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Post by 1800heap on Jul 17, 2018 7:28:48 GMT
I have an issue that will apply to anyone who is thinking of importing a landcrab into Australia or a country that prohibits imports of the dreaded asbestos.
So the question to everbody is where on our cars could it be hiding?
The places where it will be, unless replaced with non ACM parts
1-Clutch plate
2-Brake pads
3-Brake shoes
4-Most if not all gaskets in or on the engine and gearbox.
The places where it may be, but not confirmed
1- Underseal
2- Bonnet liner
If anyone knows of any other parts where it could be please let me know. I will be having any suspect parts tested on my car so I will have a reference, should anyone else be mad enough to export their beloved car to Oz!
Nick
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Post by landcrab1974 on Jul 17, 2018 9:02:52 GMT
I'll be interested to know the results. I have heard that border force will rest the roof lining material as well.
As I have recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma I now support this move, however I believe the greater risk is to those who live in or are renovating 50,60& 70's homes.
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Post by 1800heap on Jul 17, 2018 11:14:37 GMT
I'll be interested to know the results. I have heard that border force will rest the roof lining material as well. As I have recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma I now support this move, however I believe the greater risk is to those who live in or are renovating 50,60& 70's homes. Sorry to hear you have mesothelioma. Do you know where your exposure likely came from? Renovations? Must admit I have messed around with crabs a fair bit, including scraping gaskets and underseal without realising the risks! I knew about the brakes and clutch but didn't pay attention to the rest in the early days through ignorance! While it is a complete pain for me at the moment to sort out, I tend to agree with you. Although the risks are low for undisturbed gaskets, its much higher if you work on them without due care. Brakes and clutch are quite risky though for obvious reasons! Non ACM brake and clutch parts are readily available for our cars so why risk it. I have had these components tested just to be sure and they were indeed free of it. I am in the process of making gaskets as all the NOS types are bad that I have found. Some indicate the presence of asbestos but some don't! I have had one NOS gasket tested as it is a thickness critical part. I am waiting for the results. The pink and yellow type gasket material is the main culprit as far as I can see. The grey I dont know yet. Sounds like the roof lining might be one for the list of tests thanks. I have an Australian crab but unfortunately the roof lining is not the same as the UK crab so not a comparable sample for me. Nick |
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Post by landcrab1974 on Jul 18, 2018 0:38:17 GMT
I'm still clinically healthy, bit of a back handed complement really, but I'll take it!
It would be if you could some sort of documentation advising the car is asbestos free, has been inspected etc.
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Post by 1800heap on Jul 18, 2018 3:38:58 GMT
I believe that the customs agents are starting to get the pre-export inspection paperwork sorted. You must test with a NATA approved company. When I first started looking at it I couldn't find any NATA approved testers in the UK. All were in Australia, which is somewhat difficult as you cant import samples!!I think that has changed. It is still a relatively new concept for Border Force although the rules have been there since 2003. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that this paperwork will be excepted. Dave1800 emailed me a couple of links that were interesting. This is one of them. www.hemmings.com/blog/2017/08/04/crackdown-on-asbestos-essentially-halts-collector-car-exports-to-australia/Nick |
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Post by indianajones on Jul 19, 2018 1:56:35 GMT
who live in or are renovating 50,60& 70's homes. That's me! Given the industry I work in (engineering), I'm mindful of asbestos, have only done some wall linings so far, but will get testing done on the textured ceiling in the kitchen before I go anywhere near that. It's amazing how much such contains the stuff. Hell, even my Jag has a "caution, contains asbestos" sticker in the engine bay. -Andrew |
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Post by 1800heap on Jul 19, 2018 4:10:19 GMT
It is worth having unknown materials tested. I am still quite surprised at what an array of items have asbestos in them. Today I found some info about plastic car parts from the 60's and 70's that have 50% asbestos in them. With this in mind I have just had a closer look at my australian crab. The plastic that the heater is made of looks just like the stuff! You can see the fibers in it! I havent had it tested but wouldn't be surprised if it is the same stuff! I am glad to say the UK models have a steel unit!
If anyone is looking for an Australian lab Cohlabs in Brisbane are good. It costs $44 per sample. This is quite cheap compaired to some and they are happy to do just one sample. You can post it to them as long as it is double bagged.
Nick
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Post by 1800heap on Jul 19, 2018 5:26:23 GMT
Found out today that there are actually no NATA approved labs in the UK. How convenient!
This information came direct from NATA!
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Post by 1800heap on Jul 19, 2018 6:30:56 GMT
 ,  , Hmmm! Doesn't look very friendly ! I expect that flaps around in the breeze when the fan is on. Nick |
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Post by landcrab1974 on Jul 19, 2018 7:10:11 GMT
It's all a worry really. Good job for getting things tested.
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Post by 1800heap on Jul 19, 2018 8:10:35 GMT
The scope of my testing at the moment only will cover parts relevant to my UK crab. Unfortunatly I am already up to $300 and I still need to test some items on the car and several types of new gasket material that I have made new gaskets from. It it not sufficient to trust the manufacturer according to what I have read from Border force. The only acceptable proof is a lab certificate even for new parts because they might be NOS!
This means a big bill for me just for this so the Oz crab will have to wait for the moment as I am not using it.
I would suggest extreme caution for any Oz crabs with this type of heater. My unit is in poor condition as you can see! It is a very unfriendly place to have friable asbestos!
Nick
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Post by landcrab1974 on Jul 19, 2018 22:34:50 GMT
Oz mk 1 and 1.5 crabs have the steel heater, the late mk 2 with the 3 piece rear bumper have the plastic heater. Agree, you can't be too careful.
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Post by 1800heap on Jul 20, 2018 6:27:49 GMT
Oz mk 1 and 1.5 crabs have the steel heater, the late mk 2 with the 3 piece rear bumper have the plastic heater. Agree, you can't be too careful. Thanks for the info. I was wondering where I was going to get a steel unit, if it turns out to be ACM in the plastic type like I suspect. I know someone with a couple of MK1's he is breaking for parts so I will be paying him a visit. I got negative test results today for a NOS gasket that looked like it was asbestos free. This is good news for me because I think it is an important one to keep origional. The transmission to crankcase gasket seems to be one of only a couple of gaskets in the set I have that is ok. It is grey in colour only 0.24mm thick and has what looks like small metal flecks in it. I assume because of this it is designed to help with transfer heat. The other problem gaskets are the two diff housing gaskets. They are actually made of the same grey material, so I am fairly sure they are ok. The trouble with this pair of gaskets is I can't take a sample and still use the gasket. I am being a bit fussy really but I don't want to use any NOS gaskets unless they are directly tested. In other words the gasket I test is the one that goes on the car. For this you need to cut a bit off it! I have come up with a solution I hope for the other ACM gaskets. I am hand making them out of sheet gasket material which I can test to prove they are all ok. I am also drawing a tab on the edge of the gasket so that is hangs out of the mating surfaces. This tab has my signature on it and will be visible when the engine is assembled. If required it can be cut off and sampled. Nick |
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Post by 1800heap on Jul 21, 2018 4:12:07 GMT
I can confirm that the Oz crab has thermal insulation in the roof lining of a similar type to the bonnet liner. It looks like fiber glass but it is very difficult to tell the difference. So again caution is required until it gets tested. I am quite sure that the UK landcrab does not have insulation in the roof lining. If someone could confirm that 100% for me I would appreciate it.
Managed to get a smiths heater today from a MK1 so Im happy about that at least!
Nick
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Post by Penguin45 on Jul 21, 2018 6:53:47 GMT
Both of my cars have roof insulation, although I recall it being a felt material.
Chris.
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