fbekholden.com

Sorry for the sideways photo... my IT skills are little better than my welding

Amazing ute Nigel.

Congratulations to you and your family.

Ric.

Can anyone give me a value for insurance purposes?

Thanks
Nigel

Hi Mate speak to Shannons I have both my FC Sedan & EK Ute insured with them for a pretty good price and the monthly payment is very reasonable.

Regards
Neil

Thanks Neil. I probably wasn't clear. I was wondering how much I should insure it for?

Cheers
Nigel

I would think $30-35 k

Thanks Blacky.
Thanks for your seat belt info Harvey and FJWally. I now have somewhere to start.

G'day Nigel,

A word of warning on the seatbelts. Most states need you to have seatbelts "certified", often by the state motor registry (eg RMS in NSW, not sure about Vic). Some certifiers get touchy about the location of the bolts for seatbelts, plate dimensions etc, and want them to meet various guidelines (eg NCOP, ADR etc). Some will not verify if you DIY the seatbelts. Check who your certifier will be, and verify with them what they want before you drill holes.

I have been working on a simple Guide for seatbelts for a while. It is in draft, but shows how to make an FB/EK compliant for seatbelt location (to both NCOP and ADRs). Lots of photos, simple english. If you want a copy to read, PM me an email address and I'll send it to you.

Cheers,
Harv

They dont care in Vic Harv - mine hadn't been registered for 35 years and they didn't even look under the hood - as long as you have a roadworthy they walk around it - maybe check your lights (didn't check mine as I had a dodgy indicator at the time) as long as tyres good - windscreen not busted and you drove it there they just sign it off. Well that was my experience anyway.

Every rego inspection station has their own view on what is OK. Some want to check everything with a fine toothed comb, some check nothing. Equally, some owners are happy to modify a car and drive for decades. Others follow the engineering certificate path, being wary of the law and what would happen if they were pulled over by the Police (or involved in an accident).

Each state has their own funky rules about seatbelts. Sometimes it is clear, and sometimes it is murkey. From what I can see in Victoria, the main guidance is that vehicles made before 1/1/69 do not need seatbelts (but should retain them if fitted):
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media ... 7770C75AEB

If you did want to modify the vehicle, some guidance is given:
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media ... 17ECDEDEB1
The guidance has the same quirky stuff that other states love to do too. A good example is that all mag wheels fitted in Victoria must be marked to show that they comply with a Standard (Australian, US, Japanese or German). In theory, the nice set of Sampson mags someone bought off eBay probably do not comply with this . Is any policeman ever going to check your old Holden mags looking for a Standard? Probably not. But there is a fair chance that if you upset one, and they sent your car in for a detailed inspection over the pits, then you would get notified of your naughtiness.

The document says that if you want to modify your car, you need to follow VSB14 (NCOP), except where the document gives some exemptions. It does not give an exemption for fitting seatbelts, so in theory in Victoria if you fit seatbelts you have to follow the certification requirements of VSB14 (NCOP). VSB14 section LK requires VASS (engineer) approval for seatbelt installation. Does every Victorian old Holden with seatbelts have an engineers certificate? Probably not. The Guide I have in draft shows how to comply with VSB14.

However (and here is where it gets slightly murky), there is some guidance on fitting additional rear centre belts which suggests that it is OK to DIY seatbelts for the centre rear only:
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media ... FEF63A67C1

The child restraint anchorage guidance is similarly supportive of DIY:
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media ... E37D885454

So all up for Victoria there is a mix of common practice and guidance, with some murkiness around rear centre belts and child restraints.

Cheers,
Harv

So perhaps get it registered before putting in the seatbelts might be the easiest, least risky option.

Nigel

I agree Harv it's a very murky world navigating through NCOP rules and regs - It's just so stupid that a car can quite legally drive around without seatbelts and an owner who fits them could potentially be breaking the law which highlights how ridiculous the system is - even worse for 4x4's I can tell you.
I try to use three rules when modifying my 4x4 and the EK
1. Does it follow what is standard practice and supported by the brand your installing - in my case - tick.
2. Does it improve the safety of the people in the vehicle - also tick.
3. Does it increase the danger to other road users - no tick here so all good.

With the seatbelts I bought them from a reputable supplier who is well known and used in the industry and followed his install guidelines and used his hardware - your 99% of the way there if you do that.

The rest will take care of itself.

That would be the safe option to avoid any requests for certification.

NigelM wrote: Thu Nov 08, 2018 7:45 pm So perhaps get it registered before putting in the seatbelts might be the easiest, least risky option.

Nigel

NigelM wrote: Thu Nov 08, 2018 7:45 pm So perhaps get it registered before putting in the seatbelts might be the easiest, least risky option.

Nigel

Thats what I did

G'day Nigel,

Firstly, what a fantastic ute mate, congratulations! Likewise, I will soon 'blue slip' my EK Ute here in NSW and it has never had seat belts fitted. I intend to present the car in unmodified form and have it registered 'as-is', then will pursue seat belt installation. Which I may or may not do myself, we'll see.

Keep us posted as this adventure unfolds!

FJWally & Harv's comments are right - it's all over the shop, no matter what state you are in. Other than for the obvious safety benefit... I want belts installed even if just to avoid the hassle of being pulled over by Police to be queried about not wearing a seat belt. That is just inviting unwanted further investigation of my old jalopy, which is the last thing I want!

Cheers Joe