After 2 years without one I've eventually passed the French MOT

[LVC]

It's been nearly 2 years since I bought the VTS...now 3 engines, 3 cats, several new sensors and a wallet much lighter later I am pleased to report that she passed her French MOT (Control Technique) yesterday :A:

So now I can complete the process and get her on French plates to join the VTR :y:

Just taken CAT no.3 off and put the de-cat back on as no more controls for the next 2 years (MOT's in France are every 2 years). I've completed 1000 miles of relatively careful driving to bed the new engine (no.3) in and am hoping I can actually get on a drive her rather than spending much too much time underneath fixing things :wall:

Thanks to Jason (Mandyslover) for the 2 engines - shame the first one supplied had a problem, but shit happens eh ;)

[Bobo0907]

Is the mot alot more srtict over there then? How come you had problems with the engines?

[LVC]

No more strict over here than in the UK - just a combination of bad luck and faulty parts, etc.

1st engine (original one) had a dodgy thread on one of the cambelt tensioner pulley's and in repairing it a "friend" went a bit too far and ended up with piercing the water channel so that we had a nice link straight into the sump ... so dead engine.

2nd Engine - recon unit from Mandyslover eventually arrived in France (not Jason's fault just a "slow" delivery") and went in - however after 30 miles it became obvious that the bottom end had a problem. We believe (not verified but we eliminated virtually everything else) that one of the conrods is bent.

3rd Engine - another recon from Mandyslover (just bottom end this time) installed and is now run in. Couple of minor hiccups due to the bottom end being from a C2 but all run in and seems to be fine.

New CAT (Walker) fitted and scores for the CO2 level was 0.03% instead of the 0.75% we got on engine no.1 with the old CAT.

The project was supposed to save me money but ended up costing a small fortune with the numerous engine swaps and hours spent by me and the mechanic trying to find the problem with engine no.2 not to mention the double costs of shipping etc. :(

[iVTR]

facepalm...

[L33h]

Should have bought a different car mate haha

[LVC]

Should have bought a different car mate haha

For the money I've spent I could've bought a decent car :zainy:

[Sophia_Bush]

always a good feeling to have it running good again :)

[L33h]

For the money I've spent I could've bought a decent car :zainy:

Same as my brothers 172 then haha. Weve put 2 engines and a head on it. Timing belt and valves twice aswell haha.

[blackie_2k5]

do they not have many breakers over in france like?

not find an engine over there?

[LVC]

Engines here are stupid money if you can locate the right one - I found a 16v in Paris with 75k kms for 900€ inc delivery. Buying a recon and shipping from the UK was logical just hadn't bargained on getting on the first one being a duff one :(

The VTS was supposed to be cheap runabout whilst "in between" other cars - ended up being a "project" that turned into a "Battle of Pride"...I WILL get it working!!!!

It's great fun to drive on the twisty, empty French lanes and I like what I've done to it just it's cost way too much money .... I sold my STi as I thought that was a money pit, lol ^^

[blackie_2k5]

thats mental mate!!

on a more serious note...you want to go into business with me? ill send truck loads of recon engines over and you can push them on under cutting everyone else :D

we'll be rich!!

[LVC]

That's not a completely daft idea that blackie ;)

[L33h]

Halfies haha

[blackie_2k5]

im game :D

are there many breakers over your way? if its that expensive i might start sending saxos over!!

live ten mins from port of tyne as well..so it would be a fecking good idea!!

[L33h]

im game :D

are there many breakers over your way? if its that expensive i might start sending saxos over!!

live ten mins from port of tyne as well..so it would be a fecking good idea!!

A only live at washington am only round the corner from ya haha. is that pug garage still at craghead im sure theyll have some 106 gtis there haha

[blackie_2k5]

i wouldnt offer him my piss is if he was dieing of thirst :homme:

i thought you were pelton? im only in birtley..where bouts in washy you live?

[L33h]

Columbia... Sorta where the Toby is n that. Dont say that was you coming past me on the way to stanley a while back when i was in the A3?

[blackie_2k5]

no idea? been past there alot haah

went past a fair few a/s3's too :D

[blackie_2k5]

last time it was out on the prowl it looked like this..best pics i have :(

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/blackie_2k5/IMG_0195.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/blackie_2k5/IMG_0196.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/blackie_2k5/IMG_0197.jpg

[L33h]

must have been u like haha. The A3s running 200bhp i was shocked at how fast it went past is haha

[blackie_2k5]

i dont know of any other quick saxos round here so probs was lol ( next closest quick one is darlo)

where was this? it shocks alot of ppl tbh..cant imagine how quick some of the ppl running 300bhp+ are

as its really alot quicker then i ever expected it to be for the power it has

[L33h]

i dont know of any other quick saxos round here so probs was lol ( next closest quick one is darlo)

where was this? it shocks alot of ppl tbh..cant imagine how quick some of the ppl running 300bhp+ are

as its really alot quicker then i ever expected it to be for the power it has

Up the big hill with 2 lanes into stanley. I had a car full but thats no excuse lol. i was deffinatly a black mk2 aswell so it must of been u haha

[blackie_2k5]

quite possibley mate

you get down the valley on a weekend?


i hope to be out again very soon..as ive hardly done fuck all this year with the car being boned

[L33h]

quite possibley mate

you get down the valley on a weekend?


i hope to be out again very soon..as ive hardly done fuck all this year with the car being boned

Sometimes when i can be arsed mate haha. Ill just have to keep an eye out for u on the bike lmao

[blackie_2k5]

ai thats the way mate hahaa

if you see me give me a shout :y:

wheels will be red next time its on the road..and morrettes may be gone :) should be stripped again..but wont be blue buckets this time ;)

[L33h]

weyaye a will do mate

[DeanAngell1234]

last time it was out on the prowl it looked like this..best pics i have :(

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/blackie_2k5/IMG_0195.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/blackie_2k5/IMG_0196.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/blackie_2k5/IMG_0197.jpg

Looks good :)

I bet it's fun beating that little 5 doors arse :P

[LVC]

166,666 miles clocked up on the VTR on it's original engine, running gear etc. and has just sailed through the MOT with better emissions (with it's original CAT) than the VTS with new engine and new CAT .....lol

Either way now have two road legal Saxos at very long last :A:

Slowly getting the papers sorted to put the VTS on Froggy plates - only one left to collect (from the local tax office stating no tax/VAT to pay) and then off to get her registered :p

[MuZiZZle]

I should be taking a doblo over to italy soon!

give me a shout if you need an engine dropped off!

[LVC]

I should be taking a doblo over to italy soon!

give me a shout if you need an engine dropped off!

Thanks for the offer but hopefully I won't be needing any more engines this year :panic:

[MuZiZZle]

Thanks for the offer but hopefully I won't be needing any more engines this year :panic:

Oh dear, that's the kiss of death right there!

;p

[LVC]

Oh dear, that's the kiss of death right there!

;p

lol - maybe I should get a spare one for each just in case :wacko:

[LVC]

Yes ... postie brought the "French V5" today .... at last.

The plates have been ordered and maybe early next week she'll be "officially French".