Catalytic Converters & Engine swaps?

Iamzod · 19 Sep 2006 at 23:01

Was talking to someone earlier at work & they seem to think that if you take an engine out of a car built after 1992 that had cat's fitted from the factory into a pre 1992 car that you would still need cat's to pass an MOT?

Is this true or not?

I thought it would just be based on the age of the car itself meaning it would just need to pass the emissions test that the older car would take with its stock engine.

Who is right here, me or them??

Thanks.

Brycheiniog · 20 Sep 2006 at 00:29

How would they know?

Jonathan

penski · 20 Sep 2006 at 00:32

Cats are based on the age of the chassis.

*n

Scania · 20 Sep 2006 at 03:03

I have a friend who used to own an old Granada Scorpio (1985 "C" reg) it had the 2.9i 24v "Cosworth" engine from a later cat equipped 1994 Scorpio 24v in it, minus the cats, it never caused him an issue and it went better without the cats not to mention the exhaust's were a hell of a lot cheaper!

Pity it rotted to bits, it was a hoot to drive.

Lowe · 20 Sep 2006 at 08:55

penski said:
Cats are based on the age of the chassis.

*n

Well, you say that but in my experience it wasn't.

It was based on the year of the donor car (engine) for me. When I had my Clio GTT, the emissions testing was always done according to 1988 standards which was the year of the engine. Because of that I didn't ever need to run a CAT.

Simon · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:16

Lowe said:
Well, you say that but in my experience it wasn't.

It was based on the year of the donor car (engine) for me. When I had my Clio GTT, the emissions testing was always done according to 1988 standards which was the year of the engine. Because of that I didn't ever need to run a CAT.

Agreed, emissions tests are carried out on the engine not the car.

Brother had the same thing when fitting a 1992 engine into a 1996 car, no cat test needed.

penski · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:24

Just checked - it's the older of the engine or the car

Hence why you can plonk a brand new Chevy LS1 in an old car and get off with a visual check.

*n

Simon · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:28

penski said:
Just checked - it's the older of the engine or the car

Hence why you can plonk a brand new Chevy LS1 in an old car and get off with a visual check.

*n

Yeah we know