CAV GT #22, rejuvenation project

[Jasper]

Hello everyone, i've been lurking in the shadows for many years here.
A couple of months ago, I introduced myself when I bought a 2003 CAV GT, which I was planning to freshen up.

I thought it was time to share some of the progress, since it is moving very very rapidly.
I decided (since I live in South Africa) it is very convenient to ship it to the OEM (CAV in Cape Town) and have them help with the modifications.

First a few pictures of the car as I bought it. Nothing wrong with it, just old-ish paint job, not perfect panel gaps anymore, and tattered seats.

Also, the red Cobra is a Backdraft I built between 20016-18, running an LS motor and T56 six-speed.
Love the sixties cars, even though I'm just a millennial

 

[Jasper]

The plan for the car is to:
- Redo some of the body work: scratches, cracks, misalignment, chips, there was a lot to improve on.
- Change color scheme (not a fan of the 'modern' blue, going guardsman blue and wimbledon white stripes)
- Upgrade carbed 302W to EFI 302W, but keeping carb-look.
- Upgrade interior, with new seats and new upholstery.

Beautiful to see all those brand new CAV's there. Also: the guys at CAV did not waste time!

 

[Jasper]

By now, the car is actually already busy being reassembled, but I have yet to see the final result.

Color looks amazing, and the car just oozes much more sixties feel, which I was going for.

 

[Jasper]

Ow, I actually forgot a very important point:
The newer CAV chassis have a special provision to allow us tall european folks to fit in th 40" available.
There is a slighty lowered section in the chassis floor to allow the seat to drop another 1" or so, and thinner seats.
I test-sat in one of the upgraded CAV's and it was a world of difference.

Jordi at CAV actually approved to make a custom designed modification to my earlier chassis, to create the same extra head room:

 

[Karl Wood]

Hi Jasper,

Can you elaborate on what the modification actually is?

Thanks very much,

Karl

 

[Jasper]

Not really rocket science.
Just a local 'dent'in the floor to allow the seat to drop a little further.
Design below:

Installed here on the left-hand-side, normal floor on the right.
Because of the better fit with their seat design, it also makes better use of all the available milimeters..

 

[Karl Wood]

Thanks very much Jasper! That is what I thought it would be. Great to see the pictures!

 

[Jasper]

I haven't updated for a while, but lots have happened. Especially now that we're on lock-down in South Africa, I can get a lot done.

First of all, the car came back from a new paint-job/bodywork job at CAV in Cape Town.


Also got a pair of new tanks made, with integral high-pressure fuel pump system for the fuel injection system. (Aeromotive Phantom)


In parallel I was preparing for its return, by prepping the EFI system. I'm going full sequential and coil-on-plug. That means I can time the spark easily with a laptop, and exactly they way the motor wants over the RPM and load range. Hiding the coils underneath the exhaust/chassis rail.



Intake is new, throttle body with idle air control valve and throttle-position sensor for the ECU.

 

[Stephen Ducker]

The new paint & stripes look much better. Excellent choice.

Regards Steve