Anyone got a Cat?
Turbo Mini Forums

No, not one of these



Although there is nothing wrong with a having a shaved pussy


A Catalytic Converter?

I ask becuase the guys that I know with turbo'd minis are old enough not to need one for the MOT (the cars that is). Unfortuantely, I had to buy a mini that was newer than Sept 1999 in order to put my cherished plate on, and so technically it will need a cat for the MOT

From what I can remember from most of the D class minis at showdown, they were old enough not to need one.

I was just wondering how people got their cars though the MOT?

I am going to be in this situation, my car is a 1998.

The way I am hoping to get round it is that according to the MOT testers manual, the vehicle should be tested according to the age of the engine, not the car.

Seeing as our turbo motors use a carburettor, then in my mind any tester worth his salt will be able to see that the engine is older than the age of the car, and so should be tested so as to achieve <3.5% CO at idle.

If all that fails then I know a man with an MOT test station, but I am hoping not to have to resort to that.

Considering one of these

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/Pro...ode=BACSPORTS0A

Oh and when it comes to the age of the engine, Im pretty much bolloxed when I build the 16valver as its based on the MPI block and theres no getting away from the fact that the engine is post 97, mind you it will be buried beneath inlet plenums fuel rails rads and intercoolers and a BMW head, whos gonna notice

Just thought of something John K said. Thinking about the look on the MOT testers face whan he opens the bonnet

Edited by Sprocket on 25th Jul, 2006.

Cheers for the help guys,

I had heard that about the car being MOT'd on the engine age, not the cars, but I have also heard that a certain machining operation removes the engine number?!?! Not sure how true that is.

I was thinking about retaining the MPI in some manner, and using the existing engine as it has done less that 30,000 miles, so I would need a Cat for at least the MOT.

I wonder if I could buy an old block, swap the numbers and MOT it on the older emissions, but using the injection? That might be a question for the local MOT station!!!

Like i said your pretty much knackered as the MPI block is very different and easily identifiable. But then how many MOT testers know the difference.

Skimming the block removes the engine number as the late engines spi and mpi have it laser etched into the block itself.

Little confused though as to what you want to do. Retain the MPI engine because its done little miles and fit a carb and turbo?? If so then remember you will need a distributorless ignition system like Megajolt and different pistons to correct the compression ratio, or at least have the head modified with bigger chambers (doubt any one would have an MPI head with big chambers off the shelf)

You might get away with the test if the number has been skimmed off, but you may also get an mot tester that spots the late block and be funny about it. It a chance you could take

Id just get another engine thats pre 92 and build a turbo engine from that, its going to need new pistons and a rebore anyway, pick up the other bits one at a time on ebay. Complete turbo engines are going for silly money and pretty much worn out.