stuartinzg
Active member
As per the title, anyone built one, know someone who did? Experiences?
Thanks
Thanks
Self-build caterham
- Thread starter stuartinzg
- Start date
I built this back in 2004. Not quite a Caterham but similar. 
I bought the MK Indyblade kit, Honda Fireblade engine/gearbox, XR4X4 LSD and various other Ford components (mainly Sierra) and just worked away methodically in my garage most evenings and weekends. Took me about 6 months in total to ready it for its SVA test which it passed first time. I even managed to get an 04 plate on it and not a Q plate as I had used a certain percentage of new parts against reconditioned ones. I would say as long as you are reasonably mechanically minded and work methodically with good tools it is not too difficult. The hardest thing for me was the electrics and wiring for which I recruited a bit of help. I did many track days in it, drove it a fair bit on the road including a weekend tour of the Yorks.Dales ! The best fun I have ever had with my clothes on ! I sold the car in 2007 when I had got it out of my system enough to part with it and before it got me in trouble...or hospital ! I loved it to bits. Fond memories.
If you think you can then build that Caterham....you won't regret it !
I bought the MK Indyblade kit, Honda Fireblade engine/gearbox, XR4X4 LSD and various other Ford components (mainly Sierra) and just worked away methodically in my garage most evenings and weekends. Took me about 6 months in total to ready it for its SVA test which it passed first time. I even managed to get an 04 plate on it and not a Q plate as I had used a certain percentage of new parts against reconditioned ones. I would say as long as you are reasonably mechanically minded and work methodically with good tools it is not too difficult. The hardest thing for me was the electrics and wiring for which I recruited a bit of help. I did many track days in it, drove it a fair bit on the road including a weekend tour of the Yorks.Dales ! The best fun I have ever had with my clothes on ! I sold the car in 2007 when I had got it out of my system enough to part with it and before it got me in trouble...or hospital ! I loved it to bits. Fond memories.
If you think you can then build that Caterham....you won't regret it !
Mine was already built, but I 'rebuilt' mine and friends many, many times, a pleasure to work on. Engine out, new clutch and back in again yesterday in my friends SV. 
stuartinzg
Active member
Thanks for the feedback, I really want a motorbike, but I know that I'll kill myself, so the Caterham seems to be a perfect compromise. Not to mention the whole "true driving/car experience".
Looks great patriot66
, I didn't consider other options. What is it like compared to a Caterham, did you try both?
As I am living abroad I'm looking at the practicalities of buying a LHD version, using a van owned by the family to drive it here, then build it here and register it here. Lots of reasons for doing that, including having a great local workshop who can assist with everything I need (which will probably be a lot).
Currently my thinking is the comfort pack (if you can call it that), with windscreen, probably a cage (so I can use it on track days in Europe), not sure if it's practical for this to be a bolt on cage or not? 15" wheels and the 140 BHP Ford unit. Idea being that I can also use it to tour around Europe, drive to Italy, Switzerland, Germany, etc. It's cheap and light enough to allow me to learn proper track driving without fear of breaking anything, tyres are cheap, etc.
Won't be parting with the Z because it's a totally different experience, and I'll keep the Astra as the pub car/shopping/when I need to take 5 people around, as it owes me nothing and has proved very reliable. For the winter I can rent storage cheap too.
Even 1992 Caterham's fetch a premium, they just don't seem to depreciate. My thoughts are that I can buy, build, enjoy and it won't cost the earth in terms of TCO. If I bought a Cayman and treated it the same, I could end up spending more maintaining it than I would buying and building the Caterham, it would also be worth peanuts in a few years. As the Z is not a track car, nor am I ever going to track it, so that option is out.
Are my man maths making sense?
Looks great patriot66
, I didn't consider other options. What is it like compared to a Caterham, did you try both?As I am living abroad I'm looking at the practicalities of buying a LHD version, using a van owned by the family to drive it here, then build it here and register it here. Lots of reasons for doing that, including having a great local workshop who can assist with everything I need (which will probably be a lot).
Currently my thinking is the comfort pack (if you can call it that), with windscreen, probably a cage (so I can use it on track days in Europe), not sure if it's practical for this to be a bolt on cage or not? 15" wheels and the 140 BHP Ford unit. Idea being that I can also use it to tour around Europe, drive to Italy, Switzerland, Germany, etc. It's cheap and light enough to allow me to learn proper track driving without fear of breaking anything, tyres are cheap, etc.
Won't be parting with the Z because it's a totally different experience, and I'll keep the Astra as the pub car/shopping/when I need to take 5 people around, as it owes me nothing and has proved very reliable. For the winter I can rent storage cheap too.
Even 1992 Caterham's fetch a premium, they just don't seem to depreciate. My thoughts are that I can buy, build, enjoy and it won't cost the earth in terms of TCO. If I bought a Cayman and treated it the same, I could end up spending more maintaining it than I would buying and building the Caterham, it would also be worth peanuts in a few years. As the Z is not a track car, nor am I ever going to track it, so that option is out.
Are my man maths making sense?
I had a Motorbike at the same time as my Caterham and sold the bike through lack of use in the second year as I always preferred the 7.
My Caterham just seen in the background.
Personally, I would change your spec slightly by choosing 13" wheels, lowered floors and probably going for an FIA roll bar rather than a full cage. I had both and whilst it is safer and gives you more security having a full cage it is a PITA on a tour when you want to get in an out frequently, especially with a partner. Normal height cages are just too low unless you are shorter than 5'10". It will still be a safer place to be when compared to a bike in the event of an incident.
I totally agree on the man maths, they hold their value superbly. I bought mine as a tatty ex-race car from France for £7600, seven years and thousands of road, track and race miles later i sold it for around £12,000. Ok I'd spent some money along the way on improvements, but pretty good figures.
