Another new build underway

[rort1]

Hi all - finally my chassis and many, many boxes and bits arrived on Monday so my little summer project is underway. Building a Supersport R with lowered floors. weather kit and a few other extras.

Thanks to Uremaw and others for recent pointers - all very useful and I shall try to share anything I learn along the way - seems to me that each kit is a bit different - some people have problems where others find no issues

So far, I have front suspension pretty much done and a few minor jobs ticked off. I've had to request a replacement lower wishbone - the original supplied was 5mm narrower than the other side and no way the washers were going to fit - Derek at Caterham had one delivered within 24 hours which was great as it didn't hold up progress at all. Also got the wrong size nuts for the upper wishbones that again were sent pronto.

Other than that I've managed to break one of the front roll bar end ball thingy's getting over enthusiastic while trying to coerce it into the ball joint - must calm down a bit! Thats one to replace next week.

I have scraped my leg on the wheel bolts numerous times and have been bked by my children for not playing with them in the garden - but other than that its a great experience so far - huge sense of achievement surveying your work at the end of each day and haven't even got to the driving bit yet!

[tomwoodis]

Great stuff.

You're about 3 weeks ahead of me. Take delivery of the same kit as you shortly.

Are you going to do a build diary. Where abouts are you based?

[downsman]

Enjoy your builds, it's a great experience
So nice not to be using rusty nuts and bolts!

[uremaw]

Enjoy the build - it's great fun, even the frustrating parts.

My top tips are:-

- Always read a few steps further on in the manual before starting a task. Lost count of the number of times I was baffled by being told to 'bolt a non-existent whatnot onto a missing thingumy', only to find out that three steps further on in the manual it says 'Unless you have a duratec, in which case ignore the previous instructions'.

- Sign up to blatchat. Its worth the money for the forum search alone.

- Be nice to Derek at Caterham. He's great!

- Book your IVA now. Otherwise you'll end up like me with a 98% complete car sitting in the garage doing nothing while Scotland enjoys it first proper summer in living memory.


If you need any help/advice/photos during those horrible times when Derek isn't available (after 4pm and all weekend), just let me know. I'm by no means an expert (seriously), but it's all still fairly fresh in the memory. Most of all though, enjoy it. That feeling when you get the car sitting down on it's wheels and you fire it up for the first time - priceless. Can't imagine how good it's going to feel to take it out for a proper drive!

[rort1]

Thanks for the offer and Tom I'm NW London - prepping for the engine lift now...