Meet Ralph - 1970 ST project

[matteo68]

And this is the dash in the ex-Kinnunen 2.5 ST (911 230 0550) - note the clock in situ rather than clock delete:




And this in the ex-Polak 2.5 ST (911 230 0495):



This was correct for 1972.

[rich73]

Hi Rich, if you go for one of our 175A alternators you can go smaller on battery capacity. I run an Odyssey AGM (PC925) in my SC and a Deadweight (prototype) in my 993.

With the battery isolator, we have on occasion had issues where the isolator cannot sustain the current for the AC. TBH, this has generally been with cheap eBay isolators. Bosch ones tend to be ok and I would think the old school one is probably better than the new plastic key type.

That's really helpful thanks Jonny, didn't think I would be able to get away with going so low in terms of capacity. Just had a google and may just go for something like this:

Screenshot 2023-06-21 211217 by richard cannings, on Flickr

Fits better than the 3.2 battery, plenty of capacity , cheap and looks a bit more period. Good to know about the switch, will just leave in place and bypass if any issues.
Rich

[rich73]

Really nice pictures thanks James and Matt, great inspiration.
Getting there with the electrics, got the indicators and the Hazards working today. Think I spent too long trying to work our that rationale behind the fusing solution rather than just getting them working but got there in the end!

[rich73]

Alas no 10K tacho for now, just trying to get everything together and usable. Thinking I can always go back and concentrate on the finer points later.

2023-06-22_09-30-30 by richard cannings, on Flickr

Getting there with the electrics, wipers and fan running today although they could both do with some love.

2023-06-22_09-34-49 by richard cannings, on Flickr

Making a shopping list as I go along, current bits I need are Left hand dash screen vent (few on ebay) and one of the steel covers and seals for the rear lights. Someone sold some on impactbumpers a while ago so looks like they have been available but cant find them, any pointers gratefully received. Thought about making fiberglass ones but really just want to keep things moving at the moment.
Rich

[Jonny Hart]

You might not know but if you were considering our CDI+ box, you can turn your existing tacho (or any 911 tacho) into a 10K tacho just by fitting a 10k front face. The box has an inbuilt scaling/calibration factor so it can be set to operate at any number scaling from the live RPM signal. The saving will probably pay for the box plus the car will go a whole lot better as well.

[rich73]

Thanks Johnny, that's Great to know.
I did buy a none working DCI box that I repaired but would defiantly like to get one of yours for reliability as much as anything else. I didn't realise that my current gauges don't include oil level and pressure so will defiantly be replacing/upgrading them as a future project. The current set have really aged nicely though and what I presume was white is now a lovely ivory colour. I may just keep them and get another set to replace them with that I don't feel bad about getting restored.
Hoping the Left hand dashboard vent will arrive today and I get get the dash top fitted.
Old loom and fuse boxes cleaned up nicely, may upgrade to blades in the future but happy with this for now.

2023-06-28_08-45-48 by richard cannings, on Flickr

Rich

[rich73]

Battery arrived today, really happy with the size and with CCA of 600A and capacity of 62Ah seemed to hit the sweet spot for size, weigh and power....Almost feels like I'm a systems engineer again!

2023-06-30_09-05-47 by richard cannings, on Flickr
Rich

[rich73]

Steady progress, got the Headlining 90% complete today. Went for black which I'm really happy with but decided try gorilla contact adhesive which is complete arse and even after 5 mins drying time only just sticks. Luckily I practiced attaching off cuts of of heading to a coke can and realised this before I went near the car. Luckily I found the remains of a can of Everbuild Stick 2 which worked incredibly well.
Next stage will be to get the windows in followed by the suspension. I'm trying to get as much attached to the car as possible with minimal spend.
I'm them planning to sell my 3.2 Carrera to fund the rest of the build, this was built as a track car some time ago but its never been near a track. I was thinking I should take it on the track before I sell but went to a track day with friends last week at Brands and realised my driving wasn't up to the job. Thought the Supercharged Elise was quick but the passenger ride in the 420 R was just brutal, I have new found respect for Caterham's.

2023-07-11_09-47-16 by richard cannings, on Flickr

Carrera will be for sale without seeing the track!

20220523_163651 by richard cannings, on Flickr

[rich73]

Just looking back at some earlier pictures, I do quite miss the metalwork.

2021-04-07_01-18-08 by richard cannings, on Flickr

[deano]

I don't understand why you didn't repair the original

Great workmanship though

[rich73]

Thanks,
Rear screen fitted yesterday morning, really pleased and relieved to get it done . Although I got the screen for a really good price I checked the price of a new one which did put the pressure on somewhat.
Tried the front screen this afternoon and managed to smash it within minutes, only cost £25 so decided to call this the practice run and will order a heated one from Ricky Evans.

2023-07-19_12-13-29 by richard cannings, on Flickr

[RobFrost]

I was chatting with a windscreen guy just this week who has done many of these, he said it's dead easy job - easy money compared with a modern window which has electrics in and needs gluing etc. Anyway, He said the trick is to leave a big loop in the string on each side of the screen and that enables you to pull the corners in. He also said something about reaching through the speedo hole or one of the dash holes to grab the heater wires. I hope that helps.

[rich73]

Thanks Rob, will give that a go for attempt number 2.
Steady progress, its been rewarding to work on the gear shifter, hand brake and pedals.
2023-07-26_07-59-47 by richard cannings, on Flickr

Focusing on getting the car on its wheels at the moment, hoping to get it rolling by the middle of next week. Cleaned up a set of Koni struts today, amazing detail on the stamping.


2023-07-27_08-52-41 by richard cannings, on Flickr

Mixed some Koni red from a combination of Guards red and Tangerine.

2023-07-27_08-55-31 by richard cannings, on Flickr

[911hillclimber]

Had a fresh screen in my 73T a few years ago. Got a local pro to the car who did the front and back screens. Rear flew in while I made the tea...
Front took much longer but only because i was using the original 1973 filler strip which was distorted when the old screen was removed.
Took ages to hand re-form the aluminium strip, but glass fitting was quick after. Cost me about £150 at the time, well worth it.

[rich73]

Thanks for that, think I'm going to have a second go with some help to lift in and out. I didn't really appreciate that there was quite a bit of work fitting the trim, think I was expecting it to be a 5 min job.

I've removed and refitted the screen in my other car a couple of times but it didn't have the dash top installed which I think made it easier. The ends of the top were removed for the roll cage but it also meant the dash could be installed after the screen.

First bit of fresh air today for a while!

2023-08-02_05-40-31 by richard cannings, on Flickr