SVA test, and engines

[philg]

I have decided to build a kit cobra come the new year, but have been confused by a variety of views regarding engine requirements and the SVA testing.

One view is that non-EFI engine will not be permitted after April 2001. Other views from engine builders indicate that provided an engine meets current emission specs then even if the engine is non-efi all will be well.

I had decided on a Dax Cobra with a 4.6 Rover so that will be a new block manufactured 1999 and with Weber carbs. Can anyone refer me to the definitive answer to "Will this be permitted?"

Obviously engine tuners would say that their engine will pass the SVA......

Please help a novice, but keen possible Cobra builder.....

Phil

[simon]

Phil, I must say that's something that's worrying me too....I'm building a Ram, and have already bought a ford 302 of indeterminate age, but won't be ready for the SVA 'till about 2002!
If anyone can give us a clue, I'm sure we'd both be grateful.
Thanks

simon

Hi
Just a quick note on the SVA emmisions and EFI.

I am in the process of building a RAM SC and ready to purchase my engine, Luckily my local vehicle inspectorate asked me to carry out some electrical maintenance work, so I decided to pick their brains.

On my last visit 3/1/01 I asked about all engines having to be fitted with EFI after april and was told that nothing was changing from the current SVA regulations.

Hope this clears things up a little.

[robert]

An update from our Technical Department

The current legislation will be changing in April.

If you buy and engine, and do not have paperwork to prove the age of the engine, then you will have to conform to the emmissions tests which will probably mean a fuel injection system and modifications to ensure you get through the SVA. If you can prove the age of the engine then you are fine. The engine must be 1984 or earlier.

As of April you will have to prove identity, the best way is the casting number of the block. These are used on a production run, and are date stamped by the manufacturer.

The engine builder should be able to provide this information, if they cannot, then go elsewhere.

Best Regards and I hope this clears things up.

Robert

[robert]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 20-Jan-01 AT 09:04*PM (GMT)[/font][p]Hi

I have spoken to a number of people both in the club and at the DVLA and there is lots of ambiguity regarding emissions testing and timescales.

I am doing some more digging and will post the info when I have a definitive answer.

Best Regards

Robert

Would also be interested to know how I would stand as regards replacing an engine in a Cobra that is already registered..?? - Would this too be a problem after April 2001 or would I be exempt from engine-age proofs..?? - (Am ruminating on installing a big-block at some stage.....)

[PeteV]

Yes this ones got me worried too. I've got an already SVA'd Cobra that I'm presently removing the 3.5 Rover and swapping for a 4.6. The last thing I want is to send off the 'V5 only to have it 'conviscated' by the DVLA to be told "go and take your SVA test again, sonny !".

I phoned the SVA dep. at Swansea this afternoon, and the woman I spoke with seemed confident that 'just an engine swap' would not be a problem. So to be sure I asked more directly 'so theres absolutely no problem with me replacing my existing engine with a later one of larger capacity then ?' - at which point she hesitated but said that she was pretty sure this would be OK.

I'll think I'll just wait and get the thing taxed for the Summer before I send that 'V5 to Swansea !

Pete.

PS. any of you lot in Cobra Land put a car through SVA at Southampton ? (never,never,never never again !!!!! agghhh!!!)

[robert]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 24-Jan-01 AT 09:54*PM (GMT)[/font][p]The saga continues......

I have spoken to 4 different SVA centers today and they are all saying more or less the same thing. There is no change to the legislation, only a clarification of the rules.

There has been a grace period from the date of imception of SVA until April this year where you could verbally identify the age of the engine, so I could take my car in and say my engine was pre 1994 and they would only do basic emissions which consists of a visual smoke test. This is infact what happened when I took my GD in for SVA, although I have got a 1971 engine, which I could prove if necessary.

After April this year if you go in and say that your engine is pre 1994 then they will ask for documentation to that effect. Its then up to you or your engine builder to provide the documentation.

The easiest way to provide this is by the casting number on the engine. the casting numbers are production run date specific, for example an engine with casting number 3970010 is a 350 4 bolt mains and was manufacturered in 1969.

If you cannot prove the age of your engine then you will be tested based on a post 1994 engine, and will therefore have to comply with the emissions.

With regard to changing the engine at a later date, I would presume that it is along the same lines as a normal road car, as the SVA is a road readiness test in effect, so if I changed my engine in my BMW, I would have to alert DVLA about the new engine number and that would be that........

Until I came to the next MOT where the MOT station would run the emissions tests. This might be where I could come unstuck.

If you are interested, have a look at the GM site, and look at the ZZ4 bare engine without the cat and injection system. It states that the engine does not comply with the emissions in 50 states or something like that and should only be used on the track.

Anyway, I wait to be shot down in flames and have rambled for far too long.

Best Regards

Rob

PS I did ask the DVLA to fax me the current legislation regarding emissions, and am still waiting. If I do receive thm I will scan it in and post here.

Just clarifying, we are talking about engines before 1994, not 1984?
What do you think counts as proof? Would you get away with an engine catalogue listing serial numbers by year, or will it have to be DVLA-type documentation?

[robert]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 26-Jan-01 AT 11:45*AM (GMT)[/font][p]If you can prove that the engine is Pre July 1994 the engine will be tested according to August 86 to July 1992 regulations, which mean 1200 parts per million of hydrocarbons at idle, and 3.5% CO.

If the engine is 1994 onwards, the stipulation is 200 hydrocarbons at fast idle, which would potentially be unacheivable without injection and cat.

August 1975 to July 1986 1200 parts per million of hydrocarbons at idle, and 4.5% CO.

Pre august 1975 NO TEST!!!! But you must be able to prove the age of the engine from the 1st April.

My engine in the GD is a 1971 engine, with casting numbers to prove it.

Best Regards

Rob