if anybody in the Aberdeen area knows of a good and cheap 4x4 Sierra to use a my donor car I would be very grateful. I would travel a little distance if need be.

Thanks Mark, i was unaware of that, I'm really new at this game and was told that the 4x4 has a LSD diff and it would be better for my car. If this is not true then I will go for a regular Sierra. I didn't want to go down the scrappy route because i would like not to have a Q plate.

The LSD will be better, but it's not essential.

As always good advise. I'll take it on board and have a think about Q plate.

A 'Q' plate is a clear indicator to a prospective purchaser that the age or identity of a vehicle is unknown. The vehicle may be rebuilt from parts, some or all of which may not be new.

Extract from DVLA website

Regarding MOT

The MOT tester will take the age of the vehicle from the registration plate and also assume that this is the date on which it was first used.

A - If your car has an AGE-RELATED plate he’ll assume that the engine is the same age as the plate and do the test accordingly. However, if your age-related plate refers to pre-Aug 1998 (‘S’ Prefix) you will continue to get the visible smoke test for the life of the vehicle REGARDLESS of the age of the engine. Remember though that this does NOT include PERSONALISED plates as in this case the vehicle will continue to be tested according to its age and NOT the vehicle registration number.

B - If your vehicle has a CURRENT/NEW plate or one that is after 1st August 1998, you will get a ‘basic’ emissions test, which is a basic check conducted to set limits carried out BEFORE the ‘CAT’ test. If you pass, GREAT. If you fail though you’ll be subject to a full ‘by-the-book’ CAT test, plus remember that if you fail this you’ll also fail the MOT. Of course there are plenty of CURRENT/NEW registered kits running around with reconditioned engines so in this instance you will have to prove the age of the engine to the MOT tester. Ideally you should have a copy of your SVA MAC ‘pass’ certificate, which will be sufficient. Otherwise you will have to get a letter from the engines manufacturer stating clearly what year the engine was made.

C - Cars with a ‘Q’ plate are regarded as being of uncertain age so therefore will continue to be subject to the visible smoke test.

I doubt you'd find a Sierra registered after 1st August 1998, so absolutely no problems at MOT time with an age related plate from a Sierra

Phil

[Edited on 8-8-06 by Hellfire]

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Originally posted by CaLviNx
As has been noted a LSD rear diff is "desireable" but NOT essential. and you could use a 4x4 but you would have to get 2wd front hubs.

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