Forgive the showing off, but I had two of my best car experiences in this car:
My favourite weekend of being a hooligan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6m0GyPtufM
My best race, finishing 2nd overall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQrezlwfha0
Get yourself signed up as a member of the Lotus 7 Club, a very helpful community and forum 'Blatchat' worth every penny when you start asking questions during the build process. http://www.lotus7.club/
My Caterham just seen in the background.
Personally, I would change your spec slightly by choosing 13" wheels, lowered floors and probably going for an FIA roll bar rather than a full cage. I had both and whilst it is safer and gives you more security having a full cage it is a PITA on a tour when you want to get in an out frequently, especially with a partner. Normal height cages are just too low unless you are shorter than 5'10". It will still be a safer place to be when compared to a bike in the event of an incident.
I totally agree on the man maths, they hold their value superbly. I bought mine as a tatty ex-race car from France for £7600, seven years and thousands of road, track and race miles later i sold it for around £12,000. Ok I'd spent some money along the way on improvements, but pretty good figures.
Forgive the showing off, but I had two of my best car experiences in this car:
My favourite weekend of being a hooligan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6m0GyPtufM
My best race, finishing 2nd overall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQrezlwfha0
Get yourself signed up as a member of the Lotus 7 Club, a very helpful community and forum 'Blatchat' worth every penny when you start asking questions during the build process. http://www.lotus7.club/
patriot66 said:
Thats a good looking car. I like the paintsceme and the scoops etc.
I'd also like to build one, one day. But at the moment I havent got the room to store it.
I like that it's very small and nimble, and that it's 'just car'. no frills or anything. Just the essentials.
I can understand why they hold such good value.
stuartinzg
Active member
Fishy Dave said:
Great stuff, why would you take the 13" over the 15"? Wouldn't it be harder to find tyres for 13" in Europe? (total guess)
Good point on the cage, thanks.
And superb videos! Exactly what I want to do
stuartinzg
Active member
Seems that you were braking too late and not carrying enough speed on the exit in order to get past him - that must have been quite frustrating Got there in the end!
Got there in the end! The race was amazing to watch. First place looked to have more power than you but what great battle for second.
Never done anything like that but it must be such an adrenalin rush.
Lucky lad
Never done anything like that but it must be such an adrenalin rush.
Lucky lad
Thanks, I'd waited years to firstly buy a Caterham and then be able to race, worth the wait, even though mine was a tatty example. The Caterham that won was an R400, so a lot more oomph than my Supersport. It was a closely matched battle with the 'Megagrad' car, he had a bit more power, I had a bit more grip hence trying to carry more speed into the corners. You can see the power difference only occasionally as the 'toe' makes such a difference, once I pulled out of his slipstream I couldn't gain ground so had to be content to stick inches off the back. The other driver was an experienced race winner and knew how to back me up out of the second chicane. Had he not missed a gear I don't truthfully know if I'd have got past him, but I wouldn't have given up! Every time I watch that video I always cringe when I see how easily I let him get past first of all, I just wasn't expecting his car to gain ground on me so easily before Tower corner. We had a good chat after the race too.
As for why 13" wheels rather than 15"? More choice of sticky tyres, better handling and slightly better compliance on the road too. I've driven plenty of Caterham with both size wheels and do prefer the 13" although it's not a night and day difference.
As for why 13" wheels rather than 15"? More choice of sticky tyres, better handling and slightly better compliance on the road too. I've driven plenty of Caterham with both size wheels and do prefer the 13" although it's not a night and day difference.
monaco_blue
Member
Built one in 96 and still have it.
yes me... but it was a westfield not a caterham. they generally come pre made and even the build yourself ones are quite assembled.
what level of build do you want? how custom do you want? what sort of power do you want? have you ever been in one they are a little rough. do you want V8/bike/car engines?
dont jump direct at a caterham the other 7 esque marks have a lot to offer and are arguably better in some instances.
dont be put off by any comments you read about kit cars and them being made of cardboard and glue so dangerous. A well made kit and well maintained car will be better than your average DD. how many people on here can say they know for 100% that their suspension is torques correct and balanced? dont forget they also have to go though stringent testing to get plates etc
mine is a healthy 200bhp so not particularly great and has a decent turn of speed to it.
westfields latest offerings are ether an an s2000 based car or one using the focus st duratec engine found i the current fords.
what level of build do you want? how custom do you want? what sort of power do you want? have you ever been in one they are a little rough. do you want V8/bike/car engines?
dont jump direct at a caterham the other 7 esque marks have a lot to offer and are arguably better in some instances.
dont be put off by any comments you read about kit cars and them being made of cardboard and glue so dangerous. A well made kit and well maintained car will be better than your average DD. how many people on here can say they know for 100% that their suspension is torques correct and balanced? dont forget they also have to go though stringent testing to get plates etc
mine is a healthy 200bhp so not particularly great and has a decent turn of speed to it.
westfields latest offerings are ether an an s2000 based car or one using the focus st duratec engine found i the current fords.
stuartinzg
Active member
Thx for feedback, currently looking at Caterhams for various reasons but that's not to say the others don't offer plenty of benefits too.
I would like the duratec engine (180hp), and decent road compliance, although the 1.6 would probably be fine, I thought the larger engine had more future potential.
Over time I can do more, for now happy with a basic spec to get the project going without costing the earth, keeping as close to the ideal OEM platform as possible.
I would like the duratec engine (180hp), and decent road compliance, although the 1.6 would probably be fine, I thought the larger engine had more future potential.
Over time I can do more, for now happy with a basic spec to get the project going without costing the earth, keeping as close to the ideal OEM platform as possible.
