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Engine dating
Crockpot - 8/4/24 at 03:54 PM

Has any one heard of dating issues with regard to engines?
I have seen posts on a private Facebook group (one not prone to hyperbole and rumour) that DVSA are not accepting dating letters from independent sources it has to be the manufacturer. This could be an issue for quite a few engines.
In conjunction with this I am talking to one of the guys on that group who wishes to put a car through BIVA. It is powered by an early Ford V4. He has approached Ford UKDAC and they say they cannot give a Certificate of Conformity for an engine that old. But it's not what he requires, he just needs a dating letter. Will DVSA still accept the Burton's dating information?

wonderfulweasel - 8/4/24 at 04:19 PM

I used a print out of the Burton Power table for dating engine numbers at my IVA. This was using a Ford Kent crossflow engine and my IVA was about 18 months ago.

Crockpot - 8/4/24 at 04:36 PM

This story/rumour is fairly recent, the last couple of months.
It doesn't affect me as I have a dating letter from Ford ukdac , I just wanted to get to the truth of it (if any) .

Mr Whippy - 8/4/24 at 10:22 PM

Considering how many manufactures have gone under over the years that sounds highly unlikely. When dating old restored classics and trying to keep the original registration, the DVLA normally requires confirmation from a club specialising in that make, stating that the car composes of parts correct for that year. Personally I can't imagine Ford caring less about dating some old engine and would much prefer you to buy a new car.

Crockpot - 9/4/24 at 09:45 AM

With all due respect MrWhippy that has very little to do with what I posted.
You are referring to dealing with DVLA and registration of old vehicles. I asked about dating engines for BIVA which is dealt with by DVLA.
Ford do (or used to) dating letters for old engines, I have one.

Mr Whippy - 9/4/24 at 10:27 AM

that's nice you got a letter but you also said - "He has approached Ford UKDAC and they say they cannot give a Certificate of Conformity for an engine that old"

So as I said, unless you get a specialist club to certify the engine is a specific year, then maybe they will accept Burton's data, it's certainly been used by others in the past.