LightBulbFun

dont worry, I found myself in the right head space and after a couple hours of deliberating exactly how to go about things, I have made contact, and alls going swimmingly  I appreciate the advice on what to say but its not that I dont know what to say or anything like that, its just the social anxiety/overthinking part, unfortunately I am not sure how else to explain it, but that is one of my foibles I guess, it took me 6 months to work up the courage to knock on the door of my neighbour who owns the Rover SD1, despite the fact I have known his wife since I was born!
 
anyways, the Son has been most kind and thankful for the contact, he says he has all of his fathers old pictures and slides in storage, that it will probably be some time before they can be got to, but he thinks theres a fair old chance there will be a picture of REV in there, so thats very exciting! 
and he has very kindly given me a couple pictures of TJN back in the day at Silverstone to share here, which is really awesome to see and have  

in better REV news, I have been informed the kingpin and bushes have been refitted and everything buttoned back up! I am very pleased to hear this, as this has been one of REV's longer-standing issues that was first noticed all the way back in 2021! so I am glad to see the end of it so to speak
 
and with that Duncan discovered the fun that is the Model 70 fasteners! 
have to admit that gave me a good chuckle
however in the course of putting things back together, this was noticed!

 which I find most interesting from a “I am a sad bastard who studies every nut and bolt of these machines” perspective  
because one of the things written in the parts manual is

"STY403 Steering top plate (C/W 2x 5/16" BSF bolt x 3/4" long packed in sets) NOTE: For use with Left hand Steering lock when LP 1161 wheels (Store STY 474) are fitted"

(Dunlop LP 1161 wheels are the standard 10 inch Mini 21A2744 wheels that later Model 70's like REV have)

The thing, I have never been able to figure out what "Left hand steering lock" actually is! It’s not listed anywhere else in the parts manual apart from that note, but I have to wonder if the steering lock, is what Duncan has just made himself?

I think this might be something @Zelandeth you might want to check on TPA, especially as TPA is on 10 inch wheels when she started out life on 12 inch wheels
 
and then some other items where sorted out also  

 

in better REV news, I have been informed the kingpin and bushes have been refitted and everything buttoned back up! I am very pleased to hear this, as this has been one of REV's longer-standing issues that was first noticed all the way back in 2021! so I am glad to see the end of it so to speak
 
and with that Duncan discovered the fun that is the Model 70 fasteners! 
have to admit that gave me a good chuckle
however in the course of putting things back together, this was noticed!

 which I find most interesting from a “I am a sad bastard who studies every nut and bolt of these machines” perspective  
because one of the things written in the parts manual is

"STY403 Steering top plate (C/W 2x 5/16" BSF bolt x 3/4" long packed in sets) NOTE: For use with Left hand Steering lock when LP 1161 wheels (Store STY 474) are fitted"

(Dunlop LP 1161 wheels are the standard 10 inch Mini 21A2744 wheels that later Model 70's like REV have)

The thing, I have never been able to figure out what "Left hand steering lock" actually is! It’s not listed anywhere else in the parts manual apart from that note, but I have to wonder if the steering lock, is what Duncan has just made himself?

I think this might be something @Zelandeth you might want to check on TPA, especially as TPA is on 10 inch wheels when she started out life on 12 inch wheels
 
and then some other items where sorted out also  

 

Great to see REV getting really decent attention to detail. At least that way you've got the maximum chance of some semblance of reliability when you finally find yourself back behind the handlebars again.

in better REV news, I have been informed the kingpin and bushes have been refitted and everything buttoned back up! I am very pleased to hear this, as this has been one of REV's longer-standing issues that was first noticed all the way back in 2021! so I am glad to see the end of it so to speak
 
and with that Duncan discovered the fun that is the Model 70 fasteners! 
have to admit that gave me a good chuckle
however in the course of putting things back together, this was noticed!

 which I find most interesting from a “I am a sad bastard who studies every nut and bolt of these machines” perspective  
because one of the things written in the parts manual is

"STY403 Steering top plate (C/W 2x 5/16" BSF bolt x 3/4" long packed in sets) NOTE: For use with Left hand Steering lock when LP 1161 wheels (Store STY 474) are fitted"

(Dunlop LP 1161 wheels are the standard 10 inch Mini 21A2744 wheels that later Model 70's like REV have)

The thing, I have never been able to figure out what "Left hand steering lock" actually is! It’s not listed anywhere else in the parts manual apart from that note, but I have to wonder if the steering lock, is what Duncan has just made himself?

I think this might be something @Zelandeth you might want to check on TPA, especially as TPA is on 10 inch wheels when she started out life on 12 inch wheels
 
and then some other items where sorted out also  

 

in better REV news, I have been informed the kingpin and bushes have been refitted and everything buttoned back up! I am very pleased to hear this, as this has been one of REV's longer-standing issues that was first noticed all the way back in 2021! so I am glad to see the end of it so to speak
 
and with that Duncan discovered the fun that is the Model 70 fasteners! 
have to admit that gave me a good chuckle
however in the course of putting things back together, this was noticed!

 which I find most interesting from a “I am a sad bastard who studies every nut and bolt of these machines” perspective  
because one of the things written in the parts manual is

"STY403 Steering top plate (C/W 2x 5/16" BSF bolt x 3/4" long packed in sets) NOTE: For use with Left hand Steering lock when LP 1161 wheels (Store STY 474) are fitted"

(Dunlop LP 1161 wheels are the standard 10 inch Mini 21A2744 wheels that later Model 70's like REV have)

The thing, I have never been able to figure out what "Left hand steering lock" actually is! It’s not listed anywhere else in the parts manual apart from that note, but I have to wonder if the steering lock, is what Duncan has just made himself?

