T Minus "GO" FOR THROTTLE UP SKIDD (AVY 1st BDAY)

[motocross]

Don't worry buddy, I'm back............
and I'm here to give you the big countdown for the New Baby arriving Down Under. I think it'll definately be a time to light up a cigar, and have a beer to celebrate (like maybe all night).
Proud to see all your efforts have got you this far.......

Watch out Mad Max here comes Skidd !!

 

[zimmthumps]

I hope everything goes well big guy!

It's been a "long haul"...

 

[mmdavidw]

PM me an address and I'll make sure there are some Amber DRL's and a CAFCNA decal waiting for the AV when it gets there.

David

 

[Skidd-au]

Geez it's embarassing when everyone else knows how long until my car arrives, and then a thread appears about it. ? ?Although it should actually arrive in about 18 days it will go directly from the docks to the engineer for the conversion to right hand drive. ?So 44 days (or slightly longer) may well be when I finally take posession.

PM me an address and I'll make sure there are some Amber DRL's and a CAFCNA decal waiting for the AV when it gets there.

David

Thanks for the offer mate, Pete had already sent me some stickers from when I donated to the server upgrade. ?I recall him commenting how it was the first time he had ever sent any mail to Australia. ?Mmmm but amber DRL's now if you're serious. ?No, I'll have to check the bulb base I'm sure I can get them down here.... somewhere.

Although being the only av for 3,000 miles... who is going to know that they aren't supposed to be amber.

 

[the_dude]

Why can't you leave it LHD? I know all the other cars are RHD, but wouldn't it be more unique to have a LHD truck there?

BTW how much is the conversion costing you?

 

[jackalanche]

2482 posts BEFORE he even got his AV (and Skidd is opining on Av things based on . . . ? )

I shudder to think how the board will light up with your posts once you actually get behind the wheel of your own Av and start grinning from ear to ear like a little boy at Christmas! I bet your first night you sit in it for an hour or more in your driveway playing with everything (on the Av, that is!) before you finally turn in . .

Then and only then do we welcome you to other side, the Av-owners (sure it's an Av-enthusiast site, but nothing like being at the gas pump with your own new Av fielding questions from admirers - still happens to me more than a year after I got mine ). Happy for you Skidd.

and please tell Lindsay Fox (and his son Pete) Jack says hello . . .

 

[zimmthumps]

So how long is the list of aftermarket mods to be done to this that you have already purchased?
I know you were starting to pile them up!

What were the specs on yours?
1500 or 2500, Z-71, Z-66....
Color?

 

[motocross]

.........and then there were 2.
Skidd's AV will be the 2nd Avalanche that makes it to Australia, that will undergo major surgery for the complicated conversion of LHD to RHD that must conform to our Transport Industry standards, anything post '75 needs to be converted to RHD unless using it for Race Meetings, Rally Races or Show Car (Unregistered).....
basically anything that is built less than 25 years ago as a LHD needs to be converted to be registered. Hopefully GM will step up it's International markets and release a RHD Import Version (come on Japan, get with the scene and get off the old ricers trip).

 

[the_dude]

so how much does it cost and what does the interior look like once its done?

 

[Avrunner]

Yes, the converison is by law, you have to do it.

I recall Skidd saying that the interior looks factory after its done by the pro.

 

[blanchtheavalanche]

These shall be the longest "daze" of your life.. Filled with very, very little sleep...
Good luck Skidd...

Rita

 

[motocross]

so how much does it cost and what does the interior look like once its done?

Generally a very good mirror conversion will probably cost about $20- $25,000 Australian.....That's about $10-$15,000 US.

 

[the_dude]

 

[Skidd-au]

Well for those of you who are interested in some of the data surrounding the importation and conversion of my av, here are some of the posts that I have made around the various threads about it:

I should say of course that I am talking about $100K Aussie dollars. It sorta breaks down like this;

Start of with the vehicle purchase price, now remember that as it's heading straight overseas and not being registered in the US I cannot pick up any factory cash back. I guess you would say an average deal for a loaded (leather, premium sound, sunroof etc) 2500 4x4 2003 model is;

Vehicle price; $38,000USD = $67,000AUD
Packing & shipping; $5,000USD = $8,800AUD
Import tax @ 10% = $7,500AUD
Conversion to RH drive = $20,000AUD
GST (tax) on coversion = $2,000AUD

TOTAL = $105,300 AUD

And we still haven't paid for the govt stamp duty ($2,575 once of fee) registration ($650 each year) and insurance ($2,200 per year) which will all add up to about an extra $5,425 just to get it on the road... and we haven't even filled the fuel tank yet!!

