Well It's been done, the car has been wired & fired! After some problems with the starter motor not wanting to, a thief siphoning over 6 gallons of petrol the night before the first Emerald session, and another really nice person stabbing and puncturing the radiator the night after the first session ­--WHY? [which cost me £110 for another rad!] We triumphed but -- I'd suggest anybody using Emerald and who has to stay overnight use an alternative Hotel to the one recommended by Emerald. The petrol & the radiator incidents happened whilst the car was parked overnight & covered on a trailer in that hotel car park --The only time the car wasn't in my garage during the rebuild! The first accessory I'm gonna fit when I see one is a locking petrol cap.

After the rolling road session mapped on Emerald's rolling road by the best in the UK, the 'Prof' Dave Walker, the engine gives over 154 BHP at the wheels, a bit more than a standard 1600 X flow's 86 at the flywheel! Was it all worth it?

After mapping the engine the next stage to get the car roadworthy was to pass the MOT, because of recent changes it's much more difficult and time consuming to book an MOT test, this mean't an agonising wait of a week before I could get the car tested. Thankfully it passed though the stress was huge until I had the certificate In my mitts. Next stage is to obtain the road tax, because of the problems I had getting the original registration mark. Returned I have to take the car & documentation to the local VRO office [Cardiff] who will issue me with a road fund Licence, [hopefully with the compliments of the government FOC!!]. I had no problems Taxing the car and on Sunday 2 April 06 we went out for our first drive, despite cold, wet and downright awful weather, the car ran faultlessly, long may it continue!!

Mal Hill April 06