lines, pads etc etc replaced with new stuff for revinning. is this always the case, or only if it looks perished?

* if all the welding was done by a certed welder, then certified, would I need to supply welding certificates for the revin or for a future recert? as that could possibly be an issue.

I realise the best people to talk to will be VTNZ themselves - which I will be doing as soon as I have time - but I really want to hear anyone elses actual experience in getting modified cars revinned.

cheers
-matt

[YeMs]

wats the welding thats been done? if it has had any repairs it could possibly require a repair cert ($500 PLUS any repairs)

if it has a cert already then it shouldnt be a problem. as long as its certified for everything. and because its a pre 90's they dont go all hard out and strip it out or any thing and afaik they dont even strip the brakes down just put it on brake rollers.

oh the joys of previously working in a vin station

[l1ttle_d3vil]

wats the welding thats been done? if it has had any repairs it could possibly require a repair cert ($500 PLUS any repairs)

oh nah its just like engine mounts, welding coil overs etc etc, the usual stuff not welding new pillars in or anything haha.

someone mentioned the current cert won't be valid with the new VIN - is this true?

and the weird thing with the current cert is it doesnt actually mention that the engine was turboed. it just states "Induction: Injected" and "No: 4AGZE."
it was a 4agze block used, but wasn't supercharged. Would it (technically) require a recert to get this corrected? as it was definitely turboed at the time of cert. im guessing it was just a stuff up on behalf of the certifier, but im wary of the fact it will cost me $400 for a recert. is this likely?

cheers

[Mr Revhead]

maybe enquire as to what the paperwork says

[Dragger_Dan]

I think the best way is just to take all the info you have and go see your compliance shop. There are so many different possibilities with this process ... and even more rumour and hearsay. If you talk to the person who actually does this stuff you will know where you stand.

[rollaholic]

i agree with dragger_dan, theres alot of stuff around re-registering older cars that doesnt seem to make alot of sense.

though, if your car already has a 17 digit VIN plate i dont think they would change the VIN number so your current cert (which i believe displays the VIN?) should be fine.

we deal with VTNZ alot at work, so if you'd like someone there to call just give me a PM and i'll get a number for you. (will be in auckland though)

[l1ttle_d3vil]

though, if your car already has a 17 digit VIN plate i dont think they would change the VIN number so your current cert (which i believe displays the VIN?) should be fine.

thats the number which is actually stamped onto the firewall aye, not rivited anywhere? the car still has that, as it was previously registered in NZ as recently as 18 months ago.

i've spoken with my certifier and the turbo will be covered under the "Make: Toyota Mod" part of the cert plate so thats sweet. Last thing to sort is whether it will require a new cert for the re-vin. the certifier didnt seem to think it would if it already had the 17 digit number as you've said. i'll give VTNZ a call myself to confirm though. if it all goes ahead I will post up a project thread, might be handy for anyone else wanting to do something similar.

cheers

[ChaosAD]

may need a repair cert for welding. aftermarket brake lines need paperwork etc etc. all the normal wof stuff but much stricter. check all seatbelts mounting points and setat etc.

Cost a few hundred dollers plus any certs plus rego

[rollaholic]

i had a look at the VIN inspection manual today, it said that a new LVV cert would not be required at re-inspection time if the vehicle had previously been LVV certed, and had not been modified since then.

the inspector i talked to did say that you might be asked to prove that it hadn't been modified since the LVV was done, so if you can get the paperwork that the LVV certifier would have given to whoever got it done, it would be useful.

however from what you are saying it sounds like the vehicle doesnt actually have a 17 digit VIN - the one stamped on the firewall is probably something like KE25-XXXXXXX yeah? they will want to assign it a 17 digit VIN, if it had one it would be one of those riveted strips, they usually go something like 7A8H etc etc - which might mean you are up for a new LVV cert.

also if your cert plate doesnt show the turbo and you cant prove it was certed for it, then it will need a new cert. you might be able to get a copy of the LVV paperwork from whoever inspected it, i think they are supposed to keep records for five years.

