My Caterham
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Discussion

AlexDta

Original Poster:

12 posts

224 months

Hi all

I'm a long time lurker but haven't posted much here.

Because I don't have enough projects, and too much spare time, I've taken on another project.
However, this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up, as the price was low.
Naturally, there was a reason for this.

It's a mess. The more you look at it, the worse it gets.
The ECU and engine wiring loom are on the passenger seat.
The chassis wiring has more wires than connections, and more loops than I can trace.
The engine has bolts missing from the inlet and exhaust manifolds.
The engine was cranked over, but there may not be any oil in the engine.
The cage isn't on straight.
It's lived on a drive for a good while.

I don't really know what's needed, but I know I can sell it for more in parts than I paid, so it seemed a no brainer.

It has a Duratec on very old Jenvey ITBs, and it might have a plate diff. Or the diff has no oil in it, both are possible.

All I need to do now is sell the 1.5 Audis (or make one good one and scrap the other) and finish the bits on my Mk2 Golf so I can look at this.



This will be a slow burner as it needs a good amount of work, and I don't have much time at the moment.

AlexDta

Original Poster:

12 posts

224 months

I did a bit on this today.

The good news is there was oil in it after all, although I'm not sure how much.
There was enough for cranking it over, so that's good news.
I've ordered some bolts for the manifolds. I'll pull them off this week, and refit the exhaust with new hardware.

I'd like to update the ITBs as they are quite old, and we do a lot with Jenvey, so it would be better to get a set of Jenvey's on.

The seat is too small, I literally sit on the sides.
I'll need to sell the drivers seat and replace it with one that has more generous dimensions.
I've had a look and they are available in the right size.

I also started pulling bits out of the wiring.
The dash is run off some controller with it's own sensors. I'll get rid of that and reduce the sensors fitted to the ones needed for the ECU only.
I will need to separate out the chassis harness to see what's useable and what needs replacing.

Lots to do and learn. I've never had one of these before.

MikePRT90

78 posts

85 months

Wow, certainly enough there to keep you busy over winter, good luck!

Nothingtoseehere

4,695 posts

205 months

Looks like a lot to do!

Consider joining the Caterham and Lotus Seven Club
https://share.google/DVD3bueSaK6fSmGE4

The members I'm sure would be interested and also be a helpful source of information on the car's history and your rebuild.

hairy vx

1,342 posts

162 months

Looks like a great learning opportunity. Good luck!

Mabbs9

1,463 posts

236 months

Thanks for sharing. Good luck with the project.

AlexDta

Original Poster:

12 posts

224 months

Thanks all, it's quite the project.
I work on my own cars so there's nothing here that is worrying yet. The wiring can be sorted with a bit of patience, it's all the little things that are going to add up.
It needs new headlights, front indicators and wing mirrors, and probably a good bunch of other things I haven't found yet.

Nothingtoseehere said:
Looks like a lot to do!

Consider joining the Caterham and Lotus Seven Club
https://share.google/DVD3bueSaK6fSmGE4

The members I'm sure would be interested and also be a helpful source of information on the car's history and your rebuild.
Thanks, I actually just joined this morning.
I now need to work out where to put a build project. smile

AlexDta

Original Poster:

12 posts

224 months

Yesterday (08:26)
quotequote all
As I have no history on the car, I thought I'd email Caterham with the chassis number and see if they knew anything about it.
I didn't really expect a response, never mind one a few hours after sending the email!

A very helpful person named Martin with a title of Archivist sent the following information.



23613 was one of three R400-spec cars supplied in early 2008 in kit form to Palmer Motorsport at Bedford Autodrome, with this kit for this car built up in February 2008. There is no invoice on file, but I do have the attached specification. A separate email describes their requirements as:

Caterham to supply 3x new PalmerSport replacement cars with standard Duratec engines, Caterham wet sump, Caterham inlet manifold. No wiring, no fuel system, no instrumentation.



Attached was an excert from the original email, with the following specifications:

Arch motors series 3 chassis (with our current additions, gas tank brackets, etc)
No heater matrix (please supply blanking panel)
R 400 suspension (See Robin for spring rates, We need to have the Stffer race spring)
13" Minilite replica 6" all around
3.62 LSD (needs a final evaluation)
Aero screens
Bench Seats
Front Vented discs (4 pot calipers)
Orange rear ARB
Race Master cyl
Clutch Master cyl
Blank Carbon Dash Panel, Kick Panels and rear arch protector panels. No dash
FIA Standard rear roll hoop (with Diag)
Centre Console without handbrake
Race upper steering column (quick release) with boss + Momo wheel
Carbon front Cycle wing guards, fibreglass rears, colourless
Central mounted mirror, with master kill, Palmersport to fit.
Please see Robin for new style side impact protection bars
See attached BOM


Some of that is no longer there, as the wheels are not minilites, the dash is far from blank, there is no aero screen, the rear mirror is missing.
I'm pretty sure the R400 is supposed to have roller barrell throttle bodies, but these are normal butterfly ITBs. I'm happier removing them now as they are not correct anyway.
If anyone has any idea what the current ITBs are, please let me know.

It's really nice to have a bit of history of the car, and 5/5 to Martin at Caterham for the speedy response with the information.

Turn7

24,966 posts

239 months

Yesterday (09:03)
quotequote all
Ive never seen that design of rollcage on a Caterham before ?

AlexDta

Original Poster:

12 posts

224 months

Yesterday (09:46)
quotequote all
Turn7 said:
Ive never seen that design of rollcage on a Caterham before ?
Interesting. I wonder where it's from then.

Turn7

24,966 posts

239 months

Yesterday (09:58)
quotequote all
AlexDta said:
Turn7 said:
Ive never seen that design of rollcage on a Caterham before ?
Interesting. I wonder where it's from then.
Custom job I would guess.

Caterham cages are either double D type or single roof x brace.

[url]|https://forums-
images.pistonheads.com/55130/202510213585386[/url]


Nothingtoseehere

4,695 posts

205 months

Yesterday (10:16)
quotequote all
Custom for Palmersport perhaps.

An early version of the current 'easy-in' open D shape to enable easier access for their clients.

Turn7

24,966 posts

239 months

Yesterday (10:49)
quotequote all
Nothingtoseehere said:
Custom for Palmersport perhaps.

An early version of the current 'easy-in' open D shape to enable easier access for their clients.
Yeah, that did cross my mind.

PiersR

109 posts

174 months

Yesterday (11:31)
quotequote all
I did the Palmer Sport day three times quite a few years ago. On each occasion, the Caterham's I drove were LPG powered, so the comment in the build specification having no fuel tank may mean this car was at one time LPG powered. You could tell they were LPG powered by the gas smell.

Piers

BertBert

20,559 posts

229 months

Yesterday (13:28)
quotequote all
yep, would definitely have been LPG at Palmersport. Easy to enter cage with bench seats (not the most supportive) adds up to very get in and out-able.

Fabulous project. I'm on my second Caterham fixer upper project, but yours looks a lot of work!

One thing I would check out is the chassis condition if you've not done it already. Surface rust where it's accessible is fine, easy to clean and wire brush and the paint with POR. Need to check for more serious stuff, lower rails where the grot trap is. From the outside see where the bottom of the side goes from curved to flat. Look for any ali bubbling, Corrosion there could be a big problem. Also check underneath at the back around the rear basket and in front of the DD tube.

AlexDta

Original Poster:

12 posts

224 months

Thanks for all the infomation.
I guess the LPG system was removed from this one, which explains the ITBs.
They don't look like a good make, and as they're not correct I'm happy to remove them.

I'm looking forward to the project, it should be fun.