Importing SPM Rods from Sweden?

[Ross]

Does anyone have information about these rods? From my searching, I've read that they seem to be a good 'budget rod'; however I couldn't find any instances of anyone actually having using them - I'm 'only' looking at ~400bhp / ~600Nm but would rather be safe.

The language barrier is a bit of a struggle here for me; but I've been quoted what converts to £465 shipped. But, that included 25% VAT - as I'll get whacked for import duties here too, is it right that I should pay Swedish tax on an export?? Coz then I'll be paying a helluva lot of tax! (And I do that already...)

Also, anyone know if these come with all the neccesary bolts etc, and if they'll be balanced? I've asked the questions but I'm not sure if they're understood, so hoping someone here can help me or ask the questions inthe right language

cheers
Ross

[caterpillar]

spm conrods

spm will draw off the swedish tax,and you will have to pay the tax in england(or not in eu Contry??) they are balanced,and ready to use. order the WITH the arp bolts,so you have the compleet set,for sure. and WHAT length you want....org are 144 c/c length,and the rest are custom.will you use the 86,4 cranc or???

[Ross]

I'm just looking at a straight bolt-in job - i want 'insurance' for a 400hp/600nm setup. Nothing custom. This is the email I got back from Sten; as you can see he has quoted inc. tax! And hopefully someone can confirm that the posted spec is what I want...

5pcs 6a Audi 144/50,6/20 Is 980:-/ea + swedish tax =1225:-/ea
Shipping is 250:-
Total is:6375:-
Ready for shipping Feb 15


I'll ask about the ARP bolts. Will that be all I need? I plan on having them fitted when the RS2 bearings + metal headgasket are done...

Cheers,
Ross

[S2 Ant]

You wont pay any import duty on these and as it stands as far as i know, you wont pay swedish tax, you will pay UK tax i think, either way, you will only pay tax once not both ways as Sweden is in the EU.

When i emailed the guy (his english was good i thought) he mentioned Volvo's running on these rods with 1000+BHP!!! he never quoted torque figures tho, altho i should think its hard to have 1000bhp without a fair amount of torque to go with it and the price is an excellent one.

Ive still not managed to get these altho they are still on my list, its just one thing after another with the car and i was trying to do things the wrong way before, power first, maintenance second, which i have now seen the light about, so have put all the groundwork in now so the engine is next on my list.

Ive been meaning to get together a list of bits i need and cost of them parts, im also clueless about the likes of balancing and the cost of doing so, altho i gather from reading stuff, if i was to have the crank zero balanced i should then be able to change parts around as i go along so long as they are zero balanced as well???

As my car is used daily i cant really afford to have it sitting around in bits for ages, so ive been trying to save where i can and group up some bits, altho so far all i have is the S4 box and fuel pump lol, the bottom end is my next hit, with rods, bearings, light flywheel etc

[Ross]

Hmm, it sounds like you're in a similar boat to me; trying to find the 'happy medium' where you get the best performance without really hammering the rest of the car. I've emailed Sten back about the rods; for once I'd rather pay the Uk tax rate than the 25% Swedish VAT!! But if I pay up the Sweeds and then have no duties / tax on this end I'm happy with that.

Funny, I was looking for a setup that pushed the limits of the stock rods but was safe. I guess, that extra 75nm will be work it

Aparrently, as long as the rods are all properly balanced then they can just be replaced straight with the bearings (source is Doug, so reliable methinks...) coz I wasn't up for spiraling costs either. I do like the idea of a bottom end that's good for 500+ when I'll only be asking 400...

I'm collecting bits to get it all done in one go. Mine's a daily driver as well, and it'll get done in one of the '5 day off' periods i get in my shift pattern!

Where did you get your S4 box from? How much was it? I'm thinking that a 6-speed conversion might be a good future project, to ensure my 400 ponies are reliable, along with an uprated clutch.

Ross

[Gringo]

Good quality rods. There are several 500-700hp S2`s here in Norway with SPM rods. No problems so far.

[caterpillar]

they have taken 1051 hp on a volvo redblock b21 (2115ccm) with SPM conrods. the cranck broke have only 3,2bar pressure

[Floddy]

Hmm. afaik you pay VAT in the country you buy the stuff in, if it's from inside EU. But if you run a business, you buy them tax-free, and pay the VAT in the country you run your business in, when selling them.

I surely don't pay the Swedish 25% VAT when ordering from abroad, I pay the lower percantage that's in the countries I order from. Sounds a bit strange that you should be able to choose which country you pay the VAT in.

[S2 Ant]

I got my box from Jeffer and is the same one he is running in his car, so should last ok lol.... cost i'd rather not think about again lol but was in the region of £650-£700.

Whats the absolute maximum you could ring out of an RS2 turbo?

[Ross]

Hmm, might have to get in touch with Jeffer when the time comes! I'm betting it'd be a biatch to fit to a 3b though...

RS2 turbo is good for 380 with the right parts aparrently. Oh, and that all-important torque at 600nm if you get the rods done too! I'm still flapping about which way to go with the turbo, but I'm leaning towards the proven RS2 route at the mo as I'm suddenly realising that except the times I really thrash it, I drive the torque more than the power - screw economy

Aparrently you can push 400bhp from the RS2 turbo - but you'll be replacing it every year.

Ross

[Ross]

Just to update on the rods situation; aparrently, yes, you have to pay the Swedish VAT within the EU but then there's no tax/duty on this side (like Floddy said). Except for businesses. So, the max damage I'm gonna get is £465 so it looks like a good one - even with that 25% tax! Anyone else looking at SPM rods and wanna save on some shipping? Or anyone outside the EU wanna start some rod-trafficking?

Cheers
Ross

[AAH!]

Hmm. afaik you pay VAT in the country you buy the stuff in, if it's from inside EU. But if you run a business, you buy them tax-free, and pay the VAT in the country you run your business in, when selling them.

When I bought a dahlback air filter kit from sweden via mail order there was an option to supply a UK VAT number which meant that the Swedish Vat was not payable. I probably was supposed to do something about paying some sort of VAT in the UK, but I never did.

[Ross]

When I bought a dahlback air filter kit from sweden via mail order there was an option to supply a UK VAT number which meant that the Swedish Vat was not payable. I probably was supposed to do something about paying some sort of VAT in the UK, but I never did.

I just did some quick mental sums.. after NI, income tax and Swedish VAT I'd have to earn gross £650 but then, that's nothing compared to how much of your fuel money ends up in government coffers is it...

So, I'm open to any tax-saving advice. Do you have a UK business AHH? Where did you get the VAT number - or was it made up

cheers
Ross

[Greg_S]

could vagparts import them? or mrc maybe?

[Ross]

Good idea mate!

I'll have to drop a line to Doug (again lol) and see what MRC can do...