[MRDRFT]

i have just had my s12 go through the vin process.
it is a 84 and was dereged brcause some1 didnt pay the reg,i went to put back on road so had to get a cert because i modded the car.as it was in nz befor they started the vin plate it didnt have one so failed the cert on no vin number.i took it to the vin place and they strip the car out cheek all the seat mounts and seat belt mounts brakes ect.it is virtually a wof process but more indepth rather than just a look they acutally cheek the mounts.then they rivet the vin number on the chassie.then you have to go pass the cert now that you have a vin.then tale it back to where you got the vin who gives you a wof,and a peice of paper to take to vtnz and get the number plates and reg.is ur car dereg or does it have live plates still?

[rollaholic]

they shouldnt have stripped the interior out of a car thats more than 20 years old

[d1 mule]

so what is the order of things? iv just aquired a jzx81 DE reg due to not buying rego. its stock as a rock at the moment but going to get modified. am i better off to get it vinned first before i start modding then cert or do i mod, cert, then vin?? i would have thought the car has to be vinned to get cert??

cheers

[l1ttle_d3vil]

yes car has to be vinned to get cert, but you can't cert a dereged car, hence you have to do both at the same time sorta thing.

you would be alot better off revinning the car, then modifying and certifying it in my opinion. the car I'm getting was certified for all mods prior to being deregistered, so hopefully its just a matter of going straight thru the revin as the current cert is still valid.

[IH8TEC]

so what is the order of things? iv just aquired a jzx81 DE reg due to not buying rego. its stock as a rock at the moment but going to get modified. am i better off to get it vinned first before i start modding then cert or do i mod, cert, then vin?? i would have thought the car has to be vinned to get cert??

cheers

i have been wondering this with the car i just got, which order to do stuff, becuase i want it to get the entire car stripped, panel and painted, but dont want to put supercharged motor back in and all the standard crap back in to get it vinned, then pull it all out out and mod everything to get a cert, it's just back tracking really with how much it's gonna change.

i'll be going to talk to the actual certifier and vin persons myself. find out what paper work i will need and everything, and figure out an order of things in the next week or two.

[matt dunn]

It' all in how the certifier of VIN persons see's it.

We got a new shell for an AU falcon a while back to repair a damged one we had.

They would not let us cut the vin number out of the damaged one and fix it to the good shell as that is obviously illegal,

But we could cut all of the car away from the vin number and replace the car?

That like saying you can't fit a new head to your axe,
but can fit your head to a new handle???

[rollaholic]

when you take a car to be vinned they will provide you with a list of things it needs to become road legal again, from a park light bulb to a LVV cert for your turbo engine, just like a very extensive WOF check really. if the car was made after 1989 they will also strip the interior and check for crash damage, rust etc.

once this has been done, you take the car away and make whatever repairs are required, get your LVV cert, etc etc. you then take the car back to the re-vinning place, they will check its all been done to their satisfaction, and voila, they will give your car a WOF and issue an MR2A form which allows you to register the vehicle.

if your car doesnt have a 17 number VIN they will attach one at the first inspection, (which will allow you to get an LVV cert) however you will still need an MR2A form to register the car - just getting the VIN plate doesnt make it road legal. they wont issue the MR2A form until you satisfy them that the car is safe and legal to drive on the roads.

[rollaholic]

IH8TEC my recommendation would be to get the car re-registered before you do panel and paint, if it needs structural repairs and you do it before the VIN place sees it, and they pick up on that fact, you'll have to get it stripped back for a repair certifier to inspect - a costly and time wasting process, especially if you have an expensive new paint job.

then you can put the rego on hold, go nuts and all you will need is the LVV guy to sign it off.

[IH8TEC]

it's just small dents, and a tiny bit of rust (not really in highly structural areas) and small dents.

but yeah i see what ya saying, had different people saying different things.

cheers
brendon

[rollaholic]

from my experience with VTNZ, when they come across highly modified vehicles which there are no easy answers for, (in terms of looking up specs etc in reference material) they start throwing the book at them, because they dont want to miss anything - they've been stung in the past with that kind of thing.

a slightly worn out, stock as a rock shitter however - they tend to give it the once over and get it out the door, im sure they will find some things wrong with it but i think it will be a less painful experience for you doing it this way.

[IH8TEC]

yeah, sounds like i'll have to hold off the brake upgrade and fix the other brakes, they are screwed from bein sitting there for a year.

ah the joys of cars