I am new to all this and ever the optimist but i am determined to build my own car

I am going to use the chassis from the book but this IVA test scares me a little.

I am an engineer by trade and so are most of my family so build quality and skills etc should not be a problem and i have built go-karts and off road buggies etc in the past

I have no friends interested in kit cars and dont know of anyone in my area i can ask for advise. but i do have access to various parts etc as a friend works in a large scrap yard

Basically my questions are as follows

Would joining a club etc help me get some of these answers. i have been to a few kit car shows and people are very helpful?
am i limited to what parts i can use for the build, will multiply donar cars make the IVA text difficult?
What sort of documentation do i need for the donar cars? I want to use A 2 litre sierra or a mazda mx5 1800 engine and running gear and design suspension to suit.
Do you pass the IVA test then get it registered with the DVLA?
again will multiply donars and a mix and match of parts etc make registrion difficult?
I dont really care if it has a Q plate or not but i get the impression that a qplate can be problem with registration and insurance etc?

I dont think actually building the car will be a problem for me as i do a lot of design & build projects with my job but what are the basic steps for getting it aproved for road use?
do i just build it and get an IVA test then get it register with the DVLA? it cant be be as easy as that sounds?

Any help would be greatly appreciated and i hope to be showing of my creation in a year or two at one of the shows

welcome on board. I believe that you have just joined the best clun welcome to LCB. If you cant get the answer on here as a rule you will struggle to get the answer elswhere

There are kits that fully suppor a one vehicle donor this make non e q plate registartion a lot easier.
Cars to consider are Sierra (hard to source now)
MX 5 plenty available

BMW an option with a few suppliers supplying kits

The build your own book latest version is based around the sierra components other can be used but you will need to adapt and modify to take the components. Other have done this so help will be available

[Edited on 6/7/11 by austin man]

i've got the IVA manual free download link on all my posts
it does still change quite often, so worth saving the link rather than downloading and saving the manual itself.
mulile doners isn't a problem, so far i've got bits from 7 different cars and a motorbike in mine lol, the iva is to make sure it all works and is safe.

Welcome to LCB! Whereabouts in the country are you?

Ed.

Hi,

Where about in the world are you?

The legal side really is pretty much as straight forward as it sounds.....in theory. Depending on which VOSA test centre and DVLA office you use and even how helpful the person you happen to speak to can make the process very simple and relatively quick or it can make it a bit more complicated and time consuming.

The IVA manual is the book to obey when building so here's a link to it IVA Manual

Cheers
Davie

The IVA manual is useful, but if you try to read it and take it all in at once you will get a headache. Look at the manual for specific items, read the posts on here in the IVA section and absorb the information gradually over a period of time. Thats how I did it anyway.

Would joining a club etc help me get some of these answers. i have been to a few kit car shows and people are very helpful?

This site should cover most if not all questions.

am i limited to what parts i can use for the build, will multiply donar cars make the IVA text difficult?

No. IVA is only about how it's put together.

What sort of documentation do i need for the donar cars?

None if you're using multiple donors although proof of engine age will be required if you want to go for pre'95 and the easier to meet emmision requirements.

Do you pass the IVA test then get it registered with the DVLA?

Yes, although you might have to contact DVLA first to get a chassis number allocated or to get a head start on the registration process.

again will multiply donars and a mix and match of parts etc make registrion difficult?

No, but it will mean you end up on a Q plate.

I dont really care if it has a Q plate or not but i get the impression that a qplate can be problem with registration and insurance etc?

Makes no difference.

I dont think actually building the car will be a problem for me as i do a lot of design & build projects with my job but what are the basic steps for getting it aproved for road use?
do i just build it and get an IVA test then get it register with the DVLA? it cant be be as easy as that sounds?

Yes, thats about it... though actually jumping through the hoops isn't always as easy as it appears. For instance, you'll not find it written anywhere but, VOSA might want proof (in the form of photo's at various stages of completion) that you built the car when you apply for the IVA. DVLA will want to see reciepts for your major components inc' the steel for the chassis.

The group of friends I rent a barn with have built, are building and have been involved with building 8 or more cars now.
The first IVA is scary later ones less so.
In essence you start with photos and receipts, your paperwork is important and the neatness and how comprehensive it is will help at IVA but is more important for registration process at DVLA.
Then it's P clips, sharp edges, seat belts and lighting.
Engine age and emissions.
If you are aware of the issues early it is not a problem, trying to address these points late in the build is a much bigger problem.
Early on check the effective seat belt mounting points, this seems to catch out a lot of people.
Join a club, look at people's cars and ask questions.

Hi, & welcome to LCB. If I can get Furore F1's thro' SVA & now IVA then most other vehicles really shouldn't be a problem!

As said, read the manual first & if there are areas you don't understand (the section on stering column/steering wheel is particularly confusing!) then seek advice b4 you build something you may later find won't pass. Joining a club is a massive help, if you're anywhere near Essex come & join us at Essex kitcar club, but I'm sure there will be a club nearby wherever you are.

the rest - what they ^^^^ said!

Above all enjoy the challenge & enjoy your build!

Forgot to say... Welcome to the mad house!.

If you put your (rough) location in to your profile it'll give people an idea where you are and and youmight get some local help.

Welcome on board

IVA is not as bad as it sounds, Its there to make sure the car has been built to a resonable standard.
As everyone says read the IVA manual. During my build I would read the section that applied to the job I was doing or planning to do ie Bodywork or lighting Etc. that way you focus on the regulations needed. It is good though to have a read through the whole thing so that future questions will jog your memory.

And of course the people on this site, at meetings & at shows are always willing to listen no matter how stupid you may think your question is.

Tell us where you live and good luck.

RD

PS dont forget to start your build manual now with lots of pictures it realy helped me with my IVA

Thanks for the advice and inspiration guys

i now have the IVA Test manual as some light bet time reading!

I am from merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, Any clubs in the area?

I am now confident I can do this and get it road legal so I am going to order the steel for the chassis next week

I wont be able to spend as much time doing this as i would like as my life is chaos working long hours, but i hope to be posting photos of my chassis as it progresses over the next few weeks/months