After the first attempt was rained out, the engineering inspection happened today as planned. Bruce Hartwig arrived at 10:00 am, followed shortly by John Bosci in his GT40. I asked JB to drive the car for it's sound test, and brake test, as I've fractured a vertebrae, and am hobbling around with a walking stick, unable to bend. Great timing! I tried to get some small videos with the digital camera, but mucked it up, so here's a couple of blurry still shots instead.

We did the tests a couple of blocks down the road from my place. The drive-by sound test was done at 50km/h, which was no problem. But the brake test involves several runs at up to 100km/h, which obviously cannot be done on a suburban street. Anyway, the sound test resulted in at least 87 dBA, instead of 78 dBA, so we have a long way to go. Also, the wheel alignment was out, and the diff is definitely a problem. The diff noise may be contributing to the overall noise proble. So we decided to cancel the brake test until the wheel alignment and diff problems could be sorted.

There were some other minor problems. The fuel filler cap is horizontal, and needs to be set in a drain in case of overfilling. I need to label the warning lights, the front indicators may be too close together, and the dash needs more padding. After postponing the brake test, Bruce decided we could go to the cop shop to get the forms filled in for a VIN. After some mucking around this has now been done. Apparently, noone knows how this new process works, but I got a call yesterday that the VIN has been issued and I can pick it up. So I feel I'm getting closer to registration. The big test will be the Dept of Transport inspection.

This is the final result of my attempts to quieten the engine down, and it seems to have worked. A few runs past JB's noise meter confirmed we are down to the target of 78 dB. The Unifilter foam filter has gone, replaced by John Webster's custom intake silencer, which has been re-drilled for the blacktop. The air hose from the manifold leads to the Corolla airbox, which has been shoe-horned in under the Westie bonnet. There is a foam restrictor where the hose attaches to the airbox, so the engine is almost sucking air through a straw. No wonder it now cannot get to 6000 RPM, and feels lifeless. Poor thing! Still, if it gets past rego, I'm happy.

Finally, I have the compliance plate. The car really feels like a proper car now! I now have to wait for the DoT to book me in for an inspection, after which the car will be issued with rego plates, meaning I can drive it any time I like. This should happen soon. Can't wait!

Well, after much drama, hope and despair, the car is registered. Here is the number plate. I would have preferred 200 IZI as it sounds like Too Easy, but I guess I was two minutes too early. I had not been looking forward to the inspection, but it turned out well, and I think the inspector was trying to help me pass. There were several things he could have failed me on, but he overlooked them. One of the inspectors was asking questions about the car, and said he'd like to build one himself.

In all the last minute excitement of getting ready for the inspection, I forgot to bring my camera, so I don't have any shots of the car at the testing centre.

Here's the car registered, and ready to go. It still hasn't sunk in that it's all finished, well the first part anyway. I still have a long list of jobs to complete on the car, but it's now a finished car, waiting in the garage for me to drive whenever I feel like it. This is much better than an unfinished project which I have to work on. It feels great to have finally got it through.

Now the fun begins!