Tom Booth

I can't understand why they exempt stock cars from the new rulings though? The only mod worth noting on my ford is the air ride suspension. I know that's around 8 years old. Get some guy in a totally standard fairlane and chances are the spring setup in his car is 55+ years old but doesnt need to be subject to a test, it seems a touch backwards. I'd be penalised for a disc conversion on my ford, although bringing the car to a safer standard?! I can see the ruling for chassis mods and engine swaps as that does require a level of skill and knowledge to ensure total safety. I know that ill fitted suspension and brake mods can be just as dangerous, but why not have smaller mods 'signed off' by a local authority, be it a tester or engineer rather then too many mods and it's off for testing.

My mini had to go for VIC when that went back on the road and essentially the same thing. He looked at the panel gaps, rocked the motor and sent us on our way. Shame they scrapped that for the IVC

True, but if the scaremongering floating around on the forums comes to anything you have to inform the DVLA if the vehicle is modified when you tax it, then if it's substantially modified it's 'invited' for a IVA then fate decided from there. According to the few informed on the forums too if you ignore informing the DVLA and your caught with a modded vehicle it's a possible 5k fine or 2 years in prison as it's essentially fraud. Seems if you can prove the mods were before 1988 (the year the points system came in) your sound aslong as the V5 is inline with the car.

Yeah it's becoming a rolling 40 years exemption. Plus looks like they're getting tighter with the modified stuff and clamping down on cars throat should technically be registered and IVA'd. Alot of hot rod guys are up in arms as the points system means they're 40k hot rod will possibly soon be Q plated if it gets picked up on. I know they bought the points system in a long time ago but seems some are getting pulled up for it now. Not good. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/mot-exemption-cars-over-40-years-old-arrives-may-2018 vehicles-of-historical-interest-substantial-change-guidance.pdf Looks like you have to tick a yes/no setup when your applying for historic tax as to wether the vehicles been modified dramatically, if yes it's off to IVA for you.

So then, anyone got any opinions on the new updated MOT regs?

French turd is French Dan. Nah glad your getting somewhere with it dude, did you sort your gearbox issues or still putting it off for next year??

Cheers Alex, their's not many Ford Fairlanes over here full stop as they were abit of a mid runner to the galaxy and not the 'sports' car the mustang was. I love it eitherway as it's just as powerful as a mustang but slightly different and mad amounts of fun. I love your BMW, it is absolutely one of my favourite car builds on the internet by far. It's just 100% focussed on going balls out fast!

Bonus fact, I'd play Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow and Alexis Knapp like f**king fiddles.

Steering box woes mayyyyyyyyybe solved. I spent the day building my buddies 64 mustang, which uses effectively the same steering. I looked at his steering box and realised mines either missing a top hat support that runs next to the bearing, or it's worn away through years of being driven on shitty bearings so it's not offering the top bearing full support in the centre. We went to mine and whipped the steering box off (4h job).. and took it to his workshop, stripped and realised the mustang steering box is 99% the same so I can repair mine with a donor. Luckily this is his 10th mustang so he has spares galore. Gonna drop the steering box back with the original repair guys for them to replace the bearings, then fit the replacement top support when its back. I'm still gonna look for steering rack options and accumulate parts, just be able to do it at a better time. Oh yeah repainted the rear quater with a better match, just the other side to finish and it's solid..

Back quater painted up, colours off a little it's abit to yellow but it's water proof for now, just need to buff the blend in. The rear n/s trim had a caravan plug through it when I bought it so I've had that welded up and I've painted it turquoise to match the sides now. It's getting there!

Driveway refinishing now available!

I have no shame in admitting I f**king love Pitch Perfect. I can't wait for PP3 aswell..

The top bearing in the steering box has failed, so rather then the bearing taking the load, rotating the column and turning the sector shaft, the steering shaft 'unscrews' out the box as there's nothing to hold it in place. It could be as simple as a dodgey bearing and not there fault but it's knocked my confidence in the setup, plus it's an absolute twat to remove and refit if this becomes a regular problem.

Not sure what to do, company that rebuilt the steering box have happily offered to repair under warranty, which would get it on the road again without too much hassle. Downside is I might not be so fortunate and in such a good position if it fails again. Also means I can use this time to do more research on steering and gather parts ready for a winter rebuild.

Yeah, the logic in my head suggested a shorter rack would offer less movement then with a longer rack and shorter track arms. RHD mk2 escort rack flipped is 10mm narrower then the current steering pivot points and should mount up relatively easy with some creative bracketry..

Whilst were on a yank tip.. Hashtag goals or whatever it is..

Ah sorry I'm with you, I reread your post and see it now. No there is very little/no camber change with the suspension. There's no difference in camber with the car on full lift to total drop on the air ride, if there is it's very very minimal.

There's adjustment for 2 or 3 degrees camber correction but it's not vast. That's a pretty useful diagram Adam cheers for that. It does seem a hell of a minefield when you start researching steering setups and geometries but I think something pretty simple can be made to fit my needs. As I say I'm not looking to optimise this setup and get it to it's all out potential, I just don't want anything nasty to come of it either. In the states they just seem to go find a scrapper and just rip into it I can't find anything regards steering rack conversions on a '64 fairlane so this could well be a first home brew..

When you say what height the steering racks mounted at, what's that relative too? The steering arms, chassis or wishbone? With the car being on air it's gonna be abit of a guessing game haha. It's a double wishbone system anyway yeah. It sounds abit lazy but I don't really want motorsport standard steering from it, just a reliable simple setup. Aslong as I don't gain any adverse bump steer along the way I'll be pretty happy if it turns out as it is now..

@RobinJI Steering rebuild, if I remember rightly your very clued up on this.. If I choose a steering rack the same body width as the mounts/pivots of my bottom arms, then mount the rack so the steering arms sit parrelel to the bottom arms when at ride height that should give the correct steering proportions shouldn't it? With minimal bump steer.. If I mount the rack following the line my current steering bar sits along that should also mirror the factory steering and be as close to as possible.. It all makes sense in my head, just needs clarifying haha.

Bodywork time.. Ariel hole filled and painted... I'll be painting the arches at the weekend, then while it's off the road I'm gonna whip around with aerosols and tidy door shuts up and the likes. Ordered a MK2 escort rack tonight in RHD and I'll flip it so it's correct for mounting behind the hubs. It's the correct length more or less so should provide a good base and keep bump steer down. Need to asses my options in terms of how to joint the column to the rack, it'll inevitably be a length of rod and 2 UJs but I'll need to develop a support for the engine bay end of the column..

Steering box has died again f**king thing. Time for a steering rack conversion I think..

Yaaay Paint and finishing tomorow!

Back from Venice and back to the usual shit of people chasing me for work and me chasing people for money and parts the break was fun while it lasted..

I'd love to but I haven't got the plums to jump into the motor trade! I Do alright with the jukes so I'm staying put..