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We need to know what zetec you have. Likely a contour one that's vct or similar and it's going to be different than a Ford focus one. I went through this issue when I did my clutch. The car came with a clutch from a focus as a spare but it didn't work with the existing flywheel and after swapping flywheel it didn't work with the existing starter so I had to do a full conversion at that point.

In your next-to last photo, it looks like your hinges might be too low. Photos can deceive. If you slap a yardstick against your trailer ramp and side it forward, does it hit your trailer floor? Put another way, does the yardstick strike the vertical surface at the back of the trailer? I believe if I put such a such a yardstick flat against my trailer ramp and pushed it forward, it would pass over (the beavertail portion of) my trailer floor. I'm not going out at midnight to check it.

I want to replace the starters in my 2 Sevens, but don't know what to ask for at the parts counter. The two starters look interchangeable. Do I need to ask for some sort of Merkur starter?

You beat me to it. I don't really need my Race Ramps for my Sevens, but I believe that's because my trailer has a beavertail. The nose cones of my Sevens easily clear my ramp. It is nicer to use them because it is smoother. The trailer belonging to savagete2860 appears have a flat floor. I originally bought the Race Ramps because my first trailer had a flat floor and I would catch something on the bottom of my wife's TR4. I originally solved this with Rhino Ramps under the back wheels of the tow vehicle, but that's a real pain. For the Elise I needed the Race Ramps not for high-centering but because the front overhang on my Elise would hit the trailer ramp before my front tires reached the ramp. The little flip-up wedge with the piano hinge on the end of the ramp did not help. I took off the wedge and the trailer ramp fits well in the notches in the Race Ramps. This also made my little winch work easier because instead of two planes to get up from street level to trailer level (trailer ramp + beavertail), I have three (Race Ramps + trailer ramp + beavertail). The inclination of the trailer ramp is reduced. Bonus is that the trailer ramp is easier to lift without the weight of the little flip-up wedge. I can toss the trailer ramp up with one hand and then use both hands to shove in a Race Ramp before the trailer ramp falls down again. For savagete2860, Race Ramps should eliminate the need for the little flip-up wedge with the piano hinge and solve the high-centering problem. I don't really need my Race Ramps for my Sevens, but I believe that's because my trailer has a beavertail.

Tank is spoken for. Will update if falls through.

Patrick, I think most of us have corresponded with Martin Phipps and received similar info re: HPC’s. But thank you for taking the time to correlate the EVO info which I did not have. (I’m still waiting to get a copy of Chris Rees’ book ver. 4) I found one error or typo in your post. 5. 16 models were produced for the UK, and 9 for the USA; 12 were built at the factory, and 11 were delivered as kits. 16+9=25 not 23. As to your exhaust system I’d be interested to see photos of it. I’ve seen photos of HPC’s with single, rear exit pipe in both the straight back exit on the left and the across the back exit on the right with added resonator. Photos of your car would be nice to see as well.

Where in the Bay Area. I'll be up in Belmont in two weeks and could be interested. tom

I bought a set of Race Ramps to lessen the angle so my car would not hang up when I loaded/unloaded it. They are light and work just fine.

Just replaced my tank and curious if anyone has a use for this. The baffle is loose in the bottom of the tank. Ran a whole track season like this, but it fuel starves in long left hand corners on track. Fine for street use, or if you have welding skills, you could repair it. Just pay shipping, or come pick it up.

The weather has been cold and wet the last few weeks which has been holding up trying out my new trailer. My Caterham's radiator also decided to spring a leak, as they apparently like to do. Because of that, I have not been able to load up my car on the random decent days. I managed to sort the radiator and figured I'd load up the trailer and see where I could get the tongue weight using a scale I bought. This is important not only to see if I can even get under 15% window for tongue weight but also to see where my payload capacity lands with a loaded trailer. After passengers and fuel, I only have ~970 lbs left for available payload with no trailer, tools, hitch, etc, so I am going to be cutting it close. I put the car on the trailer, near the rear, and lowered it onto the scale. Bam - 250 lbs! I was starting to think the scale they used at the trailer shop was wrong since it ranged from like 700 down to low/mid 600s depending on car position. I was pretty happy because I am aiming for 365-550lbs and with how far back the car was, that should be simple to hit. I pushed the car to the front of the trailer and lowered onto the scale again, not is at 200 lbs. Huh.. turns out MY scale, not the shop's scale, was a dud and wouldn't measure over 200 lbs. I am now waiting on a replacement scale to try this all again and I still don't know exactly how I will load the trailer up or what my available payload will be. Figured I would post some pictures of my almost complete tow setup. Here is the full setup after I bought the trailer. No car loaded. These are all from today... Also discover the bell housing/skid plate gets hung up on the ramp door with me in the car. It just clears when the car is completely unloaded though.

