I got an e-mail from the certifier this morning.
It read as follows:



Hi John and Rosie,

Making progress on bus,
A VIN No has been issued and it has been classed as MA Class by NZTA.
Just a few problems on certification side,
(1) Sorting out seats and the fact that they are welded to the floor. Awaiting answer from LVVTA, but I think we will have to bolt and plate them.
(2) Paper work required for fabricated drive shaft.
(3) Steering shaft requires securing at bottom of column.
(4) High stop light required
(5) Speedo to operate correctly
(6) Steering to self centre
(7) Burst Proof Door lock on entry door? Awaiting answer from LVVTA.

At this stage these Items need rectifying and then we can road test and go from there.
We can sort these problems out for you if you wish.

Awaiting your reply,

Noel McMillin


Well that's not too bad...I can live with that...so I got busy to remedy what I could from here.
Taking the points he made:
(1) A stressed seat (as these are,) can be welded to the floor, but if he's not happy with it, then by all means drill eight holes and bolt them down with fender washers.
(2) Shot into town to the accountant's, got a copy of the invoice, and sent it off to him.
(3) I rang to clarify this; what's it all about?
It seems that either Coxy or myself, when installing the column, had neglected to nip a bolt up tightly...and it was only finger tight...easily remedied.
(4) Easily remedied too; get a stick-on one from Repco, wire it into the loom that goes to the light-up Ford trim across the rear door, and stick the suction cap to the rear window.
(And it's sure to fall off 'accidentally' once the paper work has been processed.)
(5) We can't set the speedo until the vehicle is legal; it has to be driven over a measured mile and then set.
(6) Get a wheel allignment...the chassis is set up for driving on the right-hand side of the road...we drive on the left...it's trying to handle a different camber to the road surface.
(7) I don't have the paper work for that; it's something Coxy sourced, but it is a proper motor-home door latch.
But I'll be surprised if Justin at the LVVTA insists on paper-work proving it's burst-proof; because it's adjacent to the steps, not to a passenger seat...the passenger seat is forward of the step well.

So I'm happy with that...a huge worry off my mind...you hear horror stories of some people getting pages of 'to remedy' things.

AND THE END IS IN SIGHT!

Once these minor things are remedied, and the certification is okayed by LVVTA (Should I send them some more drinks?...nah...better not!) I can get a warrant of fitness on it, get it registered, bring it home and tout it around a few paint-shops, and then to Thames to get the interior fitted.
Then back here for painting and sign-writing, and then...DRIVE IT!

So its debut at Muscle Car Madness or Beach Hop is looking to be a possibility.
Yeeha!

(If anyone has shares in the ice-cream manufacturer Tip-top you'd better sell them; their profit line is gonna drop!)

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