Engine changes: Should my car be on a Club Permit or a Modified Permit scheme?

[massiveluvbuddy67]

Fellow Alfisti,

There have been a couple of queries about whether a car should on CPS or MPS.

Here is a simple guide:

(I am presuming it is a post 1968 build)

Key Q:
Is the engine in the car the original engine or a manufacturer's option for that model?
If YES, then this is ok for CPS.
If NO, the modification cannot be certified under a CPS and will need a MPS.

Last key point:
If the car is 2 litres or under, the power increase can be up to 40% and still stay on CPS.

There are guidelines for all of the possible other modifications like suspension, wheels etc. Please do a google search for "VSI 33" and your questions will be answered.

The club is taking the MPS and CPS guidelines very seriously to protect our VicRoads permit privilege and both David Wright and I are willing to assist club members with any queries. If required, please use the cps@alfaclubvic.org.au email address.

Regards
Phil

[Doug Gould]

Phil, some additional notes.

1. There is a grandfather clause. But you need documentation. Frankly, we are entering an era where it will pay dividends to collect documentation on all changes - whether or not its currently required for registration. Commercially available parts / upgrades are treated more favorably than home grown ones. Keep brochures, spec sheets & receipts.
2. Engine changes get harder the younger the car (ie as emissions homologation becomes more strict). Key trigger dates are: 1 Jan 1968 (introduction of ADR's) , 1 Jan 1976 (first emissions ADR), 1 Jan 1990 (New ADR emissions scheme). As a rule, installing engines that are newer than the chassis will be easier than older ones. After 1990 you will really need the fuel injection, exhaust, ECU , emissions system of the donor engine to stay in tact. Australian delivered engines are easier than engines originally delivered overseas.
3. Most of the (regulatory) difficulty about fitting other engines relates to emissions. Fit an engine from an Australian ADR certified vehicle that has met the same emissions requirements as your vehicle, and it won't be too hard. But when you start to mix & match, we need a way to say that the vehicle still requires with its emissions standard. Depending on the emissions standard of the vehicle era, this can get very, very expensive.
4. A vehicle "model" is not clearly defined. I'm taking it to mean all vehicles covered by a single ADR approval number. This is can be  broader definition than the marketing model names.
5. The most critical areas (from a regulatory perspective) are those that involve: performance (brakes & power), wheel & tyre size, seats & seat belts, emissions and the safety of structures. Essentially VICROADS want to know that it will stop & handle adequately, won't break, has the required safety features and meets the required emissions standards. They do this by getting a bunny (I mean VASS engineer) to certify that the vehicle modification still meet the requirements of the ADR's in force at the time which the vehicle was homologated.
6. Roll cages are a vexed issue. However, assuming the roll cage has been professionally built and / or carries CAMS approval it should not be too hard except that installation of a roll cage will almost certainly necessitate the seating capacity of the vehicle being reduced. The homologated seating capacity of the vehicle is on the ADR plate. Reducing the seating capacity is largely paperwork - except that the seats must be removed thoroughly enough that you cannot drive around the corner and put them back in. So, seat belts & seat bracketry must go.

The prime arbiters of whether or not a modification requires approval is the roadworthy inspector. If the roadworthy guy is uncomfortable, he will require a certificate from a VASS engineer. The modification approval scheme is supposed to be simpler for H-plated vehicles, and a VICROADS modification plate number is not required. However, inspection and sign-off of M-plate vehicles forms part of the normal audit process of a VASS signatory, so we need to do the same level of work and keep the same records for an M-registered vehicle as a normal registration vehicle.