Hi Dave,

Good luck tomorrow. Did you get the nut covers you needed in time? If not or you need any other bits let me know and I'll take them off my car. I'm only 2 miles from the SVA centre.

Chris

Chris,

Thanks for your warm support (I shall wear it often ).

I got all the bits I required (apart from the bottom pivot nut cover, which I turned on the lathe). I've spent every evening this week trying to pick out every sharp edge on the front of the car, and each time I fixed one I saw another!

Then this afternoon I decided that one of my headlamp units was a bit wobbly in the shell and decided to fix it - the clamping screw seized in the nut and I had to cut it with my Dremel! And it was a funny-sized nut and bolt! Aaargh! Serves me right for fiddling...

Anyway, I've checked the lights, brake fuid, oil and water, charged the battery and it's hands off until the morning. Then it's out the door just after 6:00 to be sure of getting to Chelmsford well before 8:00 - it's less than an hour's run on a good day, but I have to stop twice for petrol (once to start the journey, then again to fill the tank before the test) and I want a fair bit of contingency. Oh, and there's major roadworks halfway!

rgds,

David

well david wasn't at the side of the a12
so he either got there without incident or never left home.

good luck

Well, nearly made it...

The engine ran well all the way down the A12, but as I approached Chelmsford the oil pressure light started to come on when I lifted off the throttle, and the oil gauge dropped sharply.

Managed to get into town and stopped at a garage to fill the tank right up prior to the test (and check the oil level) - after that, couldn't raise any oil pressure at all. Fortunately the engine didn't run without oil pressure for more than a few seconds, and was still OK when I shut down.

As a result, the car came home on the back of a rescue wagon.

So, I'm truly pissed off at the moment...

David

P.S> I'll discuss the engine problem in the proper topic area...

[Edited on 10/9/04 by David Jenkins]

david that is bad luck

did you get to the test centre at all or loose the fee.

I rang them once I knew I wasn't going anywhere - I'll have to pay another £50.

David

arrrrgh, hope it all gets sorted and you dont give them anything lo question you on when you get there next time. all the best.