Hello everyone, It’s a pleasure to meet you all and, perhaps, to contribute in some small way. I also hope you’ll receive my message, given the rather late hour at which I’m replying to yours. My name is Patrick, I’m French, and since March 2023 I’ve been the happy owner of an authentic Caterham HPC Evolution ‘Blue Top’. I’m also in contact with Martin PHIPPS, Caterham’s archivist, and here are the details I’m happy to share with you, if you aren’t already aware of them: 1. The total number of Caterham HPCs put forward by Chris REES (337) is likely correct, given that Chris worked closely with Martin to arrive at this figure. The VX/VXi versions were fitted with the same engine, namely the Vauxhall 2-litre 16-valve unit, but only the specifications differ. The HPC versions, which often, though not always (mine, for example, does not have it), featured the letter H in the VIN, had the following options: 16-inch wheels, leather seats, a Moto Lita steering wheel and a heater. These cars were listed as ‘HPC’ specification on both the order form and the invoice, as it is the case with mine. 2. Whilst it is perfectly correct to say that the High Performance Course was indeed compulsory for buyers of the first BDR-engined HPCs (only three buyers residing in Dubai, the USA and Norway respectively were reportedly exempted), this does not appear to be the case for the Vauxhall-engined HPCs, for which the course was 'recommended' but not 'compulsory', except for buyers under the age of 25… of whom, one can imagine, there were not very many! 3. Still according to Martin, out of the 337 HPCs produced, 23 were reportedly ‘Evolution’ versions. These ‘Evo’ versions were apparently not official versions duly listed in the factory catalogue. The specifications of these ‘Evo’ versions, in addition to their three-stage engine tuning (Stage 1: 218 hp, Stage 2: 225 hp, Stage 3: 235 hp), were: improved cooling with a larger radiator, larger front brakes, higher-performance shock absorbers, and, for some of them only, a roller gearbox. 4. Out of these 23 HPC Evolution models, Martin lists: a. 12 Stage 1 versions, b. 2 Stage 2 versions, c. 9 Stage 3 versions. 5. 16 models were produced for the UK, and 9 for the USA; 12 were built at the factory, and 11 were delivered as kits. 6. Mine is therefore one of the 12 Stage 1 versions delivered as a kit to the UK and is hence right-hand drive. It naturally features all the options of the HPC versions + those of the Evo ones, with one distinctive feature that I’ve never seen on any other Caterham before: a twin rear exhaust. It has a complete history dating back to the order form and the original invoice; it likely saw some track action in the UK before enjoying a well-deserved retirement on the small country roads around Lyon, where I now live. I hope you’ve found this information useful, and I look forward to hearing your feedback. Best, Patrick

The latest issue of Avants magazine has a nice article on Caterham that was pulled together with the help of some Seattle-area owners and features some very nice photography. https://www.avants.com/magazine/the-benchmark-for-lightness?

I have to imagine (even with the less expensive mechanic options). Multiply that by the number of cars across multiple countries requires @Croc to keep the work revenue coming in. last I heard that 2021 unplanned stop vehicle is still there. Not to mentioned how many cars (@crocaliasbringatrailer) has that no one knows about. I look forward to continuing to invite myself down to njmp and eventually tour the garage-mahal when all the cars come home to roost. Hopefully I’m not using a walker at that point.

Ah. https://www.autoblog.com/news/trump-plans-25-tariff-on-european-cars-prices-could-surge

As I'm waiting for my kit, I don't actually see a new tariff. The news articles from today say that after a year, the US/UK trade fell by 25%, is that what you're referencing? He did remove a whisky tariff today after dinner with the King during a toast... which is the dumbest way to do trade policy I've ever heard.

They're saying on the UK forum that it was an all-hands-on-deck, last minute build. Maybe they just didn't have time to do the white wheels. They do look FABULOUS though.

Here we go again. 25%

Wow that's actually a great call on white wheels Someone missed this

Good and bad news. Good news is the car is running on the new ecu and means it can be tuned / driven. Bad news is I'm travelling for work starting wednesday, and will be back around memorial day, if that can scratch your itch. happy to help you try the car out.

Omg you are so right, what a huge miss on not matching the wheels!

Makes sense to me.

It's not too late for them to paint the wheels white!

Apparently most of the senior builders/assemblers went to this to maintain all the 22 cars, and mine that is in build isn't progressing as quickly because of it! Drat! Super cool though, maybe they'll get some awesome press out of it.

Just received a Caterham Bulletin that in part says: