John Bonnett
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| posted on 22/10/07 at 04:24 PM |
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Pre-SVA chat with Exeter
I've just spoken to Byron at the Exeter SVA Station and what a helpful nice guy he is. We covered quite a bit of ground but one or two points I
thought might be of interest to builders in our Group who are not yet ready for SVA,
Byron recommends that the car is not cosmetically finished when presented for SVA because, say for example, the wing mirrors need to be moved etc.
This would involve news holes being drilled and existing ones filled.
He was quite concerned that my Phoenix is an old kit and because there have been a number of changes to the regulations over the years since my kit
was purchased there could be problems to overcome that might need some surgery.
He says a lot of people spend hours and hours agonising over the Manual and a lot of time on the telephone to him with queries on what will or will
not pass. His recommendation is to present the car. During the test he will talk about the points of failure and you go away and rectify them with
just a £32 re-test fee. Sounded very good sense to me.
I'm a bit concerned that my bonnet is away being painted probably at great expense with the worry that some alterations may be needed. Anyway
it's done now so we shall have to wait and see what he says.
Tests are running at only couple of weeks notice(once Swansea have processed the paperwork) so as soon as the bonnet is back I'll bite the
bullet!!
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Findlay234
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| posted on 22/10/07 at 04:43 PM |
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I like that idea, to do all the cosmetic stuff after the test. I was thinking about leaving the painting till after but hasnt it often been said that
taking a well finished car along to the test will stand you in good stead and half my body work is black half is red....
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RichieW
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| posted on 22/10/07 at 04:49 PM |
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I think you would just have to make sure it looked good for the retest.
I suppose if the cosmetic stuff isn't done it would allow the tester to have a more thorough poke around the car where he could pick up more
potential faults too.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 22/10/07 at 04:56 PM |
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I suppose if the cosmetic stuff isn't done it would allow the tester to have a more thorough poke around the car where he could pick up more
potential faults too.
No, I don't think that was it at all. His point was, that if the rectification involved alterations that would spoil the finish it would be
better to make the changes before the nice paint job had been completed. In any case, you cannot fool these chaps by burying dodgy work under cosmetic
trim.
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iank
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| posted on 22/10/07 at 05:25 PM |
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One thing that did cause a lot of kits problems were the rules on seatbelt height which required relocating mounts.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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andrew.carwithen
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| posted on 22/10/07 at 05:47 PM |
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John,
I'm about to submit My application for SVA at Exeter.
During your conversation, did he say whether you need to now provide build photos and what the SVA fee is? (I've heard there's some
discrepancy between the fee listed on the downloadable form and the actual fee?)
Cheers,
Andy.
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chriscook
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| posted on 22/10/07 at 06:54 PM |
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I didn't have any problem with the Phoenix at SVA (apart from handbrake effectiveness)
Oh and I did borrow some longer dampers for the front of the car for headlight height. (it was the rear pair off a friend's phoenix)
I got my bodywork painted after SVA but not because I thought there would be any problem - just the way I decided to do it.
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Shamrock GS
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| posted on 22/10/07 at 09:48 PM |
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Just been through SVA at Glasgow - didn't ask for photos but I brought a laptop with everything ready. When he asked about the construction of
thinsg like the seatbelt mounts I was able to give him the pics. Didn't have to dismantle anything so made life a lot easier. I think it also
gave an impression of being well prepared.
Gary
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 23/10/07 at 07:33 AM |
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Andy, the current test fee is £158, I believe it went up two or three months ago.
Byron said nothing about photographs but I shall take along pictures of areas that cannot be seen such as behind the dash to show the deformable
column etc.
Chris, did you have to raise the front to get the headlights high enough?
Can somebody please clarify if it is the centre of the light that must be at least 500mm above the ground or the lowest point of the lamp. Although I
have raised the body by 30mm if it is the lowest point of the lamp it's going to be very close.
John
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chriscook
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| posted on 23/10/07 at 08:01 AM |
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Yes raising the front was for the headlights. My understanding is as per my posts
here
Mine was just below on the above basis with my standard shocks. Hence the longer front shocks for sva.
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barrie sharp
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 posted on 23/10/07 at 09:20 AM |
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Hi John I live just down the road from you (Okehampton)I have an SVA book and I have been through the SVA at Exeter, if there is anything I could help
you with please give me a shout.
Same for you Andrew although you are a little further away I dont mined poping down to see how you are getting on etc..
u2u me and i will give you my phone number etc..
the cars looking good" a blind man would be pleased to see it"
''stop press'' the blind mans seen it said "it felt ok"
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wilkingj
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| posted on 23/10/07 at 09:44 AM |
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I had to raise my mirrors to pass the SVA.
I had the Manual, and did read it, but didnt lay out the marks on the road and check I could see them all before finally mounting the mirrors. They
looked good, and I could get a good rear all round view.
However, couldnt see the nearest marks as they were below the rear mudgaurd / wing line.
Only had to raise them up an inch, but now have two unwanted holes either side in the scuttle.
I can see his point in being unfinished. £32 for a retest is nothing compared to the whole build cost.
However, not fitting for the first SVA is no guarantee it wall pass at the second.
I used a tape measure and a broom stick and just laid it on the road in the positions and checked I could see all the points in the mirrors. Then
fixed them to the car. Was fine for the re-test, but could have been for the first, if I have followed the rules in the book!.
There is no substitute for reading the rules and checking it actually meets the requirements.
My Brakes took the SVA and two re-tests to get right. But then I dont have a Brake tester at home.
The second time, I knew it was about right, and when I tightened up the ballance bar nuts, I didnt leave enough room for the ballance bar to pivot, ie
the nuts were too close to the tube preventing the bar from moving pivoting enough.
I just had to slacken the nuts a turn and re-pin them. No prob on the second re-test.
Blokes at Chelmsford were Brill, Cant fault them. Helpful to the last, but stayed within the rules. I wouldnt have it any other way. I want my car to
be safe on the road, at almost any cost. Otherwise its not worth driving.
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 29/10/07 at 07:05 PM |
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I had another chat with Byron today, this time about my seat belts and the FIA cut-off switch. I was concerned that the Caterham belts with q/r buckle
would not pass and that the FIA switch would not be an acceptable second immobiliser device. It was great news that both are okay.
I thought this might help others in clarifying these points
John
[Edited on 29/10/07 by John Bonnett].jpg)
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