scannon

Here's a real barstool racer> http://www.usa7s.net/ASPNETFORUM/upload/1480297976_barstoolracer.jpg

Are you burping the engine when refilling the cooling system? I find it takes 3 - 5 cycles of running till hot, cooling the engine, topping up the coolant (and the overflow bottle if you have the kind of system that runs full and cycles coolant into and out of the overflow bottle) to get all the air out. If not, then you probably have air trapped in the cooling system that is causing the overheating. With the radiator cap not being the high point I would suggest you put a bleed valve at the highest point of the system to bleed out the trapped air. Running the car with straight water has probably caused a rust layer to build up in the block, a good chemical flush should help that. I run distilled water, water wetter and a can of corrosion inhibitor in the summer, about 30% antifreeze in the cold months. If you used deionized water from an ion exchange column you have replaced Mg++ and Ca++ ions in the water with Na+ ions, probably not the best thing to have in a hot cooling system. I think distilled water is best for the engine. Skip

Lots of great moments, but probably the best was walking into the dyno room after the baseline run with the new ECU and Jeremy telling me to have a look at the HP and torque graphs on the screen. 277 rwhp, up 33 hp from the best the old ECU did and that was just the baseline run. When he finished tuning, it had 301 rwhp and 265 lb ft of torque. :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: The first WOT after that was an eye opener. Still is.

2,449 miles so far, I expect to get more before the show flies here. A fair number of (s)miles considering the car was not drivable from mid April to mid August as I had started on the ECU conversion in April and then fell on my shoulder tearing the rotator cuff and chipping a bone in the shoulder. That made it impossible to work on the car as well as get in and out of it. What I had planned on doing in a week took 4 months to complete. Also about 3,600 miles in the trailer and 4 track days. Skip

For $2,000 it better be at least a short block or even a long block engine. I was talking to Ben at RMSC/Caterham USA a couple of months ago about this. He said they were trying to get Ford to sell them a Duratec engine without the parts that have to be replaced to go into a Caterham. Sounds like they have been successful. Skip

I have a few items to fix/upgrade: Rework the exhaust system for better ground clearance under the rear and aim the exhaust tips to the rear rather than up in hopes of keeping exhaust gasses out of the interior when the side curtains are on. Move the boost gauge and Hydramist gauge to a more visible position. Currently mounted on the center console forward of the gear shift lever. I can't look that far away from the road and the tachometer when under boost. Fabricate additional differential support brackets. Get the Brooklands screens finished and mounted. Install sequential rev light. Remove the turbo, downpipe and exhaust manifold and have them ceramic coated again. The 2000F coating burned off the first time I took it to the track. Either install more agressive brake pads or Outlaw M-16 calipers and pads on the front. Fabricate some kind of cold air intake to move the air filter away from the exhaust manifold. Look into resizing the clutch master cylinder to reduce pedal pressure. I'm also considering adding an Accusump system. The weather here has been so warm and sunny that I can't bring myself to disable the car as yet. I've driven it almost every day this month. Skip

You would not be able to register a Se7en in the US if you imported a complete car newer than 1967. You could take it apart, ship it and then put it together again here and register it as a kit car. However in Colorado (and probably most other states) you have to show paperwork that you purchased the engine and trans from someone other than the person or dealer you bought the car from. Single car certification (the gray market) in the USA went away years ago. If you want to go to the expense and the car was not a model ever sold here you can apply for type certification but that only works if you are going to import and sell a decent volume of cars of the same type to defray the costs of the testing and certification. The Smart cars that came in years before the official imports were done that way. They cost about double what they sold for in Europe. Skip

Welcome Kelly, Could you post some pictures of the car & parts as it is and as it was before disassembly? Is there a Cosworth engine included with the deal? What transmission does it have? What price are you looking for? Thanks, Skip

The manufacturer's plate doesn't come attached to the car. Mine is in a folder in my file cabinet. It was not required to get the car licensed as the VIN is stamped into the chassis. I have seen several Caterhams with the plate mounted on the front of the pedal box and it looks like there might be something attached there on this one. Skip

Consider that Caterham makes a profit on every car it manufactures while Caterham USA makes a profit on a small percentage of those cars. In addition, Caterham USA has to add on import duties, broker fees, freight across the pond as well as freight to either Denver or direct to the customer. There are probably a few other expenses I'm not aware of. It doesn't surprise me that they cost so much more in the USA. Skip

