Sean

Top-of-the-line would be one of the three Tamiya 1:12 scale model kits, and on the other end of the spectrum, Matchbox offered some for 99¢ a few years back in a variety of colors. There are others in between, such as the Kyosho die-cast offerings. Google down. REF: https://www.tamiya.com/english/products/10203jpe/jpe.htm http://matchbox.wikia.com/wiki/Caterham_Superlight_R500_(2009)

The key to the benefit program. [video=youtube;p5FO9-3nXvg] edit -- I didn't realize it before, but this was David Paymer's first film role! He's the cab driver, or the guy in this scene who isn't Peter Falk. The guy's been in a ton of movies and t.v. shows over the years as a go-to character actor.

Another source in French, but you'd only need a Pepe LePew level of the language to figure out most of it: https://www.sevener.fr/article.php?id=88815&ref=957e0762431337bccb078a5259fa7ac4

That'd be a LHD DeDion S3 kit from 1996, I believe. REF: https://www.lotus7club.it/en/caterhamchassis

In UK, Caterham and Simpson as mentioned above. Also in UK: Powerspeed - http://www.fastroadconversions.co.uk/caterham-powerspeed.html Cheesman - https://www.cheesmanproducts.co.uk/exhaust-systems/ GoodFabs - https://www.goodfabs.com/ These are all companies that have made exhaust systems for Caterham 7s to some extent previously.

Or you could rotate it 60°? Whatever works out.

The following diagrams may be of use to you: Duratec cooling system, with heater: PDF, for saving: YD0505_01cool.pdf JPG, for immediate viewing: Duratec cooling system, without heater: PDF, for saving: YD0533_02cool.pdf JPG, for immediate viewing: These are from a supposedly reputable source on performance Ford engines. Best of luck, sir!

A couple of resources: SOCJ, the Seven Owners Club of Japan is quite expensive to join. They seem to focus on track days. Don't know much beyond that, but I like their logo. http://www.socj.jp their latest YouTube video of a "brunch": Seven Meeting Place is like a bulletin board-type chat room thing, where group drives are sometimes organized regionally. I think you have to register for this one, but otherwise no cost. https://minkara.carview.co.jp/group/super7/

That looks exactly like the Sparco P 270, which is no longer available from Sparco, but there seems to be a good quantity of New Old Stock (NOS) out there (at around $275 per), judging by a quick WWW search. Looks like KCD bought up the Sparco design, or the remaining blanks. Or maybe a knock-off? That is a LOW price!

The external ring of the fuel filler assembly is scalloped in one spot, intended to be located at the top as relief for the pump nozzle. I have heard of it being accidentally installed rotated at another angle. Probably not your issue, as you seem to have a keen eye for detail, but something that's easy to check.

More specifics: Following is a link to a PDF of Caterham Workshop Notice 371 from 2002 by Nathan Down regarding the recommended configuration of the fuel breather hose: http://superlight7.homepage.t-online.de/Caterham/notice.pdf

The larger one is a vent from the fuel tank back to the fuel filler pipe. The smaller one should be routed with hose going down/up/down, and have a one-way valve in line, such that air can go in (into the fuel tank), but fuel cannot go out. I'll try to dig up more specifics...

Fuel filler: I removed the alloy filler/cap assembly and took a Dremel to the three spot welds holding in the spring-loaded flap restrictor doo-hickey the best I could, then tapped it out with an old screwdriver. It was a really easy job, even for me. This made it MUCH easier to put fuel into the tank, though it's still not perfect - I typically insert the pump handle upside-down, and just hold it the whole time. It's not too tiring due to the small tank capacity. Speedo: Could be the brass "top hat" thing isn't seated in properly, maybe? That circlip is a right P.I.T.A. due to limited access. In any case, the problem is more likely to be on that end of the cable.

I’ll second what 1.08” says about joining L7 club. A very useful resource! I’m no longer a member, but had been from around 2003 until recently.

Slonie, Check Roger Kraus Racing in Castro Valley (East Bay) for tires. Their Avon pages lists individual weights and lots of other info. They are a very knowledgeable source for tire information, and they are also familiar with sevens. They show on their site that they have CR500 and Toyo RA-1 in the 13" sizes as two other possible options, but best to call, as sometimes the list online isn't current. They also have ACB10s if you want a really light weight tire, but these aren't radials; bias ply. Best of luck, Sean

Alternate source for decoding VIN: https://www.lotus7club.it/en/caterhamchassis

I think you might be thinking of some other change that occurred in 1992? I thought the departure from Arch Motor-built chassis happened around 2006-ish time frame. My 2006 car is an Arch chassis.

This is a known Caterham-specific issue, and has been brought up on Blatchat before; when new, my car had the same issue. While it could be something else, this would be the first thing to check, and only takes a fraction of an hour to do: Up behind the knee trim panel on the right-hand side (passenger side in LHD car) is a threaded stud with a few grounds attached. From the factory, this stud can frequently have excess paint/powder coat reducing its effectiveness as a grounding point. To check/correct if this is the issue: remove knee trim panel locate stud loosen or remove nut on stud pull back or remove wire end terminals from stud remove excess paint/powder coat with knife, solvent, sandpaper, Scotch Brite, etc. re-install wires and nut verify gauge functionality has/has not been restored Replace knee trim panel, if desired.

I have been told that Irish diplomacy is defined as the ability to tell a man to go to hell in such a way that he looks forward to making the trip. I think maybe the snowflake alert post might have been intended for the global warming thread?

Actually, that would be a good thing in this instance, as California makes titling and registering replicas, kit cars, hot rods, dune buggies, etc. pretty easy to do.

All this time I've been mispronouncing "Photobucket", I guess. It seems the o, t, o, and b are all silent.

I have heard of a few, but will ante with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry from Aerosmith.

Wow.

When I was researching getting my first 7 long ago, I eventually got through to who I believe was the "right guy" at the NHTSA who told me that once an assembly of "car parts" has an engine or gearbox installed, it forevermore becomes a "car" from that point on, even if later disassembled. So, assuming that information was correct, attempting to bring in a chassis that you know had come from a "car" as defined above would most likely be viewed in a negative light by the NHTSA. Or so I believe.