Passed the SVA at last
Discussion
Finally got round to putting the GTR in for it's SVA. Had to bring it back for a retest as I had neglected to lock out the brake balance bar properly first time around. No big deal.
Aberdeen VOSA station pretty good but I guess a bit remote for most of you with builds in progress to consider. Inspector (Davy Spence) was enthusiastic and helpful - had no problems with me sorting out some minor details during the test, although I wasn't equipped to sort the brake balance thing first time. Very complimentary about the kit - they see some horrors apparently. I think this is the first Ultima he had SVA'd. Time from submitting the application to Swansea to getting test was less than 2 weeks for the Aberdeen test centre.
Paperwork now with local DVLA office so I should be road legal imminently...........Two years after inserting the first rivet.
Aberdeen VOSA station pretty good but I guess a bit remote for most of you with builds in progress to consider. Inspector (Davy Spence) was enthusiastic and helpful - had no problems with me sorting out some minor details during the test, although I wasn't equipped to sort the brake balance thing first time. Very complimentary about the kit - they see some horrors apparently. I think this is the first Ultima he had SVA'd. Time from submitting the application to Swansea to getting test was less than 2 weeks for the Aberdeen test centre.
Paperwork now with local DVLA office so I should be road legal imminently...........Two years after inserting the first rivet.
Way ta go!
Glad to hear you didn't have too many problems with the SVA. I guess you must have been one of the two pins on Aberdeen I saw on Ted's map at the factory back in 2002. All told I think there are only 5 Ultimas north of the border including our two.
Aberdeen is quite a trek for the SVA even for me. I think I'm going to take mine through to Glasgow when its due (Real Soon Now (tm)). Should be fun driving an unplated supercar along the M8....
As a matter of interest. How did you block out the brake balance bar? I had a look at the bar and couldn't figure out an easy way to put on locking nuts without fouling the balance mechanism.
As a matter of interest. How did you block out the brake balance bar? I had a look at the bar and couldn't figure out an easy way to put on locking nuts without fouling the balance mechanism.[/quote]
I got a locking device from Ultima which was a short tube with a couple of lugs that slipped over the threaded rod and held in place with a nut such that the bar could still pivot. Unfortunately this assembly was a bit long as the SVA man also wanted some positive no go at the each end of the bar so I fabricated a shorter version. Then drilled bar and inserted small roll pins in each end so impossible for the thing to completely unscrew itself even if my lock nut loosens. Overkill perhaps, but SVA man was happy. I might fit the racer's adjustment knob later.
I purchased the SVA book from the VOSA part way through the build. This is quite useful and includes the engine dates for which various emission regulations apply. I'm away from home now so don't have access to book but can post the details later. I believe any angine manufactured after 1994 must have a cat. Early engines (like my 1974 block) require only visible smoke check. The use date that block was manufactured to determine age.
My SVA tester in Aberdeen was satisfied with the certificate provided by Real Steel who built the engine which certified the age of block. The tester also confirmed that he would let DVLA know that the engine was effectively new due to complete recon. and lots of new bits. So my engine is 1974 for purpose of SVA, 2003 for DVLA! Seems a ridiculous situation that if you built an identical engine but used a new block, a cat would be needed but that is the case.
Other stuff the SVA man looked for - ensure no cockpit or external sharp edges, use domed bolts (I was asked to change a couple of hex bolts in the front air intake securing the grill - even though we agreed that if a pedestrian had got any part of his body in there he was already in big trouble regardless of radius on bolt head!). Don't connect both brakelights (follow the factory wiring instructions!, outer brake otherwise too close to fog). Mainly minor stuff. If you construct the car the way factory intended, should be no problem
My SVA tester in Aberdeen was satisfied with the certificate provided by Real Steel who built the engine which certified the age of block. The tester also confirmed that he would let DVLA know that the engine was effectively new due to complete recon. and lots of new bits. So my engine is 1974 for purpose of SVA, 2003 for DVLA! Seems a ridiculous situation that if you built an identical engine but used a new block, a cat would be needed but that is the case.
