Any MOT guys on here?

[Duncodin]

I didn't want to hijack @Marquisz3 's most excellent v8 thread to ask a question that doesn't affect him. But I'm interested to know what UK MOT testers think about such V8 engine swaps.

I'm mainly interested in emissions in that a 1999 car with an 1980's rover V8, with carbs, is unlikely to pass regs that apply to a 1999 car.

But AI tells me that the MOT tester looks (or can look if documented) at the age of the engine (ie not age of the car) when deciding what emissions regs to test against.

So, a 1999 car with a 1980 engine?

What do you MOT guys reckon?

 

[Smudgemanuk]

I’ve got a MOT guy I am friendly with so can ask tomorrow

 

[Mint]

@Stevo7682 is a current MOT tester. He'll be along later

 

[Pond]

When I was researching building a Cobra rep, this question came up a lot.
It seems to be the case that the age of the engine is important, not the car.
So emissions shouldn't be tested on a pre-emission test engine. I think you would require cast-iron (no pun intended) proof of the age of the engine, though.

I remember people having problems with imported yank V8s which had been re-built from old blocks, as there was no proof of the age. So the DVLA presume it is a new crate engine and want emissions tests done, which they all fail, especially as they won't take a cat.