Category: Caterham Academy Build Diary

Day 18 biggest bit of news is IVA paperwork has been sent off and collection date arranged for the post build check with Caterham on the 21st November. Which sounds plenty of time except for being away every weekend between now and then and having a couple of weeks holiday. In reality got about 10 evening or less to finish it which is super exciting.

Now I have a caliper winding tool I was able to fit the rear brakes and sort out the handbrake. Had hoped to connect up the rear brake hoses. If I follow the instructions on washers and nuts there is not enough thread left to tighten up the nut and brake fluid will leak everywhere. Going to have to Google that one tomorrow.

Day 17, spent the afternoon finishing off the electrics on the car.
Rear light clusters were an easy job as was the number plate light.

I missed the IVA requirements when I did the front lights early in the build (Would be nice if instructions related to a step were in the same place).
Had to unbolt the anti roll bar and upper wishbone to get the front light bracket off. After redoing everything in heatshrink and putting grommets in the correct places hopefully that is the last time I have to mess with the lights.

I found a really good guide on another 7 blog. http://www.caterhamr500.co.uk/2014/02/build-day-four-headlight-and-indicator.html. (At the time I had no idea that Dan French would also be building an Academy car and racing against him!)

Been a bit lazy on the progress reports.
Monday was spent driving a Caterham around Silverstone GP circuit on one of their experience days. Had an absolute blast. It probably was made all the more fun knowing that soon I would be racing my own Caterham!

Tuesday – Thursday was mainly spent doing odd job like the boot cover and faffing with the seat to get the belts the right length.

Day 13 was a great day with a lot of progress made. Having dad visit for the day really helped getting stuff bolted together and working around the problems. Two minds is better that one!

Rear suspension is virtually complete apart from the brake calipers. As are the rear wings.

The drivers seat is known for being a complete pain but I didn’t even bother trying to use the bolts provided. Skipped straight to the better solution I read about. Which is use bolts that get locked into the grooves of the runners and no messing around with hex keys. After two attempts it was in.

4 more evening in to the build and things are going well. The steering and exhaust system are in. Central tunnel cover is on and finishing touches like the gear lever are done.

Made a start on the rear suspension tonight and that is half done.

Had a few issues along the way which have slowed down the build.
The white inserts on the steering column that everyone warns you to be careful with and not knock them out I knocked out. The spring clips on the exhaust were as expected. Looked like they would never go on but eventual did using the universal tool that is the cable tie.