Had to remove some non factory items as they were deemed to be "unauthorised modifications" at the statutory inspection.
Off came the power steering, extended rear hackles and towbar. Don't really miss the power steering, you can tell the difference but it isn't a problem. Maybe if I spent a lot of time in and out of tight parking spaces I would miss it. Do I notice some extra power without that steering pump installed, or is that just psychological ?
Took the opportunity to remove, inspect, sand, paint and adjust/grease all the steering links and rod ends.
Just the rules, they knew that year didn't have power steering, didn't even look closely. The inspectors job is to fail anything that isn't an authorised modification, regardless of how well installed it is. If you make a mod then it's up to a different inspector to authorise it and note it on the vehicles docs, and to relieve you of a hefty fee. The towbar was bolted on with 6x M12s, the rear shackles were the standard shackles for a HJ45, the power steering was *I think* off a hilux and fitted and worked perfectly. It passed inspection many times with those mods but it's getting harder and harder here to get thru.
It was a hassle but to be honest I like the vehicle being closer to stock spec now, that's the point of owning one of these. If I want power steering and ABS and aircon and heated massaging seats etc I can drive a modern car.
You describe a similar situation to what we have here except they where you are the laws appear to be being applied more retrospectively (and more cruelly).
For instance, here they haven't asked me to remove my non-factory towbar presumably because when it was installed it was perfectly legal to install any sort of towbar you wanted so long passed the inspector's experienced visual inspection on it's next 6-monthly WOF/road-worth-certificate.
I think our inspectors already have the power here to order my towbar removed though... but I suspect there are still too many old-school-reasonable people in their ranks right now. Give it a few more years and they'll probably order the removal of my towbar, my stainless wheel nuts, my seat covers etc etc
Every year it gets worse here too..
I was watching one of those police-video programs the other day. This one was filmed in Australia I think but it could just as easily have been New Zealand. The policeman pointed to the guys gear shift knob and told him it was illegal because it didn't show the shift-pattern on it! Beats me how the police can expect to get respect from young people when they can discriminate so heavily against them with rubbish like this! Sure the bloke they pulled over was an idiot and deserved to be stopped and fined for speeding, but that doesn't give the policeman the right to become an idiot too.
Time for some more work on this 40. The state of the roof gutter has always been a let down so now the roof is off to replace it. I'll hold off on the photos till it's done ;p
Decided to nick the troopy's windscreen too. The roof gutter fit was perfect after cutting it down. Turns out a troopy gutter is a 40 gutter cut with two sections welded in. Cutting at the welds produced an exact fit - rubber seal and bolt holes all align perfectly.
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