Waiting

When I started this build I knew it was going to be a long term thing. I started it just at the wrong time in my life, with a kid on the way it wasn't going to get any significant progress for a fair few years. Just looking at these blog posts shows the difference between the beginning of the build and the end. The beginning was a post a month if I was lucky, now it's a post every weekend (with a few exceptions). 

The bit that I hadn't really appreciated was the waits for the other steps. I had expected a few weeks for the IVA appointment, that was a few months. I expected a few days for the retest, I still have another 3.5 weeks to go. Then there will be the registration stage, and again I get the impression that could be measured in months rather than weeks. 

It doesn't help that the delays result in a lack of progress, or at least what feels like a lack of progress. This weekend I didn't get anything done on the car, and I suspect the next few weekends will be similar. I ought to get it out for a warm up and a clean, but I daren't do much more. I do need to get the boot bolted up, that could be worked on. But that's for the kit car show at best, I can't have it in place for the test. 

I did get both tintops serviced and cleaned though, which they both needed. I also replaced the DSG thermostat on my Skoda, that's been struggling to get up to temperature almost since I bought it. At least now it gets nice and toasty very quickly, then the rest of the engine catches up later. Replacing the thermostat wasn't actually too bad, only a three on the 'skinned knuckles' scale. The main thing that helped there was a proper set of pliers for removing pipe clips, having ones that properly lock and also have a ratchet to keep the clip open was a godsend. And actually not that expensive on Amazon. I doubt they'd have helped on the kit car but they're perfect for VAG cars.

Oh, there is one thing I checked on the One. The radiator fan, I wanted to check it was working. Once I'd figured out that the radiator thermostat is on the front of the engine rather than the back, a quick short to earth was enough to trigger the fan. So that's one more job ticked off. 

I also have a dashcam ready to fit, or more specifically a dashcam ready for a 3D print design that will then be ready to fit. It's a small camera from Wolfang that hopefully won't stick out too much. It's front and rear as well, so as long as I can shorten the wire considerably I can put both into the roll bar mount. I will need to make it waterproof though, I'll add that to the design. Having it under the roll bar might help initially, then some sealant around the seam would finish the job maybe? It does need to be removable though, just in case the worst happens. Actually, perhaps a TPU outer shell might be effective. I'll have a think about that. First step will be to get the camera shapes into onshape then I can build the mounting around them. 

Well, I think that's it for today, the coffee has kicked in so it's time to start work.