JohnCh

Here is a pic of the Wolo installed on my roll bar http://home.comcast.net/~cobar/bootlid-600.JPG Edited with a smaller photo. The original is >here -JohnJohnCh2006-12-11 12:45:03

Thanks Gert! I'll pick up a HeliCoil kit and do the retap and epoxy as you suggest. -John

Gert, Thanks for the offer. I guess in my attempt at brevity though, I took a detour at clarity. Therefore, I'll bore everyone with the complete story http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/wink5.gif Several years ago I upgraded the gear lever on my Westfield to a Quaife Quick Shift. Unlike the Westfield factory gear lever which has M10x1.5 threads for the shift knob, the Quaife features a beefier shaft with M12x1.75 threads. When I bought that new lever, I purchased a Team Voodoo shift knob and matching handbrake grip. I then had the shift knob laser engraved with the Westfield logo. I recently purchased a gearbox from BGH along with their gear lever extension for Westfields. It is a sturdier design than the Westfield factory extension and requires the use of the modified gear lever they supply. Like the stock Westfield gear lever, it too requires a shift knob threaded for M10x1.5. Unfortunately Team Voodoo doesn't offer a shift knob with that thread size. So I am trying to find some kind of bushing that will enable me to screw my M12x1.75 threaded shift knob onto my new M10x1.5 gear lever. I thought that a Time-Sert or HeliCoil for an M10x1.5 bolt might work, but before I buy either of those I want to find out what size hole (diameter & thread pitch) they require. I'd hate to buy one only to find out that the M12 hole is still too big. If I can't find an off the shelf solution, then I need to find a machine shop with reasonable rates. (yeah, like that is going to happen http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/wink5.gif ). -John

I have a new gear lever that is threaded to take an M10x1.5 shift knob. Unfortunately my existing shift knob is threaded for my old M12x1.75 lever. Any ideas where I could get an adapter? I was thinking that perhaps a Time-Sert/Big-Cert or HeliCoil might work, but I've been having trouble finding the outer thread size of the M10x1.5 versions. Thanks, John

2.0L Duratec here. I am aware of two MegaBusas in the States. Not sure if there are any more. Based on everthing I've read on WSCC about BEC vs. CEC, I think the latter is better for me. However, I would never go so far as to say it is better for everyone. I can easily see how someone could be seduced by the ridiculously low weight, the 10k+ redline, and the sequential gearbox. -John

If you are bored some evening, do a search on this subject on the WSCC boardroom, and then sit back with a big bag of popcorn and read the threads http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif -John

Jay Ivey built your engine, right? I would chat with him about the spec and see if he thinks you should be having the drivability issues. It could simply be that a tune up is required (timing can change, carbs can go out of synch, and previous owners can touch things they shouldn't http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/wink5.gif ) or you are running the wrong heat range plugs. All easy things to fix and worth exploring before you think about... turning down the power. Edited to add: If you want to bring the car to Sammamish, I am happy to give you a hand. -JohnJohnCh2006-12-04 15:16:59

More like time to mount the skis under the se7en http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/wink5.gif -John

After one of the wettest months in Seattle's history (we're about 1/10" away from breaking the record set in 1933) we finally have a beautiful sunny day on our hands. The only problem is that we received 5" of snow at our house last night and the current temp is in the upper 20's, so the white stuff and ice aren't going anywhere soon. (sigh). -John

The Toyo T1R is a decent non-R compound tire for a se7en. They are very light and have softer sidewalls compared to conventional high performance tires -- two attributes that are good on a very light car. This >link will take you to the available sizes, recommended rim widths, and tire weights. -John

Sorry, I was hoping to talk you out of it, but if the rest of the car is up to the task... http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/wink5.gif

Can the chasis take it, or will you need to reinforce things like the diff mounts?

