Sunday 7 June 2020

Welding in a catalytic converter..... And new YouTube channel

Its been a while I know, I can't believe shes 11 years old...... The only problem I've had recently is the front indicator bulb blew, other than that shes running well. In other news I'm starting a New YouTube Channel because I'm furloughed, and lets face it I've got some time on my hands. So if you'd like to watch a bit of welding, and nut and bolt action watch the video here.

Sunday 1 July 2018

Passed the MOT

Wow, is it really five years since my last post?
Passed the MOT this week, had an advisory to replace the rubber boot on the steering rack but apart from that, all good. 

10 years ago this week I was just getting ready to fit the engine. The car is still going strong, I might treat it to some new seats next year for its 10th birthday, and I think some new headlights, as the chrome is starting to deteriorate.

That’s all for now :-)








Wednesday 22 May 2013

New Dashboard and steering cowl

So I finally got a steering column cowling but to fit it I had to make a new dashboard to allow room to fit it.
MOT Coming up soon....

Sunday 3 June 2012

Front ball joints

I had an advisary on my MOT to replace the dust cover on my top front drivers side ball joint as it was split ( i split it ages ago and didnt worry about it) anyway the part number is QR1408RHT or FTR4049 or MTR 1408R for a ford transit - note this fits both sides driver and passenger. The lower ball joint is from a Fiat 124 part number QSJ 765.

Friday 24 February 2012

Clutch cable

My clutch cable snapped, just thought id upload the part number for the cable I used.

Monday 19 July 2010

Llandow Track Day

I did a trackday at Llandow a couple of weeks ago and it was great fun - you get to drive as fast as u like without worrying about the police throwing points at you. It was the first time I really gave it the beans and it handles really well - even when you get the back out its easily controllable I had great fun power sliding it round the corners!












Friday 11 June 2010

Wiring a Nippon denso alternator

I added a nippon denso A073 alternator this evening ,instead of my lucas one as it is smaller and lighter (also it has a better pully so I should stop loosing altenator belts while driving!) You can find one on a Daihatsu Cuore, Hijet, Move or Sirion. I wired it as in the diagram on the left.

Video on My youtube channel HERE

Tuesday 11 May 2010

Still working on the car

I've built a rollcage over the winter, fitted 4 point harnesses, and fitted an aluminium bellhousing, and racing battery to save weight. pictures to follow

Thursday 29 October 2009

The New Tiger Aviator

Tigers new Aviator has passed the IVA test (new version of SVA test), and is now availible from tiger racing.

Monday 22 June 2009

Thursday 4 June 2009

Weight Saving Polo Radiator

I swaped the old radiator (which was leaking)

for a polo radiator,

The tiger one weighed 3.8kg to the 2 kg polo one - thats a whole 1.8Kg.... Get in.....

Also it has mounting points making it easier to fit and its slightly smaller so it will fit in the nosecone upright giving better cooling.



Thursday 7 May 2009

Driving an Avon

Several people have asked how the tiger is going, as I've had it on the road for a while. Well its all good. I've had to sort out a few rattles mainly on the cycle wings, and a few bits of sva trim have disappeared.


I've been playing with the fuel map and got the 0-60 mph time down to 5.4 seconds. Next I'm going to reprogram the ecu with Megasquirt 2 extra, which will let me do a few more things like launch control and a shift light. More to come when its upgraded.....


For now here are a few more pictures.....






Monday 9 March 2009

Sump welded

I got the sump welded at a local workshop in Eastleigh who usually make high quality wrought iron gates, see their website here http://www.scrollgates.com/ tel 023 80 612028

They had welded cast aluminium sumps before and did a good job, give them a call if you need one done, or if you want some gates made.

Wednesday 4 March 2009

Shortened Zetec Sump

I've got a spare sump that i had to get shortened, so cracking the existing one has sped me up into sorting it out:-


First i cut off the bottom of the spare sump with a hack saw. I cut a notch in the end to allow it to fill with an extra bit of oil.


Then cut a bit of ali plate to blank the bottom off and filed it to the right shape (with a hand from my dad below )



Then cut a blank for the end bit. This and the notch cut in the end allow the void to fill with extra oil retrieving some of the lost capacity.


Now off to the welders with it (its ali and i don't have a tig welder).

Tuesday 3 March 2009

First drive

I finally got my numberplate authorisation form and registration documents from Portsmouth DVLA today. Got a Q plate made up and had my first drive. I managed a whole 13 miles then cracked the sump on a manhole cover and had to get towed back home.

Knocked a good size hole in it though.

Wednesday 25 February 2009

DVLA registration inspection

I had my registration inspection today, turned up with the car on a trailer and the DVLA man checked the chassis number and engine number, had a chat and that was it. All in all it took about 8 minutes. Just waiting for my tax disc and registration doc in the post.

Friday 20 February 2009

Trailer Hire

Just a quick note: If you're going to a SVA test, its best to hire a trailer to get there - as insurance companies will only insure you for a maximum of 30 days on the chassis number which isn't usually enough time to pass SVA and await registration.
I used a tilting trailer from http://southampton-trailer-hire.com/ which was ideal as i had very low ground clearance.

Registration

After my SVA test I went to the portsmouth dvla office and picked up forms for registration (V55/5) filled them in along with a build up inspection report form (V627/1) atached copies of reciepts for kit and engine etc and gave them back the day after with an insurance certificate (on the chassis number due to no numberplates) from Adrian Flux insurance, and a cheque for the tax disc and registration fee.






