Mcalvert

Rob - with the offers of help that I have had (thanks all!) I think you've got a race on your hands! All the best - Michael.

Wow - thanks all - I'm now feeling less worried about this rather daunting prospect! Hope to see some of you "chez Calvert" in the new year! Thanks again - Michael.

As you may know (or have seen on the "fridge door" in this month's LF) - our car H5 URF has made a visit back to Arch for a rebuild. As of today she should be at TSK for painting and we hope to have the chassis back in the garage early in the new year. Stripping the car was a major step for me, not being the most mechanically minded, so the rebuild will be another step into the unknown. The plan is, if possible, to have the car back on the road for the Llandow shakedown on 29 March, and whatever happens, ready for the beginning of the Sprint season. If there is anyone who is able to lend a hand for a few hours at the weekend in the new year to help make this possible, we'd really appreciate it We live in Burnham, between Maidenhead, Windsor and Slough, just off of jn 7 of the M4. If anyone has the time to spare to help - that would be fantastic - happy to make donation to NTL to help us get back onto road and track.... Many thanks - Michael & Tam. Edited by - Mcalvert on 3 Jan 2008 12:37:43

Rivnuts for the scuttle - makes it a doddle to remove in future Michael.

Can't help with the rev limit question, but I'd be lost without the shift lights when on track. They are just in your peripheral vision and provide the information needed to get your shift points rigjht. I use the Omex unit which is small, easy to set up and very effective. Michael.

Hi Andrew! I use the SPA Formula mirrors - I used to have the flat glass on the side mirrors, but am getting convex for next year for a better field of view. However, the problem that I found (and I believe that this is common) is that the standard stalks are too short and do not look sufficiently above the rear wheel arches. If you call SPA directly, they will do you a longer pair of arms which overcome this problem - I forget the exact additional height but it's something line 1"1/2 and it makes a lot of difference. Regards - Michael.

Angus - it's being worked on at Arch - hopefully will come back painted and ready to start reassembly before Christmas Michael.

Go-on Angus -wotcha got? Michael.

Chomp Chomp Chomp. Thanks Adrian (the diet starts tomorrow...) Michael.

Ah, but Nifty - when madam says "What do you want for Christmas" - it often pays to have an answer ready and waiting... Michael.

My old wooden workbench is falling apart so in preparation for the rebuilding of H5 URF, it's time for a replacement (Tam take note, Christmas is coming soon etc etc... ) Does anyone have any recommendations for where to go. Can be up to 1m45 long, have a sturdy (wooden?) surface to mount a vice etc to. Some storeage underneath would ne nice too. Have looked at Machine Mart & Screw Fix - any recommendations for other places to check? Thanks - Michael (currently sipping a bottle of Chapman's Best from a 50th anniversary glass). Edited by - Mcalvert on 12 Nov 2007 22:53:07

Caterham technical has access to the old wiring diagrams. Might be worth a call to them? regards, Michael.

I was that other person delivering my chassis to Arch last weekend and damn rivets still haunt my nightmares. How many of the little blighters are there? What's more, before I took the chassis up to Arch I check and rechecked that I had punched all the rivets through to the chassis yet I still found 4 or 5 that I'd missed when I got to Arch Good luck! Michael.

As part of my chassis strip down I need to decide which parts should be refurbished/replaced. I am obviously having all the bushes renewed, but what about parts like the track rod ends - they are only cheap to replace, but do they play an active part in the suspension or should I jusr regrease and put back? Thanks, Michael.

No problem at all with riv-nuts in the ali. I then used some really tarty red anodised bolts to fit in them Michael.

Mike - each to their own I replaced my rivets with rivnuts (24 if I remember rightly) - takes a minute to undo them all as long as you have an electric screwdriver with the right attachment! Regards - Michael.

Danny - a move to class 4 sounds like the best idea I've heard all day (for the rest of us lower down class 3 anyway 😬) Michael.

Thanks - I don;t think there;ll be any problem getting the Alpha wiring out - as you say that has bespoke connectors and is labeled. My question is more what comes in the generic "engine" look - I assume that this is the main wires from engine to earth, battery, alternator, coil etc? Michael.

Thanks for the kind offer John I may be in touch later in the year! Regards - Michael.

H5 URF is nearly down to bare chassis and will soon be back at Arch for some TLC. Despite my mechanical numptiness, I am fairly confident that I will be able to get the mechanicals back in (maybe with a little help) but it's the electricals that are keeping me awake at night. Since the wiring taken out is pretty ropey in parts, I've ordered a new car loom from Caterham, but not a new engine loom. Can anyone tell me exactly what the engine loom comprises, as I guess I'll need to open up the spaghetti mess that I now have in a large box, and separate the two. The car is a 1700 Xflow on Alpha 3D ignition. Thanks - Michael.

A less fun (but also less destructive) option is shown here Michael.

Thanks all for the advice. The car is coming apart a treat at the moment. However, just starting to have the disturbed nights thinkintg about whether it will ever go back together again Michael.

I know that setup is a very personal thing, but do most people run with a rear ARB connected or sprinting? H5 URF was not equipped with the fittings for a rear ARB but now she is being stripped down and sent back to Arch I have the opportunity for such an "upgrade" - what do most people run? Thanks - Michael.

How easy is it to get a good Crackle paint finish on a cam cover - is it a DIY job or one for the pros? Regards, Michael.

I got new wings from DC a couple of years ago. Prices are very competitive, but they were quite a lot thinner/flimsier than my previous "Caterham" parts. That did mean that they were a lot lighter though... Michael.