LA1 – Engine substitution

LA3 – Turbocharger and supercharger installation

LB1 – Transmission substitution

LD1 – Rear axle replacement

LD2 – Differential Substitution

LG1  Brake system substitution (design)

LG2 – Brake system substitution (modification)

LH1 - Convertible and Cabriolet Conversion (design)

LH2 - Convertible and Cabriolet Conversion (modification)

LH3 - Passenger Vehicle Extended Wheelbase (design)

LH4 - Passenger Vehicle Extended Wheelbase (modification)

LH5  - Individually Constructed Vehicles (design)

LH6 - Individually Constructed Vehicles (modification)

LH7 - Panel Van to Utility conversion

LH8 – Roll Bar & Roll Cage Installation

LK1  – Seating Capacity Alteration & Seat Belt Installation

LK2 - Seat Anchorage Certification & Seat Belt Anchorage Certification

LK6 - Child Restraint Anchorage Installation.

LK7 – Motorcycle Seating Capacity Alteration

LM1 – Fuel Tank Alteration

LO1  - Australian Design Rule Compliance

LO2  - Pre 1972 Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Inspection

LO3  - Personally Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance for Registration

LS1 – Steering Conversion (design)

LS2 – Steering Conversion (modification)

LT1 – Beaming and Torsional Testing

 

Specific Modification Information

Below is some further information on specific light vehicle modifications that we regularly engineer. 

If the information you require is not on the website please contact us.

Four Wheel Drive GVM Upgrades

Four Wheel Drive Lift Kits

Truck GVM Upgrades & Downgrades

Campervans and Motorhomes

Light Trailers (under 4.5t ATM)

Caravan ATM and mass ratings

Turbo & Supercharger

Emissions Compliance & Testing

Seating & Seat Belts

Electric Vehicle Conversions & Builds

Brake system approvals

Seat Testing to ADR

 

Four Wheel Drive - GVM upgrades

The only way GVM can be upgraded on 4WD vehicles is with the fitment of an approved GVM upgrade kit.  Several suspension manufacturers supply approved GVM upgrade kits for Landcruiser, Patrol and Hilux.

  BUT ensure that the kits have federal or state approval with documentation. 

 

 Four Wheel Drive – Suspension Lift Kits

Suspension / body lift kits must also be a federally or state approved kit to allow legal fitment.  Modified vehicle must also comply with – “Suspension rebound travel must not be reduced by more that 1/3” as specified by QLD Transport.  Qld Transport will not allow any suspension lift over 3”.  Body lifts are 50mm max and require application to Qld Trnasport.

DB Autotech can perform this rebound travel measurement and supply an engineering report if required.

No modification plate is fitted for lift kits as there are no modification codes currently for these kits.  Just the rebound travel test report is supplied for approval.

 
Four Wheel Drive – General modifications

Some 4WD and separate chassis vehicle modifications can be complied using Heavy Vehicle modification codes pre-approved by QLD Transport.  These modifications are:-

D1, F1, G1, G2, G4, G6, G7, H1, H2, H3, H4, K5, Q1, R1, R2  (see Heavy Vehicles for descriptions)

Modifications outside these codes must be approved by Qld Transport prior to DB Autotech fitting a modification plate.

 

Truck GVM upgrades / downgrades

Truck GVM cannot be altered solely for the purposes of cheaper registration, car license usage or increased payload.

Qld Transport stipulates that the GVM must be up/down graded to the next manufacturer GVM option and the vehicle must be physically modified to the specification of that next GVM option vehicle. 

This regulation excludes campervans/motorhomes that are allowed to be GVM downgraded to allow them to be driven on a car license (under 4.5t GVM).

Campervans and Motorhomes

Please see link to federal “Certification of campervans and motorhomes Circular 0-4-12” in the Contact Us page.

Qld Transport have introduced new criteria for a vehicle to registered as a motorhome / campervan:-

• Living space cannot be detachable
• Cannot contain space for transport of goods – ie: car, horses
• Living space must be accessable from cab
• Fixed table (or removeable)
• No. fixed seats equals / exceeds no. sleeping berths
• Permanent - cooking facilities
• Permanent - storage facilities – cupboards, etc.
• Fire extinguisher
• Outward facing opening or sliding door on LH side or rear of vehicle

Other items that may require a modification plate are:-

• Poptop campers, fitment of doors or other body modifications require a K3 code for cabin conversion.
• Seating capacity reduction / increase requires a LK1 code.
• Fitment of new seats will require a LK1/LK2/LK6 code.

