Kitcat

Thx Tom. I just happen to have a brand new wide track steering rack in my basement. If Paul doesn't grab these, I will. Mike

Wide track front? Are these SV suspension components interchangeable w/S3? What are the available adjustments on the shocks: perch height, rebound, compression? If rebound/compression, how many separate adjustments are there and how accessible are the adjusters (Do you have to take the shocks off to adjust). Are the rebound/compression separately adjustable, or does adjusting one, adjust the other? Thx, Mike

This car is listed elsewhere here as: "Caterham FS in Michigan". The Goodyear rims are a dead give-away.

SG: The link's installation instructions says it only works with "Two independent momentary turn signal switches?" Is that what you have described above? It sounds like you have a single switch. Or, am I misreading the link's info -or your comments (Or both)? My Caterham uses the single on-off-on toggle switch you describe. So the toggle has to be physically returned to the off position to cancel the signal. One that cancels on its own after a timed period, as the linked switch seems to, would be ideal. Mike

I have the same issue. Hard to believe, but the non-canceling turn signal is my least favorite part of the car. Since I have clams, with a blinker lite on top, that's what I typically notice, 5 minutes after the turn, and am reminded to cancel my signal. I have a cockpit lite that blinks (imperceptibly) and is of no use unless I am driving at nite, when the lite becomes visible. I doubt that I'd notice any beeping sound w/my ear plugs and sound muffs.

After reading WestTexas's post about the adventures of 7evin at the Texas Mile, I think the above was what they saw during their 11th hour thrash. As for me, the only difference I noticed was that the dolphin on the right jumped further out of the water than the one on the left. Is it possible to be too calm?

Very impressive collection! I have no idea what the H. Manney book mite be worth, but wld pay $20.00+ shipping. PM me if interested. Mike

I have used the identical costume the last 3 Halloweens. It is more effective if you park the Se7en right in front of the party house:)! Mike

This month's "Caterham Life" newsletter has a short article on enhancing the handling of our cars. The basic message is, it's a lot easier to screw up the balanced package that Caterham delivers than make it better. It suggests that enhancement can be found by following Colin Chapman's rule of thumb:75% spring adjustment, 25% Anti-Roll-Bar. Getting the wheels, tires, springs, shocks, rake, ride height, camber, castor, toe in, toe out to work in a harmonious way is predictably challenging given so many variables and their effects on each other. Tinkering with just one component (say, stiffer shocks) can cause disharmony-and worsened performance. The biggest bang for the buck, per this article, is tinkering with tire pressures and then alignment settings. And, for owners of cars like mine to switch to Caterham's wide track option via the longer front wishbones (and longer steering rack) is a recommended route to enhanced performance. Driver preference is a key to suspension tuning also. It notes that F1 cars can have vastly different suspension set ups yet run identical times. Mike

Ditto:):).

I thing the de Dion offers more "trunk" space than the IRS set up, no? Probably not the biggest consideration for most se7en owners:).

Bruce: I have seen the pic you posted above before and, based on it, thot that it wld be easy to tell the 2 models apart. But from ground level (as opposed to overhead), and with different colors and options (spare tire/no spare tire), the difference is much more subtle than the photo above suggests. Croc-I have not noticed any evil handling w/my car, even on rough roads. I have a Dedion with the softer all-around suspension, as opposed to the track oriented suspension. But I am running race rubber on the street and still the ride is acceptable smooth, firm but probably softer than my stock M3 rides or my prior vehicle, a stock R package Miata. Mike

How tight is "tight"? I took a look last night. The alternator belt didn't move much when I pushed it. If I pushed fairly hard it moved maybe a 1/3 inch.

Misc thots: When I was at the LOG 30 Summit Point track day earlier this month, my instructor (an Elise owner) drove my car the first session. The conversation, as we approached the first turn, went something like this: "You see that cone and those trees, you want to start dialing in a little steering right here, WHOAAA, what just happened? Oh my God, this thing turns in RIGHT NOW, forget what I just said, I have to get the hang of the car first, it is so incredibly responsive, suddenly my Elise feels like a boat!" JohnK, thx for the attachment. It's interesting to see how serious the effort is (and difficult the task is) to improve the car's already excellent handling while retaining its purity. My S3 weighs 1225 lbs, 100 less than the larger SV. When I was at LOG there were many SV's and I have to say I didn't notice any size difference compared to mine-their size is so proportionately larger you really have to look to see the difference. In fact, I didn't know they were SV's until their owners told me. Mike

Thx for the input. I will start w/the loose alternator belt theory and work from there. It is a 6 mo old battery and I keep it on the trickle charger so it usually starts right up.

As Caterham owners know, we have 3 info lights between the speedo and tach: A top one that is green (turn signals), a red middle one (ignition) and bottom (blue) brights. All are fairly useless as they wash out in ordinary daylight. However, my red light has started coming on upon hard acceleration. And it's brighter than the others and is hard to ignore. Is the light trying telling me something, or do I just have a short in the wiring? It flickers a bit, then stays on, starting around 4K rpm's. Since I do a lot of accelerating, the light is on a lot and is sort of annoying. Thx, Mike

The fine print says it's an original "Lotus/Chaterham" nose, made in 1981. At least that's how i read it.

Dingo: I recently left my ignition on so long the battery ran down and had to be recharged (I turned it on to have steering so I cld push the car a few feet, then forgot all abt the ignition). But no resulting problems with the Petronix.

I thot he did great. No one else cld remotely hang with him. He was in command of his car, he never spun, tho he did have a few "moments" . Sure, he used ALL of the track (and curbs, and grass, etc), but that is the fast way around. I wldnt ride with him either, but I wldn't want to compete against him.

Light steering under hard acceleration wld not be surprising. I heard of an instructor who had a unique way of showing this at trackdays w/newbies. He'd explain the phenomena, then reach over at a high acceleration straight, grab the steering wheel and yank it downwards. When the car continued along straight ahead, he'd make his point again. (I don't recommend trying this at home kids). Anyhow, if your steering feel returns on deceleration, it sort of suports this. Exactly how much HP does your engine make? Mike

Halloween car?

If your steering is so scary you think it might kill you, something is seriously wrong. Have you tightened all suspension components (not just the ones that are easy to reach, but all?). I had a huge steering stability problem at LOG 30 and Tom (YellowSS) Dx'd loose front upper A-arm bolts. They were nearly impossible to reach, so I had skipped them. When I finally tightened them, handling nirvana was restored. Ditto engine mounts. Checked air pressure (a little goes a long way in a 7, I run 16-18)? An alignment (with you in the driver's seat-or a comparable amt of weight substituted)? I think I have max caster dialed in-wh/helps with steering stability, a touch of toe-out (some toe-in wld be better for stability tho) and abt a degree of negative camber up front. Everyone has their own alignment preferences. Better tires (are yours damaged or do they have uneven wear). But something's out of whack. I cant believe a small change in engine placement wld have such an adverse effect on steering. Mike

I see that it is a "non-smoker". maybe he means the engine:)? Has anyone ever tried smoking in a se7en?

It seems like the formula for the perfect se7en engine is a blend of lightness, compactness, power, reliability, serviceability. If so, the bike engined cars would seem to have an advantage, followed by the most modern 4 cyl engines (Duratec, Ecotec, etc) since modern car makers have roughly the same perameters.

Locost-My car came with the Petronix. Chris T at Sevens and Elans, who has built more Caterhams than anyone in the US (tho that probably isn't saying much), always uses them in his builds. I think it's a pure plug/play. Cost? Don't know. Since my used Caterham came with it, I never had to price one.