FE07

It's a Zetec with variable valve timing on intake and a modified intake cam. Engine has about 13K miles. Had a modified Ford ECU but had idle issues and a weird/sporadic engine miss (fuel?/ignition?) which cleared up with a stock ECU, so currently running a stock ECU. Have dealt with Turbo Tom in past with modifying the ECU tune so guess could go back to that as well. Car is both for street and track. Will never see more than 2K miles/yr with me. Believe the throttle body is stock. Has nice headers. Budget- guess it depends on what $ get me for HP. Don't need to tell you guys that 10 HP can make a big difference in these cars. Willing to spend money on head work while apart. Guess just wondering what's the best bang for the buck while it's apart. Thanks guys, Jim

Well- appears my head gasket is blown and has probably been slowly leaking for at least a year or so. Symptoms- on track- a combination of heat and revs (more revs) lead to pressurizing of the coolant overflow tank and spitting of coolant. On street- couldn't figure out why I seemingly always had to tighten the hoses clamps on my silicone hoses. Car always had a slight 'eau de antifreeze' after a couple of minutes of driving! Car is going up to George Alderman on Tuesday and he certainly knows his way around Caterhams. Just thought I'd ask the group for any suggestions to increase performance of the engine when the head comes off and any experience with mods they might have done in the past. Thanks, Jim

Steve, Thanks for the uhh..........timely update:) Found a Petty strut a while ago and have been using it when the car is tracked. Hopefully someone else can get some use of yours. Nice thing to have to maybe stiffen up the car a bit. Jim

These are really cool cars. Have never seen one in person. Believe they're 2 seaters with seats behind each other. Given that they're designed by Gordon Murray- they should have some collectibility and probable appreciation in value. Not sure about street legality in the USA. Unless I'm mistaken- they haven't been produced in a number of years and were only built in limited numbers- not more than a couple hundred. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Jim A.

Mike, Tom and the rest of the group, Sorry but won't be able to get there this year . Family vacation plans and of course only time it worked was around the 4th. So... Montreal and Quebec City instead of NJMP. Seems I just got the idle and fuel delivery issue I was having solved as well by switching to a different ECU George Alderman happened to have sitting in his shop. Hope to get up with you another time before next year!! Be thinking of all the fun I'll be missing that weekend. Hope everyone has a blast and remember............keep it on the black stuff!! No agricultural racing. Jim A.

Dermot- glad you got a car! Did you get my PM about registering the car?? Jim

Tom & Mike, Plan to be there. Looking forwards to it. Jim

OK Mike- we already know he's fast but we don't need him to think he's THAT good/God;) Jim

Wow.........Extremely jealous!! Looks like an absolute blast. Thanks for putting this together Mike. Love to join you but probably gonna have to wait a couple years. Still trying to get to Spa. Probably have to make due with Log 37 next year. Talledega and Barber. Hope to get there. See you at the track, Jim

Michael, Hoosier was a family run business and I understand it was sold when the younger members of the family didn't want to take it over. According to the scuttlebutt on some SCCA related boards, shouldn't be too much of a change but no one knows for sure. They certainly make great race tires and have always had great trackside support. Would suck to have them go all 'corporate'. Jim

Thanks for the replies guys. Any thoughts on mohair vs. vinyl. Doors and boot cover are vinyl. Mohair fold up smaller as not so thick?? Jim

As Tom suggested in another post, maybe now is the time to pick up some parts from England with the exchange rate. On that topic- anyone have a half hood?? Looking at Softbits and Thundersports. Biggest question- do they help with wind control with the doors off or is it still bad over 40 mph? Thanks all, Jim

That Merlyn looks like an awesome car to Vintage. Just don't hit anything hard with the front suspension or you'll have lower suspension arms through your ankles!! Maybe I shouldn't go out in the garage right now and look at the bottom of the front A arms on the caterham Have a great day off tomorrow everyone. Jim

They're Avon ACB-10's. Pretty sticky and not probably the best street tire but have actually lasted quite well between street miles and some track events. Car doesn't really see any rain. You can get them from Roger Kraus racing in California. Come in 3 different compounds so if you're really interested I can let you know which ones I have. Believe I have one compound in front and another in the rear. Have to check the sidewalls. They're DOT approved. Uhh........ I think? Jim

No problem Bob! Lot's of people there. Thanks for the pics. Jim

WOW- who's gorgeous car IS that?? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....... Let me see if I can remember

Sounds like we need a caravan to Barber next year!! 9-10 months away but I'm in if no conflicts with my schedule. Jim

Just got back from LOG myself. Took my Elise instead of the 7 as I'm still waiting for my wheel bearings to arrive from Redline. Had a great time looking at lots of pretty cars and meeting a lot of nice people who are all as crazy as us (well......maybe) There was one S4- it was sort of a robins egg blue color. Not sure who owned it. Introduced myself to Tony who then introduced me to Elisa Artioli (the namesake of the elise!) Bob was taking lots of pictures which I'm sure he'll share. The Westfield 11 was a quite impressive build. Has a Coventry Climax engine where most have a Spridget. Next years LOG will be at Barber Motorsports apparently during a Vintage race weekend. Early May. Involves track time at Barber as well as I think at Talledega on the banking. I'm already planning if I have no conflicts. Great place to bring the 7 to. Nobody seemed to care less whether it was a Lotus or Caterham, Birkin etc.. Definitely try to get to a LOG- well worth the trip. Jim

That's funny- I was just going on to post the same thing. I've bought one of their shirts before. Good quality. Not sure I love this one though. Jim

I'll add my thanks to Mike & Tom for pulling this off again. In spite of not running all Sunday with the frozen wheel bearing from Hell, still had a great time with the gang. Fantastic food all weekend. Nice to meet some different people from last year. Now I actually know who Kitcat is! Thanks to all for help with the bearing especially Roman and TJ. Oh and the burping antifreeze as well (at least it looks like we solved that one!) Great to see Stewart on Sunday- Keep going with that rehab and hope you'll be back next year in your 7! Off to the machine shop with the driveshaft to see if they can get the bearing off (well....after I can figure out where to obtain the bearing and seal from) We'll see if a little heat can help out. Might as well do the other side at the same time. Jim

I have a Fuel safe cell that replaced the original ATL. When I ordered it, one option was to include a surge tank to the bottom of the cell. Unfortunately I don't think this is something you could add yourself. If your cell is not out of date- you could probably ship it back and have them add it. Probably not the least expensive option. Look at their catalog online or better yet give em a call and see what suggestions they might have. My Zetec sometimes does something similar which feels like fuel starvation but certainly should'nt be given the surge tank. Haven't been able to figure out why it happens. Very random and sporadic. Jim

As the owner of both an elise and a 7, I agree with Dave. My wife hates the 7 but she will ride in the elise. Neither are easy to get in and out of. If you think YOU might want a 7, my advice would be to NOT have your wife sit in it first!! Jim

All signed up. Looking forward to seeing everyone again this year. Hope my new tires are in before then. On a slow boat from England. Thanks Mike and Tom!! Jim

I showed this to my wife. Sure is a good thing I don't play golf!! Jim

Stewart, Hope you get well soon. Was paddocked next to you at NJMP last year and remember you were moving out to California. Get better soon so you can get that BD powered monster back on track. Colleen will help get you straightened out (no pun intended). She can always take the 7 out for some exercise!! Hope to see you back at the track, Jim