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Hmm strange to see oil pressure drop like that -no oil temp gauge right? What oil weight? Seems strange for oil to get hot doing autocross (not very much extended high load/high rpm like on a big track). Granted I have a dry sump, but I would have a hard time ever getting my oil even warm doing autox.

Yesterday was the autocross, and the new alignment (and more confidence) did wonders to the handling. The car was happy to oversteer at will, and was heaps of fun! The engine is so fun to rev out. Unfortunately I had a couple of issues in the hot day. The weather was 36C and after 4 runs the engine was on its way to over-heating territory. I shut it off with the gauge indicating 100C, but it reads about 7C low, so it was really about 107C. The most concerning part was the oil pressure dropping near 0.6 or 0.7bar at idle unless I held the throttle open a bit. However, I called it quits once I saw it struggle to build over 2.5bar at 3k RPM. All returned to normal after the engine cooled down again in the afternoon, but only did 3 more runs before oil pressure started to dip at idle again. At any rate, it was an awesome day. Fun time with friends, and feeling great about the car overall. I could do more changes to the alignment but I'm happy enough at this stage. I imagine 13" wheels will change it a little too, so maybe I'll wait until then. I'm going to look into using a heavier weight oil to see if it helps the hot pressures. It seems the stock Focus SVT has an oil cooler, so I wonder if the oil tends to get toasty on these with 5w-30?

Paul Snyder (User: Foxfire S2k) built this car in 2006. As far as I have found, Paul was not active on forums, but he was on the email lists. He kept impeccable records. The car came with binders full of build details. This includes printed emails in plastic sleeves that I have yet to completely parse through. I welcome any contribution from those with past experiences with Paul and this car. Around the same time this car was built, I was aware of the kits and interested. Really, all I lacked was the illusive lottery win. 20 years later, I was still lusting after the S2Ks in the rare instances they are offered for sale. This car was auctioned on bring a trailer by user Stickerdick (Mark). The auction closed during the 2026 Indy 500 and didn’t meet the reserve. The high bidder did not make a deal, and fortunately, I found Mark’s contact info on this site. After we agreed on a price, the car was shipped from FL to TN. The USPS and UPS both proceeded to lose the title. Mark was extremely professional and patient and I finally received the third title. This car has now been registered in IN and FL and currently TN.

Sold.

Hello all I am fortunate to have purchased another bucket-list car. This thread is intended to document its history and adventures. This picture is after I took delivery from Stickerdick.

The 7 and I had our first encounter with one of the vapor capturing pump nozzles the other day. My filler is directly connected to the top of the fuel cell; I do not have the curved pipe that exits the rear of the car. There was no way for me to make the nozzle happy by pushing it into the filler opening. But I was able to pull the vapor capture shroud up with my hand and, presto, gas came out! It was awkward but ultimately successful. Good thing too because the station I stopped at before then was out of gas, and the car was nearly so as well.

Did a 130 mile blat today with @Pokey.

Took the r400 out for a drive as I've been playing with reducing cockpit turbulence...this is for the road but I'm often at the 60/75 mph level due to location. I hate losing ball caps :). I have the larger wind wings but have cut them down topside to properly clear the half hood...the half hood is on all summer due to our heat. the ambient temp when I went out was 100 F. The hood makes a great dif without direct sun. I put a Lexan piece..9"x36" (shaped) across the rear bar.... I find this works well with the hood... not so effective without but no worse either. It needs to be 1/4 in so as not to 'flap' when the hood is off. The other is how well the cooling system works....I was goosing it and running hard uphill at 60 to 80 mph and it barely got beyond 1 o'clock on the temp gauge and settled at the 180ish/12 if driving at a lesser rate. Strangely I found the footwell heat to be hardly noticeable...much less than the '98 HPC. Perhaps because the pipes are on the passenger side? No idea, but didn't notice that at all. I'll have to check with the doors on only and see if that rear window is an assist. Just an FYI. Love this thing.

