Build Officially Started!

[Tatey]

Ben, I don't think there are any rules on how complete the car needs to be. My boss has a track only Caterham with no MOT, no handbrake and no lights. I think it's a case of as long as it looks safe and nothing is going to fall off I.e. It doesn't look like a shed then I feel it will be ok!

[vmax1974]

I agree I had a track car no tax test or insurance one seat only never had a problem gettinv it in on a track day

[Tatey]

Well I have finally gotten round to taking a picture of my car now that a few panels are finished/nearly finished. My side panels are drying in the garage as I write this and my rear arches need a bit of sanding a polish up. The bonnet needs a quick sand to get rid of a bit of orange peel and then a polish, but the finish in the picture is the finish straight out of the gun.



I have to say I am pretty proud of myself for how the car is now looking!

I've also discovered that the head gasket in my engine has gone and my battery is now a dud which isn't really surprisingly as I have been abusing it while testing electrics. So next month I shall be buying a new battery and then doing a compression check on my engine and if that goes well then take the head off, get it skimmed, lap the valves and replace the valve stem seals. I know I can pick up a cheap engine but the pre-95 engines are getting pretty thin on the ground and I would like the lax emission rules when I get the car IVA'd. Plus I've always wanted to rebuild an engine .

I also realised I had my top wishbones on upside down when I made my cycle wing carriers meaning my cycle wings are no longer in the correct position, which is slightly annoying! However as I'll be putting it on the track first I'm not too fussed at the moment and come IVA time I shall sort them out.

[voucht]

Hi Simon,
It's cool to see you and your car are seeing the end of the tunnel! The car looks very nice in deed, it is a very neat built, and you can definitely be proud of yourself. And I'm pretty sure that once on the road, it is going to be an amazing car!
Don't try your engine too much, suspecting a head gasket failure, with the radiator on : I've ruined 2 radiators before I figured out the head gasket was dead on mine (I figured out that the compression from the cylinders was going into the cooling circuit, building up a pressure there that the radiator couldn't handle).
Good luck for the end, and keep us posted

[Rosco]

Getting there now!

[Tatey]

So it has been a very long time since I last posted. Progress on my car has been virtually non existent. However it is a new year and I have a renewed desire to get the car finished!

An update from the last time I posted was that I pulled the head off, got it skimmed, changed the head gasket, replaced the valve stem seals, put a new timing kit on it and lapped the valves in. I also sent my carbs away for rebuild, as they had a suspected air leak. I also redesigned my inlet manifold so that my bike carbs use the standard rubbers which now bolt to the manifold. The standard rubbers also have vacuum take off points on them so it is a much better solution.

I have had my wishbones powder coated and I have revised them as I wasn't happy with the original bushes I took out.

I am now reassembling the suspension onto the car and the plan is to buy a cheap car transporter trailer and take the car for a rolling road session and get it on at least one track day this year just to use the car! Once I am happy with that then I will finish off the bits I need for IVA and get my test done over the winter.

One thing I have also noticed when fitting the new suspension is that my fuel hose looks to have perished again, I haven't checked to see if the main run down the tunnel has or if it is just the section to my fuel filter. If it is everything then I will be ripping all of the fuel line out, converting all of the connections to JIC -6 and running Brown and Miller Racing Solutions consulted PTFE hose with their progold fittings. It will meaning changing my fuel filter and fuel pump but I feel it will be worth it in the long run!

[twinturbo]

I have many new years resolutions to keep up with...

One is doing stuff for "ME" , so that includes hopefully getting a look at the car again..

I sold my sierra after 25 years and that freed up a stack of cash so rather than just pay off more of the mortgage I have spent a little on myself...

I think it's a Decade since I started!


My plan also is to try and get the car to a state that I can stick it on my trailer which I bought 18 months ago.. and get at least some use out of it. I have some private trading estate land that we can shake it down..

Ideally I want my eldest to have a go and use it to learn more driving skills before he turns 17 in 2021...


My fuel lines are all copper front to back, or they will be.


I did by a Speeduino Clone in November, so when I look at doing Injection I should be in a reasonable position..

TT

[voucht]

Good to see you back Simon! I honestly thought we'd lost you forever

You'll see that unfortunately, this forum is not what it used to be, no more car being built, new members having the worst trouble to register, so it is not very active. But like TT and TKPM, I have a look at it almost everyday to see if there is something new.

Regarding your fuel lines, if you go for dash-6 stainless steel braided PTFE hose, buy the one with carbon charged PTFE which has a black colour (not the usual clear colour like the brake hoses). It is not rubber (Nitrile or NBR), it is PTFE (Teflon), but black.

It is very important for fuel lines, as carbon charged PTFE hose is anti-static. When you run a fuel injection, fuel is passing at a high speed in the PTFE tube, and because of that, the PTFE get charged with static electricity. A bit like rubbing a plastic ruler on a synthetic cloth sweater. You know what happen when you do that, you get sparkles. And sparkles + fuel anywhere else than in a combustion chamber is not good. That is reason why they make carbon charged PTFE hose, so the static electricity is permanently conducted out of the fuel hose through the carbon particles and the stainless steel braid, so no spark can occur. It is a very important thing to think about, really.

Hope that will help

Good luck for finishing your build... and please, post some pictures!