VOSA Inspection - Engine Number Query

[fandangomoloso]

Hello.

I have a 1980's kit car, which is still registered as the donor on the V5.

I requested the DVLA to change the V5 to reflect the name of the kit as it has been on the road previously, and they have understandably asked to inspect the vehicle.

The engine number on the V5 is the donor's engine number, but the engine in the car has no number on it.
The engine in the car is NOT from the donor car. The engine size on the V5 does match the engine in the kit-car, which was not the same as the donor. (3.5 in the car as it stands, and the donor was a 3.0)

There is a plate attached to the car (next to the chassis plate) with the engine number (as on the V5) on it.

Will this be a problem for the inspection? And what's the best course of action?

Many thanks,

F

[Steve_D]

First question has to be why is there no number on the engine?
If the answer is that the surface it would normally be on is machined when the block is decked (top surface machined) then you may get away with it. Better still if it is a machined deck then stamp the number back where it belongs then you will only need to explain why the number does not appear to be original.

You may still get into a discussion about where the engine came from and is it legally yours.

Best of luck.
Steve

[fandangomoloso]

The engine in the car is a Rover V8. It's definatley been rebuilt, and the number has either been removed in that process by decking it, or it's a brand new block - I am not sure which.

I'm not convinced stamping the number on is a good idea, since I could then be looking at answering 'Why does this Rover V8 have a Ford engine number?'

Or do they not know that sort of thing?

F

Edited by fandangomoloso on Thursday 24th January 18:34

[Steve_D]

No you can't put the Ford engine number on.
Do you not know the number of the engine?
If not then you could have problems as they will most certainly want to know who owns the engine.
Would be safer to get a replacement engine.

Steve

PM me.

Edited by Steve_D on Thursday 24th January 20:47

[fandangomoloso]

I do not have the number for it.

I've emailed you.

F

[falcemob]

Not sure about the rights and wrongs of your engine but with the inspectors, if he is from VOSA he will know his stuff so be careful. If he is DVLA then he may not be so clued up if you were to say the number has been machined off by decking.
One thing is to let them do the talking and dont volunteer anything you don't need to.
I was visited by the local DVLA inspector, he talked, I agreed where it suited me and I got the rusult I wanted although this was over ten years ago so things may have moved on a bit since then.