I think this might be something @Zelandeth you might want to check on TPA, especially as TPA is on 10 inch wheels when she started out life on 12 inch wheels
 
and then some other items where sorted out also  

 

in better REV news, I have been informed the kingpin and bushes have been refitted and everything buttoned back up! I am very pleased to hear this, as this has been one of REV's longer-standing issues that was first noticed all the way back in 2021! so I am glad to see the end of it so to speak
 
and with that Duncan discovered the fun that is the Model 70 fasteners! 
have to admit that gave me a good chuckle
however in the course of putting things back together, this was noticed!

 which I find most interesting from a “I am a sad bastard who studies every nut and bolt of these machines” perspective  
because one of the things written in the parts manual is

"STY403 Steering top plate (C/W 2x 5/16" BSF bolt x 3/4" long packed in sets) NOTE: For use with Left hand Steering lock when LP 1161 wheels (Store STY 474) are fitted"

(Dunlop LP 1161 wheels are the standard 10 inch Mini 21A2744 wheels that later Model 70's like REV have)

The thing, I have never been able to figure out what "Left hand steering lock" actually is! It’s not listed anywhere else in the parts manual apart from that note, but I have to wonder if the steering lock, is what Duncan has just made himself?

I think this might be something @Zelandeth you might want to check on TPA, especially as TPA is on 10 inch wheels when she started out life on 12 inch wheels
 
and then some other items where sorted out also  

 

in better REV news, I have been informed the kingpin and bushes have been refitted and everything buttoned back up! I am very pleased to hear this, as this has been one of REV's longer-standing issues that was first noticed all the way back in 2021! so I am glad to see the end of it so to speak
 
and with that Duncan discovered the fun that is the Model 70 fasteners! 
have to admit that gave me a good chuckle
however in the course of putting things back together, this was noticed!

 which I find most interesting from a “I am a sad bastard who studies every nut and bolt of these machines” perspective  
because one of the things written in the parts manual is

"STY403 Steering top plate (C/W 2x 5/16" BSF bolt x 3/4" long packed in sets) NOTE: For use with Left hand Steering lock when LP 1161 wheels (Store STY 474) are fitted"

(Dunlop LP 1161 wheels are the standard 10 inch Mini 21A2744 wheels that later Model 70's like REV have)

The thing, I have never been able to figure out what "Left hand steering lock" actually is! It’s not listed anywhere else in the parts manual apart from that note, but I have to wonder if the steering lock, is what Duncan has just made himself?

I think this might be something @Zelandeth you might want to check on TPA, especially as TPA is on 10 inch wheels when she started out life on 12 inch wheels
 
and then some other items where sorted out also  

 

Battery charger and battery arrived.

Battery duly inserted in the hole, lubricated the mounting bolts and put the thing on charge because it's spent a lot of time in the box. 

Connected up, the dash provides a litany of faults. It all seems to work though. Climate control screen is half working, but the segments that are broken only show up at a temperature not normally set so that's good. 

Sunroof and windows all work, which is surprising.  Someone's been in there before, it's all nicely greased up.

Most of the other electrical things also work. Oddly this car has side repeater indicator lights, rear fog lights and the dash says BOOT OPEN when you pop the trunk. 
Driver's side seat has two movements that don't work, the front of the seat just whirs and doesn't move up or down, and the headrest just goes click. 
Radio also needs investigation.
 
Overall quite surprising how much of it still works. 
 
Phil

in better REV news, I have been informed the kingpin and bushes have been refitted and everything buttoned back up! I am very pleased to hear this, as this has been one of REV's longer-standing issues that was first noticed all the way back in 2021! so I am glad to see the end of it so to speak
 
and with that Duncan discovered the fun that is the Model 70 fasteners! 
have to admit that gave me a good chuckle
however in the course of putting things back together, this was noticed!

 which I find most interesting from a “I am a sad bastard who studies every nut and bolt of these machines” perspective  
because one of the things written in the parts manual is

"STY403 Steering top plate (C/W 2x 5/16" BSF bolt x 3/4" long packed in sets) NOTE: For use with Left hand Steering lock when LP 1161 wheels (Store STY 474) are fitted"

(Dunlop LP 1161 wheels are the standard 10 inch Mini 21A2744 wheels that later Model 70's like REV have)

The thing, I have never been able to figure out what "Left hand steering lock" actually is! It’s not listed anywhere else in the parts manual apart from that note, but I have to wonder if the steering lock, is what Duncan has just made himself?

