D Jones

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!

BigCol, sons birthday this weekend, but will be in touch to pop over and collect/pay on the 16/17th if that's ok with you. If so then send me one of those private email thingys with your phone number and we can arrange a suitable day and time (I'm just up the M40)

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!

BigCol, very keen on the boot cover, but not sure if it will fit a 2004 SV. I presume yours is a metric chassis and mine imperial........ Does anyone know if it makes a difference ?

If this is now manufactured in China for a current car, do we know the outputs/details?

I had noted the block on Elise parts in the summer, I wonder if Oily Hands has any thoughts or experience with the block?

I cannot zoom in on an image either, most if not all other websites allow me to do this on the iPad, not the end of the world, but if it's an easy fix.......

Brightonuk, Looks good, I had to read it again to understand that the ceramic coating is silver, I used an Abingdon based company to plasma coat my exhaust matt black to match my black pack SV. I assume ceramic coating is a similar or same process as plasma coating?

Red one, blue one, orange one, black one, silver one, blah blah blah

spotted going into Marlow this morning, perfect day for it !

Alternatively, go to your nearest Hobby craft store and buy some red paint for glass, £6.99 and paint the bulbs, I've been through 2 mots since doing it and all fine, no decay of the paint or lack of brightness.

Oily/elanfan ​thank you for the advice, time to purchase some taps, haven't used them since school ! Dave, the SLR kv6 throttle bodies are looking like new now (though your advice to purchase Jenveys will probably return to haunt me) Interestingly, the air admittance valve "bar" clashes with the vvc head casting and had to be removed but I remember a thread stating the it was not required when the Emerald ECU is used. Whilst I have your attention, am I correct in assuming work is required to the head if using piper 285H cams and finally is it worth replacing the valves at this stage while it's all stripped down. I only use the car on the road for a blat around the Chilterns with a visit to the Dunsfold handling day each year.

Does any one know of a definitive guide to explain what is removed, what needs blanking off? I had hoped that the piper kit would come with some instructions, but sadly not. Just 3 pieces of ally with no bolts, no gaskets, no advice.........shame, as I like to read and learn new things. Thanks in advance David

Jack, what type of SV seats will be available, Leather/fibreglass/kevlar ?

BigCol, i also have an Orange car and had the exhaust Plasma coated black........ Looks superb and no polishing required !

Oops, misread the first post, does anyone know a specialist in the Oxfordshire area?

Where are they recommending, or is it a secret? i have lowered floors to fit but not got round to it yet so would consider a specialist.

I've read the r500 blog from mr French and I think the cost was £900, caterham don't advertise the panels on the website and I haven't heard of anyone getting them for an SV Thus my request for info. I've read about one chap replacing the bulkhead by using the original aluminium one as a template for the carbon and that seemed easy enough to copy. Current cost estimate is £300 for materials

Gentlemen, my apologies that should have read 1mm, my existing Ali panels look like they have been chewed by a dog along the top edge, so God only knows what has happened to them before me! Jonathan, I will follow up with photos, But could be some time....... Thread resurrection due in the winter 2018/19 Now, how about some driving....sunshine and Marlow, Henley, Nettlebed, Wallingford.each day.

Gentlemen, my apologies that should have read 1mm, my existing Ali panels look like they have been chewed by a dog along the top edge, so God only knows what has happened to them before me! Jonathan, I will follow up with photos, But could be some time....... Thread resurrection due in the winter 2018/19 Now, how about some driving....sunshine and Marlow, Henley, Nettlebed, Wallingford.each day.

Thanks to all who commented, much appreciated. I've taken my car off its winter axle stands (thinking the summer had arrived and I might miss out on some blatting) having got through several upgrades, but not all and the interior cosmetic panels are not a priority. I shall purchase some 6mm carbon and when the winter comes round again pull the car apart and continue with the upgrades I purchase during the summer.

Has anyone purchased flat carbon sheet and replaced the internal panels on an SV 2004 vintage. If so what thickness and where did they purchase them from (they do not exist on the caterham website)

spotted and followed you into Marlow this evening, what are the chances of 2 Orange Caterhams traveling from Henley to Marlow.......

Frosty, The company is called zircotec Plasma sprayed ceramic coating is the description of the process I have a black pack SV and so wanted a black exhaust to match and having bought a used set of headers/exhaust wanted to tidy them up. Zircotec prep the metal and apply the coating, though I didn't ask about the inside now I come to think of it!. The headers were £36 per 300mm the cat and exhaust £46 per 300mm ​I went for the black / volcanic range which is claimed to reduce heat by 15% primarily in an attempt to avoid K click, I may well fit a heat shield as well if it doesn't work. We shall see.........