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Would an engine conversion affect historical taxation

Posted: 12 Aug 2018, 19:08
by richie-b
Does anybody know if (for example) putting a Subaru engine in an air-cooled van would affect the way that it is treated when it comes up to 40 years old for historical taxation? Just going over the many different options for replacing/rebuilding the poor old tired CU and suddenly thought that the good old boys in Whitehall might have some loop hole to get more hard earned. :evil:

Re: Would an engine conversion affect historical taxation

Posted: 12 Aug 2018, 19:18
by 937carrera

Re: Would an engine conversion affect historical taxation

Posted: 12 Aug 2018, 19:25
by 937carrera
Keep it original

Car tax £255, MOT £55 = £310 / year x 10 years, your engine rebuild is paid for courtesy HMG :D

Re: Would an engine conversion affect historical taxation

Posted: 12 Aug 2018, 20:28
by richie-b
Reading that info, the addition of electric power steering to none power steering models would also affect the status. Wonder how many have thought of that?

Re: Would an engine conversion affect historical taxation

Posted: 12 Aug 2018, 21:10
by 937carrera
I wouldn't share that interpretation, the method of steering remains the same, it's operation is simply augmented. Changing from springs to air suspension on the other hand would. My view, each owner has to decide for themselves.

Re: Would an engine conversion affect historical taxation

Posted: 13 Aug 2018, 19:29
by clift_d
Reading those links suggests that changing to a 1.9 1Y engine from a 1.6TD JX wouldn't count as a substantial modification - different cubic capacity but same style of engine and contemporaneous to the original, whereas changing to a Subaru lump would probably be a substantial change.

Re: Would an engine conversion affect historical taxation

Posted: 13 Aug 2018, 19:55
by 937carrera
I would go along with that

Re: Would an engine conversion affect historical taxation

Posted: 13 Aug 2018, 20:27
by richie-b
I have spent some time doing some adding up and I think that it is going to boil down to either a remanufactured engine from VW Heritage or VEGE from JK, or get myself a second hand engine and rebuild. Scooby is going to end up being upwards of 5k for a proper job. Hopefully can do some learning and build myself a CU with a couple more horses than standard without breaking the bank.

Re: Would an engine conversion affect historical taxation

Posted: 13 Aug 2018, 20:32
by 937carrera
Have a bit more of a read around.

I think you are far better getting your own rebuilt. If you need to keep the van mobile then getting a s/h CU and doing the rebuild yourself is a good option. There aren't that many a/c rebuilds on here, time for someone to do one. Mine will follow when the bodywork is sorted, one day, one day :)