3. Stolen engine?
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Spitfiremkv

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Stolen engine?
« on: October 25, 2023, 04:54:27 pm »
Hi newbie here.
  Right down to business, my friend bought a 70's ford escort a few years ago, to cut a long story short he has only just realised that the engine number doesn't match the one on the V5. The car had been restored to a high level with pictures of the engine in bits being upgraded etc so we don't really believe the engine to be a 'wrong un' as why would you do that to a nicked engine rather than a genuine one. The question now is how can he find out if it is nicked without alerting the authorities to the chance that he has in his possession stolen property, if it turns out to be stolen he has said he will be happy to clear the matter up with the insurance company that may have paid out by buying the engine off them, is this possible?

ps he has tried to locate the previous owner but they have moved on years ago with no forwarding address etc.
« Last Edit: October 25, 2023, 05:00:55 pm by andy_foster »
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DancingDad

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Re: Stolen engine?
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2023, 06:00:52 pm »
Ye Gawds... notify DVLA if really worried but may be opening a can of worms.

However, back in the 70s it was common to blow an engine, pick up one from scrapyard and fit it.
No paperwork, need to inform DVLA or worries about emissions.
TBH we didn't even inform insurance though really should have done...especially if upgrading to a bigger lump.

At one time I bought a 3ltre Capri with a blown engine and a spare..rebuilt one.
Which seemed a decent rebuild, receipts and pictures....turned out it wasn't.
So found another lump from scrappers, swapped that in and rebuilt the second one....overbored, ported, high lift cam etc etc
So that was 3 different engines in 6 months

No idea how many engine swaps myself or my mates did back then but it was common.

Ford or Ford Owners Club may be able to come up with a list of vehicles and engine numbers so you can track further but if you are just wanting to get a clean V5, DVLA are going to have to be involved.
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666

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Re: Stolen engine?
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2023, 06:20:13 pm »
Why does he imagine it might have been stolen?

I'd suggest he tells DVLA to get a new V5C, and then forgets it.
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Spitfiremkv

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Re: Stolen engine?
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2023, 07:30:41 pm »
Quote from: 666 on October 25, 2023, 06:20:13 pm
Why does he imagine it might have been stolen?

I'd suggest he tells DVLA to get a new V5C, and then forgets it.

He is not sure it is but with the amount of work that has been done to it he really doesn't want to alert anyone just in case they take it off him, he is wondering if you can anonymously ask the DVLA and take it from there if it comes back as stolen, the last thing he needs is for the police to just rock up at his house and load the car onto a recovery truck lol.
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andy_foster

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Re: Stolen engine?
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2023, 08:07:54 pm »
So, just in case it is stolen, can we help him find out whether or not whilst enabling him to still treat it as his own if he discovers that it is stolen?

Rhetorical question, as you can't answer it - if we did would that be conspiracy to commit theft if-
(a) we advise him,
(b) we advise him and it is stolen (regardless of whether or not he discovers that it is), or
(c) we advise him and he then discovers that it is stolen?
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DancingDad

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Re: Stolen engine?
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2023, 08:52:26 pm »
Part 1 on the V5c is the bit that allows you to make changes if the information recorded has changed or is incorrect.
It includes engine number and doesn't ask for a reason.
In that respect I would expect a rubber stamp and a new V5c

The can of worms is only because they require notification of engine changes now re emissions.... but cannot see them questioning a 1970s car that is basically exempt anyway.
I suppose there is an off chance that the engine has been declared stolen and somehow DVLA has that on their records and joins the dots.
Only one way to find out.
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