Other stuff the SVA man looked for - ensure no cockpit or external sharp edges, use domed bolts (I was asked to change a couple of hex bolts in the front air intake securing the grill - even though we agreed that if a pedestrian had got any part of his body in there he was already in big trouble regardless of radius on bolt head!). Don't connect both brakelights (follow the factory wiring instructions!, outer brake otherwise too close to fog). Mainly minor stuff. If you construct the car the way factory intended, should be no problem
Checked the book
Pre Aug 75, visible smoke only
Aug 75-Jul 86 up to 1200 ppm HC, 4.5% CO
Aug 86-Jul 95 up to 1200 ppm HC, 3.5% CO
Post July 95, needs cat and generally tighter HC and CO limits, also lambda 0.97-1.03
So problem getting LS1 through without cat I think
ps I have sorted e-mail in profile
>> Edited by gdr on Friday 19th September 21:03
Pre Aug 75, visible smoke only
Aug 75-Jul 86 up to 1200 ppm HC, 4.5% CO
Aug 86-Jul 95 up to 1200 ppm HC, 3.5% CO
Post July 95, needs cat and generally tighter HC and CO limits, also lambda 0.97-1.03
So problem getting LS1 through without cat I think
ps I have sorted e-mail in profile
>> Edited by gdr on Friday 19th September 21:03
boosted ls1 said:
Has anybody put one through sva in say a cobra or ultima?
Surely you are in the best position to know whether they pass - don't you have something to do with selling LS1s.
You could tell us the emissions from an engine and then we would know. Or have I missed something here?
I'm sure the LS-1 (particularly if fuel injected) can be built to meet the later emissions regs - it does in production cars but these will be fitted with cat. The regulations are clear in that if your engine is post August 1995 it must have cat fitted. And as far as I know, the LS-1 came out in 1997.
There may be some method of getting round this of course, but I'm not aware of it unless car is put through SVA with an older engine and the LS-1 "sans cat" is retro fitted.
Incidently are the mountings locations for old SBC and LS1 the same?
>> Edited by gdr on Saturday 20th September 12:15
There may be some method of getting round this of course, but I'm not aware of it unless car is put through SVA with an older engine and the LS-1 "sans cat" is retro fitted.
Incidently are the mountings locations for old SBC and LS1 the same?
>> Edited by gdr on Saturday 20th September 12:15
gdr said:
Incidently are the mountings locations for old SBC and LS1 the same?
They are different positions but you can get adapter plates that put them in the right place. Mark Koch has some pictures though I think he had some problems getting the right bits.
I think you're right about the cats gdr. As I remember it the regs were structured back in 95 to basically make it impossible for an engine to be made that would pass the emissions requirements without a cat. To stop people getting funny ideas they made the cats mandatory.
pashby said:
Has anybody put one through sva in say a cobra or ultima?
Surely you are in the best position to know whether they pass - don't you have something to do with selling LS1s.
You could tell us the emissions from an engine and then we would know. Or have I missed something here?
Pashby, engines I've sold haven't ended up in cars going for the sva. So as far as I'm aware they need a cat but I'm wondering if just the pup cats would suffice. There are also quite cheap aftermarket tubuler cats available in the US. Some are stainless and look quite nice. It wouldn't be difficult to produce a suitable system. I suspect that once sva is passed the cats would be removed from the car.
Jeff, your one lucky fellah!
pashby said:
Jeff, your one lucky fellah!
You sure are!!
In Australia you have to meet the reg's that are in force when the car is first registered...and at the rate Im going that will be equivalent to Euro 3.
Luckily, the LS1's are rated as LEV (Low emissions vehicles) and so should pass OK but with Cats.
I suppose on the bright side by the time Im ready for the engine LS2 (Gen IV) engines will be available...variable valve timing will be nice!
Andy
Boosted, my thought was more that you would expand your market considerably if you had done the experiments and were able to produce the results. You would only have to have suitable cats added to any car (your test bed car perhaps) and then get your MOT test centre to test the engine emissions. If you are interested, I may even invest in the cats and necessary work as a joint venture with you!!
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