D Jones

Its just over a year.

Update for you all, year 7 and no corrosion.

so now its time to attack the engine, having purchased a complete k series vvc engine, bell tank, vvc blanking kit, verniers, emerald ECU, Rover/SLR KV6 throttle bodies, vvc head, standard head and Apollo tank, i thought it was time to replace my X-power 140 engine.

I know my limitations and despite reading the recent article in Blat Chat about fitting a k series, the level of knowledge required to put together lots of expensive parts will never exist between my ears!

ive read the DVA website to the point that i can almost recite it verbatim and even made myself believe that the prices quoted in 2017 wouldn't have gone up that much........they have!

Rob at Ratrace was commissioned to carry out the work..... "i just want to drop a vvc head onto my existing block and add the verniers, Emerald and KV6 throttle bodies" is what i said to Rob.

Needless to say, he pointed out the error of my thinking...... so....... here we go, if your thinking of upgrading your K series this is what is required in 2023. (If you want an approximate cost, assume £1000 for each line below)

Piper vvc delete cams, followers, springs, caps, verniers and vvc blanking kit

New liners, con rods, Omega pistons, bearings and balance the lot

Oil pump, water pump, cam belt, tensioner, replace every gasket and oil seal

Lightened flywheel, clutch and cover plate

Skim and flow the vvc head

Direct to head throttle bodies, filter, back plate, linkage, injectors, fuel rail, brackets

Emerald ECU with base map

Piper were willing to offer a !0% discount at Easter, so i held off until the deal was available and put the Club in touch with Piper as they were willing to offer a discount to the members going forward.

Now having re read that lot, im a bit shocked at the total cost, ive saved money by purchasing the emerald used for £450, but then needed the loom adapter cable that cost £150.

I will be selling the KV6 throttle bodies, K-Maps ecu, spare heads etc to try and recoup some money and if i was thinking logically i should have sold the car and bought a newer Duratec SV..... but cars have souls.....don't they?

Rob has the engine in build as i write, then it will need running in, followed by a rolling road session to set up the ECU, i suspect a new radiator and hoses will also be required as they are all showing their age.

I hope this is useful information to anyone reading and good luck if your about to embark on your own project.

David

Great read, thanks for taking the time to record your thoughts.

I took a friends son out in my caterham and when we got back he stated that we went so fast he couldn't breathe.

Since then the windscreen has come off and i drive aero as its a sun/fun day car and the buffeting/vacuum effect has gone.

let us all know how you get on with the rolling road after the rebuild!

Stunning scenery, enjoy the roads and weather!

Well, its been a while (precisely 3 years in fact) since i updated this blog, so i had better start by saying that the bodywork remains in good condition, no doubt fitting the lowered floors, which involves removing the internal aluminium panels (providing access to the grot traps) treating everything in site to rust inhibitor and then spraying waxoil onto everything including myself has worked. The chassis was cleaned and found to be in good condition, with no issues other than a rub down and touch up on the front cross member where stones were thrown up.

The lowered floors greatly improved the seating position for my 6'5" rugby player frame, but i haven't got round to refitting the internal aluminium panels as i would like to replace these with Carbon. I think i will have to use the old panels as a template and cut carbon sheet to match as they do not appear on the caterham website.

Engine stand purchased and a, VVC engine fitted onto it, along with all the bits and pieces i have purchased over the years, i think it looks like art, my wife thinks I'm weird........

Lets see how long before i make another entry to this blog!

This should be fascinating, please keep the photos flowing, I've never seen a 21 naked and am looking forward to this.

Blimey, nothing went wrong, drilled out the rivets, scuttle off, all clocks and switches removed, Ali dash removed and the new one offered up all in 2 hours...... I thought it would be a nightmare and have been putting it off for months.

Sunday and 2 hours before the England France Rugby match, I've decided to remove the scuttle, I've a carbon dash to fit and I've read all the comments........ What could possibly go wrong!

No excuse for not posting earlier, other than life getting in the way.

So a quick update, year 3 has passed, the treated bodywork has stayed in good condition, probably helped by the car not being used in wet conditions, nothing has failed, the exhaust has been fitted and plasma coated black, which I think looks good on a ballistic orange car with black pack and saves me having to polish any metal ( did enough of that on a Triumph Dolomite 35 years ago to put me off for life)

Wheels refurbished by a great company in High Wycombe, a vvc head has been obtained and is currently being adjusted and various packages marked Piper are being secreted in cabinets in the garage. One day I will be able to send them all to Oily with the car. 

Roll bar and suspension parts shot blasted and powder coated by a great chap near Wallingford, Carbon wings fitted and dead flies removed from teeth during summer drives when it's not dark until 2200hrs, come back summer all is forgiven.

The lowered floors need to be fitted (£100 from a chap in Scotland on eBay)and a carbon dash is waiting to go on, but I keep looking at sheets of Carbon fibre and if I'm taking the scuttle off to change the dash, why not replace the bullhead with some carbon....... Oh dear, upgraditis is very contagious. Anyway, that's all for now, year 4 will be over shortly, if your reading this and thinking about taking the plunge into 7 ownership, do it, you won't regret it and it is fun!

David, thanks for taking the time to write up your thoughts, much appreciated.

you appear to enjoy tinkering as much as me and have great taste when it comes to colour choice!

Year 2 update!

The paintwork has survived, the bubbling has not returned, though the car doesn't really go out in the rain, it is purely a weekend toy with the occasional blat to work in Wallingford.

The carbon Aero screen was fitted and a visit to Dunsfold last May was my first introduction to a track and what a brilliant day out it was, though I did get a few looks on the M25 in a downpour with no roof on the way down.

Thirsty Thursday rendezvous with friends in Chilterns pubs on a summers evening are enough to justify buying a Caterham and to date running costs have been zero except for fuel/MOT/ and upgrades.

Even the fuel tank leak in the first month of ownership (solved with a 2 pack fuel safe resin) was a simple fix and allowed me to clean areas otherwise impossible to reach.

Last Autumn saw the completion of the garage with ceiling and down lights, carpet tiles and heating, so now I can work comfortably through the winter on the car upgrades that I have accumulated.

Here's looking forward to year 3

Welcome to the club and thank you for the photos and description. The food looks fantastic, beautiful presentation.

your car looks even better than the food and like you I have an aeroscreen.  It is nice to think that people separated by thousands of miles and different cultures can enjoy the same things!

Please keep us all posted of any further journeys, it's fascinating

Thank you

Excellent, it's great to know that people across the country are spending too much time looking at Caterham images, collecting bits and spending too long in the garage........ Sometimes just going to check it isn't a dream and confirming I have a Caterham. I even have a table made from wheels and car seats made into chairs to sit and have a cuppa when not doing my jobs at the weekend. Lovely

Men in sheds (garages) a British tradition.