Importing an engine swapped car to Ireland?

fado5ster · 13-05-2022 11:05am #1

Hello all..

I am currently living in Australia and knee deep in a build. I have a 2009 Proton Jumbuck but I am swapping out the 1.5 engine for a 1.8 turbo out of a GSR lancer (this was obviously never a factory option).

I am planning on moving back to Ireland at some stage and would love to bring the Jumbuck with me (importing will be VRT exempt as I own the car over 12 months).

It wouldn't be treated as a daily but what are my options in Ireland for:

1. Importing a commercial vehicle with a swapped larger engine (with turbo). Can it even be done?

2. Am I better to get the engine signed off by an engineer here or am I just going to have to do it again when I get to registering in Ireland?

3. If I do get it signed off by an engineer here will that be accepted in Ireland or will I have to get it signed off again in Ireland?

4. Will it be accepted for a DOE? (Being commercial)

5. Insurance wise how will this effect me? (I have been a named driver in Ireland for the past 10years). Am I dreaming thinking I will even get insured?

6. Any other things that I'm missing out on?

Thanks for the help guys.. hopefully the jumbuck can live on in Ireland!

User1998 · 13-05-2022 2:54pm

It can be done
I would register the car here first and then go about changing the classification of engine size.
VRT staff can be very picky so me personally I would not bother getting it signed off over there. You might need to provide emissions for the new engine
Yes
Honestly not sure

goochy · 13-05-2022 3:43pm

it will cost a few grand in shipping and vehicle will be worthless here ?

i assume you just love the thing

fado5ster · 14-05-2022 6:20am

Thanks!

Yeah I am aware of the costs vs resale.. it's just a project thing.. I mean a 2wd Ute (pickup) is pretty rare in Ireland, the p-100 and the jumbuck were the only models I can think of that were available there and weren't really popular.

In Australia they are everywhere (search falcon Ute and commodore ute) I always wanted one but I'm more of a jdm man, hence why I loved the idea of a jumbuck with a Mitsubishi engine, the old Datsun Utes are long gone. It will cost me about AU$5k (about €3k) to ship it with other household goods.

So when it comes to vrt sign off, registration etc. does it matter what engine is in the car?

Am I better to treat this car as a 1.5 sohc until after its registered and then go about the changes to suit the engine?

Thanks again for your help, I really hope I can get it to work out and I'm having trouble finding info

User1998 · 14-05-2022 12:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119059551#Comment_119059551

It definitely matters what engine is in the car, because VRT it based off emissions, and also the engine size will effect the value of the car (OMSP).

But if you just said nothing it would be fine. You have to show them the physical engine number if its not on your registration certificate, but there would be no issues there.

So yes as I said I would recommend treating it as a 1.5 until its registered

fado5ster · 14-05-2022 2:42pm

OK thanks User1998..

I guess my next move is to look into what my steps are to get the car to Ireland and registered (have the car over 12 months so will be VRT exempt).

Will be cool to get her on irish roads! Although I'm thinking a lot has changed in the past 11 years car world wise

Importing an engine swapped car to Ireland?

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