Looking at building a Caterham and require advice

[andrewr]

I am looking to build an R400 starting from a starter kit.

I would like to fit a Duratec, 5 Speed gearbox, LSD, SV, big brakes etc.

I want a current registration so needs to be all new parts apart from a maximum of 1 reconditioned.

What parts should I buy direct from Caterhasm and what should I by from specialists.

What specialists should I be investigating.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Regards
Andrew

[will_]

No idea on specialists, but IIRC the 6 speed box is much more suited to the R400, and that's a Caterham own made item I think.

[Migraine]

Why not just get a normal R400 kit? I just built an Academy car, and I'm having trouble thinking of parts you'll need that can be bought from anyone else but Caterham. It could be done quite easily if you didnt mind getting second hand parts, but your requirement for new parts restricts you considerably.

[Shaun_E]

Off the top of my head, parts you could easily source elsewhere are:
engine (RaceCo, Raceline)
gearbox (Quaife, Elite, SPC, BGH)
differential (likely to be reconditioned although Quaife sell new)
LSD (Road and Race Transmissions supply the Titan unit)
propshaft (Propshaft Services in Bradford)
wheels (Mike Barnby, Image, Compomotive)
tyres (George Polley, Camskill)
seats and harnesses
tonneau/hood (Soft Bits for Sevens)
springs and dampers (Nitron, Ohlins, etc.)
brakes

[BertBert]

It depends on whether you are trying to self-build an actual R400 or build a car of equivalent engine size and performance from a starter kit. If the former then you'll have to work very hard to get all the actual bits unless you get them from Caterham. In which case it'll be easier and probably cheaper to buy a CKD R400 from Caterham.

If you are sourcing "equivalent" bits then you can get most of them elsewehere.

Bert

[andrewr]

I think I can build an R400 equivalent for approx £7k to £8k less than a full ckd using mostly parts sourced from Caterham apart from engine, gearbox and diff.

The full R400 SV CKD including the essential oprtions works out at something around £34k.

Thanks for the ideas on sources.

Regards
Andrew

[dino ferrana]

I would be surprise if you can save that much and the car will be worth a fair bit less than a genuine all bits from Caterham car as well. I think most of those who have been on the righteous path of saving money have found they left bits out of their calculations that quickly add up.

[Murph7355]

dino ferrana said:

I would be surprise if you can save that much and the car will be worth a fair bit less than a genuine all bits from Caterham car as well. I think most of those who have been on the righteous path of saving money have found they left bits out of their calculations that quickly add up.

Listen to this man.

[thinfourth2]

Why on earth would you want a 5 speed box in a R400?

A modified 5 speed would be okay but the standard one would be awful

[clarkey]

andrewr said:

I think I can build an R400 equivalent for approx £7k to £8k less than a full ckd using mostly parts sourced from Caterham apart from engine, gearbox and diff.

The full R400 SV CKD including the essential oprtions works out at something around £34k.

Thanks for the ideas on sources.

Regards
Andrew

Have you asked Caterham how much they will reduce the price by if they don't provide engine, gearbox and diff? In my (admittedly fairly ancient) experience, they don't knock off as much as you'd need for it to be worthwhile.

[Mkindy]

andrewr said:

I think I can build an R400 equivalent for approx £7k to £8k less than a full ckd using mostly parts sourced from Caterham apart from engine, gearbox and diff.

The full R400 SV CKD including the essential oprtions works out at something around £34k.

Thanks for the ideas on sources.

Regards
Andrew

Sounds about right to me.

Built a duratec car last year with a new reg based around a R400 ish spec using many of the suppliers listed above. My final bill was around 7K less than a full ckd (I know its not an R400), it is a lot more time and effort not the easy build of a full ckd.

I find a HD 5 speed, long first etc.. is a good match for Duratec loads of posts Blatchat about this topic.

Make sure you spec the chassis for the duratec and get the black pack options.

As pointed out before the car will be worth less than a full ckd R400 (but it costs a lot less).

Cheers Andrew

[Murph7355]

Mkindy said:

...but it costs a lot less....

The key thing is though, how much less.

If it took you extra time to build, that's a "cost". So would need to be factored in too.

If the residual then eats into the vast majority of any saving that's left, you'd need to carefully question the rationale (which isn't to say you'd do something different obviously).

Non-factory spec cars are often significantly more difficult to sell on unless the price is stupidly low. Only an issue if you ever intend to sell it, but a consideration.

PS Not having a go at anyone who goes their own way btw. My car is a homebrew. But a clear realisation of what this does to its ultimate value means that I'll be buried in the bugger rather than sell it!

PPS I guess this "saving" is also a consideration if you don't have the 7k immediately to hand. But to be honest, if that were the case I'd probably be looking for a used car in the current market.

[Mkindy]

Murph7355 said:

If it took you extra time to build, that's a "cost". So would need to be factored in too.

Good point, but for me it was part of the fun (most of the time) if you would consider the build a cost / chore then I would get Caterham to build it.

Murph7355 said:

PPS I guess this "saving" is also a consideration if you don't have the 7k immediately to hand. But to be honest, if that were the case I'd probably be looking for a used car in the current market.

Only if your after a K you are not likely to find many used Duratec's around.