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CATERHAM 420R BUILD
Jan 13, 2023
32. Radius Arm
The Radius Arms were very straightforward and per the manual, which indicates the dimpled surfaces of the arms face outwards, the chassis...
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Jan 13, 2023
31. Dampers
The Dampers are reputed to be difficult to fit and the advice is to fit the upper bush first and then the lower one. However, when the...
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Jan 13, 2023
30. Roll Bar
Before going any further with the rear suspension, the Roll Bar needed to be installed. The main bolts that support the Roll Bar would be...
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Jan 13, 2023
29. DeDion
There were pre-drilled holes in the top of the DeDion tube indicating the riveting points for the brake line. However, these holes were...
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Jan 13, 2023
28. Dry Sump Guard
Where the Bell Housing contacts the underside of the Engine and Dry Sump, there is a gap which exposes the Fly Wheel. Caterham supply a...
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Jan 11, 2023
27. Handbrake
The handbrake microswitch was tested to establish (a) which of the two contacts should be used for correct operation and (b) to ensure...
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Jan 11, 2023
26. Differential
Diff = Difficult! The engine hoist was setup to lift the differential unit using a pair of ratchet straps. It took some time to get to...
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Jan 8, 2023
25. Propshaft
On delivery, the propshaft grease nipples were covered in paint. This was removed and the joints were verified as being pre-filled with...
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Jan 8, 2023
24. Front Lights
The lights had been put on the back-burner until some feedback from Caterham had been received. When the first headlight was unpacked it...
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Jan 8, 2023
23. Throttle Cable
The throttle cable runs from the top of the accelerator pedal, through and out of the pedal box, loops around the front of the engine and...
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Jan 2, 2023
22. Steering Column
The Steering Column is split into two parts, upper and lower, both of which are fitted through the opening in the cockpit. The lower was...
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Jan 2, 2023
21. Collector
The fitment of the Collector requires it to be slid into the end of the four Primaries. There is a risk of the Primaries being held too...
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Jan 2, 2023
20. Air Box
Fitting the Air Box is straightforward except for the seal fits between the box and the bonnet. The issue is that the air intake is...
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Jan 2, 2023
19. Catch Tank
Having previously drilled the necessary holes and fitted the catch tank bracket, the remaining task was to fit the oil hose from the top...
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Jan 2, 2023
18. Oil Hoses
The hoses that connect the oil tank, dry sump and oil cooler are notorious. They use a specialised connector that have a draft angle on...
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Dec 29, 2022
17. Oil Tank
Once the primaries were installed, the oil tank was fitted. This turned out to be a bit fiddly. the oil tank was dropped into position in...
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Dec 29, 2022
16. Primaries
As per my build plan, I knew that I could not install the oil tank (and therefore the oil plumbing) until the primaries were installed....
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Dec 29, 2022
15. Plumbing
Having sorted out which hose goes where, I started the process of installing the plumbing by connecting the two lengths of hose to the...
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Dec 28, 2022
14. Plumbing - preparation
There was quite a bewildering array of hoses that came with the kit and some of them require cutting and modification. Being nervous of...
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Dec 28, 2022
13. Heater
Before starting the engine plumbing, I wanted to install the heater. This was relatively straightforward with the fan unit and radiator...
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Dec 27, 2022
12. Drilling
There are two brackets that require fitting in the chassis - for the Oil Catch bottle and for the Expansion Tank. I wanted to get this...
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Dec 27, 2022
11. Front Brakes
The front brakes are served by pipes fitted within the chassis. A fitting is required to connect the internal fixed pipes to the external...
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Dec 27, 2022
10. Anti-Roll Bar
The two moulded plastic spheres at either end of the anti-roll bar (ARB) have to fit into the machined metal cups on the upper wishbones....
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Dec 22, 2022
9. Uprights
I have an SV chassis which I believe is referred to in the manual as wide track. Therefore the first job is to fit the top hat spacer...
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Dec 22, 2022
8. Dampers
This is where the trouble started! Both ends of the damper are fitted with bushes. At first, there are a bewildering array of different...
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Dec 22, 2022
7. Steering Rack
The steering rack comes as a sub-assembly and held in position by a couple of clamps. The rack is put in place by feeding one end of it...
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Dec 22, 2022
6. Upper Wishbones
When I offered up the wishbone to the fixing points it looked as though there was no way it was going to fit. I soon realised that the...
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Dec 22, 2022
5. Lower Wishbones
To begin the process of installing the front suspension I first dressed the suspension apertures with IVA trim. The key decision was...
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Dec 22, 2022
4. Engine Parts Refit
A simple task to refit the Alternator, Auxiliary Belt Tensioner and Starter Motor. However, there were some difficulties with torquing...
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Dec 20, 2022
3. Engine In
I spent a good amount of time trying various methods of attaching the engine to the hoist in order to try to find a solution that would...
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Dec 17, 2022
2. Bell Housing to Gearbox to Engine
The Engine, Bell Housing and Gearbox require assembly. Having taken advice from various blogs about using a method to remember which bolt...
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Dec 17, 2022
1. Preparation
The first task was to prepare the chassis for the build. It arrived with the roof fitted and the bonnet in place. The rear wings, cycle...
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