The SVA Test - 26th April 2005

For several days before the test, I was comparing BBC weather forecasts with that from the Met Office. - the BBC's was better as they said it would be dry all day but the Met Office predicted light showers. My concern was that I could not put the hood up as the catches are not SVA friendly so a sudden down pour would not do the leather interior a lot of good. There was a little bit of drizzle as I approached Norwich which proved that the windscreen wipers worked OK but not enough to get the interior or myself wet.

Anyway, I arrived on time and, after being distracted by some HGV drivers interested in the car, found the SVA reception and met Simon - my very friendly 'man-in-white-coat' for the day. I was given a Visitor's orange hi-viz vest to wear to distinguish me from the staff who wore yellow.

Into the long garage and straight to business - the exhaust emission test whilst the engine was still warm. Not the best of starts as the analyser showed a high hydro-carbon reading from the nearside pipe. "Is that a fail?" I asked gingerly (yes it was). This should have been picked up on the MOT!

On to better things - a visual inspection of the outside of the vehicle, looking for those famous SVA sharp edges - all OK. Lights and indicators worked and the pressure test on the washer was a success (if a little messy with the roof down).

Now for the cockpit.

Simon had a good look around the inside of the car and was happy that there were no sharp nasties. He was interested in my courtesy lights, "Don't see those on many kit cars". Then came the first of the magical measuring devises (called Len and manufactured by a university, the students gave names to all the instruments) to check the height of the seat belt mountings (shown here).

"Start the engine and drive onto the hoist". Total embarrassment as the engine would not start. Eventually got it started and onto the hoist.  Simon seemed to spend ages looking around the underside with myself in the driver's seat, 2m off the ground - it's a Cobra, not Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The next bit of bad news - two pairs of bolts were not long enough  - there should be at least two threads showing out of the end each nut and a locking device). The upper ball joint clamp bolt on each side did not go all the way through the threaded part - annoying as this was the original Sierra design - OK for Ford but not SVA. The other two were on the steering linkage - there was not enough space to put a nyloc and two spare threads without fouling as you turn the wheel - will have to rethink this.

Back down to terra firma and headlamp alignment checked. Eventually got the engine started (more embarrassment) and onto the brake rolling road. Seven different brake tests using a a little device strapped to Simon's shoe to measure the pressure applied to the brake pedal, both with & without the engine running (when it would eventually start), i.e. with & without the servo working. The axles were weighed and vehicle dimensions measured. All this data was fed into an Excel spreadsheet which told us that she should stop quick enough in a straight line.

Next, onto another rolling road for the speedo test. Simon recalled how this can sometimes be a bit scary as some kit cars arrive on a trailer and have never actually driven faster than reversing out of the garage. On this test, the car is driven at 35, 40, 50, 60, and 70mph and the speedo reading compared with the actual speed - the speedo can read up to about 20% higher but not be less than the actual speed. The printout showed that my Speedo was reading about 10% high. Simon commented that I shouldn't be caught speeding if I stick to the speedo - I will later recalibrate the ETB speedo to give a truer reading.

Now the bit that Simon was looking forward to - he gets to drive it outside around the compound to check that she drives OK. It was the first time that I have seen her drive away from me and she looked and sounded fantastic. The castor was correctly set (i.e. the wheels return inline when driven forward), reassuring after the fun and games I'd had getting this right.

He then parked up and set some cones behind the car to check the rear view mirrors. I was allowed to slacken off the adjuster bolts on the Pilgrim supplied mirrors - no problems there. Finally the noise test. A noise level meter was placed 500mm from the exhausts and the engine revved to 3/4 max power speed. You are allowed 101dB(A) and it was comfortably in with a relatively quiet 96dB(A).

The whole experience, although daunting, was not too unpleasant - mainly due the friendly and professional way that Simon conducted the whole thing. Slightly annoying that it failed on a few minor points but I was pleased that it passed all the major things.

By the way, we had some rain in the afternoon, as I arrived home, so the Met Office was right!

Have now retuned the mixture to lower the hydro-carbons, replaced the ball joint clamp bolts, and used ground down nylocs on the steering column. Also replaced the starter motor and solenoid so it should start on queue.

SVA Re-test - Wednesday 4th May!!

Biggest problem of the day was, once again, the weather. The Met Office had it right again as saying that showers were on the way. Roof down, and off to Norwich again. The showers just outside Ipswich were not a real problem as anything over 30mph and the rain went straight over the top. Norwich was a bit more of a problem as every traffic light was red which meant that both the inside of the windscreen and my glasses got wet and I don't have wipers for either of those.

Once into the garage at the Vehicle Inspectorate Centre it was plain sailing - didn't even get an orange waistcoat this time. The exhaust emissions were fine, and both pairs of replaced bolts passed muster. Once the re-test payment had been handed over, the all important Ministers Approval Certificate (MAC) was issued. It actually took longer to fit the hood (didn't fancy the long wet journey home) than to do the whole re-test. Anyway, Simon and colleagues were as professional and friendly as ever so it was a bit of day out really.

A quick phone call to Mary to say "Get the Champagne in the fridge" and back off to Ipswich - calling in at the DVLA office to submit the paperwork with MAC for registration. A very enjoyable few hours then spent in the garage replacing the SVA-friendly mirrors and boot hinges with shiny ones, fitting the nice wooden steering wheel and fitting the front bumper ready for the new number plates.

Roll on the sunshine and many happy hours of top down Cobra driving!