My HPE....now a rolling recommission

[Neil-yaj396]

Follow up on the rotor arm failure:

A new Bosch item (1234 332 271) supposedly correct gives a reading of 1k ohms.
This is now installed and working although I have radio interference.

The other one I got online is a Beru EVL029 and shows a reading of 5k ohms.
This I might fit during the NEC show.

Changing the subject, I took my documents, including the LMC certificate from Neil, to the Post Office
today for Historic classification.
I'd assumed that they would merely send it on. However their computer wouldn't accept it.
I know why, as the V5C incorrectly states " declared manufactured 1984" whereas actually the correct
date is Nov 83. So I posted everything to the address given on the V5C for changes.

I hope there's no dispute!

Nigel

Hi Nigel. Yes, you can only amend your tax classification at the Post Office using your V5 registration date. To use my certificate you have to apply by post to DVLA direct. A covering letter explaining what you want to do is usually advisable.

[kbetas]

Hi Nigel, i've just done the same for my HPE. I posted the documents at the beginning of this month as suggested by LMC. In theory because of the build date in 1983 i should qualify for historic from April this year but i've heard nothing back so far........ 

[Nigel]

Hi Kevin,
I'm not sure how long they take but assuming it may be a few weeks.
As Ian said, maybe they don't start processing until April?

Nigel

[Neil-yaj396]

Hi Kevin,
I'm not sure how long they take but assuming it may be a few weeks.
As Ian said, maybe they don't start processing until April?

Nigel

On the upside, so long as they accept the amendment, they will refund any tax paid post 1st April.

[Nigel]

I've just received the V5C back from DVLA, but with an unexpected twist.

Although it now states Manufactured 1983 ( they accepted Neil's letter) it still
shows the tax class as Private/Light Goods (PLG)

Nowhere does it say Historic.

I guess that means a trip back to the Post Office, where the Horizon computer
will now say 'yes'.

I wonder why they didn't do the process in one shot.

[Nigel]

And a 2nd Post Office visit later, this time accepted, the V5C
has gone to DVLA for the 2nd time in a week.

The counter clerk entered 'Historic' exactly as I did the first time.

I think the DVLA erred on this occasion.

No matter, it's done now!

Ian and Kevin, I hope you've had some sort of result by now.

[Nigel]

Meanwhile, back to the spanners....

The bonnet hinge pins were seized and no amount of squirty stuff helped.
As I'm hoping to change the bonnet soon, I needed these to be free for a
reasonably safe solo-man swop.

Just a couple of bits required in order to remove the hinges one-by-one.
A support timber and a steel bracket did the job nicely.

Edit to add; The pins were very tight. I had to use my bench press to shift them.
               

[squiglyzigly]

And a 2nd Post Office visit later, this time accepted, the V5C
has gone to DVLA for the 2nd time in a week.

The counter clerk entered 'Historic' exactly as I did the first time.

I think the DVLA erred on this occasion.

No matter, it's done now!

Ian and Kevin, I hope you've had some sort of result by now.

Hi Nigel,
I posted both my VX log books to DVLA via recorded delivery.
I went this route as one car had a proof of build date letter from the Lancia club to confirm it’s eligible for Historic this year rather than next.
So I thought it easier to send them both direct. The tracking shows they have arrived at DVLA so fingers crossed.
Something that concerns me is the ULEZ exemption seeing as I live inside it. I wonder how quickly the records will be updated with TFL. I fear it will be a bit of a hurdle.

Like the bonnet bracket as a makeshift to fix the hinge 👍🏻
How did you get the pesky Philips head countersink screws out of the hinge?

Cheers
Ian

[Nigel]

Ian,
Luckily only one screw was seized, and my previous attempts with
incorrect drivers knackered the head. I had to drill this one out. An ezi-out may
get the piece out later.

After some mis-ordering, it's a PH4 that fits. I've no idea how a PH head
found its way onto a Lancia, but there you go!
Screwfix have perfect Allan-headed A2 countersunk screws as replacements for later,
although they'll have to be shortened for the bonnet connection.

As for ULEZ, I think you'll be able to check the website before venturing outside.

Nigel

[squiglyzigly]

Nigel,
I’ve had my fair share of bloodied knuckles and swearing with those Lancia hinge screws.
Only recently have I come to an agreement with them. This involves a Makita impact gun and hardened bits from my impact driver. Lots of downward pressure and eventually they all seem to come undone. Unfortunately I’ve dented panels in the past by clumping the impact driver too hard.
I have used the stainless replacements on my coupe but personally I’ve never been 100% sure this is a perfect solution. My reasoning is that stainless is much softer and easy to round out. I think you can do them tight enough for the bonnet but I’m not so sure on the door hinges. So on the current HPE restoration I think I will try high tensile bolts and put them in with grease to try and prevent corrosion.
Only time will tell I guess.

