Brownmonster

I've sent you a dm. Thanks! (these are anthracite yes? the lighting in the photo makes them look brighter!)

Great stuff Ainsley, sounds like you had a pretty smooth experience here! So just for the record and for others going through this process (like myself!), can you let us know your timings on when you sorted out your PBC and IVA appointment? I've got all my IVA paperwork sorted (Lotus Silverstone / LCS did most of this as well for me) I've applied for the TAZ number already (haven't heard back yet, but applied over a week ago). Once my build is ready I want to be on the road ASAP, I want to at least get a month of usage this year if possible, I'm just finishing the engine install phase this week (I'm building the same a order as the manual however I have the gearbox installed already before the engine!), LCS gave me this info: So from your experience with LCS, you dropped it off about 4 weeks ago, had the IVA last week, and have a registration already?

Haha, that thought went through my head the moment I read your post! 🤣 .. It seems I'll need some brake hoses to start attaching them correctly, they were another part missing from my delivery!

Woohoo! Looking forward to seeing it in the flesh! Nice work!

Just a quick follow up on this, Caterham did reply this morning to say they will issue replacement parts for this, which I have declined as I have managed to get them to fit with a bit of sanding. So far they have been very punctual with all of my issues!

Mine ended up needing to be attacked with a dremel, still needed a bit of rubber hammer to help it in but wow it was massively too big before, fits lovely now. Leaving this here for anyone else having trouble at this stage in their build!

What did you sand them with? Hand sand or tool/dremel

Yeah! Although - the rotation happens on the bearing outside of the top hat spacer so I can probably file the spacer down a bit more and get it to fit fine. Nothing to lose really as they can always send another part if it goes wrong! I'm busy with other stuff this weekend but will keep persisting and trying! I love how with each part that is added, you can really understand the geometry of how it all works, and what is under stress, where it rotates. Really enjoying it all! My day job has always been about programming the maths behind this stuff (especially vehicles, I even wrote some f1 simulator tech for a driver of a red f1 car based in italy, nda prevents saying anything else 🤣) and physics, so to be building this myself is great!

Success part 1! Used some 1200 grit sandpaper on the inside, Warmed up the spacer with a heat gun, upright left in the cold. Forced it on not excessive force, but enough to be considered more than expected compared to the LHS As for the top hat spacer, still looks impossible, going to use a heat gun on the wishbone now.

I had good response on missing parts, but nothing yet on this issue, was hoping to get a response before the bank holiday weekend but I've got enough to get on with!

Yeah, I've just spent another 30 minutes having a go and no joy at all, I'll move on with the next steps until I can get an answer from them. I've emailed buildsupport@caterham.com to see what they say. Does anyone know the usual turn around time for a reply? Is it a manned email address during work hours?

To answer your question, they don't fit.

Thanks for the replies, I'm back now, `A picture holds a thousand words' and all that` So, 2 issues for people who look later, this is for the SV build only, and only an issue for the RHS of my build First Issue RHS: The spacer on the upright, of course putting this in the freezer will make it worse so I have not tried that for this, I have tried some silicone lube though (not tried copper slip yet) and still no luck: Second Issue RHS: The top hat spacer does not want to go in at all, I feel like I could sit there for an hour and still be fighting it. I've tried freezing this over night and it still has no chance of fitting, not tried copper slip, have tried lube. Completed Upright LHS: To clarify, I have completed the other side upright fine, I even tested the spacers that I'm having trouble with on the LHS and they would not fit at all on these parts too. this suggests that the two spacers I have left are ever so slightly larger (top hat) and smaller (upright spacer) I'll ping an email to build support to see what they advise. I'm happy to file/dremel/buff or whatever it takes, I just do not want to compromise the integrity of the built upright. Thanks

Thanks, I tried advice from your blog already! I've left it overnight now, will try again once I'm back from the morning gym session! Not sure how to approach the small spacer not sliding all the way onto the upright base though, perhaps I'll try and heat it (as it is the inverse technique of the top hat spacer!) I'm worried that if I file it that it would compromise the rotation of the joints (great blog BTW) Ill get some photos later as well for completeness in case others also search for this.

Correct, sv uses a top hat spacer underneath and a normal spacer on the upright, together with a half height nyloc. (as per peters pics)

Thanks, I have one side fully assembled and it all fits together nicely exactly as per you pictures. I'm just struggling to repeat on the other side. The spacers on the side that is fitted fit nicely on the other side when I was testing it all out, so I think the two spacers I have that don't fit are slightly out of size.

Hi, Just wondering if anyone has any tips on getting these spacers to fit, I've managed to successfully build one side of the car and they were snug, but fit quite easily once they had been in the freezer! The spacers I have left however just do not seem to want to fit on the other side. On the upright, I can get it about 1/2 of the way along the shaft, but dare not "force it" anymore. On the lower wishbone I cannot get anything closer to a fit. I'm going to try leaving the part in the freezer over night, but I'm wondering if anyone else has any tips? Thanks Ste

That is exactly my plan 🙂, the body is surprising easy to bend, I couldn't get over how "delicate" it was once it arrived!

Definitely check the bolts will fit, I'm going to have to snip this part of the trim out after pushing the chasis in enough to let me get the bolt in! I think someone in another thread said you had to get biblical with the chassis to get it in! BTW I have a cardboard template ready to go on top and protect it with masking tape, but just testing things out before I use the tools! Also the Iva trim looks really nice with the red and black theme I have going on, I guess some cars it won't suit though!

Perfect, thanks 🙂

How much of this rubber trim is usually left over, I'm a bit of a perfectionist and want to redo one of mine now! Will I have more than enough?

Yeah I thought as much too. Also not a bad idea, I may follow suit as I can't work out if it like the trim on or off the scuttle at the moment, this way I have options!

For sure trimming an entire hole does look better than just the top half of the hole, and I too think trimming the lot looks better and more complete too. I actually don't mind the rubber trim either, I think it finishes it off a bit nicer as some of the paint work on those holes is not perfect when you get up close. (Obviously each to their own here!) Does that mean you also did the low bit where the exhaust manifold exits the chassis? I'm on the fence about the scuttle (dash) trim at the moment, did you glue it or silicone it to allow for easy removal? Ste

Presumably this is the January 2016 version from the caterham website? I cannot find a newer version anywhere else. Presumably the exhaust manifold exit doesn't need to be trimmed either? Tiggers build has it un trimmed: Also, does the lower front suspension aperture need to be trimmed as well? I'm seeing some people trimming it all, and some people trimming a selection! It would be nice to know the exact ones required! Personally I want to trim just the top two holes, and leave the steering rack, lower wishbone aperture and exhaust aperture untrimmed, will this be OK?

To add to this, I'm insured with KGM as a kit, which was done through MSM. Really does depend who you talk to. As with Ainsley above, I'll likely be moving to use AF once the car is built and ready for IVA/PBC.