This is a list of things you should check prior to the SVA test. Most of it will apply to any model you are
building but there are some points that are specific to the Tiger Supercat
This is obviously not a comprehensive list, and won't cover every point, but it should give you a good idea and may prompt you to check
something you may have overlooked.
Fee free to email me any things you think I may have missed.
Fit rubber covers to track rod end nuts, cover top balljoint nuts (self amalgamating tape), fit nut covers to
caliper mounting bolts, lower balljoint nut, wheel arch stay nuts, and any other visible nut on the front suspension
Fit rubber U channel around headlamp mouting brackets and ensure the round mounting ring of the headlamp doesn't protrude
Extend front indicators to ensure they are
no further than 400mm from the widest point of the body (remember that the rear is wider than the front, take your measurements from there. If you have
to fit extensions on the rear arches to cover the wheels, then these are also included in the overall width) Make sure that the indicator wiring inside
the nosecone is either taped with looming tape and secured to the fibreglass, or covered in spiral wrap
Make sure the rear lights are in the correct
positions, the rear fog lamp MUST be vertical, and you have 2 reflectors if your lights do not have them built in. The reflectors also must be vertical, and
have a radius of 2.5mm on their edges
Either use the std sierra steering wheel, or fit the padded cover supplied with the Tiger steering wheel. (The cover must stay on
of its own accord, i.e not taped on, or cable tied on etc. I found this cover fitted securely without the horn push fitted). Make sure you have a colapsible boss, and the column has the
front bush fitted into the outer tube.
Fit nut covers to the bolts holding the scuttle on under the dash. If you have fitted a windscreen wiper then make a plywood or ali cover to
hide all the sharp edges. Fit pipe lagging to the top chassis rails under the dash, cover with vinyl and screw to the chassis rails (cable ties etc
are not permitted). Stick some foam padding around fusebox.
Check front and rear tyres are within the bodywork. If the rears protrude then make up some ali extensions, rivet to
the inside of the wheel arch and trim the edges with U trim (remember to check your front inidcators are still withing the required distance). The front arches must be fitted so they cover the wheel (not tyre) when looking from above (see pic), fit U trim to the edges, and make
sure the wing stay brackets have a 2.5mm radius to the edges
If spare wheel is fitted, make a padded cover to completely cover the wheel, otherwise remove the bracket from
the chassis
Make sure you have fitted rubber P trim along the joins between the front & side aluminium panels
Handbrake warning light must be red and show the right symbol, must also illuminate when the fluid level button on the brake master cylinder is depressed. Make sure
that the light on the fog light switch only illuminates when the fog light is acutally on (Tiger loom is wired incorrectly and the light comes on
with the sidelights). Make sure all under dash wiring is neat, tidy, and secure.
Check seat belts are fitted to the outside of the Tiger roll bar, or hoops, with an M12 bolt, nylock nut, and protective plastic cover.
Ensure the nyloc nut is covered with a nut cover and the bolt is clearly marked with a tensile load rating of at least 8.8. Make sure if you are using
racing harnesses that they are above the minimum height from the base of the seat.
Replace Tiger supplied rear bonnet catches with rubber SVA proof ones, cover front spring catches with a piece of heater hose, and glue nut cover to the nut.
Make sure roll hoop(s) are secured at each end with 3 M8 bolts marked with a tensile load of at least 8.8 and covered top and bottom
with nut covers.
Check front brake hoses do not foul on full lock, and make sure front tyres do not scrub the front lower tie arms on full lock. If they do, remove steering
rack gaiters and fit a jubilee clip to each tie rod to limit the amount of travel.
Make sure steering starts to self centre on full lock. If it doesnt then set toe out to maximun and lower tyre pressure to around 20psi.
If you have fitted a fuel filter near the tank then ensure it is securely attached to the chassis. Make sure fuel filler neck is sealed to the
rear bodywork and the vent pipe connected to the tank.
Seal all wiring holes through bodywork with grommets or sealer (rear lights etc), make sure that you have no loose wires hanging around (cable tied to
the chassis is ok, but they must be either wrapped with looming tape, or spiral wrap).
File all sharp edges on exhaust can, make sure tailpipe is radiused. Cover mounting bracket with U trim and fit nut
covers to mounting bolts. Do not fit a clamp, use the rear bracket to hold the exhasut in place and seal with silicon sealant.
Check all pedals have anti slip pads on them, and pedal box is secure.
Check battery is secure and fit cover to +ve terminal
Drivers wing mirror must be fitted at same height as if windscreen was fitted, make sure there are no sharp edges. Centre mirror MUST be fitted
(Vauxhall Nova one seeme to fit nicely)
Check engine number is clearly visible, take proof of engine age, set emmissions accordingly. Engines later than 1994 are required to
meet catalyst emissions
Check and tighten handbrake cable locks. The tester will really give this some grief on the test and there must be reserve travel
after the rear wheels have locked up.
Check dash radius. If a hard dash is fitted (carbon etc) then you must have a 19mm radius. If a padded dash is fitted then fit U channel or
vinyl covered soft tube to lower dash edge, this trim MUST appear to be permanent and "fitted by the manufacturer or altered in a manner APPROVED by the manufacturer"
Fit U channel around the front wing edges, nose cone edges, carb cut out in bonnet, and bonnet front and rear edges
Check that the correct 2.5 mm radias has been filed on the following edges :- windscreen surround, windscreen supports,
wing mirrors, grille, nose edges, bonnet edges & cut outs for carbs, carb trumpets, wing support brackets, suspension & wishbones, rear wing
edges, wheel arches, reflector corners, spare wheel / number plate mounting bracket, etc etc.
Take spanner to adjust the headlamps for the beam test
Make sure all fuel line is marked as such and secured with rubber lined metal P clips, or plastic P clips. The front to rear metal fuel line
must not be clipped to wiring loom or the brake lines.
The copper brake pipes must be p cliped every 75mm along their length.
Tiger Chassis plate must be clearly visible, and chassis number must be stamped into the chassis.
Anything on the outside of the car that can be touched by a 100mm sphere (wrap a tennis ball in gaffer tape until its 100mm) MUST have a 2.5mm radius. If the sphere
can't touch it, it doesnt need to be radiused (see pic below)
As the sphere could touch
the front of the mirrors they needed to be radiused, however because the sphere touched the mirror arm and the scuttle at the rear of the mirror and didnt touch the base, the sharp
edges there were fine.
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