what better way to spend a lunch hour
 

my Insurance renewal came through this morning for my Caterham 7(ish) kitcar

so I thought what a great day to get it out from under the covers - air her in the sun and then a quick fettle before firing her up (started 2nd turn) and taking her for a quick spin

ready for the summer



https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...3efa48af9a.jpg






https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...2a6cb3dc04.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...852427bff9.jpg

I thought painted it this year , thought it was green !

probably just me

no, just you :-)

passed first time

no advisory's

They look like rs2000 alloys!

Just so want something like this:thumb:

I never knew you had one of these, very nice.

Cant help thinking that's "Oscar " out of Sesame street peeping up from the bonnet in the first pic..!

The one who peeps out of the trash can.

Car looks a lot of fun.

Had a go in one a few years ago and it was mental...!

Enjoy.

well after a long absence off the road - caused by an issue with the DVLA re my V5 which meant I could only tax it at a local DVLA office (all now closed) or sending the docs and a cheque to Swansea - circa 1982 , they finally after 2 years and several letters sent me a new V5

so i thought I better get it an MOT

I had already changed the front brake callipers last year - this time it was electrics

a quick look and I have no working indicators, no working main beam, or horn - and a leaky rad and it needed new tyres all round

oh and the worst bit totally seized windscreen wipers

let battle commence

first get the hood off

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...e191b4bccf.jpg

then remove the instrument binnacle (more on that later)


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...9878200b78.jpg

a check on the wiper motor suggested the spindles that hold the wiper blades where seized, as the motor worked when i applied 12v's

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...e187b42df2.jpg

so onto various car builder websites to find out what/where to get the replacements

whilst doing that i started looking at the switchgear - they obviously had rusty connections so one i managed to take apart and fix the other I had to buy from ebay

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...94947e3596.jpg

but it was at this point where you are at you lowest - the whole dashboard is out, and switchgear, nothing seems to work, you fix one issue only to cause another

it easy to lose heart - and at this point I did think, just fix one thing at a time otherwise you will never finish it

so I manage to source to spindles and brackets for the wipers - i had to angle grind the old ones off

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...b4598c8d84.jpg

put the wiper motor back together, attached the control strip behind the dash, applied 12v power and bosch - working wipers

next was a long slog troubleshooting the indicatort / wipers stalks - just time, the manual, drawing it out and a multimeter
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...da9bcb61fe.jpg


I created various test rigs - especially when testing the horn
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...e1d1390306.jpg

testing a relay

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...d8da61e2c4.jpg

but it all started to come together as one by one i sorted the electrical gremlins out

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...0e8fd19af0.jpg


no for the radiator, i want to minimise the amount of plumbing i needed to do, but in then went fo VW POLO rad - it meant re routing the top, but actually quite pleased with the results (note new tyres)

the old one, with the new installed
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...8e2318d7b3.jpg

detail on the top hose return

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...2276a40f3f.jpg


sort of ready for the MOT

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...d54a1c3241.jpg

and it passed 2nd time came back with a couple of advisories, one on emissions - cleaned the carb, passed cost free on a retest - in off the black

with an MOT i could tax and insure it again - road legal after 3 years - cashback

my next project is too redo the dash - and replace them with Smith Dials

so first I am going to get a replacement for the existing dash - so can revers engineer the wiring using the old one - it really looks tired and i have always hated it, but it does work tbh

but i obviously did not want to do it without it having am MOT
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...f34373c214.jpg

so replacement on order from ebay

phew - some work but worth it

better than the amount of paperwork needed for a family holiday to Greece this weekend - unbelievable tbh

Top job

tyres look good :D

lol, that's about it !!!:-)

actually I cocked up my order and ordered 205's by mistake - the mobile fitter said he wouldn't fit them, as the tyres on it where 195's - i said but the rims are 6J and will accept 205's and its a kit car ffs

but no, a bit of a jobsworth, but fair play backcircle were excellent sorted the replacements and credit me £100 coz they were cheaper

anyway

my sample gauge came - for my new dash, i think i will probably order the speedo, tacho, temp gauge and oil pressure guage


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...cdff8bbdc0.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...d1349bd32b.jpg


on another note Duncan

off to Greece tomorrow with familly all kids test came back negative, (that really was squeaky bum time) - and its v windy, so hopefully get some windsurfing in, I have some kit out there

Nice 👍

mates just bought place Cape Verde mainly for the sun , but also windsurfing

They on red like rest Africa so how he gets back I don’t know …

Ahah, just seen this again

Car is winterized atm - been meaning to get the dash sorted before spring

Will deffo do soon, have bought a replacement binnacle to replicate the wiring board, just need to source the dials etc