A Caterham fit for the road!

It passed it's SVA test with flying colours. In fact they said it was one of the best builds they had had for a long time!
Registration was pretty quick too and so I could pick it up last Saturday (13th August) and so I drove it back from Leicester but I went across country to avoid the M1. I am not THAT brave!
Engine is fine now after they had balanced the throttle inlets and set the throttle sensor. Only slight issue is that the oil pressure gauge creeps up to the correct pressure and never fluctuates. Engine is fine and Caterham  have said that the problem is more than likely the tachometer (which feeds the oil pressure gauge - strange but true) so a new one is in the post.
Great fun driving it now as long as I remember not to straddle the speed bumps! The seat bolts are VERY close to the ground!
It needs a bit of 'fettling' now - such as bleeding the brakes until I get a solid pedal - brakes are good but not good enough for a track day which will be the next challenge.

Saturday has arrived and it is ready!

Well, all the hard work is completed and she is rolled out into the sunlight (it is not always raining in Manchester!). The top pictures (sans roof) will be the normal guise for her with the bottom picture (avec roof) only needed for the trip on the trailer, however the doors will probably be needed on most runs as there is a lot of buffeting I understand! I decided not to put the stickers on yet as I might change them from standard ones.

It really is that low!

On the trailer arriving at Caterham.

This is the last time I see her without number plates! Caterham will be checking her over (to make sure I have built her correctly), putting her through the SVA test, and getting her registered.
See you in about 3 weeks!

It is complete. No more major items to go on!

All the bits are on it now, even down to the mirrors in their SVA placement. Once it gets through the SVA I can move them to the (loosely termed) doors as this is a much more convenient place for them on such a small car.

Needs badges and stickers locating plus all of the rest of the SVA bits like covers for all the exposed nuts on the front suspension.

'Man with a trailer' has been organised for Saturday to take it down to Caterham! I can then tidy the garage before it's return!

Lights, camera, and nearly action!

Getting to the last stages of the build now! All lighting is now complete, seats are in and the roof has been fitted.

It was only when it came down off the stands did I realise how low it really is, but it is not too low to go over the local speed bumps because I took it for a 'blat' (a kit car term apparently which means a run) and forgot all about the bumps as I was so intent on keeping the engine running I set off at a fair lick and was over them before I realised!

No real problems with the build now that I am well versed in the 'caterham way'!

The car is booked to go into Caterham for the Post Build Check (PBC) on the 2nd August but that means I have to have completed all of the registration requirements such as putting covers over all the bolt heads, tape on all electrical wiring, rubber trimming all exposed edges etc. etc. and of course getting it trailered down there. Should be on the road towards the end of August I reckon.

Trim and Front Wings on - looking good!

The front wings were a bit of a swine to fit correctly but at least fixing them with the bolts means they won't fly off! The wire for the indicator repeater had to be fed inside the wing stay tube and then into the car. Not easy! I had to feed a sturdy wire that wouldn't bend easily (I used bell wire) up from the little hole in the bottom of the stay tube to appear out of the end by the wing. I could then use masking tape to stick the two wires together and pull back the lot.

Louise did a brilliant job in getting the boot carpet glued in (used spray on contact adhesive) and also the carpets in the footwell sides.

This then allowed us to fit the centre console.

Seats and belts next but we are off to the Goodwood Festival of Speed from tomorrow, so no more progress until next week.

Yes, the rear wings are on!

My daughter, Louise, is my new helper and is playing with time lapse photography!
Wings and lights went on without any problems.
Next are the carpets and trim!

Looking good!

Roll bar is on, wheels are aligned, and steering centered. Wings next.