11Budlite

I think he still posts on Blatchat, but the updates on his site are few and far between. He does have a blog too: http://my.lotussevenclub.com/Words/tabid/480/BlogID/15/Default.aspx

A little more info on the relaunched Rocket: http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=102&i=16174

It sounds good to me! Good luck with the swap.

What kind of fuel pressure regulator do you have?

Very nice Kiwi!! Put a couple small wheels on it and you could roll it through an airport terminal!

Congrats Oyagi, keep us posted on how it goes!

One of my favorite cars! Too bad they have such an archaic suspension design/sliding pillars... :ack:

Looks like the Allard MkII featured in the R&T "Hail Brittania" article: http://www.roadandtrack.com/special_feature/hail-britannia/page_2_-_allard_motor_works_j2x_mkii_page_2 A nicely updated Allard with a modern drivetrain, and more importantly, an updated suspension design. I'd love to take it for a spin!! Skip, that must have been fun!

Good to hear from you Al, glad everything is ok! I look forward to seeing your car when it's done. Hopefully the restoration is being documented and will end up here and on SimpleSevens so we all can enjoy it!

"I think he was leaking oil as something was misting on my windscreen." - Oh come on, what are the chances of a 60's British car leaking oil??? Looks like fun, thanks for sharing Tom.

Thanks for the write-up and photos, looks like a fun time! One of these times I'll be able to join you....

Not cheap, but it looks like a nice vintage race car. No affiliation, etc: http://www.lotusowners.com/ForSale/RLSevenS1/index.htm

Here's a link to a description of what's available for a Caterham. A "rear wheel intrusion bar" and a "side impact protection bar": http://www.alcester-racing-sevens.com/side_impact_bar.htm

Dan - Sorry for the thread hijack. You have a beautiful car, good luck with the sale! Bster - Sorry, but it does look like things have changed. I would have to do some more research but if I blew my motor now, I don't think I'd be telling the DMV! Sorry, can't make it to NJ this weekend. One of these days we'll make it down there!

Birkins are generally around 1300# depending on how they are equipped. I removed my heater/blower motor and use a Gerbing heated jacket liner. Keeps me nice and toasty and simplifies the plumbing under the hood.

FYI: Since 7/1/07 composite vehicles are exempt. [/url]http://www.ctemissions.com/exempt.html

Bster - Unless something has changed since 2007 when I registered my Birkin, you shouldn't have to do emission testing in Ct.

Better photos of a ZX3 here: http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4996

ZX1: '95-'97 - Hydraulic lifters, aluminum valve cover, water pump pulley centered over crank pulley. ZX2: '98-99 - Mechanical lifters, aluminum valve cover, VCT cam solenoid in front of #1 spark plug wire, water pump pulley offset to the exhaust side of the crank pulley. ZX3: '00-'04 - Mechanical lifters, plastic valve cover, no VCT cam solenoid, water pump pulley offset to the exhaust side of the crank pulley. The dates are approximate. Here's some photos. Sorry, they're the only ones I have at work. Top to bottom, ZX1, ZX2, ZX3. Hope this helps.

Calvin, First off, let me say that you have a beautiful car and I think you should try to keep as much of the present look as possible! If you do want to change out the drivetrain there was a good discussion of the different concerns of installing an S2000 drivetrain in a standard size se7en. Here's the link: http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4125 Also check out the link to Jack P's (Birkin42) build of an S2000 eng/tranny/IRS (actually a DeDion) in a Birkin. He's doing a very nice job and should give you an idea of what's involved. Here's his link (I'm at work so I can't verify that it works): http://www.flickr.com/photos/10827861@N07/page4/ I would agree with Dean that the easiest modern update with little mods to the existing hardware would be a Zetec (with a T9 to add a 5th gear). This has been done to most of the Birkins/Caterhams over the last decade or so.

Looks like a nice turnout, thanks for sharing!

Nice looking car! Good luck with the sale.

When I was going through the registration process on my Birkin, the CT DMV said I had to install bumpers to pass inspection. I asked them how I was supposed to install bumpers when the Seven never had them, but they didn't really care and insisted I'd have to install them to pass. Of course this turned out to be complete BS because there are a bunch of Sevens registered in CT that never had to have bumpers installed. I ended up making some out of 1.5" x 3" steel figuring I could use the material around the shop after the bumpers fell off on the way home from the DMV. I was able to install the bumpers without modifying the car in any way. You can read a little about my adventure here: [/url]http://usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1395&highlight=bumper&page=2 If I were to install bumpers permanently I'd try to use a simple nerf bar or round tube design like used on old hot rods or Indy roadsters. If you scroll down you can see some images here (there's even a Lotus Eleven!): http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.openwheelracers3.com/images/petes_logo_copy.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.openwheelracers3.com/Vintage.html&usg=__5IMmmYdmGonnOem9M8wofQ3yd-s=&h=1024&w=1499&sz=466&hl=en&start=41&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=5gWLV--OjIQPWM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dindy%2Broadster%26start%3D40%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1 One of the design elements I don't like on the Prowler is the front bumper so I hope you can come up with a better design than that! I don't think I've ever seen a Stalker with wipers installed and I'm not familiar with the marine system but I'm sure it could be made to work. You could also try adapting the Lucas wiper system which is easily modified by cutting the distance tubes between the motor and wheelboxes. There's some good info here: http://usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=69&highlight=lucas+wiper+motor I wonder if a hand operated wiper would pass inspection?

Check out Rod's nicely built 302-powered Locost here: http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3106 I think the 4.6 is a physically bigger motor than a 302 but if you're making the frame from scratch I'm sure it could be made to fit. It might be worth checking out the Locost USA forum to see if it's been done before: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/ Like Ruadhd2 says, the Rotus has been successfully upgraded with bigger powerplants so that could be an interesting conversion and would/should save a lot of build time as well. You can check out Mazda's LS-powered car here: http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4913

Here's a link just in case you don't get R&T: http://www.roadandtrack.com/special_feature/hail-britannia