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Is this legal?
The Simmonds - 18/3/09 at 06:00 PM

Hi,

Iv got my sva booked for 2 weeks today and am just finishing the car off so that its ready. I have installed a rear wooden panel (covered in rexene) that incorporates 2 speakers for my cd player and the petrol filler cap. Really pleased with how it looks but I am now a little concerned whether or not its legal. I can think of two possible areas for debate:

Firstly, the speakers are open to the elements and as of yet I have no specific cover made for the car - not too sure how theyd view that?

Secondly the petrol cap - it is quite near to the speakers, which I guess they could claim is a hazard and the connecting tube to the tank is made from plastic kitchen drainage piping. The engine takes leaded fuel so there shouldn't be any worries about the size of the pipe and it is all sealed fine. Whilst none of this is inherently dangerous I just wondered how people think theyll view it in the test?

Ive attached a picture so you can see what Im talking about!

Cheers


Rescued attachment Rear panel.jpg
Rescued attachment Rear panel.jpg


The Simmonds - 18/3/09 at 06:02 PM

ah yeh, also is the steering wheel legal - it now has a plastic nut cover over the centre nut - is that ok?

Thanks everyone!


mangogrooveworkshop - 18/3/09 at 06:02 PM

plastic kitchen drainage piping.

get the proper stuff


The Simmonds - 18/3/09 at 06:04 PM

lol, will it fail because of that?!


chrsgrain - 18/3/09 at 06:06 PM

All (AFAIK) fuel piping has to be marked as suitable for fuel use - so, as above, get some proper stuff.

Other than that, I can't remember any rules, other than radius, which it might fail under..... of course you'll never be able to hear it on the move, but that's another story

Chris


Andy W - 18/3/09 at 06:07 PM

Just heard to to day, that the filler will not pass IVA in this position as petrol could spill into the passenger area

Andy


The Simmonds - 18/3/09 at 06:08 PM

should it pass the sva test though - thats what its booked in for. Cheers.


omega0684 - 18/3/09 at 06:12 PM

1)steering wheel will fail,
2)petrol kitchen drainage pipe needs to go and be replaced by filler neck piping that is petrol proof, (needs to be marked)
3)your cd player face will fail on sharp edges as the facia isn't rediused
4)i would take speakers out for SVA and then fit them after, but to be honest you won't hear anything without any hood gear on, even if you arn't wearing a helmet, the wind noice gets very loud about 40mph
5)no seat belts?
6) i would get rid of spare tyre for SVA
7)does the filler cap have a locking mechanism?

have you got photo's of the front of the car so we can have a look?


[Edited on 18/3/09 by omega0684]


tomgregory2000 - 18/3/09 at 06:14 PM

Where are you seat belts?


designer - 18/3/09 at 06:16 PM

Is that filler cat legal on a new car?


designer - 18/3/09 at 06:16 PM

Is that filler cap legal on a new car


Paradoxia0 - 18/3/09 at 06:29 PM

Don't you need a rollbar too?


speedyxjs - 18/3/09 at 06:31 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Paradoxia0
Don't you need a rollbar too?


I dont think so.


omega0684 - 18/3/09 at 06:33 PM

the SVA man at birmingham said to me that there is no actual requirement to have a rollbar fitted! but he did also say that you would be an idiot not to fit one!


nib1980 - 18/3/09 at 06:34 PM

here's a link to the SVA manual so you can decide for yourself if you like?

http://westfield-world.com/sva_manual_draft.pdf


jacko - 18/3/09 at 06:36 PM

The fuel cap has to be locking and no higher then 50mm if i remember right + no sharp edges
Jacko


Dangle_kt - 18/3/09 at 06:45 PM

Hi,

Looks like a tidy build - but I couldn't help but notice the following things unlinked to your questions

the nuts in front of the gear stick look like they havn't got enough radius.

the wheel needs a foam cover and a collaspable steering boss as a minimum or just fit the original ford wheel

on the engine end of the exhaust there looks like a few things that will fail the radius test

I'm not sure if the exhaust guard will pass

Those pointy nuts on the back of the boot cover aren't radiused enough

Are the bonnet catches those spring ones? if so they will fail on edges

will the hinge on the petrol cap pass the radius test?

oh and the bit about fuel pipe wasn;t a general comment, the sva tester checks all fuel pipes, and if they arn;t properly marked by the manufacture as fuel hose/tube/pipe etc they will fail you.

Might be worth posting some more pictures, as with only two weeks you might be best having a list to work through now.

Im sure Everyone on here will be as helpful as they can to recomend cheap alternatives - or even lend bits and peices.

Not trying to pee on your bonfire, but if it was me, I'd rather know so I can sort the stuff out first.

[Edited on 18/3/09 by Dangle_kt]


Dangle_kt - 18/3/09 at 06:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jacko
The fuel cap has to be locking and no higher then 50mm if i remember right + no sharp edges
Jacko


fuel cap does not need to lock, but it does need to be secure and sealed.


