Vovchandr

Thank you Tom. That is very constructive. Luckily head gasket isn't too big of a job on a car like 7. I wouldn't rule it out in my case at all as I know my engine got very hot quite a few times during troubleshooting my fan circuit/wiring after buying the car and ironing out the kinks. Not out of realm of possibility to have gone bad.

Pretty much same problems as me to a T right now on my Zetec. I thought had gasket for sure, gas escaping into coolant. However did leak down test. Good. Then did the exhaust fumes in coolant test. Also good. Engine is healthy. A friend of mine is suggesting fitting a swirl pot as a solution instead of overflow. I'm hesitant but likely will try it. I might try running less fluid and getting another cap ordered up. The drastic expansion of the fluid while at temp and revving is puzzling

I'm having cooling woes myself and starting to think that cavitation is my problem. Original 19 year old Zetec water pump and it has plastic fins. Only thing I didn't change (and timing) during last tear down. My coolant seems to never get rid of bubbles coming out and also dramatically expands once it gets hot and over flows out of cap. I do suggest getting one of these , just don't buy the generic Amazon one or you'll have to make your own adapters like I did. I had to butcher a spare cap and Dremel existing adapters to make it work. Not recommended

That should the VCT cam sensor for valve adjustments on Zetecs. From what I've been told mine is disabled on mine since the build of the car. I'm not even sure if Pectel ECU would have the ability to accommodate the VCT even if it wanted to. The blob of goop has been on there since I've owned the car and honestly it hasn't bothered me or ever has been on my mind.

All is from Soft Bits for Sevens Top left - tool box Rest of left - trunk padding. As Croc mentioned in other thread and I know from personal dent experience, things in the trunk get in motion and want to stay in motion until soft aluminum panel tries to stop it. Top right - heavy duty zip tonneau Middle right - light duty tonneau Bottom right - light duty rain cover

Team red stripes In other news I now appear to be getting about 30 to 35 mpg. Doesn't feel right .. at all. Feels more wrong than 9mpg from before. Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

Other issues. Mount was fixed once already and failed again. Don't think I can fix again, will order a new one. I saw one company make a carbon fiber guard but they haven't been getting back to me. Likely a one off Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

Also got a tool to see how well my ITBs are balanced. Most are similar. One is a but high @ ~9 vs rest @ ~7.5 Not sure if its something to be concerned about Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

New toys arrival today Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

I concur. Thanks for sharing

While I agree that good photos are an investment that will pay for itself, I disagree that the video and the photos is what drove the price for the other 7 on BaT. It appears to have been the right car at the right place at the right time, especially after hearing comments from the buyer and runner up. They wanted a 7 and they wanted one now, price wasn't a factor until it became one. Car would have gone higher if there were more disposable funds. Not because of how well it was presented but simply because it was there (the registration loophole also made it more attractive). With that said, I agree on getting a dyno if at all possible. The engine output is the single biggest price driving factor option on these cars. A little bit more HP goes a long way to upsell one, and you seem to have a good output HP motor being SVT.

I would also like to say that if you have OEM headlights, I would put those back in. As above is said, appearance is everything to most buyers of a car like this, and those headlights aren't a good fit. I've had a similar pair and got rid of them for same reason I see on your car. They don't fit well/flush with the OEM buckets. They stick out 1/4 in or so. If they were OEM LED's it could possibly be considered a benefit, but I'm afraid having them in will not benefit the resale. Only you know what money you'd want out of it. Due to the demand and lack of supply you have the ability to sit on the ad until somebody comes along who wants one and will overlook any short comings. If I had to throw a dart at guessing the price I'd say anywhere between $25k minimum guaranteed to $35k or so as the high end. Low miles and SVT motor are huge benefits. What was Tom able to get out of it for HP? Edit: when you do list it, make sure you list that it's wide track front suspension. It's a very common question that gets asked and many people like to have that option.

That's how I feel like in NY. None of my cars have a front plate. Only two tickets in the last 10 years or so. Once in NYC the day I bought the Miata and left it on the side street in Brooklyn to go to Manhattan. Came back to find a ticket. Other time I wasn't even driving. SO was in the car and got a fix it ticket for the front plate in the Volvo. Unfortunately I couldn't find the front plate until a week after ticket was due... My 7 at any point in time is guilty of at least 6 equipment violations (no reverse light, no license light, no plate, no inspection, loud muffler, no third brake light, no windshield, no registration mount). If anything it gives the officers easy "true reduction" if they pull me over and want to go nice on me. Even if the officer doesn't want to let you go ticketless, front plate is an easy one they like to give which makes everybody feel better instead of lets say speeding.

Inspect all the hoses/connections! Just remembered due to what happened last night that at the time of buying the car I had to replace almost every hose due to their condition. As a matter a fact, inspect fuel too. Mine was leaking almost every fluid it had. Gas/coolant/oil/transmission fluid. There is a rubber gasket below the sander in the tank which if I were a betting man I'd tell you is destroyed on that car, causing fuel to spill over from the top, especially if you fill it to the max. Get good AAA (AAA +RV) gives you 100 miles.

Good idea. I'll do that. I got cocky and pulled the tools out that I had in the back for the last month or so. Didn't want to keep risking them moving/banging around the back while I'm waiting on the new tool box/bag being made by SBFS. I even carried spare water for a while.

