Julian Thompson Posted June 13, 2002 Share Posted June 13, 2002 Hurray! The SLR finally arrived yesterday in kit form. Missing a few bits but it is very nicely made indeed and the Merc Silver paint is beautifully applied - actually I'd like to take it to the Merc garage and ask them if they have any cars there with a finish as good! Powder coated interior lovely - as is the engine bay and the Stack dash looks ace. Also it's interesting that they have supplied the car with grommeted holes for the screen, washer jet and switches for wipers, heater and heated screen even though my car has aeroscreen. This is apparantly how they will come when you spec the new interchangeable carbon aeroscreen like mine has to aid windscrenn fitting at a later date. Nice touch. Me and a buddy have so far spent about 5 hours on the car and have done the front suspension and steering, and are currently having a bit of a quandry on the diff actually deciding about alignment (there is a post on Tech if you are a diff install expert!). As a note, my pal Pat has just got his Westy MegaBird - we've been exchanging notes - his car has a lovely light little LSD where mine has this bloody massive thing ! However, the Caterham is MILES less work! His car is a bare spaceframe - he is dripping sweat with the riviter and I'm bolting large bits of car on! BIG difference! I'll keep you informed for interest about any on going comparisons between the Westy and the 7 as we progress but right now I reckon I'll be lapping Donnington by the time he's fitted his plastic body!! Great stuff! Jue PS When you get the car, is it normal to have two nights of mates/neighbours taking shifts to come and look at the thing? My other half commented that I'd have had less phone calls if she'd had a baby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssexBoy Posted June 13, 2002 Share Posted June 13, 2002 As a note, my pal Pat has just got his Westy MegaBird - we've been exchanging notes - his car has a lovely light little LSD where mine has this bloody massive thing ! However, the Caterham is MILES less work! His car is a bare spaceframe - he is dripping sweat with the riviter and I'm bolting large bits of car on! BIG difference! congrats on the purchase, afraid your matey should of got westfield to do the rivits for him! smile.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurence Wilson Posted June 13, 2002 Share Posted June 13, 2002 Pah! Wimps. I'm struggling whether to wait and save for a Caterham, or get a Striker that I can afford and can fully assemble myself. That's what I want to buy the car for! LOL, all the same have fun and congrats! Cheers! teeth.gifid=orange> Laurence 'LOZ' Wilsonid=purple> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssexBoy Posted June 13, 2002 Share Posted June 13, 2002 Pah! Wimps. I'm struggling whether to wait and save for a Caterham, or get a Striker that I can afford and can fully assemble myself. That's what I want to buy the car for! There is nothing exciting about putting 50+ rivits in if you can get someone else to do it for a few beer tokens. Mind you hhmmm beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted June 13, 2002 Author Share Posted June 13, 2002 Must say also - I ummed and aahed about whether the Caterham was worth the extra - and now I would always argue a "YES" - The build quality on my car as done by the factory is absolutely amazing - maybe some older ones wern't, dunno, but right now they are awesome. I've never, ever seen a paint finish as good as that on my little Caterham and I've worked on Porsche, Ferrari and Bentley cars to name a few! I'm well chuffed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenny. Posted June 14, 2002 Share Posted June 14, 2002 Well done mate, glad you're made up with it....just wait 'till you drive it, it's incredible. If you need to have a peek at mine at any time during the build you're more than welcome. The hard part is yet to come...that's running the bugger in. It doesn't like it below below 3000 and you really want to be changing up at circa 4500and thats a serious pain when the sheer grunt of the thing is just kicking in. Hope the weathers better for you when it's completed than it's been for me, I've struggled to put the miles on as its poured down since it arrived. Speak to you later and maybe we'll arange a joint blat down for our first post build checks.....catch you later. Kenny SLR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted June 14, 2002 Author Share Posted June 14, 2002 Cheers Kenny. Actually there is something you could do for me. Could you have a look at the suspension/steering to see if you can see where the zinc coloured "extenders" go. They seem to be either suspension extenders or steering rack extenders with a post on Tech proving inconclusive. No mention I can see in the build manual. These things are about 2.5 inches long. with a roughly 3/8" thread. Ta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted June 14, 2002 Share Posted June 14, 2002 Julian, it sounds as though these are to extend the steering rack, although I had thought that all racks were now supplied with long enough arms to not need extension pieces. I built V7 in late 99. It took me one full week off work to faff around (I didn't know where to start at first) plus a further 3 or 4 weekends to get it completely finished. It's a POP, and is a great excuse to get your mates round. Sounds like you went for the spec I wish I had (Stack dash) although I doubt that I would have been popular with my wife if i'd had the aeroscreen. Are you photographing the build? I did, but used a disposable camera which turned out to be faulty. I only got about 15 pictures of the build which was a real shame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoLimits Posted June 14, 2002 Share Posted June 14, 2002 Julian i received my kit at the end of January and i still have bits left over! The car is on the road though? The extention spaceers are for the shockers. But you should not need them. Don't worry carry on. Have you fitted the diff yet? Have you done all the grinding work? Email me or give me a ring i could save you a lot of arm ache on the diff! MY 51VEN - SLR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted June 14, 2002 Author Share Posted June 14, 2002 Ta Guys. My diff came pre fettled! Nice one Caterham! Also, the extender things turn out to be now redundant rack extenders! Diff spacing tonight..........(!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted June 14, 2002 Share Posted June 14, 2002 Julian, Drop me a line 07818 444024. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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