11Budlite

Gbolt - Here's a picture of the stock Birkin lights.

Congrats Kyle, that's a beautiful ride! Sorry I didn't get mine back together so you could check it out. I'm still waiting for some parts...

No affiliation, etc: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LOTUS-SUPER-SEVEN-ROADSTER-FACTORY-CLONE_W0QQitemZ120406699603QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item120406699603&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A317%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

You can also raise and lower the pedals on the lever. I ended up raising the clutch pad up one hole to make it easier to slip my left foot behind the clutch pedal for cruising on the highway.

"I don't suppose anyone knows if they make a 6speed w/ an overdrive 6th gear? " - I've never heard of a Caterham 6-speed with an o/d 6th gear. I think most owners will compensate for the direct 6th gear by using the 3.62 rear end with taller 15" tires. If cost is no object, Quaife has a new 6-speed with an available o/d 6th gear that's supposed to be a direct replacement for the T9: http://www.quaife.co.uk/Quaife-6-speed-heavy-duty-in-line-RWD-sequential-gerbox They also have a less expensive (still not cheap!) 5-speed that looks to have decent ratios for a se7en with an o/d 5th gear: http://www.quaife.co.uk/Quaife-Universal-In-line-5-Speed-Rear-Wheel-Drive-H-Pattern-Synchro-Box I rec'd a flyer from Taylor Race Eng in Texas that said they would have both of these available by the spring of 2009. This is from memory, so don't hold me to it. Here's their link: http://www.taylor-race.com/

Jack - I'm not too sure how the Fidanza flywheel fits in a Caterham, but I know a few of the Birkin owners said that the ring gear was just a little bigger than the Ford piece and that they had to either elongate the starter mount holes to move the starter out, or machine the OD of the Fidanza ring gear a small amount. I think having a lighter flywheel is a nice mod on a Seven. As far as the transmission, you can get a semi-close T9 transmission from John at Quantum Mechanics in Monroe, Ct. Those ratios aren't ideal for the weight of a Seven (in fact you might already have those in your car) but he might be able to build up something with a closer gearset. It might be worth a call to find out. I have one of his T9 conversions in my '64 MGB and it's been a great upgrade. Here's his site: http://www.quantumechanics.com/categories.php?op=newindex&catid=17 For my Birkin, I ended up rebuilding my T9 with a close ratio gearkit from BGH in England. Brian was great to deal with and I'm very happy with the results. I went with the E7 sporting close gearset with 2.75, 1.75, 1.26, 1.0, and .84 ratios. There is a minor machining mod that you have to do to the case that I was able to do at home with my drill press. Other than a small leak from the input shaft seal that I still have to fix, it's been a great upgrade. I did the upgrade in 2006 and I think I paid a little over $1000 for all the parts shipped to the states. http://www.bghgeartech.co.uk/html/5_speed.html Here's a couple sites that I used to research the project. Cherik rebuilt his gearbox with a BGH gearkit. He has a great step-by-step on the project: http://my.voyager.net/~quadrant19/Gearbox-upgrade.html JohnCh has a Westfield with a BGH gearbox. His site has a nice gearing calculator: http://www.throttle-steer.com/ Phil (UK) also has BGH gearbox with a nice gear ratio calculator: http://www.our-nest.co.uk/Caterham/html_files/2004_cr_gearbox.htm And if money's no object, there's always the Caterham 6-speed, Quaife, and others that I'm forgetting at the moment. I would think that money would be better spent on other upgrades rather than a CF driveshaft, but that's just me...

I think they're Revolution too, but I think they're the RFX model: http://www.revolutionwheels.com/rfx/ Raceline does make wheels but I didn't see anything that matched that cap. It could be off an older model wheel. Maybe it'd be easier to replace all of them with four matching caps.

Or this one: http://www.lotus-europa.com/colors.html Congrats on your se7en! Love the picture with the Mini.

You can try this link for Lotus paint codes: http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Paint_codes

David - sorry to see the Seven go. Good luck in your new search. How about a modern version of a classic inline-6 powered, RWD roadster...in BRG no less!

Thanks Blaine. I appreciate your expertise.

"Most passenger cars call for SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 to achieve better fuel economy. I prefer SAE 10W-30, as it calls for less of a compromise and I can wait a minute or two for warm up before putting it in gear." - Blaine, do you think I'd have a problem running 10W-30 in my ZX1 Zetec with hydraulic lifters instead of the 5W-30 I've been using? The reason I ask is one of the oils I've been considering using is not available in a 5W-30. Thanks

Good one Dave!

Gert - I ran across this repair kit when I was checking out Fuel Safe parts availability. It might be worth a shot to fix the pinhole leak. Here: http://www.hrpworld.com/index.cfm?tpc=Fuel_Safe_Bladder_Repair_Kit&form_prod_id=267,100_4523&action=product

Nice job on the exhaust and grill KB! "The next upgrade for Grace are some new seats which are in the process of being made and coverd, these will give me some longer leg room and also put me lower in the cockpit." - If you don't mind, I'd like to see pics of your seats when you get them done. Thanks

And here's a comparison of an Elise and Caterham that also includes an S2000, Miata, and FFR Cobra: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/convertibles/2004_caterham_seven_superlight_r_vs_factory_five_racing_mark_ii_roadster_honda_s2000_lotus_elise_mazdaspeed_mx_5_miata_comparison_test/(page)/1

David. Here's one comparison: http://www.nextautos.com/issue-4/philosophy-exam-part-2

Skip, that link didn't work for me. I'm assuming you meant this one: http://www.pd-go.com/index.php?action=website-view&WebPageID=25341&WebSiteID=409

Thanks Gert. It sure would have been easier if they made the top of the can removable.

I'm doing a little maintenance to my fuel cell (replacing gaskets/checking the foam blocks/etc) and have it completely disassembled other than the bladder is still in the can. It seems at first look that it's going to be a PITA to get the bladder out of the can. It looks like I'm going to have remove the nut plate assy's (they seem to be lightly glued to the bladder) to be able to fold the bladder enough to get it to fit through the 6 x 10 opening in the front of the cell. Has anybody done this before? I don't want to damage anything but it'd be nice to give the outside of the bladder a quick look for any issues while I have it this far apart. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

I know that these stores are located mostly on the eastern half of the US, but at least here in Ct they have a nice sale of 5 qts of Castrol Syntec with a K&N oil filter for $24.99. I thought that was a pretty good deal because the filters by themselves are usually over $10 each. The sale ends 4/22/09.

They sure do pack a lot of machinery in a small space. Very impressive, thanks for sharing!

Happy Birthday Mazda and congrats on the drive!

No photos available, but here's a link to the ad: http://www.fredbakerporschebedford.com/used-inventory/vehicle-details.htm?vehicleId=7e10cac77f000001005f209c543bb782&useHistory=true I don't understand the comment "BASED ON THE HEALY "frogeye" SPRITE". Not many similarities to the Bugeye I owned many years ago other than the eng/trans used in the early S1 and S2 cars...

I agree. Those wheels look nice also. If they're the Kodiak wheels I think they are, they go for over $400 a piece, plus $40 each for the black anodized centers. Plus they're strong and very lightweight.