Thread: Need help on bus origins.

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Originally Posted by johnboy

"Give me the bad news."
"There isn't any. The news is that the classification process has been completed."
So with that lot of bureaucratic bulldust out of the way; now the certification process can proceed. I couldn't be happier if I was twins!.

Now that is a belly shaker! I bust out laughin' so hard I was coughin' to catch my breath!

Good for you! So have another bowl of ice cream and know we're so happy for you!

That's good news John.
I spoke with Justin at the NZHRA show.
He's an easy guy to get on with aye.

ps. I guess it will be Yellow like Willys COE truck.




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Great news See Ice Cream fixs everything

Thanks people for the kind words/thoughts.
So many of these bureaucrats seem to be bullies of no intellect, full of education but no knowledge, who have never built a car in their lives, but have finally got themselves into a position of minor power where they can throw thier weight about and make everyone's lives that little bit more difficult.
I liken them to eunuchs in an harem; they know how it's done, they see it done every day, but are totally incapable of doing it themselves.

You're supposed to mellow as you get older; but I've become more irascable...where once I would have rolled with the punches, now I'm more inclined to say: "Back off! I don't have to put up with this s**t!"
Which very often doesn't help my cause any.
That's why I left this in Justin's capable hands; I'd likely finish up wanting to punch someone.
("How do you like your head...one lump or two?")

And I think I'll continue with the ice-cream...it seems to work!


P.s.
I posted a wee box full of tea-bags to Justin today...it'll be a few days before he gets them and I get a response...
"Here's these few drinks I promised you.")
Tee-hee!
(Or should that be: tea-hee?)

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It seems that the politician and his "officials" are standard nonsense the world over!
Yes, continue with the ice cream! I find my ice cream intake rises and falls with my stress level and leads to other issues, but...

I'm still smiling! And now you're another step further in the process and making headway! That's gotta feel good!!! 8-)

Originally Posted by johnboy

I liken them to eunuchs in an harem; they know how it's done, they see it done every day, but are totally incapable of doing it themselves.

How apropros...................

No news on the certification yet; but Justin got his teabags in the mail yesterday.
How do I know?
Because of the reaction I got!

I had written on the box: "Here are those few drinks I promised you".

The inter-web went mad!

There were even photos of the box of teabags and my attached note posted up for all to see.

He called me all sorts of names, and used words that with my sheltered upbringing and exemplary life I've never heard before.


He reckoned that the whole office was in an uproar.
One of the best leg-pulls he's ever had done...


But I'm still a mongrel.


I think I'll stay away from the LVVTA offices for a while...
Tee-hee.

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A well timed, and well played joke keeps things interesting for everyone, and enriches friendships. Paybacks, however, can sometimes be he[[

Got a phone call from Coxy today.
Noel MacMillen (the joker doing the certification,) had rung him wanting to know about various bits and pieces on the bus.
'Where did we get the second steering box and why are they mounted in tandem?"
"Willy Roach. And they're mounted that way because that's what Willy advised, it's the way he does all his."
"Why is there a new crossmember in the chassis?"
"Because it was automatic but is now a manual."
"Who built the driveshaft?"
Coxy reckoned this one floored him.
"Listen you dumb ar####le; you tell me! I called into your shop five or six weeks back with the driveshaft on the tray of my ute, you asked me what it was for, I told you, and then I asked you where to find his shop. Because I couldn't. And you gave me directions. So you tell me who made it!"

Coxy and I are very alike in temperament, and don't suffer fools.

Coxy also explained to him that it's a standard 2000 Chev lwb chassis, and the body (apart from the door modification,) is a standard Superior bus.

So from that I surmise that MacMillen has actually started doing the certification.
After three weeks or more of prevarication.
Sigh.

I console myself with the thought that good things take time...and another bowl of ice-cream.

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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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Originally Posted by johnboy

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!

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!)

That is great news! The light in the tunnel is getting brighter! So relax and finish off that ice cream!

Originally Posted by 34_40

That is great news! The light in the tunnel is getting brighter! So relax and finish off that ice cream!

So long as the light in the tunnel isn't a train coming at me!
When things like this start moving too smoothly you wonder when that fella with the hand-full of spanners is going to show up again.

And as for more ice cream...nah; my broad mind and narrow waist are thinking about trading places!


But thanks, yeah; so far the news is pretty good.

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Who is the Trimmer in Thames you are using John? Is he or she a rodder or a business you know or recommend. I would like somebody like Stitches or Goodwin Upholstery do mine but way over my price league I'm afraid.

I'm using Glen and Mathew Donaldson of TranztecRV.
They're not upholsterers per se; they have the franchise for Duralite, a laminated foam board that I've seen and admired.
They specialise in installing interiors in motor-homes.

As you came off the old Kopu bridge heading in to Thames, they were in a large building on your right, set back from the road just around the second corner.

Not too sure where they are in relation to the new bridge; I've not been up there since it opened.

For upholstery I'd plump for a local guy, Erroll Ward, who works from home just up the road from me in Okato.
He's good, and not over the top with his prices.
(And he's a character; as crazy as a cut cat.)


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Well, its been seven weeks since the certifier got the bus, I've not heard anything from him recently; so today I rang him.
They've just got it back after a wheel alignment, (and the alignment was an issue with it not centreing,) but now it appears that the steering is binding.
I can't for the life of me think of anything that could cause that, and told him that if he thought it was to do with the twin steering boxes then to ring Willie Roach.
Willie knows of the bus, and he is 'The Man' in NZ for this type of thing.
(And I've known Willie and he's known me for over forty years...he's a local, an Opunake boy.)

The only other problem is an engineer's report on the seats.
I had contacted the manufacturer, Starfish Interiors, asking them to send him a copy (of a report,) but they haven't.
Bugger!
So I told Noel to contact them directly; and give them a rark-up.
Either send him a copy or get their engineer to do so...but ensure it's done!

Sigh.

So it's still not certified.

Frustrated?

Hell yeah!

(I might have to buy another container of ice cream!)

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