If I decide to use non-standard, self devised ways of implimenting something in my car, how would that effect the SVA test?

For example, is there a required standard for transferring power from the engne to the wheels? Or could I create some bizarre, yet functional, contraption for doing this?

As far as I can tell [yes, I really should buy the SVA handbook..] the SVA requirments are safty related, and don't seem to dictate methodology regarding construction - or am I wrong about this?

Thanks :]

You should be ok providing whatever you do is built & bolted down properly and that anything protruding out from the car does not have a radius more than 2.5mm.

Saying that there have been cases where the examiner was not happy with mechanical or structural items. If i were you i would phone your local SVA center and tell them what you intend to do. They will give you an idea of if they thing it would be ok.

Thats for the reply donut.

So there is no requirment to use "proven" mechanical techniques/devices? If it appears to work and to be safe, there is no problem?

If you can tell us what your planning without compromising your potential patent it might be easier for us to comment.

It's also worth noting that unless you are highly skilled and equiped and/or very wealthy it will be very difficult to build something without resorting to readily available parts like gearboxes, diffs, driveshafts etc.

On the other hand it's always good to see some real innovation.

As for SVA, my understanding is like Donut says - If it works, is safe and meets the requirements of the public highway you should be OK

Nick

what you say here is the are the crucial words...
'the requirements of the public highway'

in there there is every thing..sow in fact he needs to know what those requirements are.........

Anyway as far as an SVA thing i think you enter the grey area....wy?

because safety is a very wide subject wich covers allot of things....

and because of the fact that new designs failing can lead to accedents....

i don't thingk they like it if you are gonna use 'exotic' things... i also think they can't do nothing about it except failing you on
small things time after time....

untherstand? i think that the SVA man cant ask you for calculation if he can he should ask everyone..untherstand the gray area???

car manufactures have to proof every thing.. i mean everything... wy does the M6 bolt do the job everything....

also they need to meet realibility things..
(you cant sell bad products)

Tks

offcourse what for one is exotic the other thinks its an bit strange only... and thats the reason you will need to uncover a bit of you idea....

last but not least,: i also have an exotic clutch and accelarator and gear change system... and have no idea if they will stop me from working with it...fact is that it works fine....

Well, I have allot of ideas for my car. The main reason for me to build one is that I enjoy a technical challenge - building a car from a kit/set of plans is too mundane for me. What I intend to do is research all my ideas and come up with something workable.

Main components obviously come first, and I am currently deciding on the engine[s]. I would really like to use more than one engine, which would require the construction of an interesting transfer box.. do you see this sort of thing causing SVA problems?

Thanks for the comments guys :]

i asume that you have the skills to do it..

and a transfer box wouldn't be a problem

because its something that will fail directly or bit by bit...

at least thats the way i think they will think..

TKS

From memory on the scrapyard challenge the guys who built a taxi with two V8s in it(one front one in the rear) had to disconnect one of them each time they took it onto the road so I suspect there may be some regulation in the construction and use manuals