On The Road

After much waiting its finally on the road, Tracy has been popping home during her lunch to see if the registation and tax have arrived. It still hadn't arrived this lunchtime. I did get a call though when she got back from work. There was an anonymous looking brown envelope with a birmingham  post mark so she had a look, it contained my cover note, the original factory receipt, no registration doc, but lucking in the bottom was a Tax disk. She very kindly took the envelope too the local motor factors to try and get some number plates made. They said they really should have the reg doc, but agreed to make them based upon the info we had.

Tracy was then going to pop out so phoned to say she had left the number plates by the car. A short while later she phoned again to say that it was throwing it down. Just my luck I thought.

So I got home to some number plates and a Tax disk. I already had rivet nuts ready for the rear number plate. so I made a template out of cardboard and using a couple of the cut down rivets pushed into the rivet nut (I had previously used them to mark the scuttle) to mark the card board template allowing me to drill the number plate correctly. I also used rivet nuts on the front. Though not sure how long it will last as it is very vulnerable. I think I will end up with a stick on plate on the nose.

It has stopped raining and had dried up nicely but was a little threatening. So now for the first proper road legal drive, took tracy the long way to see her mom, then took her mom and dad for a spin. Back home for a bit of tea and then some more spins with various friends.

It is really very easy to drive, though at the moment I am being quite gentle with the revs and using 4000rpm as an upper limit, it still goes like stink though. I found its not to bad in the rain as long as you keep moving, initially the wipers work reasonably well but after a short while you need them on both sides of the screen.

it's now got about 85 miles on the clock, 50 from the IVA day and 35 this evening running people about, the weather looks bad tomorrow so it may not get an outing, but Friday looks ok and then I have a week off so hopefully I can get some miles done.

One job I need to look at though, it bottomed out a couple of times, initially it was very worrying as it felt like it came from the rear and I feared for the diff or something. After a while it dawned on me what the problem is, the seat mounting bolts have a couple of cm of thread showing and I think it was these that were catching, need to get the car up and the threads shortened. Not sure how yet but it will come to me.

Looking forward to a long hot summer.

Post Registration 1

Build time today 1.0 hours - Total build time 260.5 hours.

Man time today 1.0 hours - Total man time 289.5 hours.

Popped into the factory to see if they could swap the flawed wind deflector, luckily they had just had a new batch delivered. Simple swap.

I asked about how they recommended protecting the body work, while looking at the car in the show room and it's wind deflectors, even though they looked identical they weren't supplied by Westfield. The recommendation is to either use edging along the bottom edge or a rivit-on grommet positioned correctly. They let me have a length of edging and a couple of grommets. 

When I got home I completed the fitting of the drivers side deflector, having already worked out how I would fit it did not take long. At the moment I have used edging along the bottom to protect the body work, plus I have put some orange duct tape on the body. I plan to use the grommet long term but want to be sure of its positioning first.

One thing I have been advised to do is to align the windscreen uprights with doors, just in case I have doors in the future. Once the registation has come through I will try and pop up to the factory tomorrow the doors off their demonstrator to adjust the windscreen.  Once this is done and with a bit of driving I should be able to position the grommet, plus get accurate measurements to order a half hood, when they start making them again. 

Registration/Build Day 89

Build time today 1.0 hours - Total build time 259.5 hours.

Man time today 1.0 hours - Total man time 288.5 hours.

Got the Registration process under way, it was more stress full than the IVA test. Took the trip across Birmingham yesterday trouble was I had not fully read the V55/4 guide and only had my old paper license and no other proof of ID. Wast of an hour.

Went again today, I was told, even though I had a certificate of newness from Westfield I still needed to fill another form in V627/1 (Built Up Vehicle Inspection Report). I have just searched for the form and found another PDF "Guidelines on how you can register kit cars and rebuilt or radically altered vehicles" this also mentions SVA so I think refers to old legislation and if you follow the link back "www.direct.gov.uk/vehiclereg" the information is different and as I expected. If you follow the links to "Registering a kit built vehicle"

Documents needed to register your kit built car or motorcycle

To register your kit built car or motorcycle you will need:

• official receipts for the vehicle and any components used
• build plans for the vehicle
• correct vehicle tax (where appropriate)
• £55 registration fee (if required)
• a certificate of newness
• from V55/4 – application for a licence for a new motor vehicle and declaration for registration
• insurance certificate
• documentation confirming your name and address
• individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) or Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA)

If the vehicle cannot pass IVA or MSVA it cannot be registered.

No mention of inspections or V627/1. Had I know I would have printed the relevant page from the DirectGov website.

Finally having filled in forms, produced documents, visited different counters, paid money (£275, £55 first reg fee and £220 for Tax) they said that as it was a self build it could not be completed today and the documents and Tax would be sent out in the post. 

Tremendous, why the differentiation between factory assembled and self build kits, the IVA inspector said that I had built the car to a higher standard than the factory.   Its about time they got their processes in order.

travelling back to work I ended up sitting in a traffic jam for half and hour, car broken down just as two lanes merged in to one for road works.

