TurboWood

edit* Use Sean's link above. It sure doesn't look like there is room for a K24/F20C. Daniel

I'll bite..... Doc, you just vaporized Einstein!

I'm hoping this is a simple question. Can a Honda K24 fit in a caterham (SV chassis) or is it too tall? Thanks, Daniel

Croc, One last question on the lowered floors...have you ever bottomed out? They look like the lowest point on the car other than the cooling fins on the transmission. I imagine when the rear end squats (during accel or from bumps) it could be easy for the floor to become the low point.

The miata boxes actually aren't any better. 1st gear ratios: Miata 5: 3.163 Miata 6: 3.815 S2k Ap2: 3.133 Cat6: 2.69 The Caterham6 definitely has the best first gear, but it's such a close ratio 6. I wonder if there are customer gears for the S2k box?

Attached are a couple example vehicle accel curves based on a dyno plot I pulled from the internet for the 260hp Duratec (random, but hopefully close). You can see it in the top right of the plot. Assumptions: 10% drivetrain loss (optimistic?) Drag, 0.7cd Area, 15ft^2 Rear end, 3.38:1 (std for CSR) First plot: Caterham 6spd Second plot: Honda AP2 6spd My conclusion from this exercise are: 1) Cat gearing is good, but 70mph cruise engine speed is high >3000rpm 2) Honda 1st gear is too short, but 2-6 are quite good (70mph cruise at ~2700rpm) 3) Cat gearing allows for 60mph at 8000rpm which would be perfect for a Honda K20 (maybe K24), but is pushing it for most other engines (Duratec probably ok) Comments? Daniel

It's difficult for me to see why Croc's car is ok and rnr's car is not, but the point is taken. Lowered floors sound like a good move for somebody my height. If I end up racing it more frequently than I anticipate then I'll have to consider a track-day bar. Does anyone have any comments on engine? I've seen photos of a K20 in a 7, but never a K24. How much "spare" room is there in front of the duratec (in the event I tried to squeeze a 5cyl in)? What about transmission? I'm tempted by the S2k box as they can be found much cheaper than the caterham unit and are robust to 300+hp. Croc, In your original thread you had mentioned that the caterham 6-spd was a bit notchy. Has it smoothed out now that you have given it a good beating?

Kitcat, I am intending to build it myself, but it will be a while. The kit is supposed to arrive in Denver in September, but I don't return (permanently) until January. I've been on a work assignment in China for what will be three years. I've also not decided on the engine. The Duratec is a nice (but expensive) option. I'm a turbo guy and really want the ability to get 300hp. A turbo K20 or the Volvo T5 are at the top of my list at the moment, but we'll see. One of my close friends is pushing an N/A K24, but I'm not sure it will fit (too tall). I ordered one of the 40th Anniversary versions so the color was fixed, but I like red. Croc, Thanks for the additional information. When I look at pictures of you driving (http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?t=6594&highlight=lowered+floors&page=3) I agree it looks like you have 2" of clearance assuming the roll bars are 2". The top of your head is close to the bottom of the cross bar. I would definitely welcome pictures, but I think you have already sold me on a lowered floor. rnr, You make a good point. Do any of the Caterhams actually meet this? Looking at pictures of cars it seems unlikely that even lowered floors would protect the driver per this rule. I also see that the real racing Caterham's have full halos which suggests it's needed or is that just a mandate by the rules? Thanks, Daniel

Thanks guys, that's very helpful. I do like the idea of a passenger giggling and then quickly shutting up as the car rockets to 80mph at 1g. Mike, I had found your thread a week or so ago and have been staring at the pictures ever since trying to decide. Your comments about the wheel not being removable are a surprise though. The US sales rep and the order form clearly depict the integrated dash coming with lowered floors and a removable momo steering wheel as standard. I wonder if they have made some changes since your kit was made?? Your feedback on the lowered floors are great though. I'm also 5'11", but was not sure they were a good idea. I hate the feeling of being too low in a car, but it sounds like that may not be an issue. The worst example from my experience are corvettes. You can't see where the front of the car is. Do you know how much lower the lowered floors are? If I wear a helmet with the standard floors will I risk being taller than the rollover bar? The hot tubing definitely isn't attractive. I had not given that any thought at all. Thanks, Daniel

This is my first post so let me start with hi. I don't have a lot of experience with 7's, but have been a car guy for all of my life. I've owned various sports cars over the years, but after reflecting back on the joy I got from each it became clear that less weight and fewer driver aids = good. Now down to business-ish , I've just placed a deposit on my first 7 kit. I've decided on a Caterham, but haven't made up my mind on the interior. This will be a 90%+ street car with the occasional trip to the track. I intend to use the quick-release steering wheel either way, but I can't decide between the integrated dash and standard. Instead of trying to do this blindly I would like to get some opinions on each. Is there anyone that has the integrated dash and regretted it (for whatever reason)? How annoying is it to manually turn the signals off with the standard dash when using the car regularly around town? Are the lowered floors with the integrated dash annoying for any reason? Thanks, Daniel