Now can you folk remind me again how much I am going to like this vehicle...

Well guys, it's happened and I thought I'd post the info I have so far.

On 28 August 2002 I placed an order for a 2003 Black 2500 4X4 Avalanche. A few days ago I received the "GM Vehicle order acknowledgement" which has all the SPO's for my avy... it reads like this:

Model CK25936 order number M43224

1SB - Select-A-Unit 2
Model Option. Body Ordering code, Skid plates, Convenience package, Electronic Dual-Zone Air Conditioning, HomeLink, Colour-Keyed Heated Power Foldaway OSRV Mirrors, Power Adjustable Brake & Accelerator Pedals, Steering Wheel Controls Includes GVWR: 3,900 kgs (8,600 lbs). Includes 3.73 Rear Axle Ratio. Includes Firm Ride Suspension. Includes 40/20/40 Front Reclining Split Bench Seat. Includes Custom Cloth Seat Trim w/inserts. Includes Tyres LT245/75R18 BW On-Off Road.

AN3 - Full Feature 6-Way Power High Back Bucket Seats
Rear Seat Audio Controls, Floor Console, Rear HVAC Vents (JF4) Power Adjustable Brake & Accelerator Pedals.
Includes Leather Seat Trim. Includes power lumbar, dual inboard armrests, heated driver and passenger cushion and seatback, articulating head restraints, 2-position driver-side memory storage pockets behind both seats and separate heat controls for the seat cushion and seat back. 2nd row seat receives a combination of leather, vinyl and cloth trim

BVE ? Running Boards

CF5 ? Electric Sliding Sunroof w/Express Open
Short Overhead Console

CJ2 ? Air conditioning, dual-zone, automatic, individual climate settings for driver and right front passenger

C6P ? GVWR; 3,900 kgs (8600 lbs)

DL3 - Mirrors, outside rearview, power folding, power adjustable, heated, color-keyed

DT4 - Smoker?s Package, Includes lighter and ashtray

GT5 - Rear Axle 4.10

G80 ? Locking Rear Differential, heavy-duty

JF4 - Power Adjustable Brake & Accelerator Pedals

L18 - Engine, Vortec 8100 V8 SF1 (340 HP [ 253.6kW] 4200 rpm, 455 lb.-ft. [614.2 N-m] @3200 rpm)

MN8 - Transmission, 4-speed auto, heavy duty

NZZ - Skid Plate Package

QIW - Tires, LT245/75R16E, on/off-road blackwall

R6C ? Camping Package; Includes air mattress and tent

UC6 - Sound system, ETR AM/FM stereo with 6-disc CD changer, includes seek-and-scan, digital clock, auto tone control, Radio Data System (RDS) and Bose speaker system (includes 6-speakers, Bose amplifier and Bose Subwoofer)

UG1 - Universal Garage Door Opener

UK3 - Steering Wheel Mounted Radio Controls

V54 - Luggage rack, roof-mounted, Black, includes adjustable center rails

X88 - conversion Name Plate ? CHEVROLET

YE9 - Convenience Package Comfort and Decor Level #3

ZM9 - Convenience Package

ZW9 - Base Body or Chassis

ZY1 - Solid paint scheme

Z31 - Preliminary invoice

Z82 ? Heavy Duty Trailering Package; Includes trailer hitch, weight distribution platform and 7-pin wiring connector

Z85 - Suspension Package, Heavy-Duty

41U ? Exterior colour; Black WA-8555

522 - Medium neutral (interior colour)


I still don't have the build or shipping dates, but at least I have made a step forward.

I know what your thinking, that this should be a straight forward question to answer right? I wish it was, I'll do my best.

The requirement to have your vehicle converted to RH drive comes from the Federal Road Safety Regulators and they will not let you import a car without approval, generally speaking that approval is conditional that you will convert the car to RH drive. Exemptions are granted for lots of reasons, including having owned them for 12 months overseas, classic, historical and collectors cars etc.

So now that you have import approval and it has been delivered to you here in Australia can you drive it? Well to do that you need to get it registered and each state registration authority has it's own set of rules. For example here in my state, Victoria, you can fully register any car that is LH drive and over 30 years old. This is a rolloing 30 years and not fixed to any year. This is a new rule in my state (only 3 years old) but has been in for some time in other states, South Austraila and Western Australia for example.

