Cobra,
Thanks for that.
Although I thought we had it hard in the UK re regulations you guys really seem to get it in the neck with your build regs. The only time an engineer sees our cars are when we present them for testing, although the tests are extremely rigourous and most cars fail first time........not mine of course ( smug smile).
The rule here is that the car must pass the emmisions test at the standards for the year of the engine, anything pre 1984 ( ie yank iron) passes on a visual smoke check, and then the tests get progressively more restrictive up to present day standards. Put a brand new engine manufactured this year into a kit car and you'll be asked to pass Euro 3.
My beemer lump was a 1996 so had to pass the regs pertaining to that year of manufacture which meant I had to use cats and precat lambda sensors.
The good thing is once passed the car is classed as new doesnt get inspected for 3 years and then after that the emmisions test , because it is an amatuer built vehicle, is a simple visual smoke test on startup.
Hence my cats ( one new) are on my workshop bench instead of on the car.
Basically as long as the UK regs for say 1998 arent any more stringent than the 1998 Japanese regs, I'm home free. A 1992 *** V8 therefore wouldnt even need cats.
Anyone got any contacts in Japan for half cuts?
Cheers,
Tony