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.