athens7

Ken- Thanks for the input. Actually, the picture where the stainless line is zip tied to the ground strap is from the original electrical set up, with the line going forward to the sending unit. This was done by the assembling dealer. Another good reason for the change! I will re-check the line routing to make sure there are no problems-in-waiting.

A couple more pictures (before and after). The last picture is of the place where the sender used to be, at the frame where the right front suspension comes in.

Replaced the Caterham unit with a Mocal gauge and line from BAT Inc. in Florida. I didn't include a low pressure switch and light because I wanted a minimum number of connections between the block and the gauge (fewer leakage possibilities) and, since I didn't have one before, I didn't feel the loss. The biggest challenge was figuring out the thread on the connections. I didn't know anything about the various types of connections (1/8 BSP, M10 X 1, 1/8 NPT, -3 AN, 3/8 X 24-all basically the same!); I guess I should have asked here first! Any way, the connections on my car are 1/8 BSP (concave inner flange on male thread, nipple on inside of female thread). Total parts cost $96.xx including shipping, plus any labor if you pay someone to do it. The gauge is of much higher quality than the stock (garbage) Caterham gauge, and the oil pressure sender (much worse than garbage) is gone. I tested the Mocal gauge before installation and found it to be accurate. It sure is nice to know what my oil pressure REALLY is.

Welcome! That's a pretty car-I hope it provides you with many miles of enjoyment.

I understand the front track on an S3 is not as wide as the rear, and the wide track kit widens the front track to match the rear. I'm told the benefit is increased turn in response, and less tendency to push. I believe the only possible front fender for this set up is the cycle wing; it is too wide for the clams (or so I've been told).

Condolences.

OMG Mike!:ack:

Actually, I don't think it is a Caterham part. It's an assembly I got from Ben Wofford when he was with Rocky Mountain Sports Cars. I have had no further issues with the exhaust cracking since it was installed, and I think a recurrence of the weld failure is almost inevitable without some type of support due to the length of the unsupported section of exhaust and the vibration it undergoes.

One possibility is the heat shield; it is attached to the muffler/cat by several straps. The welds on the heat shield strap retainers are small and will break easily. I had mine re-welded when I had the 4-1 crack fixed, and have had no problems since. I also highly recommend getting a front exhaust mount from Ben at Caterham USA. it mounts to the frame and the flange at the collector, providing much needed support to a very long exhaust assembly. Lastly, check the exhaust mount rubber bobbins at the rear- they are shite quality and fail frequently. My fix for these was a combination of shock absorber bushings and circle cut pieces of old Z rated tire side walls with a bolt, 2 fender washers, and a nut.

I had a similar problem with one of my wheels/tires (I have the 16" 5 spoke Caterham wagon wheels). There was a small flaw in the casting of the wheel such that it was porous; we finally noticed a very small stream of bubbles from the wheel itself, rather than the tire. Jeff Sloan at British Auto was kind enough to swap it out for me.

Cap and Trade legislation, perhaps?:toetap05:

I'm sure Pig-face Waxman will be outraged at the emissions given off by the power source (either foot odor or skin flakes) and want to regulate/tax them! :banghead:

According to my friend the Ford technician, 15 lb.-ft.

There's a lot of attractive work in this car. Having had an Alfa, I wonder if the choice of an Italian engine in a British car isn't dancing with the Devil from a reliability standpoint? Of course, about a month ago I got smoked by a D Modified '74 Spitfire with a 1750 cc Alfa twin cam motor, so it may just be sour grapes!

Assuming you have an SVT motor, not a Zetec with ITBs, I would share these thoughts with you. Other than the claims made by Caterham USA, I can find no documentation that the Kent cams are worth 20 hp. Kent Cams refuses to make any statement about these cams, other than to say they are bespoke designs, specified by Caterham USA, and they (Kent) make no representations about any performance gains or problems. How's that for a ringing endorsement? Based on my research comparing the documented performance of stock- and Kent- camshaft equipped motors, I would say the hp gain is more like 8-10, and it will be above 4000 rpm where the benefits are realized. That said, I am happy with the Kent cams, as well as the power of my car. On the stock Avons, I can break the rear tires loose at will in 1st gear, as well as in 2nd under a variety of conditions. Absent very grippy tires, I think any more power would be counterproductive. Mike, before you pursue upgrades, have you had the motor in front of a good tuner? If not, there is likely more to be had from the motor as it sits. The first 2 upgrades I would recommend on an SVT would be a 180 degree thermostat and an adjustable exhaust cam gear. Both are relatively inexpensive, and the thermostat will increase peak torque by allowing the ECU to advance timing further under load due to reduced detonation, while the +2 degree advance in exhaust cam timing will slightly increase power and torque by increasing exhaust scavenging, helping airflow. Air flow is a weakness of this engine set up, due to the pi$$ poor (for this engine) stock exhaust. These 2 items, plus a custom tune from a knowledgable tuner, likely using a Diablosport or SCT programmer, can help realize noticable gains in the performance you feel in the seat of your pants, e.g., an engine more free revving and responsive to throttle input, with torque and hp peaks at lower rpm than the stock engine.

