The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

sprint95m wrote:

tony g wrote:Alun, what does the engine need to run ie loom ecu etc, is that all present?

Tony

A lot of folk Tony would choose a bespoke solution for such a conversion, Tony.
That route gives control for setting up the injection and ignition.

It was a long time ago, but I looked a V6 Alfetta GTV that a friend had for spares and he thought the Fiat 132 type gearboxes could work on it?
He had started to repair a 2 litre GTV but I think his efforts petered out.



Ian.

Yes i hear that Ian, however I like OEM ecu's to run standard engines, so much nicer and a grand cheaper lol. I ran a Nissan 4 pot turbo in an E36 beemer for 4 years on factory ecu. Lovely to drive and a bit boosrt

Tony

What would the rules be reguarding avoiding the dreaded Q-plate? One thing that would worry me about such a conversion.

That Omega engine ... Cheap as chips on eBay .... 141 bhp, 205 lbft, 29 mpg. Takes 1,530 kg Omega to 60 mph in 9.5 secs ...!!

Would be interested in reading about this conversion !!

What would the rules be reguarding avoiding the dreaded Q-plate? One thing that would worry me about such a conversion.

Points system

Your vehicle must have 8 or more points from the table below if you want to keep the original registration number. 5 of these points must come from having the original or new and unmodified chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame.

Part Points
Chassis, monocoque bodyshell (body and chassis as one unit) or frame - original or new and unmodified (direct from manufacturer) 5
Suspension (front and back) - original 2
Axles (both) - original 2
Transmission - original 2
Steering assembly - original 2
Engine - original 1

James467 wrote:5 of these points must come from having the original or new and unmodified chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame.

I can imagine there are many cars that don't meet that. Depends on the grammar really. Is that it must be (original)/(new and unmodified), i.e. original but modified is ok?.. I imagine replacement sills could be classed as a modified chassis.

Steve

I think this is aimed at the hot rodders more than anything, space framing a Ford pop isn't exactly original!

geeksteve wrote:

James467 wrote:5 of these points must come from having the original or new and unmodified chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame.

I can imagine there are many cars that don't meet that. Depends on the grammar really. Is that it must be (original)/(new and unmodified), i.e. original but modified is ok?.. I imagine replacement sills could be classed as a modified chassis.

Steve

There was a bit of a crackdown a whiled back. A few people pushed the rules too far, basically building a whole new car, and then bolting a licence plate from a pile of rust on to it.

My concern is it is a bit like getting planning permission, which depends on what some unaccountable jobsworth from the council thinks.

Get the wrong person from the DVLA, and you could have problems. If I were doing it, I woud want their approval in advance.

Oh dear, we've been here before! The monocoque should be original or NOS and unmodified. replacing the sills (or any other part of the shell) with like for like panels does not count as modifying. Chopping half the bulkhead away to fit your Merlin engine DOES count and will earn you a BIVA and a Q plate. (if anyone notices)
To the OP,
The Omega lump is not in the Sprint yet, but it's basically the same block as the 8V Carlton engine in the Carledo which already has an Omega gearbox and I can assure you, NO chopping of the shell took place for the 8V conversion and the car (just) meets the regs to keep its proper plate and it's tax free status. You can see pics of the Carledo with it's 8v engine in my thread "Carledo's Way" in the resto section. The 8v is an easier install, simply because the Carlton engine has a dedicated engine loom which only needs 5 wires connecting in to the car to make it work, the Omegas engine loom is buried in a massive car harness/pile of spaghetti which is going to provide me with hours of fun. It has taken me more than 3 days so far, just to get the loom out of the donor car and I haven't got it all yet!

Steve

Steve, who polices this? Is it the MOT testers?

cleverusername wrote:
Get the wrong person from the DVLA, and you could have problems. If I were doing it, I would want their approval in advance.

It's really quite simple, learn the rules, they are fairly unambiguous. Decide at the start whether to follow the rules and keep the plate or throw the rule book out the window and accept the hassle of the BIVA (this really IS a PITA collection of nonsense and jobsworthiness - but there is no personal opinion of the tester involved) and the indignity of a Q plate.

The worst thing you can do is start a project without knowing the regs and find out part way through that you've done something verboten.
This is why so many projects get abandoned.

Steve

James467 wrote:Steve, who polices this? Is it the MOT testers?

To a certain and rather small extent, DVLA polices it. But their contribution is to send out THAT letter to people they think may be taking the mickey! Unless you voluntarily submit your car for the BIVA test, nobody really knows what you are doing. An MOT tester will offer his opinion on whether what you have done is roadworthy (it's called pass or fail) but there is no onus on a tester to tell the DVLA either way about how modded a car is. Just whether the car is (in his opinion) safe to use on the road AT THE TIME OF THE TEST. (Not 10 mins later)
The Carledo has been MOT'd 6 times now since I built it, (passed with no advisories this Tuesday) only twice by the same tester, and not one of them has so much as lifted an eyebrow.

Steve