Having now got the car working, and UK registered, it was time for a professional to take a look. Among other things the geo needed sorting, and I felt it wouldn't hurt to have a non-idiot check for idiot mistakes.

The photo makes it look like a nice drive in the country, but actually quite stressful. Spongey brakes and terrible geo are minor amusements on a quiet B-road, but much less funny when trying to keep up with rush hour traffic. Still, we made it in one piece.

Problems found and fixed by the expert were:

• Some loose suspension and brake bolts (my fault, or my torque wrench is over-reading). I do have a bit of a tendency to be gentle with threads, so probably me.
• Leak from coupling at fuel tank. I knew about this one but left it to someone else, since it's a nasty job. Not entirely my fault, although I should have noticed the damage to the coupling surfaces before I installed.
• Faulty alternator and / or regulator had fried the battery. Battery replaced, alternator upgraded to a Jonny Retrofit special, external regulator now redundant. Unless I get ambitious and install electric aircon, a 175A alternator is going to lead a very gentle life in my car! Hopefully that means it will be nice and reliable. https://www.classicretrofit.com/collections/upgraded-alternators
• Geometry now sorted. I'm hoping it will drive rather better now...
• Reverse lights not working. My fault, I damaged the connector to the switch on the gearbox during one of the many engine drops

I guess I feel a little bit disappointed with myself that various snags needed sorting. I do have an actual engineering degree (...I know, get him...), so I should be able to do up a bolt properly. More generally the car is still a little way from being perfect in detail areas and, since perfection is the goal, it feels deflating in some ways to still have a fair bit of fettling work to do.

Ah well, I chose this hobby. First world problems, without a doubt... Next “job” is to drive 1000 miles to bed things in, get to know the car, and make a few tweaks…

Finally: if you want to know what a fried battery looks like, please see below. Check out the bulge in the casing! I think I will count this as a lucky escape - the luggage compartment might not have looked too pretty, had it burst.