Mulling This Over In My Head... 26b

[- Fezcat -]

** before we start - this is not a stupid "I want to build one for 2p and put it in my fd over the weekend" thread, or a "how much will it cost" thread, please read **

Basically like every other rotary fanatic, ive spent the majority of my life drooling (and other thing ) over the sound that a quad rotor engine makes. I know that building one for me is not a question of if but rather "when"
 
Then when I sit and consider the technicalities I start to wonder a little bit. My question is not "can I build one" or "how much will it cost" ive read all about that and understand all of the complications/costs/crying/heartbreak that will likely be involved when I get round to it.
 

My question is - Could you build a road legal P/P quad rotor FD whilst maintaining its characteristics and ~500bhp that wont get you pulled over continuously

 
At first I thought its a bit of a daft question, then I thought not so much.
 
From watching videos and listening to soundclips - I realise that any P/P engine is almost always about as loud as you get before you move onto a jet engine :burnout Whilst this was cool when I was like 15, these days I dont like getting pulled over every 50 feet or having to dip the clutch when A police car goes past :wiggle
 
I understand that a P/P engine needs a large bore unrestricted exhaust to make the best use of its powerband.
 
Again - I know that P/P engines are pretty hopeless for street driving due to their characteristics but still its something Im interested in exploring.
 
SO
 
* Could a quad rotor be made that was still ~500bhp with a road/track legal exhaust and not ruin the characteristics of the engine
* Would a quad rotor go through an MOT? Emissions etc
* since its basically a scratch built engine - are you allowed to do this?
 
Anyway - Discuss Proper answers please, not just "no" Id like an opinion and your reasoning behind your opinion

[Lacey]

* since its basically a scratch built engine - are you allowed to do this?

I can\'t imagine why you wouldn\'t be allowed one purely on the basis that it\'s a scratch built engine, take other cars that have highly modified engines or non-factory built-from-scratch V8 lumps that aren\'t a factory-built thing, rather pre-made parts put together and built by the user.

Take that Red Victor 1 thing, that\'s street legal, barely, and that does 0.60 in a second, that\'s not exactly going to have a basic factory built lump sat in it

You might be put under certain stipulations by the DVLA in regards to servicing, reliability, MOT\'s or just a basic mechanics check over or something daft to make sure it\'s deemed \'safe\' but I can\'t imagine why a custom-built engine wouldn\'t be allowed, it\'s not much different from dumping a 13b into an MX5, it\'s just an engine swap with an uncategorised engine, so the DVLA will likely want to categorise it somehow

[- Fezcat -]

Whilst I see what you\'re saying
 
That daft vauxhall victor is still based around a production engine - 572ci big block chevy v8 iirc. (9.4 litres ) And a 13b is again a production engine. albeit a non standard engine swap.
 
The 26b however isnt a production engine. I can see that a 20b shouldnt be too much of a problem due to it being a production engine in the cosmo.
 
See where im going with that train of thought?

[Lacey]

Yeah, I do, and with that you have another problem. With it not being a production engine, you\'re highly likely to be expected to meet with this years standards of emissions regulations, which I doubt you would be able to do on a 4rotor without running intensely and dangerously on the lean side of mixture for idle....

[- Fezcat -]

Maaaaaargh - There must be a way around that? Im half wondering if all id need to do is advise of the chance of capacity on my v5? and it still fall under the emissions for the standard 13b - HMMMZ im going to ask my Sergeant - Brb
 
Edit: Would appear that the sergeants and my inspector are at loggerheads - the Inspector thinks it\'ll just need to pass its MOT, still pass the emissions for its year and all you\'d have to do is inform of the change of capacity on the V5 (still technically a mazda engine too..)
 
The Seargants think it would need to have a full assessment by Vosa (Booo)

[Lacey]

If it\'s a built from scratch engine (thus won\'t have an engine code, which as far as I\'m aware, you need to send to the DVLA to complete an engine transfer form to have it registered to your V5) it will likely be classed as a \'new\' engine regardless of the era the parts are from, and thusly I would expect that you\'d have to build it with todays emissions regulations in mind which, for a 4rotor, really ain\'t happenin I don\'t think :/

By all means give it a go, I for one, would LOVE to see a street legal 4rotor! Just being realistic with expectation, but I hope there is a workaround! That would be MENTAL!!

[berniec]

right it may be different over in the uk but over here all that matters for tax purposes is that a garage ie the place that fitted it declares the engine size and stamps saying they carried out the work -could be done by a mates garage if you know anyone or an engineers report.

as for emissions our road tax system is split into two over here pre 2008 cars are taxed on cc and newer cars on emissions. could you possibly get around any newer emissions restrictions as the car is registered pre these new standards?

also couldnt you just get an engineers report done and send that into the dvla so they can reclass the car for tax purposes? and then use same for the insurance?

[- Fezcat -]

Lacey - I would too lol, by no means would it be a "12/48" month project - more like id be building the engine on the side for the next 4/5 years lol
 
Bernie - As far as im aware, we dont need engine swaps certified in this country?
 
Emissions aside - could one be made quiet enough to be track/street legal?
 
Id imagine no matter what the noise would probably get you pulled all the time! lol

[Lacey]

Lacey - I would too lol, by no means would it be a "12/48" month project - more like id be building the engine on the side for the next 4/5 years lol
 
Bernie - As far as im aware, we dont need engine swaps certified in this country?
 
Emissions aside - could one be made quiet enough to be track/street legal?
 
Id imagine no matter what the noise would probably get you pulled all the time! lol

I could be wrong, usually am, but I think you\'ll find that we DO need certificated engine swaps in this country as it could be classed as fraud etc. Paying tax on your car as a 1 ltr and having a 2.5ltr turbo (example) ain\'t gonna go down well with the DVLA and the tax people.

Better not to get caught out, but check the DVLA website, they\'ll have info on engine swaps etc.

[Lacey]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/ChangesToYourRegistrationCertificate/DG_4022054

             

Changes you need to update[/B]

             You’ll need to tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about the following changes to your vehicle:

• colour
• engine
• cylinder capacity
• fuel type (propulsion)
• replacing or modifying the chassis/monocoque bodyshell
• seating capacity
• weight of a goods vehicle

Change to engine and cylinder capacity (engine size)
DVLA will need written evidence of any changes to engine number and cylinder capacity (cc). Written evidence can be:

• a receipt for the replacement engine
• written evidence from the manufacturer
• an inspection report provided for insurance purposes
• written confirmation on headed paper from a garage if the change in engine size took place before you bought the vehicle

[- Fezcat -]

What I meant is that it doesn\'t need to be signed off bya garage, rather the v5 needs to be sent off to reflect the change in capacity by the owner? As that\'s what is used for taxation purposes in terms of payment bands.

Also do our engines have an engine number? I\'ve not found one yet?

[Lacey]

No idea, I know the one on my Honda does, not sure when engine numbers came into effect

[- Fezcat -]

More of a case with our engines that the components that make up the block are regularly replaced independently of eachother. Anyway I digress ill look info the lad concerning road traffic etc when I\'m back at work

[B.Martin]

When i swapped the engine in my Nova all i had to do was send of the V5 with the new engine number and capacity. Hope this clarifies things for you, the only time you need to get a engineers report for the swap is at the insurers request

[berniec]

just to clarify dude i didnt mean you had to get an engineers report but more like an option if you need some way to verify the engine cc for what ever reason since it isnt a production engine.