No more welding on frames in Washington State?

Someone is always thinking outside the box.

 

I know this is going to be taken the wrong way, but if yer Dad told some annal retentive GOVERNMENT clown that, he got exactly what could have been expected.
News flash: they aren't really there to help us or for our own good. They are there to control.
Have him go to a different locaton and say, "NO".

 

As has been noted, It doesn't say certified in what. If you do the mig 1G test, I doubt a state inspector will even know what that is. The engineer part is what kills me. I don't even need an engineer to inspect boiler tubes I weld in, just an NDT weld inspector. Even that could cost some bucks to get an inspector to come to your house.

Sounds like Washington sucks! In Nevada they just want their tax money, then you can drive whatever you want!

 

A person in such an inspection position should be able to tell RR bubblegum welds from the real thing. It would only take common sense, don't you think? Oh, wait, government...common sense...oh well, sorry I wasted everybody's time!

 

Didn't an Engineer approve the drawing that you worked from that defined how to weld the boiler tubes in? (Weld size, weld joint geometry, welding process, etc.) Engineering is typically done before the work starts.

Your point about inspection is right on the money. In industry somebody, other than the welder, typically inspects welds. a.k.a Quality Assurance.

 

Show me the carnage!There must be junkyards full of poorly built whatever rods.For all the snivel I hear I don't see it in reality.Someone please post up photos of wrecked from poor engineering whatrods.The fact of the matter ,since I've been on the board not one I can remember.Seen some wrecked street rods,a couple of idiot pro drivers wrecking race cars into crowds,even a cop car hitting a hotrod.Not one ratrod wreck that I can think of.Anyone?

 

No different anywhere else Im afraid. We've been fighting bullshit like this for decades.

I was flamed elsewhere for stating that the engineers who decide what you can and can't do on a hot rod for registration would'nt know the ass end of a arench from the front of one. Maybe thats WHY i was was flamed - coz its true. Dealt with ehough of them to know.

Over here, the liability for putting cars like ours on the roads has been dutifully dumped on the Engineers by the Govt....so its natural for them to be shitty and concerned about what they actually pass for road use.

The reality is they don't want exceptions on the roads....we all have to be good citizens and do what the majority of the populace does. That means drive shitty, POS econoboxes that couldnt pull a sailor off your sister. Truth is, most of it is corporate driven and Govt endorsed. Aint it always?

As the world becomes a smaller place, the powers that be want to limit individuality.
The funny thing is that it was the genius and risk taking of individuals that made our countries what they are today.

Over time I predict that this issue will get much worse.

RIP individuality

Rat

 

When I worked at the Ford truck center in KCMO we were always stretching frames Fish plating ect & none of us was certified

 

Been welding for 60 years-stick,mig,tig ect and built circle track, drag and street rod frames and never a failure and "NOT CERTIFIED" A piece of paper don't put talent in your body or make you any better. Refinerys and pipe lines are all certified welders and yet that have a shit load of failures. Just another way for government to get in your hip ass pocket Drivers license don't make you a good or safe driver and marriage license don't make you married forever. Its just a money maker for the state. Biggest joke in the world is NHRA inspection on there drag cars. As long as your pipe sonic test out and you got enough of them for your speed your good to go. Give them your $$$ and you right. I have seen crap get inspected and passed that I wouldn't throw in my dump. Al the street rods I have seen I have yet to see a bad one but I am sure there are some but that's part of life that cant be controlled by paper work.

 

Hey now! You're letting reality cloud your judgment.

This law is like so many others in this state, and for what it's worth, I think it's a good idea, 'cause if you haven't figured out at this point that the Gubment isn't your friend, then you really shouldn't be building motorized vehicles (no offense intended to the original poster).

What I love is the tacit involvement the enforcement officer in the situation finds himself in: he may fully well know that the person is lying, but 9 times out of 10 he'll let it go. Soooo, not only do we find ourselves lying to the Gubment about what we do, we find law enforcement "lying" about what they see. In my mind that puts us about two steps from living in an authoritarian state that believes it is in control, when in reality it's close to collapse (think Soviet Union)

 

This sounds like the ring of truth!!

 

Oh man.. that's so deep and so true.

 

In, Washington, the only time you need to have your vehicle inspected is when you have no title issued for it. When you have a car inspected, it really depends on how the each State Patrol officer interprets the laws during the inspection. I've heard of guys failing inspections at one station, doing nothing to the car and then passing it at another station.

The welding rules appear to only apply to home made frames. The insurance companies have lobbyists that push these regulations because they don't want to insure any of those piece of shit rat rods that are being built. Companies that build frames/ rails are fine because there is someone to go after (insurance wise) if a major incident were to occur.

The best way to avoid this whole hassle is to buy a car with a title. That is why an equivalent project with a title costs more than one that doesn't. I make sure all of my own projects are titled and licensed before I perform any major work on them. You can also try one of the title companies out of state. I've heard they sometimes work, depending on how knowledgable your local licensing office is.

Dave

 

I am sorry to see that it HAS come to this. I did a heads up thread on this last month but could not definately confirm it was so. The way it is written IS bullshit, but it IS a good example why one should at least vote.