I think this might be something @Zelandeth you might want to check on TPA, especially as TPA is on 10 inch wheels when she started out life on 12 inch wheels
 
and then some other items where sorted out also  

 

Having consulted with my chief engineer, in an effort to free the Mini engine without dismantling it I added an Acetone and ATF oil mix to each cylinder. I was recommended 50/50 but as I could only get relative weak nail varnish remover I upped the Acetone to 66%. I will see what a few days does for it.

I have found a cheap vehicle for @hairnet to rent next time he is in Norway.

You know you have broken the DVLA/the DVLA is broken, when their words not mine on the phone was more or less: "yeah spoken to my colleague about the issues you raised, even I cant get through to that department, your going to have to put in a formal/official complaint with our complaints department, ill send you an email with details how to do that the quickest"
what a shit show, you know its bad when their *own* advice is write to the complaints department, thats not something I asked for myself or anything of the such but their own words!

That's pretty much typical government on all levels these days. They operate like the secret service.
The few (non DVLA) departments i have the misfortune of having to deal with, the above is pretty much the norm there too. The department you need to reach go out their way to be uncontactable (hidden phone numbers, incoming calls barred etc, no email addresses), even when their office is only half an hour away, you're not allowed to go in to them, security see to that. Appointments only. 'Can i have an appointment then?' = LOL no, that needs to be arranged through other departments.
The only way they can be contacted at all is via a general switchboard number to a call centre  300 miles away, who also have no way of contacting them directly and need to email a separate department to get them to email the original department and hope the department you actually needed to deal with will make contact and sometimes the only way to get that to happen is via complaints.
As a result, something that should take 2 minutes can easily take weeks.

Pffft, how about a triaxle leyland Olympian
3:15ish for the green lane in a yellow bus action 

Sorry, and I was not calling you frequent flyer either, just reflecting on how large bureaucracies tend to see 'customers'.

what bemuses me so much, why I made the post above, is the fact it was the DVLA themselves that said to do it
I expected some bullshit response or something along those lines, something to make *me* go to the complaints department, ya know like with your Invacar Mk12, how at one point they claimed to have never ever gotten your V62 at one point,
but no they just up and self referred themselves, they cut out the middle bit, maybe i have to give them credit for being efficient about it LOL
guess I should point out for clarity sake this was my first contact with the DVLA since the email I sent them back in January that they never responded to hence the phone call today to chase that up, they certainly cant say I did not give them adequate time to respond LOL
prior communication from me has been one written letter and one phone call after that
 
so in total I have contacted the DVLA 4 times about this issue starting from the 21st of October 2023 to Today 17th April 2024.
 

You know you have broken the DVLA/the DVLA is broken, when their words not mine on the phone was more or less: "yeah spoken to my colleague about the issues you raised, even I cant get through to that department, your going to have to put in a formal/official complaint with our complaints department, ill send you an email with details how to do that the quickest"
what a shit show, you know its bad when their *own* advice is write to the complaints department, thats not something I asked for myself or anything of the such but their own words!

Oh its that one  I did a bit of digging into last time it showed up on these beige pages, 
TL;DR figure out if it actually have a VIN plate/body or chassis stamped number somewhere, if it actually has its proper VIN/stamped number, search number to see if original record exists if so, V62, if not, Dating letter through relevant club for age related plate
and if push come to shove you could probably get it registered as a rebuilt classic
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/reconstructed-classic-vehicles

That is not the only  Custerfuck* to come out of the USA😁

what bemuses me so much, why I made the post above, is the fact it was the DVLA themselves that said to do it
I expected some bullshit response or something along those lines, something to make *me* go to the complaints department, ya know like with your Invacar Mk12, how at one point they claimed to have never ever gotten your V62 at one point,
but no they just up and self referred themselves, they cut out the middle bit, maybe i have to give them credit for being efficient about it LOL
guess I should point out for clarity sake this was my first contact with the DVLA since the email I sent them back in January that they never responded to hence the phone call today to chase that up, they certainly cant say I did not give them adequate time to respond LOL
prior communication from me has been one written letter and one phone call after that
 
so in total I have contacted the DVLA 4 times about this issue starting from the 21st of October 2023 to Today 17th April 2024.
 

You know you have broken the DVLA/the DVLA is broken, when their words not mine on the phone was more or less: "yeah spoken to my colleague about the issues you raised, even I cant get through to that department, your going to have to put in a formal/official complaint with our complaints department, ill send you an email with details how to do that the quickest"
what a shit show, you know its bad when their *own* advice is write to the complaints department, thats not something I asked for myself or anything of the such but their own words!

Custer chair

one of the few (if not only?) Powered invalid carriages to come out of the US  

Oh its that one  I did a bit of digging into last time it showed up on these beige pages, 
TL;DR figure out if it actually have a VIN plate/body or chassis stamped number somewhere, if it actually has its proper VIN/stamped number, search number to see if original record exists if so, V62, if not, Dating letter through relevant club for age related plate
and if push come to shove you could probably get it registered as a rebuilt classic
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/reconstructed-classic-vehicles

I have already had my card marked about stealing the wheels from an Invacar!🙂