Another category of registration in my state is 'club' registration. This allows you to drive your LH drive (or otherwise) car to and from club sanctioned events. To qualify for this category of registration your LH drive vehicle must be over 25 years old. I have a 1975 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible that is LH drive and registered under this scheme.

Other states also have this scheme but I am not sure of the vehicle age requirements etc. I believe the two most leanient states in the country are Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

You must consider that a 'conversion' means you will need to make you car comply with the ADR's (Australian Design Rules) that would have applied had that car been manufactured new in Australia. This generally means you need to convert things like; steering wheel to RH side of course, wipers to sweep the opposite way, headlights to reflect to the correct side of the road, indicators to show amber, seatbelts, window switches, airbags, instrumentation to metric and even tyres need to be changed. Of course if you are converting a 50 year old car it only had to meet the ADR's for that year, and so seat belts and amber indictors do not apply, does this make sense?

......... sorry what was the question again??

 

[tincup]

God Bless you Skidd for having the perseverence, not to mention the cash, to do something like this. My hat's off to you.

To purchase a vehicle, sight un-seen basically, then sink that kind of money into it , shows what a real Avalanche fanatic is.

The rest of us should hold you in the highest esteem for what you are undertaking

It's too bad, for your sake, that GM won't do for you what it is doing to the Holden Monaro, Bringing it to the states, converting it to LHD, and calling it a GTO!

 

[gandolphxx]

Skidd, where is the boat, I am sure you are tracking it

 

[Skidd-au]

Skidd, where is the boat, I am sure you are tracking it

LOL... the man knows me too well. Today the boat should have left Auckland, New Zealand and is heading towards Brisbane on the North East coast of Australia.

Waiting, waiting, waiting....

 

[flynhigh]

Skidd,

Will you be able to sit in it before it is taken for the conversion?

I would be going absolutley bananas at this point Having to put in the wait time you have. My hats is off to you man

 

[Skidd-au]

Skidd,

Will you be able to sit in it before it is taken for the conversion?

I would be going absolutley bananas at this point ? ?Having to put in the wait time you have. ?My hats is off to you man ?

Thanks mate, you're right about that. I've arranged with the engineer to be able to drive my av from the docks to his workshop. I have had numerous LH drive cars (and still own a '75 Eldorado conv that is LH drive) so I'm quite used to sitting on the "wrong" side of the cabin when driving.

That first drive should be a good introduction to the av as his workshop is about a 2 hour drive from the docks.

 

[WVBubba]

Please have the Missus take a picture of you driving it to the shop! I can only imagine the grin that will be on your face!

Are you going to do any of your mods to it before it gets to the shop? Ambers? CAFCNA Sticker?

Mrs Bubba

 

[NetManZ71]

Ahoy Skidd,

Excellent tracking system you have there. Hang in there, won't be long now til at least it is there and you can go visit it in the shop.

Someone may already have asked, but any chance pics of the conversoin process will be coming?

 

[gandolphxx]

LOL... the man knows me too well. ?Today the boat should have left Auckland, New Zealand and is heading towards Brisbane on the North East coast of Australia.

Waiting, waiting, waiting....

Yep, just picked it up on my sattelite scan - looking good, about 16 knots I would estimate.

 

[Avrunner]

Avers never seem patient... But hey, I'm not!

 

[lanman1]

After reading about all this, I think Skidd deserves the 'Biggest Single Mod' award!


What do you do for warranty service?

 

[Skidd-au]

Please have the Missus take a picture of you driving it to the shop! ?I can only imagine the grin that will be on your face! ?

Are you going to do any of your mods to it before it gets to the shop? ?Ambers? ?CAFCNA Sticker? ?

Mrs Bubba

I sure do plan on taking a camera to the docks with me and I hope the missus can come along too. After all she has been putting up with me for the last 12 months while we have gone through this process.

Ahoy Skidd,

Someone may already have asked, but any chance pics of the conversoin process will be coming?

As the workshop is 2 hours away I wont be able to get there every day but I sure hope to have a few visits during the 3 week process and will take as many pictures as I can.

What do you do for warranty service?

The awful fact is that my warranty finished the day I put it on the boat. But the dealer is pretty good and anything that needs changing he will ship, but of course workshop time I will have to pay for.

Fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong. This is also the main reason I got the 2500, I figure the stronger drive train should mean less problems. I hope.