Do I need an IVA

[ColinM50]

Got my kit car through SVA last May and registered it on an age related plate. It was based on a 1988 Sierra so is on a F Reg and in reality it was one of the last cars to go through SVA before IVA came in.

Engine is a Ford Sierra 1.8CVH and to say the least it's a tad gutless. When it was new it produced, I think, 93 bhp but I'd be surprised if it's now giving out much more than around 70. So I'm toying with the idea of swapping the CVH for a 170bhp 2.0 Zetec.

Spoke to one company about them doing all the work and carrying out the change for me, and in passing the chappie said "....and we'll get it put through the IVA and re-register it for you". I queried that but he was quite sure that because the engine's being changed to a much more modern one it'd have to be retested and that each subsequent MoT would be tested against the emissions level of the year of the Zetec and not the original (1988) engine. I pointed out to him that there's several areas where my car was compliant with SVA but wouldn't be with IVA (the windscreen for instance isn't stamped with a relevant E number), but he said they'd only IVA test the new engine installation and would issue a pass cert based on that.

I was pretty sure that once a car's registered that's it, it can't be tested to a different standard and re-registered, but it's got me thinking.

Is he right?

Anyone any ideas, or better still point me to where VOSA or DVLA spell it out in words of one syllable?

[The Black Flash]

Don't think so...AFAIK you just need to update the V5 with the new engine capacity, but now you need some written proof, such as a receipt for the new engine.

They have changed the rules a bit around chassis modifications I believe, but I didn't think so for an engine swap...

more here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

So in summary, medlesome government fkers in "making things harder for the law abiding man" shocker.

[SuperT]

Only requires IVA if you are going to cut/modify the chassis, if all you are changing (other than the engine!) is engine mounts then defo no IVA necessary

[CorseChris]

That's interesting. I've changed the engine in my 2005 SVA'ed car 3 times now. Went from the 2l 4 pot it was SVA'd with to a somewhat newer 3l V6, then another V6 of the same type but tuned, then the 1st V6 again, but modified and supercharged - this last one was in January this year.

Just sent off the V5 with the new engine details - it came back withing a week or so - no questions or problems. MOTs have not been a problem, neither has taxing or insuring it. Can't believe it's just me being lucky??, 'cos I ain't!

The DVLA link says you just inform them, but need some proof. Apart from the proof requirement that I wasn't aware of...that's all I did anyway.

I know that they keep changing the rules, but they can't do it retrospectively...can they?


Also did an engine type/capacity swap on the Westy a few yars ago, but that was pre-SVA anyway, being a 1991 car, so again, I just did the V5 thing. Went from a Xflow to a Phase II Zetec, IIRC about '96 vintage so nominally CAT required....but MOT only ever tests for visible smoke.

Edited by CorseChris on Wednesday 10th March 10:06

[p1doc]

seems like they are trying to make money off you or do not know what they are talking about0i dont know which is worse lol
martin

[singlecoil]

CorseChris said:

Also did an engine type/capacity swap on the Westy a few yars ago, but that was pre-SVA anyway, being a 1991 car, so again, I just did the V5 thing. Went from a Xflow to a Phase II Zetec, IIRC about '96 vintage so nominally CAT required....but MOT only ever tests for visible smoke.

I'm guessing that was a Q reg car?

[p1doc]

singlecoil said:

CorseChris said:

Also did an engine type/capacity swap on the Westy a few yars ago, but that was pre-SVA anyway, being a 1991 car, so again, I just did the V5 thing. Went from a Xflow to a Phase II Zetec, IIRC about '96 vintage so nominally CAT required....but MOT only ever tests for visible smoke.

I'm guessing that was a Q reg car?

i take it just to complicate things iva is different for q carlol
martin

[singlecoil]

p1doc said:

singlecoil said:

CorseChris said:

Also did an engine type/capacity swap on the Westy a few yars ago, but that was pre-SVA anyway, being a 1991 car, so again, I just did the V5 thing. Went from a Xflow to a Phase II Zetec, IIRC about '96 vintage so nominally CAT required....but MOT only ever tests for visible smoke.

I'm guessing that was a Q reg car?

i take it just to complicate things iva is different for q carlol
martin

No it isn't different. The car will not have been registered at that stage, and the registration is done by the DVLA, whereas the car is tested by VOSA. When they test the car they will test the emmissions against the standards that were in force when the engine was made, regardless of what sort of registration the car is going to receive, which is why one often needs to produce documentary proof if one wants to be tested to an earlier (easier) standard.

The Q registration simply means that the car has been assessed (by the DVLA) as not containing enough components from a single donor to be able to qualify the kit to receive an 'age-related' registration (that age relating to the age of the single donor).

For some reason once cars have received a Q reg they no longer have to be emmissions tested (for the MOT) bar the visible smoke test.

Edited by singlecoil on Wednesday 10th March 11:01

[p1doc]

so in some ways it is better to have a q plate !!
your post does seem to make it clearer re engine spec ,mine hopefully should be registered as new...
martin

[CanAm]

singlecoil said:

CorseChris said:

Also did an engine type/capacity swap on the Westy a few yars ago, but that was pre-SVA anyway, being a 1991 car, so again, I just did the V5 thing. Went from a Xflow to a Phase II Zetec, IIRC about '96 vintage so nominally CAT required....but MOT only ever tests for visible smoke.

I'm guessing that was a Q reg car?

Not necessarily. I have a 1996 kit-built car with no cat, and requirements are visible smoke only.

[CorseChris]

The old Westfield is a Q and is visible smoke only, the 2005 SVA'd car has an age-related plate (old X reg) and the emission spec for that is 3% CO and 1200ppm HC I think?? Pretty easy to pass anyway.

[Cobra Andy]

Engine emmisions only apply to the age of the engine not the car, ie I have a 1969 block in my SVA'd cob (2003) which is visual smoke only. Oh and its on an age related plate as well.

If I am correct the emmision test will now change to match your engine for MOT ie if it should have cats fitted etc