Just looking for a bit of advice regarding buying an engine with its numbers removed.

What kind of issues could I encounter if I bought a bike engine which came from a cat B accident damaged bike which now has its numbers removed, there is no documents or history to prove where it came from & the seller can only provide a receipt from himself (private sale not a breakers).

I would be planning to fit it to a kitcar thats already been sva'd if that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance

[Edited on 7/6/09 by maximill666]

You could rebuild the engine and put your own number on it??

I would suspect that its stolen at some point, which is the only reason you would remove the number, to avoid detection.

It is possible to have this read though, by x-ray, but only in extreme circumstances. Its possible that it could have a datatag system somewhere on it, and if scanned could cause you a headache as well.

Personally, i wouldnt buy it unless for a track day car where i would re-stamp the engine with a new number.

If you are confident that it is not stolen or has been stolen recovered and paid out legitimately you can apply for a new number and stamp it legally.

quote:

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Originally posted by Peteff
If you are confident that it is not stolen or has been stolen recovered and paid out legitimately you can apply for a new number and stamp it legally.

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if you trust the seller then buy buy buy

when i bought my origional engine for the indy i had to stand and watch while the numbers were removed from it
(its the insurance company who decide if the numbers need to be removed!!)

and then realised i needed the numbers bought another one

As long as you are sure its not been nicked then just stamp a new number on it and away you go....

David

Coppers round here check the numbers very close.. if there's any tampering or what not they confiscate the bike and acid check the block... and you only get the bike back if they are 100% satisfied its legit.

Personally I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole....

Its happened to Guinness in his bec so beware

Thanks for the advice gents, I think I will give it a miss, especially as the seller cant prove where it came from or how he came by it.

There is only one reason why its got no numbers on its stolen

i have had over 2000 engines from ins co,s and never had one without a number on

i have had some with removed numbers but these usually come from a reliable source with police or ins co receipt

usually i break the engines for parts

but beware i have seen the police confiscate complete bikes from superbike teams who had a receipt as well


cheer s mal

As a retired Police Officer, our auto recovery people would re-stamp serial numbers on recovered vehicles with numbers supplied by the Ministry, not the original numbers.