Hi @jmaz. I have a few of these that I would be willing to send you for free, but the complicated postal system these days is too much to contend with. You don't mention the o.d. of the fittings required, but go to your local big box hardware store and look for 'Pex' fittings. They should be made of brass (sometimes chrome over brass?) and normally come manufactured for 1/2" pex pipe or 3/4" pipe. You may require metric size for your car, and if so, some Italian manufactured pex fitting may be available, but not sure. Here in Canada, although mostly metric, we rely on Imperial fitting sizes along with many other construction items also in Imperial measure. Cheers W.

Nice technique, Pethier, and thank you for describing it. Do you manage to keep the can from leaking at the can/nozzle gasket? Fortunately for these sorts of approaches, Amazon has various nozzle options that bypass the horrid safety valves.

Week Beginning June 14, 2026 USA7s Classified Ads of Cars for Sale USA7s classified pages - USA7s club members have the benefit of selling their cars by listing them for free on USA7s forum. https://usa7s.net/ips/forum/26-cars-for-sale/ New Ads This Week Locost https://ebay.io/m/NVwkIF Lotus 6 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1952-lotus-6-norfolk-ct-2945955 Birkin https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1972-lotus-seven-san-diego-ca-2946925 Caterham (back again) https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1957-caterham-jupiter-fl-2947891 Caterham https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/2026-caterham-seven-miami-fl-2947285 Caterham https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/prineville-caterham-620r-lotus-super/7935566188.html Locost https://www.facebook.com/share/14czWs8iJDb/ Stalker https://www.facebook.com/share/18fYiBhPsK/ Stalker https://www.facebook.com/share/1D8MAKjs4K/ Locost Project https://www.facebook.com/share/1bBrBkFrLJ/ Locost Project https://www.facebook.com/share/1CwV5xuH16/ Birkin https://www.facebook.com/share/17rfoY4Lva/ Lotus 7 S2 https://www.facebook.com/share/18bXPsmj3U/ Stalker Project https://www.facebook.com/share/1985no6Qk4/ Locost (Lotus 6 Tribute) https://www.facebook.com/share/1Cv2D42CAw/ Caterham https://www.facebook.com/share/1CsY6PBYw7/ Repeat Ads From Prior Weeks Caterham https://ebay.io/m/SclMnr and here https://www.facebook.com/share/1DCXb8prQE/ Caterham (be sure to pick the cheapest ad - $10K price diff) https://ebay.us/m/SMLyMd and here https://ebay.io/m/DjagUh and here https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1998-caterham-super-seven-fort-lauderdale-fl-2914012 and here https://www.facebook.com/share/1LYkAGNa98/ Caterham https://rockymountaincaterham.com/csrtwenty02/ Caterham https://rockymountaincaterham.com/76907-2/ Lotus 7 S3 https://rockymountaincaterham.com/sb2352/ Caterham https://rockymountaincaterham.com/inventory/ and here https://www.facebook.com/share/1c2CDLM6vR/ Caterham https://www.beachmanracing.com/inventory Lotus 7 S2 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1963-lotus-super-seven-cochranville-pa-2891143 Caterham https://www.hemmings.com/listing/1999-caterham-all-models-526915 Caterham https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/caterham/super-seven/2638345.html Caterham https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/2026-caterham-seven-miami-fl-2916813 and here https://www.facebook.com/share/1FK15NCUoZ/ Diva https://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/d/new-haven-1962-lotus-super-replica-ls1/7938697395.html Locost https://www.facebook.com/share/17Wk6NAKNu/ Lotus 7 https://www.facebook.com/share/18mFerHjNc/ Locost Project https://www.facebook.com/share/18dsHNDvRi/ Locost Project https://www.facebook.com/share/18uvSrSndF/ Locost https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bf9UQC9Lv/ Stalker https://www.facebook.com/share/1KXgYZVu5A/ Caterham https://www.facebook.com/share/191ntTsuos/ Locost https://www.facebook.com/share/17r9dQnXte/ Westfield Pre-Lit https://www.facebook.com/share/1BCoUPRuf8/ Locost Project https://www.facebook.com/share/1CqzGS45es/ Lotus 7 S2 https://www.facebook.com/share/1BudXmbxqE/ Locost Project https://www.facebook.com/share/194CHMrMSe/ Mitsuoka Zero https://www.facebook.com/share/1Hb7ouqHoF/ Caterham SP300R https://www.facebook.com/share/1AxmvTYBqb/ Canada Locost Project https://www.autotrader.ca/offers/bmw-2002-barn-find-cat_ma13gr2163-9b5e3f67-7e4f-4f56-acac-2df6e6c12e99 Locost Project https://www.facebook.com/share/1HKpFt7Zdx/ Locost https://www.facebook.com/share/1BLL2bMBsi/ Caterham https://www.facebook.com/share/1Cti5jgdNu/