It is allowed for campervans and motorhomes to have their GVM downgraded to allow them to be driven on a car license (under 4.5t GVM).

Turbo & Supercharger

The following are some general regulations regarding aftermarket fitment of turbo / superchargers to vehicles:-

•  Maximum turbo/supercharged engine capacity is calculated from original (unmodified) vehicle mass – contact us for info.

• Adjustable boost valves are allowed
• Blow-off valves must be plumbed back into intake system and are not allowed to vent to atmosphere
• Vehicles must continue to comply with emissions regulations of vehicle/engine build date – post 1986 engine / vehicle – cat converter and emissions parts must be maintained – see emissions info below.
• DB Autotech can provide customers with an engineering report to approve holes cut in inner guards for intercooler pipes.  The vehicle must be inspected and approved by us before the issue of any report.

 

Emissions Compliance & Testing

Modifications to vehicles can affect their compliance with emissions regulations.  Testing or evidence must be demonstrated to allow approval for modification. 

Some modifications that have emissions impact are:-

 Engine substitution

• Turbo / Supercharger fitment
• ICV (Individually constructed vehicles)
• Import vehicles
• Exhaust system modifications
• Fuel system modifications
• Air intake system modifications

Queensland Transport regulations stipulate that a vehicle must maintain the emissions compliance of the build date of the vehicle.  However there are some exceptions to this regulation:-

• ICVs must only comply with ADR 37/01 (1997)
• If a later model engine is fitted to a vehicle (LA1/LA3) – the vehicle must comply with the emissions regulation of the build date of the new engine.  ie: a post 1986 engine must be fitted to the vehicle with all emissions components – cat converters, factory computer and injection, all sensors, charcoal canister, etc.

Emissions compliance can be demonstrated by evidence from the build date and country of origin for the vehicle / engine.  Otherwise the vehicle must be tested to the relevant level of emissions regulation.

DB Autotech has many years experience with emissions compliance and testing.  We can put together the relevant documentary compliance evidence or organize testing at several test facilities with have contact with Australia wide.

 

Seating & Seat Belts

All seating, seat belt and child restraint modifications must use approved parts:-

• Seats must comply with ADR 3 or VSB 5a/b – see links in “Contact Us”
• Seat belts must comply with ADR 4, AS 2596, E, ECE, EEC marked.
• Child restraints and anchorages must comply with ADR5, ADR 34

Mounting of seats, seat belts and child restraint anchorages must be in accordance with vehicle codes of practice – please contact us for information.

DB Autotech can design and test seats to VSB 5a/b (National Codes of practice for seat manufacture - see links in “Contact Us”).  In the past we have designed, tested and approved folding seats in the back of prime mover cabs and passenger vehicles.

 

 

Electric Vehicle Conversions & Builds

Electric vehicles currently have no Queensland Transport modification code.  Vehicles must comply with the latest  version of the Draft - National Code of Practice for Light Vehicles – VSB14 Ver 2.00 (see link on ‘Contact Us’ page).

The registration procedure is for DB Autotech to compile a compliance report in line with VSB14 for submission to Qld Transport for their approval.

 

Brake system approvals

Brake system modifications on ADR 31 compliant vehicles (post 1977) require a brake test for approval and mod plating.

Brake system modifications on pre ADR 31 vehicles (pre 1977) only require brake testing if it is a major brake modification - eg: more than just uprating front brake discs.

All brake system testing and calculations can be done by DB Autotech.

Light Trailers (under 4.5t ATM)

Imported or self built light trailers (under 4.5t ATM) do not require federal compliance plate approval and there is no formal compliance process for registration.  It is the owners responsibility to ensure that the trailer complies with ADRs and VSB 1 – Code of Practice for Light Trailers – see links page.

DB Autotech can assist with ADR / VSB 1 compliance as required.

 

Caravan ATM and mass ratings

Caravan mass ratings (ATM) can be re-rated by DB Autotech in line with S7 and S12 mod codes.  New tare mass must be established on weighbridge and caravan manufacturers payload is then applied to determine new ATM.  New ATM must be below rating of all other caravan / trailer components – ie:- brakes, chassis, wheels, tyres, tow couplings, etc.  Caravan must meet relevant ADRs and VSB 1 – Code of Practice for Light Trailers – see links page.

 

Seat Testing to ADR

DB Autotech can perform all static seat, seat belt anchorage and head restraint testing as required by VSB 5 (ADR 3, 5 and 22).  We can provide test data or a complete compliance report as required.