V8 INTO A CORTINA FUTURE DVLA / MOT PROBLEMS

V8 INTO A CORTINA FUTURE DVLA / MOT PROBLEMS

Author
Discussion

markymarkthree

Original Poster:

2,275 posts

172 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
A friend of mine is looking to put a V8 yank engine into a 1975 MK3 Cortina. It has been done many times over the years however he is concerned about DVLA / MOT problems that he may encounter in the not to distant future
Basically he needs to know.

Could a Dodge V8 powered Cortina pass an MOT in a year or so when project is completed? if it needs one?

Will it be allowed on the road ?

For reference the biggest engine fitted and supplied in the UK by Ford to a MK3 is 2000cc.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

127 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
markymarkthree said:
A friend of mine is looking to put a V8 yank engine into a 1975 MK3 Cortina. It has been done many times over the years however he is concerned about DVLA / MOT problems that he may encounter in the not to distant future
Basically he needs to know.

Could a Dodge V8 powered Cortina pass an MOT in a year or so when project is completed? if it needs one?

Will it be allowed on the road ?

For reference the biggest engine fitted and supplied in the UK by Ford to a MK3 is 2000cc.
It's definitely going to need an IVA, just as any built since the 90s have.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

Nothing in the May 2018-onward test manual that'd stop it being tested - but it definitely wouldn't qualify for the MOT exemption, so will need a test.

Edited by TooMany2cvs on Wednesday 14th February 09:21

mr_spock

3,341 posts

216 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
Beard alert: Mk3s were sold in South Africa with the Essex V6 in 2.5 and 3.0 versions.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

127 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
mr_spock said:
Beard alert: Mk3s were sold in South Africa with the Essex V6 in 2.5 and 3.0 versions.
...and in Aussie with 3.3 and 4.1 straight sixes.

But that's all a bit academic to a bloke modifying a UK car to take a Yank v8.

Monkeylegend

26,465 posts

232 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
mr_spock said:
Beard alert: Mk3s were sold in South Africa with the Essex V6 in 2.5 and 3.0 versions.
Cortina Savage?

InitialDave

11,927 posts

120 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
It's definitely going to need an IVA, just as any built since the 90s have.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

Nothing in the May 2018-onward test manual that'd stop it being tested - but it definitely wouldn't qualify for the MOT exemption, so will need a test.

Edited by TooMany2cvs on Wednesday 14th February 09:21
Agree it won't qualify for an MOT exemption (though should pass one as long as it's roadworthy), but why would it need an IVA? An engine or even engine and gearbox swap shouldn't push you over the points allowance for that.

OverSteery

3,613 posts

232 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
Monkeylegend said:
mr_spock said:
Beard alert: Mk3s were sold in South Africa with the Essex V6 in 2.5 and 3.0 versions.
Cortina Savage?
Pretty sure that wasn't sold by ford. Aftermarket conversion.

Monkeylegend

26,465 posts

232 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
OverSteery said:
Monkeylegend said:
mr_spock said:
Beard alert: Mk3s were sold in South Africa with the Essex V6 in 2.5 and 3.0 versions.
Cortina Savage?
Pretty sure that wasn't sold by ford. Aftermarket conversion.
So probably a better car then, I wouldn't mind one. There was one for sale on PH last year I think.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

127 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
InitialDave said:
but why would it need an IVA? An engine or even engine and gearbox swap shouldn't push you over the points allowance for that.
I don't fancy trying to shoehorn a v8 in without any mods to the monocoque...

InitialDave

11,927 posts

120 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
I don't fancy trying to shoehorn a v8 in without any mods to the monocoque...
Well, it depends. If you cut it, you would need an IVA. If you just reinforce it by adding bracing etc, probably not.

I wouldn't fancy a completely standard Cortina with a big V8 shoved in it either, but you've got to answer the question as asked, and qualify statements like that.

Your answer to the question, as both were stated, is wrong. You do not need an IVA for an engine swap alone.

If you want to discuss supporting modifications and their implications, you need to include more detail around that.

markymarkthree

Original Poster:

2,275 posts

172 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
Many thanks for the contributions so far.
I am aware of what engines went into the MK3 in foreign lands but like I said in the o/p "the biggest engine fitted and supplied in the UK by Ford to a MK3 is 2000cc". and this is a UK matter.

