it all depends on the officer who inspects your car at vicroads, some off them have the knowledge and others dont about a paticular model. in my eyes it bulls hit. there should be a set rule for every officer at every vic roads, so it doesnt f u c k it up for us when it is a legal engine in that model of car we a registering. i have done a injected V8 conversion to every model of commodore/sle/calais (vb-vl). i have copped 126 canary`s and 64 epa`s in the last 11 years in which i have owned 45 different cars. never have a copped a canary or required a engineers cert for a injected motor in a vb-vl. in regards to engine number prefix at the time of registration (older blocks in newer cars), the officers dont even know and dont really care its a older block unless they check the book(or has past knowldge about the engine numbers), which in my case they never have as they got so many appointments to get through the day. the main problem i can make out with your vr ute not getting registered is that it has come racing throttles and the officer had a idea that this car is modified and therefore come to the conclusion that this engine must be modified in other ways, therefore telling you to get a engineers cert just to be sure. i dont think it has anything to do with which block you are using. he is my suggestion, take of the come racing throttles, make the engine bay look standard. and just go to a diffferent vic roads. and if you get knocked back go to another vic roads. simple. i wouldnt worry about the block as i have never heard a vic roads officer knock back a car because of a engine number prefix. im a mechanic/auto elec by trade. in regrads to epa arguments here, a epa officer or epa testing station can knock you back for having a older engine (and older engine prefix) in a new car(in most cases they dont). ( the rule book states you cannot run a older engine in a newer car) but in saying that, the emmsions test/epa will pass if you have the current manifold/heads/pollution gear setup for the car that the engine is in. for example my mate had a vn 355 with a vh block in it and he copped a full epa. long story short he changed top end back to the standard vn setup(manifold etc..) and he passed the test, epa guys said to him block is not a issue as long as it passes the emmision test and all the pollution gear is hooked up to the vn specs to comply with epa regulations. i also have had a lot of experience with epa`s with all my cars too. in respect to vb-vl having a injected motor. it is a legal converstion and can be registered without a engeineers cert providing you run the vn pollution gear. but these dumb a s s people at vicroads who dont even know the rule and therefore some people get knock back when registering a vl with a injected motor. best thing to do is get your mechanic (registered workshop)to write a letter that this engine has been put in this vechicle to the standard specifaction of the car and is a motor that was allowed in this model. so if they start saying something at vicroads, show them the letter and they will then be more confident in registering the car. thats how i have done it many time.

why i worked for NSW RTA I recall the vehicle inspectors had a list showing what engine # was applicable for each year and model of car. the prefix for the one mentioned would have immediately rung alarm bells as it wasn't in the range of numbers fitted to that model (VR) car. sounds like they are simply after proof that your different engine does somehow comply despite being from a different year car with different rules likely applying back then, not unreasonable imho and nothing for anyone here to get or post agro about.

Quote: Originally Posted by mulkers [View Post] Sort of, but there is a massive overlap. VR's should have 5.0 on the side, late VR's have nothing (same as VS and VT) The engine code number is the easiest indicator to go off of. The crankshafts are also different in the early 304's (early 304 VK's) EDIT: XEC747, i re-read what i had wrote, and i included VR twice, it should have been 308 up until VP/VQ, VR were 5.0 and late VR onwards have nothing This is the way the blocks are marked, with the exeption of the Brock 4.9L block all carby blocks had 308 on the side, everything from VN EFI blocks had 5.0L including VL Walkinshaw. the carby 308 had a displacement of just over 5 Litres and when they went to EFI they destroked the engine to 304 with 4987 displacement thats why they have 5.0L on the side of the block . The reason late VR onwards have nothing on the block is because the are stroker cast blocks from factory, this way the could turn them into 304 or strokers for the HSV models. As for XEC747's earlier comment about Mr EPA if you took your car into an EPA testing station their job is to test it for emmissions not to bust your chops over block numbers. If they turned around and said that block is too old for that car I would still demand an emmissions test to prove them wrong, once the car passes it's emmissions, they have no reason not to clear it.......The 304 in the VK was actually marked 4.9L from Holden. These blocks are mostly found in HDT Brock Commodores and VK interceptors(BT1,TOG,TMU,Highway Patrol whatever you want to call them).

Doesn't an emissions test cost a couple of grand in Vic whereas NSW is free? As for the OP, just put n a VU prefix and it's all over red rover..

So fella's if I was to keep the engine that I have now, and just get an emissions test proving that it meats the requirement and i get my mechanic to write a letter saying so too, I shouldn't have a problem with them passing it even though its a QT prefixed block instead of the VU Prefixed one and take it to a diff Vic roads?

Shrugs, Easiest thing sounds like you get the original block rebuilt and save shitloads of hassles. My mates an engine builder, if you want a price on a rebuild let me know.. And no that's not a plug for him.

lol but why would I spend all that money on another 5 litre engine to get rebuilt when iv already got a built engine to suit my charger and with the money building another motor id be wasting my time and your mates, might as well just get the Engineers Certificate.......

You're only really paying for machining to suit you pistons and bearings plus assembly. Let's just say I payed a couple of hundy for a rings, bearings and gaskets and got free assembly. I know it was mates rates and I owe him a favour but I don't see where it costs $5k for a stock 355 motor etc coz really parts arent that much. ---------- Post added 19-08-11 at 20:10 ---------- Scat 355 rebuild kit inc piston rings bearings gasket etc $1750 odd, machining $1k odd, assemble of basic package $400 odd, plus balancing if you need. Comes to $3k for a stroker build give or take a bit depending on exactly what power your chasing.

ok so 3k lol that's a good price yer I admit but 3k........... 1500 and I was told I can have my car engineered maybe abit more if I got it done with the charger on, but the 1500 was the minimum, but I dont want to spend that if I dont have to and the car dont need a Engineers, if i have to take my motor out, buy another stock 5 litre for 800, put that in get it rego'ed bring it home take that out put my good motor and charger in the car i will, another engine $800 The Rego $700 total price is the same as getting engineered but taking that chance of tying to get it engineered and running the risk of getting bad news back like it cant be done because of what eva, and paying that money for what? i might as well have done engine swaps to start with. I dont know what to do, im really considering selling the thing and just be done with it, keep my twin throttles and charger and put it on something else......

Yeah but you get extra cubes and you flog off your motor and get $2k? for it. So you get extra cubes without the engineers for $1k extra and more power.. Swap you a brand new 355 for your twin throttles and charger lol.

if some is willing to engineer it with the charger n throtts..... anything even close to 1500.... u should do it. saves u any trouble later down the track... and if u ever decide to sell the car, u will get good money for it with an engineers cert.

Man, take it to another vicroads. I dont know why you dont want to do the easy option.

Like PROGMH said, take it to another Vicroads. Don't say nothing just give them your paperwork and see how you go. Your main issue is the Twin Throttles, the first thing they see is the COME RACING on it, the word RACING sets of alarm bells for these idiots at Vicroads, if they give you any hassles try sticking a standard manifild on it and see how you go. Good Luck.....