Gawd uncle Al, your missus kicks you outta bed, and you're not getting any so you come here to vent your anger.
And you are exactly right....who cares what folks put in as engines. Even this dyed in the wool "FORD" fella has entertained "THAT" other engine...and still might.
By way of keeping folks up to date on the Windsor thing in Queensland. Some folks have had some very interesting conversations with the authorities, with some very interesting advice being received.
If I have interpreted that advice correctly, it boils down to this. The Queensland authorities don't give a bugga how big the engine is, they don't care who makes the engine, and they don't care how old the engine is. All they care about is "That part of the EPA rules that they( the state authorities) elect to enforce" and for the ICV builder to PROVE his car complies.
To make a long story short. One can use a windsor and you can run an FE if you want. You just have to prove the engine complies with a level of emissions that the STATE desires. ( thats the hard bit)
And...the state has advised that they have control over the "standard" of EPA rules they will enforce.
And that's the tough bit..we don't have testing facilities.......yet.
.... and the authorities know that.
However, give the authorities some credit, they are in heavy discussions with a company here in Brisbane to invest about $A500,000.00 for a IM240 testing facility.
Here is a short basic description of the test.
http://www.dieselnet.com/standards/cycles/im240.html
There are, in essence, three things that an engine must have to past this test.
Functioning O2 sensor
Fuel control with no misfires; and,
An 80% efficient catalytic converter.
If you have these you can and will pass given a good state of tune.
http://www.epa.state.il.us/air/vim/seminars/im240.html
If your engine is in good state of repair, If the ECU (fuel/timing) control is properly tuned, and your cats are reasonably young, you CAN pass with the engine you choose.
Now, the remaining problem is "What standard are the State Authorities going to insist we meet?.
That question has been answered by the Authorities here by advising those involved in the discussions to " Why don't you get all the interested parties together..not just the Cobra club". Get the june buggy fellas, get the westfield replica fellas, the custom car clubs etc etc and then come see us as a group and we can then discuss to what level of control we will enforce for the ICV builders." (ala the hot rod fellas)
So....in other words....build any engine you want. Get it thru an IM240 test and you can register it here in Queensland.
Wish it was as easy as it is to type it.