So far if I am correct "it will need an MOT in the future" which is fine.

As for chassis mods, all I know is that he wont have to chop into the chassis rails but will have to chop into the bulkhead / tunnel area and the slam panel which I am sure is structural.
He will also be beefing up the brakes and the suspension.

As for the Savage being a better car than a std one, not really other than the sound. smokin





Coatesy351

861 posts

133 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all

InitialDave

11,927 posts

120 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
markymarkthree said:
As for chassis mods, all I know is that he wont have to chop into the chassis rails but will have to chop into the bulkhead / tunnel area and the slam panel which I am sure is structural.
He will also be beefing up the brakes and the suspension.
This is what will send him down the path of needing an IVA.

markymarkthree

Original Poster:

2,275 posts

172 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
Coatesy351 said:
It's a good plan. cool

https://youtu.be/wiRl7NPXiS4
Thankyou.

I cant see any mods to the slam panel or anywhere else in that pic but I am sure there will be some to the tunnel.

markymarkthree

Original Poster:

2,275 posts

172 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
InitialDave said:
markymarkthree said:
As for chassis mods, all I know is that he wont have to chop into the chassis rails but will have to chop into the bulkhead / tunnel area and the slam panel which I am sure is structural.
He will also be beefing up the brakes and the suspension.
This is what will send him down the path of needing an IVA.
Thanks Dave.

Which bit will send him to IVA, the chopping into the slam panel or beefing up the brakes and suspension or the combination of both?

Coatesy351

861 posts

133 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
markymarkthree said:
Thankyou.

I cant see any mods to the slam panel or anywhere else in that pic but I am sure there will be some to the tunnel.
Remember that car is running a Windsor. Using a Chrysler V8 may be harder to fit. Do you know what engine type it is?

InitialDave

11,927 posts

120 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
markymarkthree said:
Thanks Dave.

Which bit will send him to IVA, the chopping into the slam panel or beefing up the brakes and suspension or the combination of both?
Modifying the bodyshell is the big one, in that it's the only thing that alone definitely raises a red flag, whereas everything else is more of a contributing element:
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/radically-...

Edit: I would give them a call and have a discussion with them about his plans, I've found that the stuff online can be quite woolly on specific details, but the people that actually write the type approval stuff were helpful once I managed to get hold of the more technical bods.

Edited by InitialDave on Wednesday 14th February 11:10

shakotan

10,709 posts

197 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
markymarkthree said:
A friend of mine is looking to put a V8 yank engine into a 1975 MK3 Cortina. It has been done many times over the years however he is concerned about DVLA / MOT problems that he may encounter in the not to distant future
Basically he needs to know.

Could a Dodge V8 powered Cortina pass an MOT in a year or so when project is completed? if it needs one?

Will it be allowed on the road ?

For reference the biggest engine fitted and supplied in the UK by Ford to a MK3 is 2000cc.
It's definitely going to need an IVA, just as any built since the 90s have.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

Nothing in the May 2018-onward test manual that'd stop it being tested - but it definitely wouldn't qualify for the MOT exemption, so will need a test.
It won't definitely need an IVA.

shakotan

10,709 posts

197 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
markymarkthree said:
InitialDave said:
markymarkthree said:
As for chassis mods, all I know is that he wont have to chop into the chassis rails but will have to chop into the bulkhead / tunnel area and the slam panel which I am sure is structural.
He will also be beefing up the brakes and the suspension.
This is what will send him down the path of needing an IVA.
Thanks Dave.

Which bit will send him to IVA, the chopping into the slam panel or beefing up the brakes and suspension or the combination of both?
A vehicle will require an IVA if it fails to meet the 8-point criteria under the Radically Altered Vehicle rules.

If the shell absolutely must be cut, then it'll fail the 8-point criteria straight away, as 5 point have to come from an unmodified shell.

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/radically-...

OverSteery

3,613 posts

232 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
Does making minor changes to the say chassis legs really mean its now considered a radically altered vehicle?

When I fitted a Janspeed exhaust to my MG Midget (OK, it was a long time ago), I ended up having to 'ease' a chassis leg for clearance. I wouldn't consider that relevant let alone a radically alteration.

If he spaceframes the front end, I can see it IVA time, but how many MOT tester are going to know the contours of the underside of a cortina?