Cheers
Ian

[kbetas]

Hi Nigel, i received a new v5 but same as you it still said private light goods. Then about a week later i received all my documentation back with a letter saying i needed to apply for historic tax again using their change of tax class form as the car would be elegible by build date on 1st April. So i sent back the new V5 along with the completed form asking for change to historic tax but heard nothing yet. In the meantime i had to re tax the car and pay for 6 months but 5 of that should be refunded when it's changed to historic. Fingers crossed!. I have also heard that it sometimes takes a month or two for ulez to update after a tax class change.

[Nigel]

Kevin,
Same here! yesterday I also received all the paperwork back! ( the date-amended V5 beat it by many days)

But as already said, the V5 is now back in the Post Office system, duly accepted.

It is but a strange system.

[Nigel]

A little mod to the non-functioning headlight
levelling system' I retained the actuators so that I could
keep the simple lamp adjustment.
These needed fixing in place in the central (ish) position.

A small piece of anything to hold the pin and a dollop of araldite
to hold it all together. Both sides similar.

[Nigel]

Kevin,
Same here! yesterday I also received all the paperwork back! ( the date-amended V5 beat it by many days)

But as already said, the V5 is now back in the Post Office system, duly accepted.

It is but a strange system.

I received a new V5C today, now on historic!

[kbetas]

Hi Nigel, I got my new V5 for the HPE today and listed as historic. It was dated 30 April and the DVLC has credited me back 5 of the 6 months tax i paid. Not a bad result really even if i still dont quite understand how the system works!. The LMC letter with build date 1983 made the difference.

[squiglyzigly]

Hi Nigel,
Same as the other chaps. My V5 now shows historic but. . . . ULEZ! And I live in it.
The ULEZ was a bit of a wrestle with TFL. Worth noting for anyone who has recently got their car classified as Historic, you will still see on the TFL website that ULEZ must be paid.
I had to go through a process with TFL to get the ‘ULEZ exempt’ status applied immediately.
Long story short, if you want ULEZ clearance immediately then you have to apply otherwise it seems you will have to wait for DVLA to send an updated database to TFL in November.
But it can be done and now my VX coupe is ULEZ exempt. Hoorah

Cheers
Ian

[Nigel]

Hi Ian,
Thanks for the ULEZ tips.
I'm not thinking I need to enter the zone anytime soon but if I do
I'll have to apply in good time.

Kevin, as far as I can work out I'm due one month's refund but no sign
of it yet. I'll follow up if not seen in a week or so.

Cheers to all,
Nigel

[kbetas]

Hi Nigel

Apologies for highjacking your resto post with ulez stuff.

My tax refund arrived by cheque two weeks after end of month.......

I checked the tfl website and the HPE is still showing as due to pay ulez charges. Website suggests i need to apply to them if i think it should be exempt. Got a surprise when i checked the 1976 Al Italia Beta rally car and it shows up as liable to pay ulez charges!. Very odd as it's been driving around London for the last three months and no sign of any charges. We have an account and just assumed it was exempt. Now i'm wondering if the cameras can't read the old black / silver number plates?.  Could that be why i'm seeing anumber of post 1980 cars driving around London with the old black plates?.

I've also got a 2003 Alfa Spider which is Euro 3 and i assumed that would be liable but it's exempt becuase its NOx number is low enough to be equivalent of Euro 4....  What a can of worms.

Cheers

[Nigel]

Kevin, that's an interesting thing about black and white plates.
Research needed! Still waiting for my one month refund, so I'm going to
call them this week.

My attempt at fitting a front bolster to the existing seat was a fail, very uncomfortable.
No regrets at trying though.
Now I understand why there's people designing seats for a living.

Meanwhile, I was fortunate to acquire a pair of VX Recaro's, one of which
is in very poor condition, but is now fitted.
It's going to get a nice long cramp test next weekend on my journey to BetaBoyz.

It's already feeling very comfortable and that's just pootling around town today.

Although I had stripped and cleaned the runners and refitted the rollers, the seat won't
slide properly. I suspect the roller rubbers are worn
as they have clearly not stayed where I placed them. Which will make removal a challenge.

See you all, well some, next weekend.

 

[squiglyzigly]

Hi Nigel,
I think you will get on well with the Recaro seats. They are undoubtedly more supportive than the spongy seats. I expect you will make some personal adjustments once you’ve got to know them. Personally I find they feel a bit lower to the ground and the angle of the base can be improved with some simple spacers under the mounting points. Just as some modern cars have pitch adjustment to the base, I have achieved my preferred pitch with said spacers.

As to the ULEZ database, I thinks it’s a bit of a mess. I have friends and family with no end of database problems. A friend of mine purchased a brand new petrol car and transferred their personal plate onto it. ULEZ gone and the fines rolled in! On the other hand I have a euro4 diesel (EURO 6 didn’t exist when the car was made) and they’ve said it’s good to go. 18 months on auto pay and not a penny charged!
I don’t think we will ever be able to compile a definitive guide of how to deal with ULEZ.

Hope the Recaro works out for you
Ian