Build Day 43- Post Build Prep

Day 43- Post Build Prep

Woo... just what I want to be doing on my birthday, but needs must, and the trailer needs loading and the car needs preparing for the Post Build Inspection.

Suspension Set-up    

Before taking the car to Caterham we decided to have a go at getting the suspension set up, with roughly 15mm between the front and back. This turned out to be incredibly difficult due to the rear adjustments put the front out, then the front adjustment puts the rear out. If we had a lot more time then it wouldn't be so bad, but we had a lot to do before we could finish, so we decided to get the difference right and get some advice from Caterham when the car goes in.

The keys for the old Bilstein shocks aren't really big enough for the newer, larger adjustable platforms on the newer shocks.

Fuel Filler Shroud 

Caterham quickly sent the correct filler shroud after we asked them for it, so we've been able to fit it tonight. 

Held down by two self tappers into the boot floor.

Fuel Gauge  

Along with the new bulkhead carpet and filler shroud came the correct fuel gauge to match the rest of the gauges. The correct gauges have red needles, however the fuel gauge fitted had a yellow needle and looks like it is normally from the 620R. 

Correct fuel gauge.

Tyre Pressures 

The tyres come pre-inflated to between 30psi and 40psi in order to properly seat the tyre on the wheel. For our tyre/wheel combo- 15" Orcus Wheels with Avon CR500 Tyres, we require 18psi of pressure in each tyre, front and back. 

Pressure beforehand. Just releasing small amounts until correct pressure.

Loading the Trailer

The big job tonight was fitting the winch into the front of the trailer, and then sorting a power source as Dad's car doesn't have a separate power socket. After the winch was in and working all there was to do was to put the car in ready for the 0530 departure in the morning, in order to get from Cambridge to Crawley for 9am. 

My car's battery powering the winch, and being controlled by remote control.

Carr all done and ready to get into the trailer.

While I steered dad directed and controlled the winch.

Plenty of room either side too, in order to be able to get in. 

Room to spare front and back, with lashing eyes in all corners and two in the centre.

Lashings on all four wheels then crossed for added strength. Also the cover is to protect the car as water condensates in the ceiling.

Built Day 31- Paint Protection Film Prep

Day 31- Paint Protection Film Prep 

Putting the Car on the Floor

We have arranged for guys from Signs And Graphics UK Ltd (see link on the RHS of the page) to come round on Saturday 18th December to fit Paint Protection Film to the car. They are currently the guys who fit PPF to cars for Caterham themselves, which is where they will be the day before coming to us, so will have had plenty of practice. They have quoted the total cost being around £350 for the whole car, having had experience with them in the past, however they have never done a full wrap on one so we are unsure as to whether this is going to be very accurate. 

To get the car ready for the guys we are going to lower the car, roll it onto the drive and give it a clean. However before we could start the trolley jack wouldn't lift any weight put on it, only raise up and down on its own. After a bit of tinkering we decided to remove the filler plug only to find that it wasn't particularly full. After a quick top-up it was working fine, so once the wheels were all on we lowered the car to the floor.

Rear Jacking Point. We found that if lowering the front first, from this height, that the oil cooling hoses foul on the jack. 

First time on the floor!!!

As close to complete as we've had so far.

We didn't know if they want the catches off or not so we've left them on. We also removed the IVA trim from around the exhaust port to allow them to put the film right up to all the edges. As it's a bit late and we don't want it to get dusty again between now and then we will wash it the night before.

Visit to Caterham Dealership

Pre-Build Visit to Caterham

As pre-build preparation my dad and I decided to meet up at the Caterham Dealership in Crawley. This was so we could get a gauge on the finish to which the cars are finished, so as to try and pass the IVA test first time. Here's a few pictures that we took:

A view of the underside of a cycle wing, just to show that even Caterham don't even screw the wings on.

Shot of three rental cars, the two nearest fitted with the new Orcus 15" Wheels, the nearer of which we have ordered for our new Caterham 420R. 

Overview of an R400 which was for sale in the dealership. Hopefully it won't be too long before our car looks like this. Also looks like the engine may be only a tad easier to get in to the SV than the S3, still a tight squeeze.

A few weathered looking parts in the R400 which we hope we can avoid encountering. 

LH wing indicator in what looks like the wrong way round, but the LED's point backwards.