Had a spare hour allocated to me by the project manager so went for a glamor job & put the exhaust on. No issues, the clips were a bit of a struggle but using the cable tie method managed it in the end. One of them I had to loop a heavy duty cable tie around so I could give it a good pull over its clip. I was a bit concerned that the collector would be a struggle but it just slipped on to the other pipes with no issues. Left the rear silencer off until I've put the rear wing on which is the
Almost had a full day today which was great, progress a bit slow & it was pretty cold in the garage today! Clutch: Decided to bleed this while access was 'good', had a bit of a panic when I turned the bleed nipple & the whole silver tube started to turn... ran to Derek & he confirmed this was normal. Tested out my new brake bleeding tool that worked a treat, job done. Also was a bit thrown by the brass bolt in the clutch cylinder, Derek told me to bin it so I did & then everythi
Just had a few mini sessions in the garage when I can sneak off... its not the most efficient way of working as re reading stuff all the time is a bit of a pain.. but needs must... Spent more time than I should have done trying to find the bolts for the bottom UJ on the steering... & then took a while to realise they wouldn't fit because I hadn't lined up the groove in the steering rod... got there in the end. I did have to check with Derek why the steering lock wasn't working... answer it d
Had a few 3 hrs sessions & managed to achieve something: Torqued up a few bolts on the front suspension & then discovered i'd ordered the wrong size deep socket for the 'special nut' under the upright... doh... quick amazon order & should be with me tomorrow... Put in the gearshift & changed gear! Had a potter around with the steering rods & then decided to go for it... smothered it in washing up liquid & it just slipped in with no issues at all. Pretty sure the top gromm
Well the day came.... A few minor jobs to complete: 1) Put the earth lead onto the bell housing as per the new method approved by CC 2) As suggested by a few people attempted to loosen the oil filter rather than doing it at a later date with the engine in the car... someone with arms like a gorilla must have put it on! broke one oil filer removing tool (rubber strap one) & had to move up a grade i.e one with a bicycle chain on it. Even checked with Derek that it didn't have a left handed thr
Not too much to report today... Protected engine bay with pipe lagging & cardboard, ran out so will need some more pipe lagging Thanks to Jig's info I didnt dremmel my chassis as the earth wire goes to the bell housing & another one goes from the battery to a bolt hole to the left of the battery holder. Fitted the rubber engine mounts Took off the mounts from the engine. Fitted the water tube at the back of the engine (I hope I've cut it down enough as I can see this will be 'awkward' to
Today I had set aside as a 'proper work day' (i.e. stuff other people pay me for LOL), wandered in the garage as you do with my morning cupper & whilst admiring my work something struck me that was not right at all.... On the top up rights the thread to the track rod end was very different each side... I'd followed the IKEA instructions & there was no mention of this & as the top track rods arrive pre installed on the upper wish bone I'd just bolted them on to the car like the pretty
Thanks to a photo supplied by JIG I found the 'special Bolts' they were helpfully in the bag with all the rear brake pads... should have realised.. Also got another set in the post from Caterham so now I have spares.... So set to work on the front. No real issues & everything went on as expected. Only drama of any note was the front ARB... as per everyones instructions I soaked with rubber lubricant & got the 1st rubber halfway down the first straight & then it seized solid... refuse
So decided to look at the elephant in the room... Pleased to find the engine dragged over the floor easily & set to work. First issue 2 sets of bolts (1 set on the gearbox & 1 set on the bell housing) 1 set cup type with split washers the other set normal with flat washers... neither are 70mm as indicated by the manual... my longest were only 50mm. Only been going 20 mins & my first e-mail to Derek.. got a reply in 5 mins 50 mm cup type with split washers are the ones. Next issue I d
Blasted out a few e-mails in the office in the morning to let everyone know I was working hard & then took a sneaky afternoon off in the other office (which was considerably colder..) Took apart pretty much everything I had done so far... shock bolts out to insert the washer I hadn't put in Top wishbone taken off so I could get the headlamp bracket on... Couple of 'adaptations' Had to bend out the clip on the headlamp bracket so it would go over the chassis bracket. Took a while to realise w
Decided to have a semi day at work & field e-mails whilst I worked out how to do the headlights... followed this method which went OK when I read it properly... http://www.caterhamr500.co.uk/2014/02/build-day-four-headlight-and-indicator.html first attempt I did all the wiring & was very pleased with myself & then I noticed the nutindicator housing & bracket sitting there looking at me... had to take it all apart again.... how I laughed. Couple of things I did that weren't in the
Not really counting this as a proper 'build weekend'... started off badly with a bit of a hangover from the monthly poker night (lost..). So wasn't firing on all cylinders. However the pit crew were super eager to make a start so off we went. 1st job turned the car into a space ship with silvery bubble wrap from B & Q. With two over excited kids & me wandering around in a daze the body work needs all the help it can get! BIt of IVA trim & made a start on the front suspension which we
Its arrived.... the pressures on... Took delivery then ran away... had lunch... checked my emails... had a cup of tea... Ventured back into the garage took a deep breath & started emptying boxes. Succeeded in emptying 3! very satisfied LOL... Now I've had a look at all the bits only saw a few things I had no idea what they were. Thought I was missing the windscreen wipers but then found then hiding under a postage stamp... No proper work done on the car at all but happy that this may be doab
After a bit of a wait been given 20th January as my delivery date.... & some pictures from the factory with my name on it!... glad the snows just started my garage will be well toasty .... Last push before delivery: a) Sorted out build insurance, spent a morning ringing around & was surprised at the variety of costs given & also the lack of enthusiasm from some of the 'specialist' providers. In the end I settled on Footman James who were helpful, enthusiastic & the cheapest. £200
Well Santa let me down & hasn't even given me a date for January 2017 :-( but on the plus side Amazon have been delivering lots of heavy boxes on a regular basis so the tool kit will be happy! So Merry Xmas & happy new year & hopefully I will be on Blatchat tearing my hair out in January :-)
Duramat floor almost complete.... Measure twice cut once... few extra tiles on order DOH! hadn't taken into account the tiles being 'handed' so more waste around the edges than expected... Went for the hi-viz option so I can find all the stuff I drop on the floor... 'Project managers' not quite so sure of my choice... but should match the yellow stripe on the bonnet nicely! Good news on the delivery front too! Caterham have hinted that a December delivery date is now looking 'possible' & my
Delivery of a few bits today...Engine hoist, trolley Jack & sundry axle stands. Not sure about the mechanic team's testing methods & I don't think they have read the site safety rules document. May need to reallocate them. Not sure why the photo is on its side... its the right way up when I up load...
Well time is dragging & with only 3 months to go before my delivery date I thought I'd better order some stuff to avoid the Christmas rush.... so engine hoist, axle stands & trolley jack all on their way & be here by next week... ho hum what to do now... thanks to Rob Jones for his link to SGS Engineering...(http://www.sgs-engineering.com/contacts) (http://caterham360build.co.uk/about/) I can see I need a tool box... fortunately for the credit card they were out of stock of the one
Hi My first faltering steps on my build... starting the blogg... Ordered my 270 SV in July hoping that it would be delivered in November but hadn't taken into account (or even known about) the Academy series taking over the factory... & its not due until January . This will be my first 'kit car'... Many many years ago I did squeeze an MGB engine into my morris minor van & it didnt fall a part so i'm hoping it will all come back to me... Since then its been Jobshouseskids.... Anyway the