 

I hate the government bs as much as the next guy, maybe more. But this particular law is simply what it is, keeping deathtraps off the road. We've all seen them. Front ends made from scraps and black pipe, stick welding that appears to be falling off, etc. People know it ain't safe and it's popular enough to be in world-wide magazines so people are bound to notice. Go to votech and get a welding certificate. That ain't hard at all. It doesn't make you an engineer but it'll solve that issue. For once I agree that there are too many POS cars out there that are failing and will eventually ruin the entire hobby if they are not caught. When one of them runs through a school bus full of kids ALL of our cars will be the target. I'd rather they checked for my cars frame build integrity rather than if I had fenders or working high beams. I'd feel differently if this were 1990 and the R@TR*D wasn't "invented" yet. Seems like before that a guy who couldn't weld didn't and didn't pretend otherwise. Now a trip to the home depot makes anyone a pro.
I taught myself, then got some pro training, then took a cert. at votech. Best $75 I spent in a long time. And I can register my car in WA too.

 

I don't think anyone here is for more laws, just less junk. And now that I think about it, there are probably already laws on the books to keep the unsafe cars off the road if they were applied. 'Course folks would bitch about that too.
Larry T

 

I'll be probably going for my PE exam early next year sometime....... already passed my F.E. in college... and I gotta get my 3 years in before I can take the PE...... start linin em up boys......... I'll start the bidding on my signature at a 6 pk of busch light......

(Sidenote: Having a Certified Engineer look at a car is a waste.... 90% of the guys I went to college with will only know how to change a tire at best)

On the other hand...... for being a young buck I would say i know my way around at least...... but more or less I really just want the beer..... so I'll sign off on anything.

 

Mike its not so much the Laws passed but the assholes that enforce them. As a rule inspections on cars are a joke. Northern laws cover the frames as to rust. I purchased a car from PA after looking at there inspection requirements felt safe with the purchase. When the car got to Texas I couldnt believe it and the safety sticker was fresh and by a certified state inspection station-So much for the state laws- Please check this out--http://raywithrow.com/ This was also purchased from a hotrodder and his guarantee of a great car. The bottom line is I destroyed the car so no one else would get in this death trap and it was a $10,000 throw away. Again all the laws in the world are no good unless they apply to every one.

 

The tip of the iceberg my friend. Just wait until the government is through with it's latest rounds of "intervention". You won't recognize the America you thought you knew. Get ready to be involved if you really want to make a differeence. Those people in Iran are realiziing you can only be pushed so far and then it's time to step up.

Frank

 

Run the SKY is falling! I also live in the evil WA. state. Have built and rodded stuff for years and have NEVER had a problem with titles, including buying just a title and transferring into my name. As in some of the above posts, if asked about welding/modifications - just say "NO"! Most if not all license/title transfer places in WA. state are small mom & pop type places, if the one you go to is not user friendly, find a different one!
Dads, have a nice Fathers Day! John

 

This is why it is VITAL to stay on top of what your elected officials do!!! Remember, YOU vote them in! It is in your best interest to vote them OUT if they are not representing YOU! Far too many incumbents make politics their life, and therefore, they keep running and keep getting re-elected, with the resulting feeling that they have the RIGHT to be there. It is a privelege to be there, period! I definitely have my thoughts on incumbents and term limits, but I'll keep them out of this discussion. These people are supposed to work FOR you, and too many of them lose sight of that salient fact. Conversely, too many voters vote in the criminal that will "give" the voter anything they want! The elected officials, in turn, appoint bureaucrats to administer ridiculous programs that are just fund-raisers for that government entity. Common sense does NOT apply to government. Only "how much money can we rake in for the State coffers this year?"

Find out who in WA authored this bill. Find out who voted for it. Ask them if they even read the damn bill! Most cases, the Legislators (State and Congressional) DON'T READ the bills they pass! That is NOT what they are elected to do!

 

Stude trucks makes a good point, POS rat rods will be the undoing of this great hobby. I'm not saying we need inspections, or more of them, but builders have a responsibility to make thier cars safe and roadworthy, because if we don't, the pencil heads in government will do it for us.

 

49 CFR 571 is in a nutshell, the rulebook for the NHTSA, IE: federal standards.
Parts 201, 214, etc... listed are for impact standards set by engineers. Having a "certified welder" do the work would have probably been the final hindrance from them saying it was good to pass. I'm not a lawyer, so take this with a grain of salt.

 

I spose you could always sell the car to a buddy in Idaho for a buck, get it titled in ID and then transfer it back. I'm PRETTY sure that our laws are less, rather than more

 

I say let the car builders decide whats safe and whats not, get some people in those seats that know what they are talking about so all those good for nothing, kiss-ass( to the auto-companies), politicians can't ruin the hobby as we know it. I hope i dont live to see the day when california is gonna be pushed under these types of laws..

 

you think thats bad come to jersey the only way to get your car titled is the illegal way

 

Shit Pat! And your handbuilding your car! How are you gonna title yours! Gonna use the cowl as the identification or put in a custom built application?

 

There is a bill (SSB 5719 ) that makes kit cars exempt from the frame welding rules. Hopefully someone will push a bill through for us.


Check out SSB 5719 at. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/BillInfo/2009-10/Pdf/Bill Reports/House/5719-S HBR APH 09.pdf

 

I have seen some "RAT RODS"...that are built far better that alot of factory cars or "C" notched bagged cars...blow a bag and there done...the term rat rod is overdone,the correct term "hardcore hotrod" and I personally think they are one of a kind masterpieces if done right,handcrafted not magazine bought....my $.02

 

The inspectors know the difference between a stock Model A frame and a boxed or aftermarket frame. If you say you didn't weld on it they will just ask who did, and where is there cert.