+1

Here for the gauge and hose (US source): http://64.202.180.37/files/gauge.pdf If one wants to add a low pressure switch and a warning light, here: http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/OIL-SYSTEMS-Oil-System-Spares/c162_165/index.html?osCsid=391cd622dc971c6ad72b5395cd935769 Think Auto doesn't want to ship to the US, but Merlin will, and BAT is run by a relative of the Think Auto owner.

Jim, unfortunately history has proven you right, especially in larger metro markets; however, one of the benefits of cyclical capitalism is that recessions cull ineffecient and poorly operated businesses. Bill Heard Chevrolet was the biggest Chevrolet dealer in the US, at one time responsible for 10% of Chevrolet registrations nationwide. His business practices were reprehensible, to the point that the Florida Attorney General's office had a full time staffer assigned just to his Florida stores. At the time of his group's bakruptcy, he was being sued by the Georgia Office of Consumer Affairs for $50 million in a deceptive advertising case. GM lauded this man as one of their best dealers (because he moved the metal, never mind the methods), and consumers continued to buy from him, in spite of appalling treatment, to save a few bucks or because they just had come to expect to be treated that way. When the recession hit, he couldn't manage to maintain his business model, or his lifestyle, on the smaller volumes and declared bankruptcy (I understand one could get a good deal on his $17 million lakefront home). No business that serves the public can survive if people refuse to spend their money to be treated badly/dishonestly.

Also, most anyone who has sat in a Seven will tell you that the heat from the paint pales in comparison to the heat from the driveline!

I think cones are much more harmful to my car's fiberglass than the heat is!

I like to think that my company is populated by some of the *few*, but you folks would have to be the judges of that-come visit us, or find us on the web: http://www.athenscars4less.com The average car salesperson today makes the same income they did 20 years ago. Think about how willing you would be to choose a field where the inflation adjusted wage has dropped 50% in the last 2 decades. Over-dealering by the manufacturers, the internet, and the disclosure of our cost structures unmatched in ANY other industry has driven the profit out of the new car business. The average dealership loses money on every new car, after floorplan interest, advertising, and commissions. We sell new cars to acquire trade ins and establish service relationships. The average new car dealership had a net profit of 1% of sales in 2008 (a razor thin margin). Much of the current problem in the retail industry today can be attributed to years of poor practices by both the manufacturer and the dealer body. Our cost structures would not be so readily available were there not a market for such information-nobody cares how much mark up is in their iPhone, because the price is consistant from outlet to outlet and the consumer sees fair value in the purchase price. Years of questionable practices by dealerships regarding the pricing of hard to find vehicles, coupled with shoddy products offered by many manufacturers, topped off by government regulations that increase vehicle cost while reducing reliability and limiting consumer choice (I will gladly provide specific examples if anyone is really interested) have resulted in a belief in many customers that they are being ripped off, even when they are buying a quality product at or below the dealer's cost to procure it. Not surprisingly, it can be tough to find good people to work in such an environment. I pay my people well, provide better benefits than many of my competitors, and support and pay for their continuing education. Accordingly, we have little turnover and a knowledgeable staff, and many repeat and referral customers. Consumers have much control over the future of our industry; if car buyers refuse to be jerked around by dealerships practicing dishonest sales tactics and buy from professional organizations, even if it costs $200-500 more (on a $30,000 purchase, only a 1.6% higher price), the professional stores will thrive, and the dubious ones will fail. This is particularly important in large markets, where high populations lead to a "buy, die, or get out of town" mentality on the part of some retailers. Just my $.02

I know this is kind of lazy, but here's the link to the relevant info: http://www.californiacaterhamclub.com/chat/showthread.php?p=9214#post9214 It's been a long day, but at least the car business is getting a little better this month, and with this year's budget, this qualifies as a big upgrade!

The push button would be nice vs. the magnet, but I like the lights meeting in the middle. The size seems good, but I wouldn't want it any bigger. I would rather program it remotely if it meant a more compact unit. All in all, a really neat bit of kit!

8 years of President Clinton ignoring the increasingly aggressive acts by Muslim fundamentalist terrorists; IMHO, the table was well set by the time W got there. Just the feelings of one of the conservative (on some issues) brethren.

Gert, that's pretty sharp looking. I've come to realize when I'm autocrossing, I never look at my gauges, and only tell revs by sound and exhaust smell. How is your device wired in to the car? Would you consider a production run?