Newbie from Italy

**artemis** · 21-12-11, 02:55 PM

Hi to everybody, my name is Danilo and I'm currently living in Italy, and after many "stock cars" I've decided to switch to a kit car. A cobra, to be precise .....

After a fantastic tour (thaks again Andrew) at DAX "workshop" , I'm decided to built by myself my next sportscar. My idea is to built a de dion 427, but, due to a crazy Italian regulation that severely punishes all car with more than 230 bhp, I'm going to put on it a rover v8. I'm still in the "A" phase of the project (defining budget and deciding options ......) but I hope to book the production slot early 2012. I'm quite sure to found overhere a lot of bits and tricks that will help in building the cobra, and for that, I'll thanks all You in advance for that .... and, of course, any suggestion is really welcome!!!!

**dingocooke** · 21-12-11, 03:33 PM

Welcome!
Im sure a stock spec small block like a 302 ford or 350 chev is under 230hp; why not build with that, and then 'add' a little horsepower later?
Enjoy!!!!

**StewbieC** · 22-12-11, 10:18 AM

Welcome to our part of the Internet.
Lots of people on here to give you plenty of guidance. Nothing wrong with putting an RV8 in your car, but I'd go with Steve and suggest a stock Small Block Ford or Chevy, (I did say Chevy didn't I. I must be mellowing in my old age!)
Good luck in getting to "Z" phase!

**Lloyd Barnes** · 22-12-11, 10:31 AM

definitely a US small block would be a possibility. Select the right cam and inlet manifold etc and you should get a really strong torque curve without the power increasing too much. Will they check the power level?

**artemis** · 22-12-11, 01:42 PM

Thanks to everybody for suggestions .....
In reality now I'm trying to be "confident" with both, british and italian regulation, in order to understand were's the rigth way. For sure, I need to register the car in the UK first, than moves it to italy, 'cause in italy is NOT possible to directly register a kit car. Its a shame, I know ..... Now, backing to the UK registration, where the engine power to be written on the car paper (V5?) is taken from ? It cames from the engine data sheet, given by the engine #, or ....????

Tks

**StewbieC** · 22-12-11, 01:48 PM

It's taken from what you put on the application form.

**StewbieC** · 22-12-11, 02:00 PM

British regulation are fairly simple.
Build car with all new bits bar 1 (usually engine), get car IVA tested, pass test, register as new car with proof of receipts.
or
Build car with at least two major components from a known donor car with donor V5, get car IVA tested, pass test, register car on similar year plate to donor car (age related plate) with proof of donor parts and new part receipts.
or
Build car with questionable components (mixture of new and old), get car IVA tested, pass test, register car as "questionable origin" receive Q plate.

Don't know which option you will need for Italian registration? If the third option is OK it's the easiest to acheive.

I had a Dyno run from my engine but both the IVA tester and DVLA weren't interested. BTW I went with option 2.
Just for info, most of the British kits are manufactured with the IVA test in mind as many of the requirements are built into the design of the kit.

Good luck with the research

**cobracol** · 22-12-11, 02:56 PM

Hello and welcome Danilo, i assume torque dosent come into the equasion, as already said you could build (if you wanted) a chev or ford with low HP but Massive torque, by selection of the right parts, and torque is what throws you back in the seat, good luck with your build, Regards Col

**artemis** · 22-12-11, 04:05 PM

Thanks a lot guys ....
first of all: unfortunately, italian laws are anythyng but simple

I'm still waiting a clear answer from the MCTC (is the italian equivalent of IVA, more or less) about the conversion of an "age related plate", 'cause this could be the only way to not be killed by taxes in case of "consistent" amount of BHP on the paper ..... preliminary answer is that they take care only of the first registering date, wherever it has been registered in EU, but they need to double check the "regulation" ...... we will see. Just after clear vision of the "nationalization" process I'll select the best way to go forward for the IVA registering.
For Cobracol, yes, what I'm looking for is torque, and I know that's "no replacement for displacement" when you're looking for that

The chevy 350 is my "dream", due to the fact that there's a so huge choise of aftermarket performance parts (at reasonable price) that allow to build the engine really "tailorized" for your needs .... and also for the fantastic sound!!! Further question: a stock mid '80 chevy 350, haw many bhp can claim?

P.S.
Thanks a lot for all You answer, I'm starting to think that the UK side of the paperworks will be not so "challenging" like the Italian one ....

**Hagster** · 22-12-11, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by artemis

due to a crazy Italian regulation that severely punishes all car with more than 230 bhp,

A stock Ford 302 has 220 or 225 hp I think and will (hate to say it) give the finished car a little more market value, also nice and easy, If you ever want to (as said before as well) new heads / cam etc and easy to bump up the hp, or have a nice lot of torque.

Just read some more of the post I see you would like a Chevy 350, well I wont start the Ford Chevy debait, not again.

Any way welcome and kind regards Guy