Adventures of today. 20 year old plastic union gave up the ghost as I was sitting at idle picking up Chinese food Found out that Amazon Chase roadside service covers no towing. Also found out that they Caterham in their computer system. Sunday night part fail at 8pm or so isn't ideal. Every single store is closed or about to close. Parts/home/hardware/Walmart etc. Ended up cutting up the rest of the plug with cutters and reusing it to limp back home. Metal union next. Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

Where are you located? Will make a drastic difference for people quoting shipping.

I checked and it appears I have a ZF rear end. Whatever is is. I don't believe I have a Quaife.

Current update: Cluster is fixed and speedometer is dialed in. Have been averaging ~20mpg or so this year after the engine out job last year and fixing a bunch of misc issues car had. Between short gearing (6spd 3.62) with highway and not so easy driving it occasionally I'd say I'm a lot closer to the healthy ballpark than before. I still think I'm running rich and have a few small issues but makes me feel a lot better overall.

Personally the rear lights have really grown on me and I like it. But I'm well aware it's an acquired taste and at first glance to average people they do look out of place. I would love to hear confirmation of that. With that said, I believe there is one German/Bavarian dealer that only puts on circular lights from the point of sale. Interesting choice. Also if you're looking for ideas, this Locost always had a very good looking/modern set I've thought. (black) http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_7300_copy.jpg http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC6208_copy.jpg

The silver insert with the 7 logo is pretty much a Caterham only part and appears to be discontinued now. I have 4 and broke one tab. Will try to have them remade. The center piece now that I have 3d printed I'm planning to have a good friend with CNC replicate out of metal. I'm not sure if he can make it all one unit or it will be two separate units still.

Any consideration on listing this on BAT? It seems like the ideal place for our cars recently. Also any more information on the Zetec (SVT as I see above) and what's done to it?

Never having one but reading a lot about it over the years, yes it should fold up. I believe the skeleton remains folded on top of the rear hoop and the rest goes into the "trunk". 95% of people hate it, remove it and never use it, 5% swear by it. Take that for what it's worth. It's cumbersome to put up the erector set of the scaffolding for the top. Half hood can be purchased through 3 or 4 different avenues. Caterham Parts directly, Softbits for Sevens, Thundersports (supplier for Caterham) and I believe Rocky mountain dealership? might have some in stock. Otherwise you have to wait a while for it to be made and shipped from England. Also listen to whatever I B Sevener says, he's got more first hand experience than most I'd say in the states.

First you're going to decide whether you're going windscreen or aeroscreen. You can't really do both, at least not with ease (one would have to be in the passenger compartment while the other is on). The reason why I ask is because it's an entirely different experience from the practicality standpoint depending on which you chose. The top only works with the windshield. Doors only work with the windshield as well. Windscreen and doors make it a much more pleasant experience but they also shelter you from a lot of experience. Being a motorcycle rider I see you're familiar with being out in the open, but the Aeroscreen is that and more. I've always ridden with a helmet due to safety and legality. Even when I visited states where I didn't have to wear a helmet, but we do know that it takes away from the experience. Being in a 7 with just the Aeroscreen is what is akin to riding without a helmet but safer for obvious reasons. I love it, especially considering I can't and won't do it on the bike. f you chose to go Aeroscreen, especially for a long trip, you're not protected from the elements at all. Lots of sun screen, ear plugs, hat, glasses and you'll still be fatigued by being out in the elements rather quickly. If the water comes you either need to have a back up helmet if you want to keep driving but stay wet or you have to find shelter, where you'll have to apply the tonneau cover (i see that's supplied as well) You likely won't have the time to get it but you will find across the board that half hood is one of the most recommended upgrades done to 7's world wide. It's a perfect compromise of weather/sun protection without completely taking you out of the elements. I've done many thousands of miles traveling on my bike in the past and haven't done any long term driving with the 7 yet. Longest was driving it down to NJ. In my limited experience it's hard to trust reliability of them especially on older ones. Since I've bought mine years ago I've been chasing small gremlins. A leak here, a stuck throttle there, a lose bolt elsewhere, dead cluster etc. If you owned the car for a while or have a good rapport from previous owner that he's been driving it a lot recently than maybe. I know mine isn't up to the task. It's apart as we speak due to gremlins just from local commuting earlier in the week. Stuck throttle, slight overheating, rough idle etc. If you chose to go with the windscreen, then with the doors and the top on, you could actually drive through a snowstorm and not particularly care. It's cumbersome and claustrophobic but it does the job well, it actually makes it a car.

Thank you for the comment. I was having the same feeling as you, contrary to the descendants. Obviously you and the winner really liked the package and you think it's worth whatever. Due to limited availability of 7's in the states and the amount of different packages, when you see one that fits your criteria and it's available now it's worth getting even though there is a considered "premium". I honestly wasn't even in the market for a 7 when I came across mine and it was worth going across the country to check it out, buy it, ship it and deal with the issues that it had. As I get older and am in a better financial situation, I find it easier and easier to justify any cost for having things done now, instead of having something cheaper (that often needs fixing) that I wouldn't be able to enjoy for years to come. I couldn't put a price on the satisfaction of being an owner for the last few years. Good luck in your searches. This is a good place to keep an eye on listings. Did you use the Caterham designer tool on their website? What spec did you end up making? Nothing available in the California dealership right now?