CtrMint Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 Mine arrived this afternoon. I've offered them up to the 420 and 620 and it looks like the seats do need to come out, the top two rivets aren't accessible. Though it may depend on the seats fitted, I've got the carbon tillet seats in both cars.I'm happy with the way they look when offered up, I know they arent cheap but they do add a nice finish. Just need to get them fitted now. I've added a couple of rough close up images of the part on my Instagram for anyone that's interested in the carbon etc.https://www.instagram.com/caterham7diaries/?hl=en Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltyhair81 Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 I've been following you on Instagram, I thought it was a weird coincidence when I asked you about the popper yesterday! I didn't think about the tillets. I have lowered floors and the leather armchairs , so I think I will be ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 If you got adjustable seats, I guess youcan slide then back and forth to get the drill in to take out the rivets/ replace? Its a nice part, the side hoops get battered by doors and seatbelt buckles. I've got PPF on mine in this area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 There might be sufficient adjustment on the driver's seat to pull it forward to get clearance, I've got a 90 degree drill too which should help. Unfortunately, the passenger side is fixed, so no chance. The seat will have come out. It will be an opportunity to clean under the seat etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 A solid 6 hours in the garage today fitting the bow protectors. I certainly enjoyed the process, and the result was spot on. Nothing went wrong, all rivets out cleanly, I even got the weather gear poppers on the outside lined up perfectly.Over the moon with the result, they look great. Full write up to come on the blog. Loads of pics on instagram,https://www.instagram.com/caterham7diaries/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Reeves Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 The popper on the outside, tonneau popper?did you cut the carbon around it or the carbon overlapped the hole for you to sit thepopper on the carbon.does anyone ever use that popper as I rarely see a tonneau A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 The carbon sits well over the hole so it needs drilling through. I took a lot of time thinking about how to approach it, in the end I went with free hand, with some control. I put a line of masking tape on the paint at the lower edge of the carbon to stop it sliding down. Then keeping the bottom of the tube fixed I lifted/rotated the tube from the top until it showed the hole. This was performed several times, up/down etc. Then sitting very close I held a drill bit just off the carbon, as the hole was revealed I aligned the bit. After doing this a couple of times I eventual marked the carbon. The bow tube was removed and the mark drilled. As shown by the pics, the alignment was perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 620R passenger side installed today. I had a few issues with a troublesome rivet that wanted to spin, plus my hand rivet tool decided to fail while locked on a rivet, I only just managed to get it off the rivet. I turned to the airtools as a result, should have used that in the first place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrp Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 #31 I was thinking that myself, I think if I fitted them I would delete that popper. I'm not thinking about fitting them as I have PPF on that area.Mrp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 I have PPF on the 420, what can I say I'm a sucker for carbon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Reeves Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 Mark, there is no pic of the out side popper that we are talking about? There is a pic of the interioralan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 Alan it's the same as #30. I didn't cut around it, I carefully drilled a small hole just large enough for the screw. Let me know if you require a better pic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 Hope this helps too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Reeves Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 spot on, its for jo/saltyhair when he does his on thursday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Reeves Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 how did I miss 30....did you have to put new rubber in as well. might as well ask whilst im on here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 No, but you do need to be careful removing it from the remains of the rivets, it will snag.Of course my 620 is less than a year old with only 800miles, the 420 a year before. So I would expect the rubber to be in good condition. If you have a look at my instagram (the link is on a previous post on this thread), you will notice I treated the rubber with a special grease. The grease is actually a Honda part used on the S2000 to solve roof squeaks. I originally bought it for my Exiges, it works wonders on all rubbers, including those of the Seven. Hopefully now it's been treated the rubber will last the lifetime of the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 I suppose one other recommendation would be to check your carbon thoroughly before starting. I didn't do this, and having stripped the car down found the protector selected for the 620 passenger side had an imperfection. What appears to be a scratch under the lacquer, i.e. the lacquer is perfectly smooth, and the scratch appears underneath, most visible when rotating. Given the car was in bits, I couldn't be bothered moaning to CC over it. I guess my passion to moan is dwindling. You can only see it in certain light anyway. I've take the following photo to exaggerate the mark.Oh of course, one other comment, if I can fit these on my own, anyone can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 Sorry, one other comment, I'm hunting around for a black popper base now, the silver just looks out of place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PROBE2 Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 Black popper bases - eBay item 323674226242 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Reeves Posted September 16, 2020 Share Posted September 16, 2020 Thanks Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltyhair81 Posted September 17, 2020 Author Share Posted September 17, 2020 Firstly, thanks to Alan for his help and Garage. Was a pretty straight forward procedure, no issues. Massively improved the visual appearance without doors, I would recommend the product. Took us about an hour and a half for both sides taking things nice and gently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Wow you were a bit quicker than me. They look good! Did you take the seats out? I guess that chewed up my time, as it included my compulsion to start detailing under the seat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltyhair81 Posted September 18, 2020 Author Share Posted September 18, 2020 No seats stayed in so that's where the extra time went, plus there was two of us. Also, I knew what drill bit size to use and looked at your pictures for reference so that sped the process up somewhat. Thanks for the guide and picture on Instagram, it made it a much easier process! For anyone else fitting the popper in the carbon, when drilling we put masking tape below the hole in the body. We marked on this the location vertically of the hole and then pushed the bow protector over the tape tight. We drew a line round the outline of the protector on the tape. We added tape to the bow protector and marked a line that linked up with the line already on the tape showing position. Remove the bow protector and then measure the outline on the masking tape to the hole. It should be around 7.5mm to 8mm. That's your hole, 4mm if using a rivet or 3mm if it's a self tap screw. Hope this tip is useful for anyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Reeves Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 and the best bit , those black poppers made such a difference...well noted Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 Anyone that's interested my blog post is available.https://www.caterham7diaries.com/post/caterham-cars-carbon-bow-protectors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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