Insurance on engine conversions

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 6:29 pm

Just wondering how much extra anyone who's had an engine conversion has had to pay on top of their original insurance premium? Vaguely toying with the idea of sticking a 1.3 in mine.. not exactly a massive power hike, but a step up from the 1.05, but I'm a bit worried about what the insurance will do, being 18 with no NCB. Anyone know roughly how much it would rise by? Currently with co-op, under my dad's insurance policy, insured for any driver. Cheers for any advice.

jon_poloV · Post by **jon_poloV** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 6:59 pm

to be hoinest i think the step up would be little. you could phone and ask them, you could say if this engine gives up ...
jon

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:00 pm

Yeah, guess I could play the "My engine's blown and this is all I can get my hands on" card... I'll give it a shot

metz · Post by **metz** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:49 pm

Thats all i said to mine GC...head gaskets gone garage quoted Â£250 to fix but i can get a GT engine for Â£100, cost me Â£80 more with CIS

mk2keel · Post by **mk2keel** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:57 pm

Yeah, guess I could play the "My engine's blown and this is all I can get my hands on" card... I'll give it a shot Smile

they could think you thrashed it
I am interested in this idea also, how old were you when you got that quote on the GT lump metz?

cyhliu · Post by **cyhliu** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:04 pm

Hmmm...yes, my 1.6 16v DOHC has been shot, and yeah, seriously, all I can get hold of is a 1.8 20v Turbo unit, yes, the one from the Audi S3...yes, 225bhp...shame really, loved the old engine...

Heh heh!

Their reply would be along the lines of, oh really now? oh fine, we will insure you, now if you would bend over...

ste mk1lx · Post by **ste mk1lx** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:06 pm

can't see how insurance would tell the differance between the 2 engines . Or bore out your 1050 bottom end (to 1.3 spec) and fit a 1300 head to it.

Steve_O · Post by **Steve_O** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:17 pm

I would like to fit a G40 engine to my GT one day...

...do you think I could play the 'I don't know what power it is - but it's the same capacity as my broken GT engine' card??

metz · Post by **metz** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:48 pm

mk2keel wrote:
Yeah, guess I could play the "My engine's blown and this is all I can get my hands on" card... I'll give it a shot Smile
they could think you thrashed it
I am interested in this idea also, how old were you when you got that quote on the GT lump metz?

it was only december mate so i was still 28

M@Turner · Post by **M@Turner** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:57 pm

cyhliu wrote:Hmmm...yes, my 1.6 16v DOHC has been shot, and yeah, seriously, all I can get hold of is a 1.8 20v Turbo unit, yes, the one from the Audi S3...yes, 225bhp...shame really, loved the old engine...

Heh heh!

Their reply would be along the lines of, oh really now? oh fine, we will insure you, now if you would bend over...

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 12:26 am

cyhliu wrote:Hmmm...yes, my 1.6 16v DOHC has been shot, and yeah, seriously, all I can get hold of is a 1.8 20v Turbo unit, yes, the one from the Audi S3...yes, 225bhp...shame really, loved the old engine...

Heh heh!

Their reply would be along the lines of, oh really now? oh fine, we will insure you, now if you would bend over...

In all seriousness though, a 10bhp increase between two identical looking engines which bolt in in exactly the same way is a touch easier to get away with than a 100bhp increase with some major engine bay modification

it was only december mate so i was still 28

Past the 25 barrier.. but still, only Â£80/year on an extra 30bhp isn't bad.. and same insurers as me

I would like to fit a G40 engine to my GT one day...

...do you think I could play the 'I don't know what power it is - but it's the same capacity as my broken GT engine' card??

Might just get away with it

"Now sir, would you care to tell me what this supercharger is doing on your 'unmodified' car?" "Oh, so -that's- what it is!"

can't see how insurance would tell the differance between the 2 engines . Or bore out your 1050 bottom end (to 1.3 spec) and fit a 1300 head to it.

Engine number might be a bit of a givaway, unless I did some stealthy and thoroughly illegal work with a file and a set of punches... and I'd much rather pick up a complete servicable engine that I know is going to just run than have to mess around having mine bored out etc, had enough hassle trying to rebuild things last year..

workinprogress · Post by **workinprogress** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:32 pm

cyhliu wrote: Their reply would be along the lines of, oh really now? oh fine, we will insure you, now if you would bend over...

as you ask so nicely!

dont know how im gonna break the supercharger to them then

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 10:03 pm

Well.... isnt the engine number on the block?

The block being identical on both 1.0 and 1.3? (and GT??)

Just change the intake/fuelling, head, pistons (& crank...?) ... bingo!

I think a "reasonable" insurance company would just take you for the difference between a group 4 1.0 and group 6 1.3 (double check that those are the right numbers - might be different for mk2).. though it would be the difference before any discounts, etc you swindled when first getting insured so dont forget to lean on them to bring it down. even if you have no intention of switching, its good to at least imply you're looking elsewhere.

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 10:24 pm

C 3d Polo Hatchback (81-94) 4
1.3 CL 3d Polo Hatchback (81-94) 4

..according to parkers. I'm quite sure they'd charge me more though...
Apparently all mk2's are group 4 bar the base Polo (3), and the match, country and ranger (6).. but I really don't trust parkers. Anyone know of another insurance group finder?

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 10:31 pm

in that case, you're golden ...... just make it up as a straight knackered engine, 1.3 full swap was cheapest option story - on an 80s polo i doubt they'll care you've gone up from 12hp shy of a Group-1 Corsa to 2hp...