Kitcat

I think you can make a perfectly rational argument for trading out your "fun" car every 12 months or so for something else that is fantastic. Why limit yourself to a se7en when there are so many other tantalizing cars begging to be sampled? So the Birkin/MG/Morgan route makes total sense to me.

Ya got it tough there John, that's fer sure! I, however, am enjoying a quiet Friday at work, listening to clients complain non-stop. The calls will peak late this afternoon, as they do every Friday afternoon, abt the time you will be headed up your own peak, Mt Rainier. Yes, ya got my sympathy out there suffering away like you are:).

Beautiful cars, scenery, roads, and all experienced while touring in a se7en, sounds like the perfect trip!

Congratulations SDaddy on a great car at a great price! It is nice to see the car go to a fellow forum member.

I think Southwind's 7 was titled in Ohio. And, if so, you can get a temporary tag from Ohio and drive it home.

Terry-But we are supposed to LOSE money on cars (I know I always do:)).

Winning bid $22K, per E-Bay.

Yes, that's now my car and I was well aware of its 'provenance' when I purchased it. It is quite the track beast. I did a trackday @Waterford Hills 2 days ago and it was me, a Panoz and a track prepped C6 'Vette neck and neck all day in the advanced group, no one else was close. Waterford really favors my car as it's only 1.4 miles long, really doesn't have a straight, is all wiggle waggles, and I bet I never topped 100 mph.

Ahhh, Beachman either built, or refreshed, my current Caterham.

Yes, CR500 is a great tire, tho at $450 each, hardly affordable.

Wow, beautiful car! Cant wait to see the pix of build progress and final product. And, what a pristine build environment, that will help when those little fasteners go flying.

Steve: I think the video demonstrates why you MUST get the BDA, the sooner the better:).

Chris T at Sevens and Elans in MA shd know. Grease the wheels by starting your "upgraditis" during the call:).

I paid $1K for my Duratec w/9K miles 3 months ago. Plus $2.5K to my mechanic to install. Still, pretty cheap power.

My Jenvey ITB's were added to the junkyard motor, but the Haltech ECU was just plugged back in w/prev motor's tune.

Great job Croc! How does anyone watch that video and not want one of these cars? Or, for those who do have one, how do they not head to the nearest track? The video really captures the excitement one of these cars provides in the proper environment. Especially sharp eye getting my one near big-off:)! I wasn't really waiving to my fans, tho I wld if I had any, I was waiving to corner worker who threw the checkered flag. So natually I lost concentration, forgot to drive, put 2 wheels off and showered the poor driver in the car behind me with dirt, stones, etc. I am sure Tom will appreciate the soundtrack as it adds an important dimension:).

I suspect sliders/replacement seats from Cat bolt right in, but just a guess. When I owned my 1st Cat w/standard adjustable cloth bucket seats I drove a bench seat Cat. It was very uncomfortable. I seemed to sit way too high, there was no headrest so whiplash injury was possible. Seat was not adjustable fore/aft. Basically I hated everything abt it and it wld have been the first thing I changed if I had bought it. The standard Cat cloth seat, w/an aftermarket lumbar pillow was one of the most comfortable automobile seats I have ever used.

I think Twobone is way low on his Caterham estimates. I sold my '97 Cat X-Flow here last year w/30K+ miles, for $23.5K and Zetec engined and Duratec engined Cats are typically at least $5K more. Birkins seem to be abt $5K less than a similar Cat(not a knock on the Birkin, it starts out much more affordable, so holds its value at least as well as a Cat, IMO). A nice Zetec Cat sold for $30K here in the last year. So much depends on condition, extras, options, etc. For example, Skip's Miata engined Cat is so perfect/wonderful that it wld bring top dollar if it sold.

Misc thots: I too have a '03 Zetec Caterham w/motor via Ben at Cat USA. I will get it on a dyno sometime soon and see what's what. Also will ck in w/TurboTom for one of his special Zetec tunes. As posted elsewhere here, my theoretically superior Duratec (in my Birkin) was just measured at 165 hp, 150 lbs torque. So 18 less hp, 7 more lbs torque than your Zetec. Of course, chassis dynos differ. If nothing else, the results suggest a Zetec in optimal tune makes very respectable power. Redline/fuel cut-off is 7000 rpm's on both engines. My Duratec was straight from the junkyard, no tune yet. So it will probably yield a bit more. It goes back in this fall for a tune so we'll see what that does. It "feels" more powerful the my Zetec tho, but who knows?

Thx guys; I will modify my BFH plan and be a bit more judicious w/the tapping, and more generous w/the lubing.

PM sent re price.

You mite barely fit, tho doubt your size 12 shoe would. Some drive in their socks (really), but it cld be toasty. Figure $400-$600 for doors (guestimate as doors are one of the few parts I haven't had to replace:)). Much cheaper, tho, if someone has a lightly used set. No idea re price. All depends on how professionally the engine transmission swap was done, and condition of the car. The reality is some folks fall in love, buy these cars, drive and then the thrill wears off and drive less and less. So the unsuspecting buyer sees "low mileage" and thinks it's brand new. But, these cars need lots of ongoing TLC, so if its been sitting barely used for a few years it may take some effort and $ to get it reliably road worthy(I speak from long, painful, expensive experience here). Your goal ideally, shd be to buy from someone who has gotten the car back into shape already.

On my Birkin. I suspect even with my non-existent mechanical skills, I can fix it with a little guidance-hence this post. The brake is on, even tho the brake lever has been released. It is not super tight: it keeps the car from rolling, but I can maneuver the car in my driveway in spite of it. I tried backing up but that didn't release it, ditto going forward (each direction about 30'). So, which wheel (passenger rear?), and does someone have a diagram that mite explain what goes where and what mite be adjustable and/or out of whack? Just noticed this is my 2000th post. Seems appropriate that it's a repair issue:). Thx! Mike

Your 4th is same as my 4th, so my 5th is overdrive. Moving to bigger diameter wheels and or tires mite be simplest solution, tho you wld lose some acceleration. The rear tires on my Birkin are abt an 1/2 inch taller than the fronts (Toyos vs Avons)and handling is still excellent.

TwoBone, at 3800 rpm my X-flow Cat w/5sp on 15" wheels was doing abt 75 mph. Fifth was a nice cruising gear.