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Hindsight - Simon's 160


700newtons

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I thought that I would finish off my build blog with a summary of things I would do differently. To be honest there was not too much.


Car spec...
Full hood? - I never installed the hood sticks and therefore won't use it (I will use my half hood). If I did it again I may try to negotiate with Caterham to get a half hood instead.
I have no regrets about my lowered floor, mono steering wheel and leather seats.
The FIA roll bar was probably a bit over the top, but I like it (it makes a full hood a very tight fit)
Carpets - I fitted carpets in the boot but didn't fancy them for the cockpit. (I would say don't bother).
12V Socket - I fitted my own (it only cost a few quid, and is fairly easy to do)


Tools in the manual that were not needed...
Circlip pliers which went unused
Crimping tool - used once and could manage without
(A good deadblow hammer was a very handy tool occasionally)
Low profile Jack - I bought a rather heavy duty Jack. A low level one would have been much better.


Other thoughts...
Bonding wings - I bolted my wings. Some folks bond them - I could see the advantages.
Administration - takes more time than you think. Getting Caterham to do the IVA cost £425 (in addition to the IVA cost) but saved a lot of hassle. They do any retest for free.


More care...
Radiator bobbins - don't torque them up to much they break.
Ecu bolts - so do these.
Brake fluid - is nasty and ruins paint. Don't let it splash.


Discoveries...
Fancy plates (online) - is a good place to get cheap number plates (and you don't need documentation)


Soft bits for sevens - the half hood, shower cap and tunnel bag seem very good investments (L7 discount, but buy early, they get busy later in the season)


Premier paint guard protection - I paid them to do my rear wings as there was no template. However, next time I would have a go fitting the plastic myself.

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A neat rundown, and food for thought!

I've tried to add observations like yours to my blog. On the whole, though, I'm pleased with how we got on. 

I quite like the cosy feel of the full hood, but this has been restricted to sitting inside it, in my garage, stationary, so too early to say!

Ned

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Hi Simon. A mention of the special tools that need to be made - axle seal driving-in tool and engine oil level tool - is perhaps needed.

Carpets in the cockpit are good as far as I'm concerned as I think they deaden things a bit and stop my left leg getting too hot!

Having seen the hassle others have had with IVA, despite paying Caterham to take it to their 'tame' test station, I'm an advocate for having a go yourself. But take time to investigate with your local motorsport garage the names and pet hates of the Inspectors; fix the pet hates and start the inspections by calling them by their first names............ .........it worked for me!     

After all the 'missing bits' sagas I too am very pleased with the final result and looking forward to 'blatting' it to the Goodwood Festival Of Speed this coming Sunday.

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Fair points...

(If you are reading this as a 'noob' (I'm down with the kids) then a suggested homemade tool for the gear and diff plug is mentioned in the blogs; mine was a sawn down square piece of steel and a spanner)

Have a great time at Goodwood Peter.

Simon

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Goodwood was.................well very good. But the only 7 on the site was the well worn racing 7 belonging to Steve McCulley on the Help for Heroes stand + a few in the car park of course. But alongside a lot of super fast machinery it was as if Caterham has ceased to exist. I've written to Crawley but I suspect the reply will be 'too expensive'.

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