When I got home I thought I would have a go at fitting the wind deflectors, I had checked with the factory and they have not real guidance apart from make sure I use something to protect the car body where the deflector touches. As a temporary measure I used some the edging that had just fallen of the rear of the front  cycle wings. It is not actually the correct size so I will need to order some. I used a couple of small clamps to hold the deflector on to the top brackets to get the alignment started. In the end I decided that the appropriate seemed to be to get the lowest crease in the deflector in line with the top edge of the side body panel. then it was a matter of marking, drilling and fitting the brackets, I only pealed enough of the protective cover to allow the supports to be attached until all was complete.

It does not show up very well in the picture which is good for visibility.

When I pealed the film of the drivers side I could see it was flawed with a number of lines in it. Will have to contact the factory to get a replacement.

Just need to wait for the post man, hope he comes soon , it will probably be raining. 

Build Day 88/IVA Update part two

Build time today 1.5 hours - Total build time 258.5 hours.

Man time today 1.5 hours - Total man time 287.5 hours.

Passed, took 10 seconds for the retest. That's almost £10 a second. 

Oli had been back to college so managed to pick him up on the way and over to VOSA for 16:15. Passed, handed over more money and got my certificate. I spoke to Mark at Westfield and he sorted out a Certificate of newness to go with the DVLA V55 and IVA pass certificate. Only a slight de-tour to pick it up and very nice of them to wait for me to arrive. 

Started my Post IVA work, first I had a look at fitting the wind deflectors, so removed the IVA protective covers from the mount points then got the brackets out to try. Would not fit the holes need to be enlarged slightly up to 5mm. it was not that easy to get a drill at the bottom mount points but managed using a flexible drill attachment, mounting brackets now fit just right. Not quite sure how they line up though, I think I do but I think better to check before drilling holes in the wrong location. 

I then removed the temporary edge cover from the Roll bar and fitted my Tax disk holder

Edging that got me through

Tax disk holder - ready and waiting

To finish the day I removed the large number plate holder ready for a smaller one to be fitted.

Hopefully I can get away lunch time to get to the DVLA office so I can part with more money.

Build Day 88/IVA Update

Build time today 2.0 hours - Total build time 257.0 hours.

Man time today 2.0 hours - Total man time 286.0 hours.

IVA not quite there yet. 

I travelled with Oli with Becki following a little later with a box of tools etc.

First time I have driven on the road

I knew I had one issue on the way, the speedo was way out based upon the SAT Nav, tester said one of the first tests was the speed, I explained that I knew it was out and that my daughter was following in a while with a box of tools and she also had the instructions for setting the speedo. He explained how they were test the calibration and then we hit the first snag, as the measure is on the front they have no way of accurately measuring. Oh my god, emotions overload, frustation, anger, wonderment. Straight on the phone to Westfield, passed Mark over to the tester Keith and it looked like there may be a way forward, they would fax of a doc which should cover it.

From this point it went better, opened the bonnet and he complemented me on the quality of the build. On to the various tests, emissions ok, projetions looking ok, until he came to the RAC Rollover bar. it failed, said there were some sharp edges that need to be covered. Back on the phone and Mark explained what was needed. A little bit of edging on the edges, trouble was I had no spare, it had all been used, he was very helpful though and pointed out some edging that could be removed without it being an IVA issue. I loosened the top nut an bolt and then used the washer to pinch the edging to hold in place, not elegant, but he said that from the quality of the build he knew I would sort it properly. So a pass on projections.

Next on to the brakes all looked ok.

Right tests the lights, first issue was the passenger side light was not coming on. A quick check and it turned out to be a loose connection so sorted. Now the rear lights. Issue, interference between indicator an stop tail on the passenger side.  Probably an earth issue and I could have a look while on the ramps.

Mirrors, noise and steering all ok.

Up on to the ramp. More complimentary comments, "better put together than a factory car", then spotted another minor issue. The bolts attaching the hand brake were not quite long enough the nylock nut was not catching well enough. If this was the only issue I could have resolved one way or another on site. I had a bag of various nuts and bolts, plus there was a Screwfix opposite so I'm sure it could have been resolved, but with the electrical issue I decided to leave it. I had look at the tail lamp wiring but there was nothing obvious. 

So almost but not quite. I said I would get it sorted as soon as I got home, He said if I could get back in time he would check it again (as a retest) and he finished at 16:30. 

Off home, nice drive back, not as nice as it could have been and straight into the garage. Speedo was now spot on based upon the sat nav. Weather is lovely, just the sort of day for this type of car, almost worth the couple of weeks wait to be able to got to the test on a day like this.

First I removed the boot liner. It was riveted in so I had to drill the rivets out, this let me get a the tail wiring much easier. I had already decided I would remove the boot at some point to replace the rivets with rivet nuts. 

Then to cut the sheathing from the wiring, in the end I worked out I had got the indicator wires the wrong way round so the indicator live was feeding the tail and stop lamp earths. A stupid mistake and I am not sure how I missed it as I am sure I had tested and looked at the lights. Morale is check, check and check again, then get someone to help you check. Re testing was not easy by my self, I ended up finding a long length or wood to press the brake pedel while stood behind the car.

Next up to Westfield to get a couple of longer screws, then a quick job to swap the bolts for the longer one. Boot is now back in place secured with rivet nuts so it can be removed when needed.

Left a message for Keith at VSOA but all being well it should get a pass later. Just finishing my lunch, which I started when I got back from the test center.