JohnCh

I fit all the hand tools in a tool roll that attaches to the shelf in front of the scuttle. Spares, electrical diagnostics, first aid kit, jackets in stuff sacks fit behind the seats (I have MOGs so quite thin). The car cover is in its own stuff sack that is stowed under my knees in front of the driver's seat. The remaining items fit in the boot. A great way to extend room is to put your clothes in Space Saver bags. When you evacuate the air the clothes compress and take up significantly less space. The key to travelling in a se7en is to pretend you're backpacking; compress the compressible and ensure you are using every available square centimeter. -John

Hmm... Westfield has made changes over the years, so I just did a search on WSCC and it sounds like the ET35 is no longer the current recommendation. According to posts 2 & 3 here, the factory is recommending ET24 for the Team Dynamics: http://forum.wscc.co.uk/forum/index.php?/topic/95634-seiw-standard-wheel-offset-23mm/ -John

Westfield and Caterham use the same bolt pattern: 4x108. They also share the same offset for their 6" wheels at ET24, but Westfield uses ET35 for their 15x7 wheels. That places the outside of the wheel in essentially the same place, but the inside extends inward about 24mm. On my car, that would foul the front wing stays. Have you looked for an ET stamp on your current wheels? Most manufacturers have this, although sometimes it's hidden on surface that mates to the hub. -John

Here's more info on the supercharger including link to a dyno sheet: http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?deptid=5683&parentid=0&stocknumber=03-90010 My understanding is that Cosworth initially developed this, but there were teething problems that Flyin Miata worked through when they took over the project. The Miata NC uses a 2.0L Duratec, so this is an option for those running that engine in their se7en. I love Elans and almost bought one before getting a Westfield, but finally decided it was just too damn civilized I'm glad the video captured the amazing exhaust and intake sounds of this particular example. Just fantastic. -John

Lucky dawg, you have PM. -John

RNR, sorry to hear we won't see you this time around. Lucky Dawg, the WA legs of the tour are below: 8/23 Crescent, OR to Morton, WA 8/24 Morton to Winthrop 8/25 Winthrop to Sammamish (half day) Let me know if you're interested in joining at some point. Skip, so are you saying that when you wrote earlier I could drive your car in Monterey if I asked nicely, you were referring to your rental car and not the Caterham? -John

Reviving an old thread given Monterey weekend is less than 2 weeks away. Just three of us doing the tour afterwards, but who else is planning on attending the weekend festivities? It would be nice to get together at the track like we did in 2010. Looking at this thread, it appears we have: Mondo Slomove Scannon RNR Pierats Hudson Anyone else? RNR, do you have details yet on the GGLC breakfast in Salinas? -John

Sounds like great time. Wish I could have made it. And yes, more pictures please -John

The helium filled loafers were a failed attempt at weight reduction to offset my distinct lack of talent behind the wheel. They do look marvelous though. -John

Ooh that's right! I forgot to include the hair dryer, mousse, and Old Spice body wash in my earlier list. I never take my Birkin or Miata anywhere without them. -John

Croc's list is pretty comprehensive. The only additions I carry that I can think of are: - tire fill kit with extra CO2 cartridges in case I need to use the tire repair kit - high performance bicycle pump for small tire pressure changes along the way. - disposable painter's overalls, and some nitrile gloves in case I need to do a roadside repair. Oh, and a good attitude is also important, because sh*t does and will happen (remember, Murphy and Sod were both optimists.) Unfortunately for me though, I generally forget to pack that item. -John

In addition to Slomove, there are several of us still on the forum: me, Hudson, Pierats, Sequential7 (who recently joined), and I'm sure I'm missing others. -John

Sorry for the size, but this one kind of deserves it. Group photo from the USA2005 tour while we overnighted in Page, AZ. http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/850330_orig.jpg -John

PM me your email address and I'll send you a word doc from the factory with the official settings for the Megabusa (even includes ARB positioning and shock settings). I find their recommended settings for street driven, touring oriented models are pretty conservative, but they're much closer for the track models (although camber is still understated a bit -- I'd treat the factory recommended camber settings as minimums.) Make sure your rake is set properly, as Westfields are very sensitive in this area. Don't worry about the actual ride height, which is dependant on tire size, but make sure the front to rear delta is correct (follow this link for proper measuring points.) The key is ensuring the imaginary lines between the front lower control arms' inner and outer pivot points are parallel to the ground. Adjust rear ride height from there. Also, check out the WSCC forum. There aren't a lot of Westfield owners in the US and even fewer with Megabusas, but it's a very different story in the UK. -John

There are several things I like about Emerald. Support from the company and community is great. It's a very popular ECU for se7ens in the UK, so there are a lot of people on WSCC and BlatChat who have been there, done that and are always happy to help. Dave Walker, one of the owners, has an outstanding reputation in the UK as a tuner. He's written a great book on the subject, and the company has tuned a very large number of cars on their chassis dyno, so getting a starter map for a car with you specific configuration is generally not that hard. And lastly, in addition to the self mapping feature built into the unit, Chris Good put together a great little program that enables you to get the fuel map dialed in very quickly (it also works with MegaSquirt). The hardest parts of the map to set up are timing and the myriad of adjustments that impact drivablity at various temperatures. The nice thing about having a starter map from an engine that is a similar spec (asuming of course it was done by a talented tuner) is that those items are really close. Usually the fueling table will require a fair amount of fiddling, but that's pretty easy with the self mapping feature and Chris Good's software. Also, unlike DCOEs where you need to invest in a wide selection of expensive jets and emulsion tubes, making tweaks to the map yourself is free. If you really screwed things up, you just install an earlier version of your map and you are back where you started. -John

I'd go this route. Emerald has likely done the conversion on a crossflow so will likely have a starter map and may even be able to get you some specific parts like a pre-fabbed crank trigger wheel/crank pulley and crank sensor bracket. Definitely worth an email. -John

But we're better than the smooth brick! :party: The numbers above make the original Lotus Elite all the more remarkable: 0.29 in the late '50s. -John

You mean embarrassing for Kenworth, right? -John

The rare fiberglass body certainly helps with the latte...er, latter (curse you PNW auto correct!) -John

I don't think 0-60 times would be an issue with a BDA. Affordability though is a slightly different story -John

I agree with Kitcat. I've had a 1700 Crossflow and now a 2.0L Duratec. They are both great engines, but serve slightly different purposes. If your primary interest in a se7en is for the undiluted driving experience, and you aren't that worried about ultimate performance, then the Crossflow is a great choice. It oozes character, is powerful enough to get a se7en to 60mph in 6 seconds or less, and sounds fantastic at any throttle opening or rpm. If, however, ultimate performance is more important to you and the idea of blistering acceleration is a key consideration, then you are probably better served with a more modern powerplant. You'll get a lot more power, better touring range and drivability, and you'll still have character -- just not quite as much. -John

Love the pic arriving in Moab. Agree that USA2005 really was a very special time - from the roads to the scenery to the people. Hope rumors of a 10 year reunion tour are true. -John

Hmm... http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/8024029_orig.jpg -John

Ooh, if it's that Mike, I had the pleasure of seeing and hearing his beast on USA2005. And if it's not that Mike, well...welcome anyway! :-) -John

I guess both congratulations and condolences are in order. Where is the car's new home? -John