Grahame L
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| posted on 17/10/05 at 06:19 PM |
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SVA Fail !!
The dreaded sva date came and went today and oddly, although it failed, i'm quite pleased. For anyone going to sva soon I thought i'd
post the fails and other tips from talking to the tester, who actually was a nice guy, strict but fair. The sva was at Nottingham by the way!
Fails
1) Seat mounting bolts require spreader plates fitting
I bolted the seats through the alloy floor pan only not through the strengthening bars as the seat/ seat runner holes didn't match up. This was
not a fail but once tightened the bolts were flexing the ali plate so have to put either big washers or spreader plated. One other thing to mention
here is that the minimum height from seat base to top of seat harness mounting was very close on my driver seat (5mm) because i used adjustable seat
runners, and because I bolted the passenger seat directly to the floor there was plenty to spare. Just one point worth checking.
2) Lower edge of rigid dash not 19mm
I bought a carbon dash blank from Fluke motorsport who advertise it on their web site as sva compliant!! Well not according to vosa as he clearly
pointed out with his radius tool, so looks like i'll have to cover with 50 shore material or fabricate a 40mm cylinder to fit on the bottom.
Not impressed, check before you buy that the dash is 19mm.
3) Part of rear indicators and stop lamps and side lights are below 350mm minimum height requirement.
Simple answer is I f----d up!! Mounted the lights as low as possible to get clearence from rear wheels with the terminals (see archive for view).
Hellfire knows what i'm on about as he fitted same lights. Either i raise them, the suspension or what i'm going to do which is black out
part of light that are below 350mm then it will probably disappear after sva if i'm lucky!!!
4) Rear reflectors project in excess of 5mm and are not radiused to 2.5mm
I bought the round reflectors from svc whom again claim sva compliance, unfortunately not. Remedy is to file down, simple but frustrating as again
you trust suppliers who make these sva statements.
5) Fuel pipe on fuel tank carries no markings x 2
The tester did say that the hose could be fuel hose but he wanted to see markings! Easy fix.
6) Co too high
Failed emissions on above only slightly high which I need to rectify. Anyone know where I can get the emssions done in the Doncaster, Sheffield,
Chesterfield area? Took it to local rolling road who couldn't do it, i'll not bad mouth them but the company begins with the letter A and
they are quite close to Worksop, so don't suggest them!! Engine is blade rr2 and have a power commander fitted, any suggestions??
7) True speed is greater than indicated
I calibrated the digital clocks with a speedo healer, excellent piece of kit but used my car to use as the datum speed at 30mph!! when he tested it I
was indicating 2mph under actual at 35, 50 and 70 mph so buid some tolerence in as they allow you to read something like 9mph under at 35mph!!
All in all i'm quite pleased with the fails, if that makes sence! The tester allowed me to put trim on as we did the test to cover sharp edges
and said I could change the fuel setting to alter the emissions if I could, which I couldn't, or re-calibrate the speedo etc, which again I
couldn't.
At Nottingham like I said before they are firm but fair and the tester said that "Fred in the shed" builders like ourselves deserve a
little slack because of the hours working on the cars and the possible divorce threats because of, so they are understanding. One more thing book in
the morning for sva if you can as they have a little more time for you to rectify probs!!
Hope this is of help!
Grahame
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Hellfire
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| posted on 17/10/05 at 06:41 PM |
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Well done Graham. Although not quite there yet, there is light at the end of the tunnel and most of the fails are easy fixes. Know what you mean about
the rear lights though.  If I were you, I'd just raise the rear spring platforms to give your lights some more height and if they won't
quite reach, then just black off the bottom part of the lens like you suggested.
I think the rear reflectors thing is bit harsh but not really a problem. Let's face it - they're hardly dangerous are they (unless you
just happen to reverse into someone at speed and cut their leg) Can't you just cover them over, or remove them and get something less sticky
out?
Hardest thing to rectify is emissions. Not too sure, but can you not use them fish tank valve jobbies to regulate air-flow? 
Good luck for re-test.
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donut
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| posted on 17/10/05 at 06:48 PM |
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Yep sounds like a decent fail.... if you see what i mean.
I'm sure you will be ok for a pass real soon.
Andy
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andywest1/
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ch1ll1
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| posted on 17/10/05 at 06:54 PM |
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sorry to hear that !
but at least it nothing major
it could of been alot worse
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Grahame L
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| posted on 17/10/05 at 06:58 PM |
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Hellfire aren't the fish tank thingies just for carbed versions?? Plus not sure if I can raise the rear spring platforms, or more to the point
how! The rear springs are at their longest i.e. i haven't put any preload on them. When I fitted the lights i put the lowest one bang on 350mm
and of course now i've driven it they have settled so are about 325 mm!! Doh. If u think I can raise please explain!! Thanks.
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indykid
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| posted on 17/10/05 at 07:33 PM |
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if they're at their 'longest', the car will sit as low as it possibly can. by winding the spring platforms up, it compresses the
spring, and makes it push the damper back out, thus raising the car.
hth
tom
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Grahame L
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| posted on 17/10/05 at 07:48 PM |
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Thanks Tom!! I'll give it a go!! Should be able to raise it 25mm surely??
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Hellfire
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| posted on 17/10/05 at 07:57 PM |
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Easily 25mm. If you need a C Spanner to do the job, just let us know and we'll lend it you.
Yeah, those fish tank valve thingies are for carbed engines. Just re-read your post and see you have the RR2
[Edited on 17-10-05 by Hellfire]
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