Steve in Lititz PA

Hi, Ed No apologies needed, and thanks for all the additional information. It caused me to go back to my purchase notes, and notes from the original owner who spec'd the engine build. FWIW, at that point it became a custom build, and reading through his communications with Caterham, the US dealer, and the shop which performed the engine mods, here is what I have determined, all of it shrouded in uncertainty, ie, I don't really know: The 1600 crossflow was overbored to (possibly) 1760, and has the A2 Burton camshaft. The builder specified clearances at 0.020/0.022, which, coincidently, is the same as Burton cites for the A2 in its catalog. The builder claimed 150 hp, which, of course, makes all of the above suspect, because most of us know that the builder's quoted hp, and the dyno hp, are two different numbers. I subtracted 10% from the builder's number and arrive at (!) 135 hp, exactly what Caterham states in its specification sheet. Imaging that! ha ha. I included you very helpful information in my "engine" folder, it adds to the body of knowledge. steve rineer lititz, pa

Hi, John So glad to hear from you on this forum in addition to the Europa forum. You have been a HUGE help to me many times with my S2. As you have undoubtedly gathered, in addition to the S2/843/395, I've acquired a 1985 1700 Super Sprint...GREAT FUN! The madness continues! Steve Rineer Lititz, PA

Oops...sorry Ed, got confused between you and the author you mentioned.

Tony, Lotus7Stats (2).xlsxLotus7Stats (2).xlsxHere's the spreadsheet

ara Thank, Tony, but mine is a 1700 Supersprint, not a 1600. According to "Lotus/Caterham Seven Model Statistics" (I can't recall where I got it, but it's three pages and lists every Seven from the Series 1 through the Caterham 7 1.8 K-Series Supersport Roadsport), mine is listed as a Caterham 1700 Supersprint 1982-1999, Caterham Mod Ford Cross Flow, 135 bhp (101kw) 6000 rpm, along with other pertinent information. I downloaded it from either USA7s, or the UK Club, Caterham and Lotus Seven Club www.caterhamlotus7.club The staytistics doesn't include clearance information, but I've seen 0.022/0.024 elsewhere; if I was competing or tracking the car I might be inclined to use the clearances from race engine builder Ivey at 0.010/0.020, but I don't. Just for fun, and looking at only the intake clearance difference, 0.022 minus 0.012 = 0.010; that's a really small difference, and the exhaust is practically identical So I'm not too concerned that I'm losing much hp...and hp isn't what I bought a Caterham for, anyway. But thanks for you comment! steve rineer freezing in Lititz PA (16 degrees tonight)

Here's what Burton says in their catalog regarding the A2 camshaft: Well proven fast road/rally type camshaft with good mid range to top end power. No modifications are normally required but piston to valve clearance must be checked when fitting in X/flow engines. Valve Clearances: .020" inlet/.022" exhaust The original owner told me 0.020/0.022, and if you recall he contracted the build out. My guess is that the engine builder got it from the Burton website, or Caterham, which suggests the piston clearance was checked at that time. So I could go as tight as 0.020/0.022. I am at 0.022/0.024. I don't compete or do track days, so it's good enough for me.

I doubt the engine has been apart since its 1985 build date. The previous owner ordered it from Caterham with the 1700 Super Sprint engine; he contracted out the build. It has about 20,000 miles on it, runs very well, engine feels strong. Caterham claimed 135 bhp, and I can believe it. At some point it was fitted with an Electromotive ignition; I was concerned about lack of information and support since they've been out of business for years. I'm installing a 123Ignition Tune+ distributor (it clears the intake manifold) with a Bosch Blue coil. While turning the engine to #1 TDC figured I should check clearances. Which bring me to the original reason for the post.

Well, there's a question which I suspect a lot of folks have opinions on: prev owner's notes say intake 0.020, exhaust 0.022 (didn't say hot or cold, I assume cold OTOH, Caterham's specs say 0.022/0.024 cold, (which seems to be what was used...a few clearances, particularly exhaust, were a little tight, but not 0.022 tight. Ivey says 0.010/0.020 HOT, Lamont says 0.010/0.018 HOT. Seems to be a Burton A2 cam, 40/76/76/40 = 296, I haven't confirmed that (and have no intentions to dive that deep into it, it is what it is). But I have no reason to disprove of it, either. So 0.022/0.024 seems safe since I'm not searching for the last bit of HP.

Thanks, MV8, I noticed them, but wasn't aware they were also a valve train mod. Someone in the past put some thought into it. This morning I had time to adjust the valves with #1 at TDC: 1 I & E 2 E 3 I I'll rotate to #4 TDC and get the others in a bit. None of the first group are off more than 0.001, but this is much easier than the old "lock nut and screwdriver" method. Steve Rineer Lititz, PA

Hello all, I'm a relatively new owner of a 1985 Caterham Super Sprint and have a question about valve adjustment. I'm not new to adjusting valves, just new to what I'm seeing. Engines in my experience have a jam nut which is loosened, then one adjusts the valve with a screwdriver, then tightens the jam nut. Naturally, some trial and error is always needed since the jam nut changes the clearance slightly. What I'm seeing, however, appears to be similar to a tube nut which bears on the pushrod, but with no lock nut. Is this correct? After adjusting clearance with nut part of the tube nut, what maintains the clearance? Picture attached. Thanks in advance. Steve

I'm glad he does it...I imagine he buys certain things in batches from UK distributors, perhaps he gets a wholesale discount, and saves on average shipping cost. There's not likely anyone else competing with him in this particularly small market. It wouldn't be particularly cost efficient for any forum member to buy one item of what they need. More power to him. And he gets the correct thing...what happens if one buys from a UK source, and gets the WRONG thing...hard to return it, so that person eats the cost. Insofar as Caterham, his market is axles and brakes, truly a niche market.

Skip was out of rebuilt shoes, but had new ones on hand, he also had the reinforcing plates and clips (which I did not need). He is very prompt, I should have them on Monday, he's in Arkansas, I'm in PA.

Thanks, Tom Marina Man came through for me, but I may take you up on your suggestion on my old brake shoes so I have a spare set. steve rineer

that's true, I'm putting in what came out, I have no real reason to change. If it's not broke ...

Indeed they do look promising, they're Plan C, after Marina Man and relining. I read with great interest the two articles on rear axles & hubs, I'll be replacing the rear seal, and perhaps only re-packing the bearing. Thanks for the information. steve rineer