How do they fiddle the rules then? When I went round the banked track at Montlhery in1998 there was a Van with standard engine in the front and V8 thing in the back - that was loud and fast!
If anyone has a video, I followed the camera car!

Dunno, but there's plenty of amisuper engined 2cvs in France, as well as other modified cars so somebody must be doing it.

ITYM 2cv-bodied Ami Supers...

The person most likely to pick you up on an engine swap is the CT(mot) inspector, what are the CT requirements for a car that age, how often do you need one if at all?
There are three options there, put the original engine back in for the test, find a sympathetic tester who'll over look it, or remove 'RELIANT' from the rocker cover and hope the tester isn't familiar with ancient Simcas.
Would you be happy with not mentioning it to the insurance broker? If he's friendly, try running it past him in a very theoretical, non specific kind of way. Probably the local classic car bunch are best to ask if you can.

Cheers everyone - I am looking into it and we do have a very sympathetic CT tester - he even passed our old AZU using another car to fool the headlight machine

One issue I have just found out technically is that the handbrake on the Simca uses a clamping band around the transmission. So at the moment that is the only issue.

Will keep investigating - I have my hands full with my AZU at the moment....one at a time

It's easy to solve that one... Just nick the whole drivetrain from a Land Rover - they use a propshaft-mounted drum.

Hmm... TD5-powered Simca? Or just the good ol' v8?

Take the reliant rocker box off, but some letters from a casting supplier or have some laser cut and glue the word 'Simca' to it, have one cast in ally and bingo, it's a simca engine.

I think it will be worth it. It is just too slow, even slower than my van. I am waiting on the Reliant 850cc Haynes manual to arrive and I will then check it all out.

There is a Reliant engine on ebay for 75 quid - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321263740696? ... 1423.l2649

"Ended because no longer available" last night... But is Jorge still on here? His other half likes to play with plastic pigs, so might be able to fill you in.

I just got a compression guage delivered today and thought I would check out the compression on the Simca before going any further with the Reliant engine project.

I have not done this before so would appreciate a few extra eyes and wisdom on the subject.

From the Simca spec I should be looking for 10 Kg-cm2 at 4000 revs which equates to 9.8 bar or 142 psi. Now I have no clue on the revs but I just turned it over with the starter motor (coil disconnected).

Cylinder 1 - 6.8 bar
Cylinder 2 - 4.4 bar
Cylinder 3 - 5 bar
Cylinder 4 - 6.4 bar

So just from the 4 not being in the same area would indicate shabby compression..right? Does it matter on the revs?

So what should I do next - does this look more than just piston rings?

(will do the AZU next now I have the gauge )

Cheers for the help.

Ian