ayseven

ahem.... useless without pics, as they say...

Maybe it's already been said, but I kind of thought the appeal of the 7 as a style, was that you could do whatever you wanted with it: some have turbos, some have "gasp" bike engines, some have electric power, etc. It's not everyone's cup of tea to have a monster engine, but if someone has an itch for mental power, I'm always happy to watch the video of it. There are equal advantages and disadvantages to all the choices.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180448135142&clk_rvr_id=328032217369 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190637477135&clk_rvr_id=328024663364#ht_1194wt_1182

Still trying to find a suitable engine pic.

Aren't they similar to R888's? R888's are on lots of sevens.

Please let us know how everything turns out with the original OP, because he may have found his man! BTW, even tho I wouldn't pick this engine combo again, I am not taking my turbo off. I was out the other day with it... need I say more?

I can only speak for myself, and although I've sat in an S3, I've only driven in my Deman (basically S3 dimensions, but NOT remotely the same league as those mentioned, when you get into the details) but I would go with whatever you get the best deal on, and looks the best to you. They are all pretty small, and as said, will probably handle like nothing you've ever driven on the road. That said, I would be careful what I wished for regarding a stiff ride. Just take my word for it on that one.

No, there is a lot of drag racing with sevens in the UK. Santa Pod had "Run what you brung" days fairly often for a while there, and Complete Kit Car and Total Kit Car talked about it regularly.

That car pretty much sums up Italy for me: completely irreverent towards reality. But looks quite cool. I love the place, and if you don't get it, that's quite sad, but to each his own.

That is nice isn't it? Everything down there is dirt cheap compared to here. I kind of like the new Miata rebody jobs too, but evidently not the same thing.

Adrenaline junkies. No other explanation. I used to downhill mountain bike race a lot. It's hard to describe how nuts all these guys really are. If you hit it, it feels pretty nice. But they are still certifiable crazy.

BUT nobody outside the UK has to pay the dreaded VAT, which is high, and often included in price quotes, making the base prices quite attractive for a lot of things. The main problem with all UK suppliers is a widespread unwillingness to phone a courier and get a quote for North America. They want YOU to do it, which is kind of hard when you think about it.

I have a turbo on my Nissan 7. I would never in a hundred years do it again, and this motor came with it. It is not needed, adds weight, and a ton of complexity. You can do more homework, and will always find those who think everything is a great idea. They don't have to live with YOUR decisions. Do you really need to spin your wheels easier?

I've had both, most recently, a DigiDash 2 Lite from ETB (no transponder. GPS etc). First, installation of the digital dashes is a piece of cake, with WAY less wires in general, so less potential problems with grounding (earthing, as the chaps over there say). HOWEVER, driving with the digital display is not as reassuring, and I frankly hate pushing the button all the time to check temps. Maybe I'm just too old or something. You can programme the tach lights to whatever you want, so there should be no problem ever overrevving, and it is serious fun setting it up in the computer. Instructions from ETB are really good. The digital systems will need their own sensors, which might make things interesting, if some of the fittings aren't a direct match (surprisingly, on my JDM Nissan engine, some fittings are not metric). The sensor has to be matched to the instrument. I have made two proper dashes myself, out of the back of a stereo cabinet, covered in soft vinyl, and again from aluminIUM (had to say that - I don't know why they insist on saying that really), covered in fake carbon fibre. Advantage: you can screw up and make another one if necessary. It isn't difficult, believe it or not. Maybe you should try one from thin plywood, get the look you want, and then start cutting the beautiful carbon fibre. You can see that even the smallest deviation from the norm, involves a number of implications, so you just have to mentally prepare for it, either by paying someone else, or just doing it yourself and living with the results (!)

Awesome find. Thanks!

Nice!

I've been scrounging parts for years for my car, and have never seen a supplier of side panels for a Caterham, that are specifically made for it. There is no reason you can't get them custom made by someone who knows their CF, however, and have them bonded onto the chassis sides with Sikaflex. They don't have to be specially shaped, since they will be flexible, as they are not structural.

RIF is now RIP, unfortunately. I will try to find some links, but there are quite a few who will gladly take your money for your CF habit. http://www.sevenspeed.co.uk/carbon-fibre.html http://www.carbonmods.co.uk/Departments/Kit-Car/Caterham-Specific.aspx http://www.fluke-motorsport.co.uk/carbonfibre-c-1.html http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/bodywork-exterior/caterham-carbon-fibre-aero-whiskers http://www.westermann-motorsport.com/shop/product_info.php?language=en&info=p16_Composite-Halbt-ren.html http://www.tillett.co.uk/car-racing-seat.asp http://www.reverie.ltd.uk/product_list.php?group=A%20BESP&subgroup=A%20BESP%20FIR And if you are way too cheap for the real thing, unless you make it yourself (which never turns out as well as the bought stuff, no matter what people say), there is the old standby, vinyl... And yes, you can tell the difference; I have a lot of this stuff on my car, and it just saves painting, doesn't look a bit like the real thing. It actually looks terrible if done wrong. I know this first hand, unfortunately.

I hope you are still doing this in 4 years, when I go back home with my Deman permanently. Meanwhile, I hope everyone has a great time, and perhaps I'll chance a meeting during a visit. I have to say, Oregon and Washington make a great trip on their own. The roads are fantastic, but compared to the moon sized nie de poules (potholes) we have around here, they are all great out there.

Where were they when I was building my car?

That was one of the best series of Top Gear I've ever seen. That Morgan looks a hoot. There are several UK makes of 3 wheelers similar to that (no idea about quality, etc).

MK Sportscars or anything that fits a locost, will fit a Deman. The problem here in North America is that, other than Kinetic Vehicles in Oregon, body parts have to be shipped from the UK, at great expense. MK does have an agent in Florida. The flared side panels on your car, Shiva, are custom, and would have to be done by the builder or farm it out, if he doesn't want to do it. So it isn't a kit per se, as in Birkin, C'ham, Brunton Stalker and the like. I am sure Len would make someone a chassis and wishbones, but that is about it.

They could share a common ground wire. That's the usual problem.

Parts for the car? Surely you must be joking! All parts except chassis, and wishbones were sourced separately. Some may have been included, but all needed fabricating and fiddling, prior to fitting properly. There is, and never was, any after purchase service. Consider the cars English MK's, with MX5 IRS running gear. Anything that fits those, will fit these (bodywork etc) Some Demans were with T'Bird running gear, but this was changed to accommodate different engines (besides bike engines). Mine is all MX5 (hubs, brakes, diff, half shafts) I'm here for any questions! Deman was much closer to a Locost than a "kit". In other words, not like getting everything in a box and putting it together like a big jigsaw puzzle; much more complicated than that. But doable!! I did it after all, but not before a LOT of online and phone help from builders in Canada and England. As an example, I couldn't figure out how to route the brake lines included in the boxes; I used lines from Canadian Tire, with ends on, so minimal flaring was required (although some was). phoffen2001@yahoo.com It is NOT like owning a Caterham, where you call Caterham for parts and you put them on. You have to figure it all out yourself. Rich

Don't worry, give them your CV, you'll be hired instantly, and you can spend DAYS in there. Just be careful with the other oldies; some of them have wild imaginations.