Love them. First, remove the part that locks the valve "off". That was not in the original design and is a damned annoyance. Second, to fill a Seven, affix to the nozzle a hose long-enough to reach into the car's tank. Fish the hose into the tank. Hook the tab on the valve to the filler rim. Tilt the can horizontal and press the can towards the car. Gas will flow into the car, Now and again the assembly will burp air from the tank into can. When the fuel reaches to the end of the hose, air can't enter the hose and gas stops flowing. Ease up the pressure to close the valve. Withdraw the hose slowly to break the air seal to allow the gas in the hose to drain into the car tank. I two-step this by using a big can to repeatedly refill a two-gallon can so I don't have to hold a heavy can at the car.

I took my Birkin to a Practice Autocross today. I got more than 20 runs for maybe 60 dollars (I'd have to look that up, but surely was not $100). Didn't sell the car, though. Tomorrow is a more-conventional autocross.

I may be interested in this for my classic 7. Will PM.

those look so cool. cant wait to see those on the track this year.

Thanks for the offer, Dan. I may be in touch.

That sounds ideal. We used to have a bunch that would rent VIR for a day. Lodging and a good dinner for $200

A few of us did scca and north east motor sports. Both at the meadowlands complex in 2006-2009. Between 4 and 12 Elise’s would come out. On Friday’s NEMS had a morning session where, for ~$120 you could do “training”. And we’d run as many laps as we could in ~3 or so hours. We’d easily get 16-20 runs. No course work. Just driving. we ended up skipping the traditional weekend events because none of us wanted to work the actual course. was a good group of guys.

Well, we can only learn our limits by exceeding them. You know a lot. No, seriously, I tracked our Elise 102 days at Road Atlanta and VIR. Attended a soectator a number of local auto cross events. My car was pretty well set up for it, but I never got around to doing it. Just seemed like an awful lot of time to be there for not much time on the circuit. If you could pay a few hundred dollars and get like 20 runs? But anyway, I applaud your courage to take on the cones and your willingness to reveal these photographs to us all 😊

I'll never know for sure, but I had been playing so much with the suspension I think I left something loose, the car snap oversteered faster than I could ever imagine and I couldn't catch it. Either way it's entirely my fault, not the concrete wall's fault. Wasn't even speeding! Frame is bent, cracked front and rear, all cross beams have a bend in them. Drivetrain, cooling, supercharger, interior is perfect other than the LSD probably. Bruce quoted a new frame. Hagerty Fixed Price has me covered, thank goodness! I've spent so long on this car I can't fathom putting it back together again and then crashing 600 more miles down the road. If I lived by the caterham factory, that would be a different story.

Every year.

The arc of cones sounds like something from a Hollywood stunt driver. Do you get the Most Cones of the Year award?

Yeah. I built a reputation for hitting the cones. there’s one picture. I’ll have to look for it, where I drifted my rear through a crescent of cones hitting each just right to kick them up and create a rooster tail of cones, liken to a go fast boat turning up the bay.

Damn that sucks, what happened? The car looks very fixable - i've seen some gnarly crash vids of UK 7s racing with rapid repair and return to the track in short order.

Glad to hear you're okay. Hopefully the insurance company treats you well.