(G) UT conversion - insurance?!?!

For those of you who have converted your uno to a turbo (or just dropped the lump in!)

Where do you insure your car?
How much etc etc?


And is it a full conversion?

Also i know i am asking a whole lot but is there any other engine i can use that people prefer?

I have just inherited another 999cc FIRE (MK2)

Its a blank canvas! (Bodywork is V.Good interior is a bit weak tho!)

Hi Will,

I have 2 Uno Turbo conversions. I didn’t do the work myself.

On The MK2 (1994 M) and with nearly 10 years NCD, I got fully comp from Adrian Flux for around £430 IIR. – All mods declared.

The list of mods from standard 1.0 IE Start is (as required to insure moded car):-
1372 Turbo IE engine.
Large bore exhaust.
KnN Induction.
FTP power boost valve.
Turbo IE Gearbox.
Adjustable Spax Shocks and springs.
Turbo IE Wheels.
Full Turbo IE Steering assembly fitted.
Turbo IE Brakes – Disks, Callipers, Pads, Servo and pipes (Both axles switched when re-shelled).
Turbo IE Arch and Sill protection kit, and badges.
Full Turbo IE interior.
Central Locking.
Electric Windows.
Turbo IE front Bumper (For oil and charge cooler).
Bonnet Scoop (non standard to Turbo IE).

The MK 1 is in sleeper format. Looks near standard . As the car is older, the quote was a little less.

Looks like your only 30 miles away . PM me if you wanta call over and take a look .

Regards All,
Louie Bee.

Hi Will,
An uno turbo conversion will always be more to insure because its not really an "uno turbo"...well NOT on paper anyway.

The reason for this according to the DVLA is that for a car to keep its original identity it must have its original Chassis number, so if you do convert your 1 litre uno into an uno turbo it will be classed as a modified 1 litre uno with a 1372cc engine basicly and the V5 will be changed accordingly so long as the DVLA has been informed.

This is why "normal" insurance companies class it as a modified car and charge a lot more for insurance.
The insurance will be higher than a factory built uno turbo in fact due to it being a "modified vehicle", it could be exactly the same as a factory original uno turbo in every way, but it all comes down to the chassis number i'm afraid. There are some dodgy ways around such as not telling them of the changes and insuring it as a 1 litre but this will null and void your insurance and its too big a risk to take imo There are other ways round it aswell and i'm sure Chas can fill you in on those dodgy ways lol
But otherwise i'd say go for a company like Adrian Flux or H.I.C who specialise in modified vehicles.

My uno turbo is a conversion and it has countless modifications which i have fully declared with H.I.C and i am 24 years old and paying just £895 fully comp with 4 years NCB and also a mutually agreed value sum.
This would probably be even less if i had a drive or a garage and lived in a better area but i was happy with that considering that i used to pay £900 third party fire and theft when my uno was a 1 litre at the age of 20 with 0 NCB!!!!
I also have the added bonus of also being able to drive any other vehicle in my household or friends cars under third party fire and theft so long as the car is insured which most companies are reluctant to do unless you're over the age of 25

As for the conversion well yeh you have to convert everything, you cant just drop the engine in, everything needs to be uprated to the Turbos spec such as the brakes, suspension, wiring loom etc. Its all very straight forward and everything bolts up as it should on a 1 litre shell. Check out Duncs thread on the site hes reshelling his turbo into a 1 litre shell, and i believe Biz is also doing a conversion for a mate. So if you need any help or have any questions we're the Turbo Boyz you need to ask lol

F R O $ T Y

Thanks guys!

I know all about insurance because i work for 'Norwich Union'

Oh no i hear you say! - Dont worry i am not in the gestappo part (Claims!)

I am a Information Consultant and i know what the moddified car scene is like, (used to have a sleeper red top nova!)

As i have never dealt with customers (don't answer phones!) so i don't know much about other companies and as norwich will quote a 50yr old with full no claims a squillian quid for just changing his alloys (10% really) i was wondering where you all go - I used Hill House Hammond and Liverpool Victoria in the past but guess what Norwich bought them out!!!

Frosty you sound really clued up thanks!
Thanks also to you Louie Bee i have PM you and look forward to seing your cars!!

You mean me?!!!!!!

I wouldn't suggest anything dodgy. All I would suggest is that the front strut top needs a plate welded over the tiny spot of rust, which just happend to be the area where the chassis number exists. Then the rusted turbo you got the bits from, strangely the number plates and log book end up on the 'new' shell

I'll say no more

LOL!

I spotted that reference in F R O S T Y's post, and wondered how you would respond

It reminds me of when my father and I transferred bits from a damaged 128 into another. Yes, we cut out the suspension turret with the chassis number, welded it in etc. But then there was the final question of the WOF (MOT equivalent). There was no time to submit the car for a check before we went away on holiday - so at nine years old I came up with a solution: swap the windscreen (since that had the unremovable WOF sticker attached.) Which we did...

-Alex

I do not envy you Will either way sounds as though it will be exe.

One point to ponder which I raised with my insurance company years ago when I was upgrading my wheels to larger alloys and uprated brakes they wanted to charge me about £150 extra.

I asked why as the modifications would make the vehicle safer.
The alloy wheels would give the vehicle better road handing and would dissapate the heat from the brakes quicker making them more efficient.
The uprated brakes would stop the vehicle in a shorter distance.
All of the items were oem approved.

There was a long pause and we will get back to you comment.
Received another call to be told the increase would only be £50 I again queried this and was told to cover the theft element.
I thought yes lots of cars have there brake discs and calipers stolen lol.

The general reasoning is that if you mod up a car u may push the car to the limits or beyond so are a higher risk.
I mean why do u make your car accelerate faster if you never use this enhancement, and dont just say u only use it in any emergency or when overtaking lol.
Pete

Good point about the breaks!!

Good point about the strut brace - will have to check if mine is rusting and needs replacing.

On annother note - colour coded my wing mirrors and door handles (3door ever seen that done?)

I had the paint mixed by 'Halfrauds' and the nice chap even dulled it down one shade because of the age of my car, however as always its not a good match - too bright a red!

Any ideas with out going to the hassle of respraying again!!