I think some of the people here are starting to think you're nuts! :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: Skip

I had a problem with the foil delaminating from the rubber foam on the driver side footwell insulation due to the heat from the exhaust manifold, turbo housing and downpipe. I also had the toasted until crispy toes syndrome. I used Multi Layer Insulation (MLI)used on spacecraft that I obtained as scrap pieces from where I used to work. I had to patch together smaller pieces which I then glued to the underside of my carpets and under the cover for the trans tunnel. I also made a simple ali heat shield that stands off about an inch in front of the driver side footwell to deflect radiant and convective heat from the exhaust. BTW, it is extremely light, I doubt I added 3 lb to the car. With these two in place, I drove most of last summer in sandals and I seldom noticed any heat on my feet. As fall approached I had to use the heater to keep my feet warm, even with shoes on. I get the MLI scraps free and I think I have enough for another two Se7ens, If anyone wants some let me know and I'll send it along, no charge. Skip

Makes the British version seem a little tame. Auto Testing

I also picked up a new driver this weekend, but not one for winter use. http://www.usa7s.net/ASPNETFORUM/upload/157814199_DSC03540.JPG It's a 2002 in Vivid Yellow, one of 239 in that color. You could only order them via the internet and you had to be a member of the Miata Club of America. This one has 45k miles on it and is in pristine condition. My fleet of fun cars: http://www.usa7s.net/ASPNETFORUM/upload/1050142331_DSC03542.JPG Although both Miatas are the same color code, the one on the right is a '92 and the color is called Sunburst Yellow. Skip

I put a Miata engine in my Caterham SV. It has 2.5" clearance under the sump with the factory 205/45-16 tires. The last time I was under it I found some fresh scratches on the leading edge of the sump. I do not recall feeling any bottoming on any speed bumps so it must have just grazed one. I take speed bumps very slowly every time. I like Ian7s idea about carrying a couple of boards along for the bad ones. Skip

According to Peter Egan in his column in the December issue of R&T the proper BRG and Lotus yellow is John Deere green and yellow, available by the gallon at your favorite farm implement store. :rofl:

Stunningly beautiful Se7en! How about some more detailed pictures of the engine compartment once you have the car in your possession? What is the weight and HP? Skip

The Peoples Republic of Boulder, Colorado meter maids write tickets for expired plates and used to write them for expired emissions stickers until the state stopped requiring them on windshields. When the revenue from the expired emissions stickers went away they announced the meter maids will be checking for missing front plates and writing tickets for that to make up for the lost revenue. The police also go looking for missing front plates in the parking lots at Denver International Airport. I've been driving my Miata without a front plate for about 10 years. I've been stopped 5 times for no front plate and got 2 written warnings and 3 verbals. The last time the cop was far more concerned with the smoked lens on the rear plate. He told me it was a $260 fine and 3 points on the driving record for the smoked lens which I bought at the local Autozone. I removed it immediately. I still don't run a front plate on the Miata. Skip

I don't know of any connection but I would speculate that it is just that Offenhouser was making aftermarket valve covers for the Cadillac engines used in hot rods back then and the company that put the Caddy engine in the Allard decided to use them. If your book mentions it, please post the information here. Skip

I bent the top inch or so of my front plate forward and then bent it rearward just under the numbers and pop riveted it to the chin spoiler. http://www.usa7s.net/ASPNETFORUM/upload/635407436_Whiskers and chin002.JPG

I'm fairly sure that Allard is the one a friend of mine bought at auction a few years ago. His son took me for a ride in it and it has amazing performance for an early 50's car. They have run it in the Colorado Grand several times and even brought it along on one of our Miata club drives. Here's a picture of the engine compartment. Skip http://www.usa7s.net/ASPNETFORUM/upload/1726982372_Cad Allard Engine.JPG

Utterly Obscure British Car Humor Some of these had me laughing so hard tears were running down my face. I think most everyone here will see the humor (or is it humour) in these. Skip

Thanks Mazda, it works great. No more complaints from me! Skip

Link doesn't work for me, even when I copy and paste the URL. I get the Site Not Found message. Skip

I'd be willing to kick in for a dedicated server, anyone else? Skip