I've ordered from >Tire Rack, >Online Tires, and >Discount Tire Direct in the past and have no complaints about any of them. -John

Lot's of information >here on offset, backspacing, and bolt patterns. 205/50-15 is probably the most popular 15" size for Se7ens. 195's are available from some manufacturers, but the choices in that size are more limited. Each tire manufacturer will provide an optimal range of rim width for a specific tire size, but 7" is what most people run with 205's. -John

I didn't realize Konig was offering the correct PCD for Caterhams. That's good to know. It seems most new wheels available in the States just work with the Honda and Mazda PCD. Another option is >Compomotive. They also have the correct PCD with multiple offset options and the prices aren't too bad. One thing to keep in mind as you contemplate the switch is that you are going to increase the unsprung weight which will affect ride and handling. You will also slow it down a bit with the taller effective gearing. Assuming you are going from a 185/60-13 to a 205/50-15, you will gain about 5/8" of ground clearance and increase your gearing by 6%. The Toyo T1-S and the new T1-R are decent road tires for se7ens. They are very light compared to most of the competition (Avon CR500 is the champ here, but a bit pricey) and have a softer sidewall which is good for a very light car like a se7en. -JohnJohnCh2006-11-12 07:44:25

Gert, Very nice video quality. What camera setup are you using? I'm thinking of getting something for PNW2007 and am just beginning my research phase. Thanks, John

I made wind wings similar to Michael's. They made a huge difference! You can (barely) see them >here and >here. -John

I work in the tech sector on the business development/marketing side of the house. Not very thrilling stuff, but it pays for my blatting addiction. I’ve been a fan of the Seven since I was a little kid and kind of fell into my Westfield ownership. The consulting firm where I worked had just hired a new Exec VP to start our California office. During an introductory, get-to-know-ya e-mail thread between us, I discovered that he had recently bought the Westfield that had appeared in the March ’96 issue of Road & Track. I was impressed that he owned such a unique car and he was impressed that I actually knew what it was, so a friendship was born. I began managing some of his projects and drove/thrashed the Westfield whenever I was in town for meetings. When it finally came time for him to part ways with the car, he made me an offer I couldn't refuse. After I had the Westfield for about 2 years, someone backed into it in a parking lot which shattered the nosecone. That shouldn’t have been a big deal, but the color formula had changed since my car was manufactured (Cadmium, a key component, had subsequently been deemed a hazardous substance) and so a replacement nose cone would not match. I fought the insurance company for a full rebody and eventually won. I then spent the next 18 months radically transforming the car. Virtually every component was replaced with lighter, more performance oriented components. The result was a weight reduction of 165lb. and a power increase of more than 50% (and soon to go up by another 30hp http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif ). Although technically I have only owned one se7en, the difference between the car today and when I first bought it is so dramatic, that I feel that I have been fortunate enough to own two examples of the breed. Last year my wife and I joined about 50-60 other se7en owners on the USA 2005 tour of the Western US. 4000 miles in 2 weeks. What a blast! For the masochists and truly bored among you, I have a very outdated website >here. -John JohnCh2006-11-14 19:52:44

I was in Portland on business a couple of weeks ago. On the way home I stopped by PIR to watch dp1's track debut and finally see the car in the flesh. Very impressive. -John

This guy built his own McLaren Can Am inspired car – from >scratch. He even hand formed the aluminum body. Unbelievable…

The combination of small mudflaps and big wind deflectors has virtualy eliminated the rock-in-the-seat problem with my car. I will still find one or two small pebbles each week, but I haven't felt a direct hit since the mods. -John

My Westfield was originally fitted with clamshells, but I switched to cycle fenders when I did the rebody. Xflow7 is correct about the additional road debris in the cockpit, but installing small mud flaps cured this on my car. I love the cycle fenders and am very happy I made the switch. There is nothing like turning in to a corner and watching the fenders dive for the apex – fun stuff! -JohnJohnCh2006-10-26 18:03:44

Thanks Mike.

Mike, talk about a mirror-like finish! Do you use these polishes on your fiberglass bits as well? If so, do you have the same enthusiasm for them on this material, or is it overkill? Thanks, John

Fluke Motorsports has a >weght database available where users can submit weights of various components -- including entire cars. >Here are the results for the latter. Makes for interesting reading. -John