OK it looks like I might have to change the 1999 (919cc) blade engine for a 1995 (893cc) engine, to get round the recent change in MOT emmissions testing in Northern Ireland.

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=43823&page=1

A couple of questions:-

1) Are the engine mounts the same? I *think* they are, anyone know differently?

2) I know the speedo won't work (sensor for a 99 is from the gearbox, different on a 893) but are there other differences I might not be aware of?

Ideally I just want to drop this other engine in, change the details on the V5 correctly then re-apply for my MOT.

I believe the gear selector shaft works in the opposite direction on the 893 to the 919.
In other words, your gearchange mechanism will work in the opposite direction to what it does now (i.e if you have a tunnel mounted lever, and at present you pull back to go up through the gears from 2nd to 6th, then you would have to push forward to do the same.)
This can be remedied by re-routing your gear linkeage.
For the 893cc engine, if using a cable type gearchange, then run it down the tunnel and approach the gear selector shaft from the L/H side of the car (if you want to pull back to go up through the gears) or approach it from the R/H side if you want to push forward to go up through the gears.
If you want further clarity on this, then contact Andy Bates at AB Performance (sorry, can't find his tel no. at mo' ) who knows all there is to know about 'blade powered BECs.

HTH, Andy.

[Edited on 7/5/06 by andrew.carwithen]

Have you double checked its actually going to help you though? I may be wrong but I thought in the UK it was a case of SVA testing to the engine age, then subsequent MOT emission testing is done to whatever is on the V5, or if the engine has been changed it should be tested to the engine age if newer, otherwise default back to the age of the car / whats on its V5. If thats correct, effectively what that would mean is once registered, you're stuck with the emissions tag youve been given regardless of changing the engine, hence why some SVA / register with an older engine, then change to a newer engine. In theory they should be tested with the newer engine emission targets but in practice I suspect that doesnt often happen.

Anyway to the technical bits the engine mounts are all the same for both, the crankcases are all the same, and a friend of mine with a Westie recently went the other way (93/893cc to 99/919cc) without issue.

As Andrew says though, the gear linkage is the opposite way around which will require modification to your linkage / cable runs etc. However difficult that is, dont be tempted to try it the other way round, now you're used to one direction, you will forget at one point, change down when you mean to go up and then you'll need a 3rd engine!

Other than that, as you say the speedo sender wont work although I believe a few people have had success mounting the blade speedo sender on the prop somehow, obviously still using a speedohealer / yellowbox etc to get the accuracy.

One other thing I can think of, the clutch is different internally with different plates and basket so if you've got fancy friction plates for your current engine, they probably wont be the same parts as you'd need for the 893

Cheers for the advice. Thanks.

It was the MOT tester that advised if I could prove the engine was a '95 they would change the emmisions, so it looks like that's the way I'll go.

I'll get it properly changed on the V5, and will supply a letter form Honda verifying age - that seems to be what they want.

Gear linkage. I'll have to see how much room I have down there, mine currently is back to front (push forward to go up gears) so I may make the switch to do it the same as most normal sensible folks.
Who knows maybe a 3rd engine will be lucky!!

Thanks again.

Ali