BenB - 18/3/09 at 06:53 PM

When it rains you're going to get some wierd moving puddles in your speakers if you've got them working!!!!


designer - 18/3/09 at 06:55 PM

I thought the monza type filler cap was illegal, and can only be used as a replacment!


oldtimer - 18/3/09 at 07:02 PM

Mirrors look very low too, will they pass the very specific SVA requirements?


omega0684 - 18/3/09 at 07:16 PM

im very curious about the car now, it has octaganol wheel arches! how wierd? what car is it? more pics please

with regards to the fuel cap, its has to have a lock if the filler cap is exposed to the outside of the car! it the filler neck is not exposed to the outside of the car, say under the boot shelf then it have to be secured but then the shelf has to be lockable



1)you need edge trim on the front cycle wings as well
2)you need a centre mirror!
3)your bonnet catches will also fail sva on sharp edges
4)side repeaters may possibly be too low
5) u-trim around the exhaust hole

can't see much else from those two pictures, you got any close up of the suspension?


[Edited on 18/3/09 by omega0684]


jacko - 18/3/09 at 07:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Dangle_kt
quote:
Originally posted by jacko
The fuel cap has to be locking and no higher then 50mm if i remember right + no sharp edges
Jacko


fuel cap does not need to lock, but it does need to be secure and sealed.

When i had my sva the tester checked it had a lock on the cap and then removed the top to make sure the tank was full [ no fuel gauge]
jacko


jacko - 18/3/09 at 07:26 PM

Mirror's look to low
do you have edging on the front arches

Front indicators look to far in only allowed 400mm from the widest part of the car


[Edited on 18/3/09 by jacko]


The Simmonds - 18/3/09 at 07:32 PM

Wow thats a pretty awesome response! I knew you guys were good but that's impressive, thanks very much for taking the time to help.

Those pictures arnt up to date and most of the issues listed have either been sorted or will be sorted but there have been some really helpful comments.

I have fitted sva legal harnesses on both seats

edge trim all round

and addressed most of the other issues,
I will take more pictures tomorrow and post them. If you wouldn't mind scrutinising them for me that would be superb!

The car is a one off and has been built from scratch so that is why the front wings are unusual.

Thanks everyone!

Matt

[Edited on 18/3/09 by The Simmonds]


FEZ1025 - 18/3/09 at 07:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by omega0684
with regards to the fuel cap, its has to have a lock if the filler cap is exposed to the outside of the car! it the filler neck is not exposed to the outside of the car, say under the boot shelf then it have to be secured but then the shelf has to be lockable



Not trying to muddy the waters but mine passed SVA with a screw on/off petrol cap from some Japanese car that was able to be freely opened from the outside of the buggy as in not below/inside any lockable area.

Alan...


omega0684 - 18/3/09 at 08:00 PM

hmmmmm...... me suspects a dodgy SVA man, how much did you pay him?


FEZ1025 - 18/3/09 at 08:16 PM

Nothing honest Guv LOL TBH I've taken 4 Buggies to be SVA'd & they all had the same system.

Alan...


roadrunner - 18/3/09 at 08:25 PM

I fitted a radio in my Indy while i was building her, and it was only while i was builing her that i could hear the damn thing, worst thing i did it was. All sorted now, not a radio in sight.


adithorp - 18/3/09 at 08:38 PM

SVA dosn't require a locking cap. The manual just says it must be secure, as in won't fall off, come loose or leak. If it locks then it's easier to prove it's secure.

adrian


Howlor - 18/3/09 at 09:12 PM

quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
SVA dosn't require a locking cap. The manual just says it must be secure, as in won't fall off, come loose or leak. If it locks then it's easier to prove it's secure.

adrian


Yep I agree, mine had no lock and neither did my mates. It just has to be secure and not fall off. A lock is only to stop people nicking your fuel, not a safety thing.

Steve


snapper - 18/3/09 at 10:02 PM

Very specific regulations for the seat belt mountings and especialy in your case the "effective seat belt mounting height" which must be a specific height above the seat squab

Make up a peice of wood 136mm long 53mm high, put it on the seat pushed to the back, long edge forward, from the top front edge measure 450mm straight up, from this point draw a horizontal line back to where your seat belt mounts will be, this is the minimum height the mounts should be.


austin man - 18/3/09 at 10:59 PM

sorry to add to the list bu the radio could also be a fail due to radius, brother in law had a fail on his MK Indy for this as it is in the contactable area.

Speakers will be of no use there place them in the rear bulkhead you can hear the radio up to 65 mph other rthan that us an ipod mp3 player etc


speedyxjs - 19/3/09 at 02:10 PM

quote:
Originally posted by austin man
other than that us an ipod mp3 player etc


Not allowed to use headphones when driving a car


Findlay234 - 19/3/09 at 04:09 PM

Not allowed to use headphones? what about handsfree kits for phones?


The Simmonds - 19/3/09 at 04:10 PM

Hi there! Thanks for your help, I have attached a load more photos in a new thread, 'Is it legal? (more pics!)'. If you wouldn't mind inspecting them, thatd be really helpful.

Many thanks,

Matt