Sidepipe ban?
 

I'm about to migrate to Adelaide and I'm thinking of bringing my Dax 427 out with me ... I read somewhere that some States have banned sidepipes ... is that the case, and is South Australia one of them?

Regards, Mike.

Hi Mike and welcome along.
I am not in SA but from my understanding, side pipes are not approved in SA.
In saying that, most guys have either undercar system fitted with dummy pipes, and some guys refit side pipes after rego approval.

:mad:Trust me to choose the wrong State! Looks like I'll be selling the 427 in the UK then, as there I'm stuck with sidepipes ... no room for underslung on the Dax.

Mike.

Mike most guys go the stripe and pipe route but dummy pipes in all states except for a couple. There are some built ones available with active pipes.

Mike, the rule usually stipulates that the driver's (right) side pipe is OK, but the left side is illegal because it vents exhaust to the footpath. You might also have trouble passing the noise and pollution tests with your setup.

I guess one alternative is to buy a left hand side pipe (cheap from the US) and modify it to direct exhaust gas under the body somehow.

Mike

How old is the car and how long have you had it?

Know there are some rules about personal imports, particularly for cars in Victoria however I'm not up on the rules in any detail at all. Might be worth a bit or reading research first and / or contacting the right S.A. transport body to discuss further.

That said I did have a discussion Wednesday night with the owner of a restaurant I regularly visit in SA who is also a car nut. He was bemoaning how tough S.A. are so the laid back State of SA may not be so soft after all.

Good luck on the research as I'd want to import over selling if I could.

Mike, i have a Dax, and yes while there is very little room to run a underbody exhaust it can be done, do you have adjustable ride height, if so i would be winding it up as far it will go, install an underbody exhaust,get it registered then refit the side pipes.

Stuart

Bingo.

This is what I was hinting at.

In Queensland that could be a real problem with the local police and Queensland Transport, not to mention my insurance company.

Yes, check the applicable ADR's for the year of manufacture of your Cobra. If it's early enough you may be able to run side pipes or move to a more side pipe friendly state instead.

You could run the exhaust out where the side pipes normally go and then back underneath just before the rear tyre and then out the rear of the Cobra. Just use suitable heatshields and it should be compliant. Might help with underbody clearance through the centre of the car.

Thank's all of you ...

I built the car last year and it isn't registered yet, so it is brand new and would be subject to all the current regulations ... still looks like I should sell it in the UK then!

So ... I will be researching Australian kits to start a replacement when I get out to Adelaide later this year, or maybe go with a Gardner Douglas which has under slung, rear exit, pipes as an option.

Regards, Mike:)

Guys,

Maybe with all the current compliance issues, we can stop talking about "things falling off after rego"? Just a suggestion. %/

Cheers

I fully agree ...

Just spoke with DJ Sportscars (who are Dax) and they have a modification that uses the sidepipes and then runs exit pipes under the car to the rear. They also have fibreglass heatshields for the side pipes and cats (which can run up to 800 degrees!)... but I think they make the whole car look a bit strange.

Anyway, I'm up to starting the whole process of researching kits and selecting and building again!

As a new Australian, I'm not about to try and bend any rules, so a kit that complies with ADRs is the way forward!

I guess there is a thread somewhere here that looks at the kits available, so a searching off I go ...

Mike

Not a lot wrong with the Gardner Douglas! And no, I don't own one and they don't pay me to say that. They produce an original-style MkIV for the purist but for those who want a nice 'sports car' their LS3 Vette-powered (yeah I know) jobbie makes for a relaxed cruiser - I like it!! Can return circa 30mpg on trans-euro runs....what's not to like?

"the" Trevor Legate? Hats off...

Hi Trevor,

Agree with you about both the GD and the LS engine.

Andy Burrows, who owns GD, also supplies LS engines in the UK, under the name LS Power, which he imports from Mast Motorsports in Texas. Andy supplied me the LS7 for my Dax and was very helpful, despite me putting it in a competitors car!

Regards, Mike

You mean there's more than one of me...? (that could explain a few things)

Andy Burrows knows his engines. He also makes a mean T70 spyder. Took for for a test drive once - I'm still having therapy :-0

Hi Trevor, Saw your cob for sale sometime ago, wondered what you might be driving these days instead? a GD?

kevin

Hi Mike,

Are you THE Mike Read, as in comedian?

Anyway check out this thread:

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/australian-cobra-club/96787-import-uk-cobra-into-australia-any-info.html

I built a Dax Tojeiro (so it was called a few years ago) and imported it to WA in 2009 as a Personal Import. Once here I had it checked out at the local Vehicle testing centre and they failed it. Ride height too low (although it complied with Dax design ride height), Front and rear tyres different aspect ratios (I know I know wtf?), Side pipes not protected from burning skin, Front mouth needed mesh cover and it didn't have a reversing light. No requirement for a fog light though. They did mention the noise but I couldn't hear what the man said.

I got all these fixed and had it retested and it passed.

Check out the pictures with the WA plate on it:

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/s...r/39263/sort/1

I know you want to import it to SA so the rules may be different but what if you imported it to WA and then drove it to SA and registered it? What happens then? Will they refuse to register it even though it has been approved in WA?

From what I understand it is law that Cobras registered in WA have head rests. Mine doesn't but it still passed. What I am trying to say is that certain rules are overlooked for personal imports.

As an aside.....I never thought I'd say this but it is sometimes too hot to drive it in summer. In Scotland (where I built it) it was too cold to drive it! You can't win.