This is my completed V55/5 form







They then want to inspect the vehicle on wednesday at VOSA in Botley to check the chassis number and engine number. Why they can't do this at the SVA test is beyond me, as it had to be done for the paperwork at SVA anyway !!!

Tuesday 17 February 2009

Passed my SVA Test


I passed my sva test today... now on to registration.


Monday 16 February 2009

SVA retest tomorrow

An update before my SVA Retest..... I've corrected the failure points -

cat converter welded in

rear fog light tell tale lamp fitted

indicator stalks lengthened

fuel filler restrictor

self centering sorted - it turned out my steering wheel boss was rubbing on the steering lock stoping free movement of the column, so i filed the steering lock down a bit then rechecked my camber and wheel alignment, a bit better.. But then after speaking to the workshop guys at tiger racing i let the tires down to 10 psi and perfect or as near as perfect selfcentering. Wish me luck....

Friday 30 January 2009

My SVA Test at Southampton

So I had my sva test today, we hired a trailer from Southampton trailers and loaded the Tiger Avon up the night before and then parked it up on my parents drive overnight blocked in by another car. I didn't sleep well waking up about every hour throughout the night. I finally gave up at about 5am and got up, had a coffee and some toast and went round my parents. Once there I pulled off the tarpaulin had some more coffee and started her up (still on the trailer, I just wanted to reassure myself she would start ok before leaving). We left about just before 7am and drove a few miles to the test center, and then unloaded the car. We still had 45 minutes till the 8am test. At at 8 am I went in and announced my arrival, I then met Chris who was my tester.
First I warmed the engine up again outside the test station, then drove it in for the emissions test which I failed.
Because of the age of the engine I needed a cat, and at 2500 to 3000rpm your CO (carbon monoxide) needs to be under 0.2% which I passed, HC (unburnt hydrocarbons) needs to be below 200ppm (parts per million) I was 209ppm - fail and Lambda needs to be between 0.97 and 1.03, I was 1.21 - fail. Also at idle (450 to 1500rpm) your CO needs to be below 0.3 - I was 0.17 pass.
Next it was up on the ramps for a check around underneath, checking the brake lines and handbrake operation etc, all good.
Next it was back on the ground and the lights were tested, all was good apart from no warning light for the rear fog light, and the front indicators need spacing out as they are too far from the edge of the vehicle. Next we moved the car off the ramps for the field of view mirror test, a pass. Then we did the interior and exterior projections where the spheres came out - all I failed on was the dreaded front suspension, I had an unradiused edge (a note the front suspension is only tested from the front, not from above or behind). Next seat belts and anchorages were checked, all good. Then the brake test. The brakes are tested to make sure they will lock, and they are tested to make sure the front force is more than the rear at 5 different pedal forces. The results are fed into the computer later to see if its a pass. Next was the speedo test, I passed this but my speedo over reads. i.e. when my speedo reads 70 MPH the road speed is actually 60 MPH. If your speedo under reads however even by the smallest amount it is in instant fail.
Then the examiner had a quick drive around outside to test for self centering - a fail. The noise test was a pass but it will need to be rechecked after the cat is fitted.
Over all, Chris (Mr examiner) was helpful and fair, he was friendly, and offered advice on how to fix things (he let me adjust the headlight aim while i was on site). It was almost an enjoyable experience!

Failed SVA

I had my sva test at southampton today, I failed on a couple of things....

1.Lack of self centering steering.
2.Exhaust emissions - need a cat converter as my engine is a march 1994 zetec.
3.Front indicators are too close together.
4.Sharp edge on front lower wishbones.
5.I need some kind of restriction on the fuel filler to stop a leaded nozzel being put in.
6.Need a warning light for the rear fog light.

Thursday 22 January 2009

SVA Test

I've got a date for the test!! Friday 30th at 8am, wish me luck.....

VOSA SVA Application

I spoke to someone from VOSA today and it seems they are clamping down on the noise tests - When you fill in the application form they ask at what RPM the engine achieves maximum power, then they perform the noise test at two thirds of the RPM you quote - So i said 4750 RPM which he wasn't happy with, so he changed it to 6000 RPM which means my engine will have its test done at 4000 RPM which will make more noise...
Anyway, I Should now get a date at least.... woooo!

Sunday 4 January 2009

VOSA...

I've received a letter from vosa..... As part of the car was assembled by someone else, VOSA are asking for a letter from him stating exactly which parts he assembled, and which parts i assembled. They also want him to state that he isn't in the business of building vehicles to qualify for the amateur build class....

More to come.....

Wednesday 24 December 2008

Waiting....

It's christmas eve and i've sent my sva application form off to VOSA, just waiting for my date now, guessing its not going to be untill mid january with the christmas break and royal mail.....

Monday 15 December 2008

Amateur build declaration

I've just found out i need to complete an amateur build declaration form also. Download here
As far as i can tell you only have to fill this in if you're building a kit car for your own personal use, and you need to provide receipts for the major parts of the car as well as optional photos of the build. This is to prove that the car is built for your own personal use and not built by a company producing cars.

Tuesday 9 December 2008

SVA Test

I've just phoned the DVLA (tel 03001239000 then select option 5) and asked for the SVA test forms to be sent out. The current SVA fee is £190.00 and as far as i can tell a retest fee is £38.00.

I've also just found the form - Single Vehicle Approval form, SVA 1 - online download here

I'm hoping to get a test for early january.

Sunday 7 December 2008