fbekholden.com

looking for an engineer to steer my project in the right direction. I live at Silverdale so Penrith to Camden is the area that I'm looking for.

G'day Wazza,

I'm out at Greystanes, and using Rob Elliott for my V8 wagon. Rob trades as VMC Engineering an is out at Bringelly (though willing to travel).
Telephone: 0403 328 574
Email: vmc_engineering@dodo.com.au

If you want a rough-as-guts engineer who will turn a blind eye to poor workmanship or let you get away with stuff that is well outside the guidelines, then Rob is not the right guy. I've found him to be practical and pragmatic, and knows the rules he works within pretty well. Having said that, he can also help if you want to do something outside the normal. He helped me understand that for my wagon, a 327 is about as big as I can go without drama. He also made it clear that I could fit any size engine I wanted, but that it came with the risk of additional testing (eg for chassis flex).

Cheers,
Harv

Rob is the one the camden guys use as well..

Try John Varetimidis at Consulmotive.

0412 253 973

there's in the guidelines then there's stupid, rob Elliot had done a few cars that my mates have, yet when I enquired about my 186 auto EK and 2 door conversion I found him a pain in the butt wanting stupid things like dual circuit HQ brakes and collapsible steering collum all stuff that I've never been required to do unless on a V8 conversion even a brake fail light never heard that one before on anything I have done

the RMS website has a list of engineers probly best to just ring around that's what I did (most seemed to have strange ideas of what was needed) and it worked out extremely well for me someone that talks sense is local to me and very very reasonable on price

Sounds like Rob is applying the same rules to all mods. Engineers have been well scrutinised in the last two years and so may be butt covering.
I have had to talk common sense into my engineer. Eg Brakes- my FC has a VT 5L in it with VT booster master calipers all rebuild and installed with new brake lines. He advises me I have to do a brake test .....? Why? Did Holden not do this properly? It's ALL donated from the same car that was registered 18 months ago.

nes138 wrote:I have had to talk common sense into my engineer. Eg Brakes- my FC has a VT 5L in it with VT booster master calipers all rebuild and installed with new brake lines. He advises me I have to do a brake test .....? Why? Did Holden not do this properly? It's ALL donated from the same car that was registered 18 months ago.

Brake performance is heavily influenced by vehicle weight ditribution, and chassis/suspension operation under braking load. Your FC will have waaaaaaay different braking peformance compared to a VT, and not neccesarily better.

Cheers,
Harv

Surely there is a precedent set for similar vehicles with an identical braking system that could easily avoid the extra cost involved to every vehicle that gets modified.

That's the way it used to work, and it was a system that worked fine.

Some engineers today seem to want the same box ticked over and over again.

AHH yes nes138 after converting to the required HQ i also had to do a brake test (another thing i've never had to do) in sydney the cheapest report i could get was $1300 then there was the generally $400-$500 for brake testing on top of that like you i think there is alot of i don't really know so i'll just cover my arse by wanting everything, the guy i have now only wants a test that he said a local tyre service will do for approx $30 (not like a rego inspection test)

FINALLY in the position to get an engineer sorted for my build as car is on the rotisserie at home stripped bare ready for acid dipping. Is there any new advice in relation to Engineers or experiences to share?

i can only sujest you get the RMS list and sit down and ring them, i don't know what you are doing but based on when i rang around even if you are only doing a red 6 expect to do everything usually required for a V8 and then some and that was everyone i rang in sydney
the guy i dealt with ISN'T SHONKY but also knows his stuff (is actually an engineer) BUT i would say no good to you as he is in orange and only does it part time and if he travels i think it's only local

Finally making progress on my build, to the point i need to choose an engineer. Any up to date info on who to use ??

Rob Elliot is still trading. He recently certified my EK V8 wagon, and has done the approval-in-principle for my blown, injected FB sedan.

Cheers,
Harv