Taber10

32eachtime, if you are considering the "horizontal" mount shown by Anthem, especially if you buy the SAME battery--PC680 vs PC680 MJT--I can donate a box sold by Odyessy or one of their distributors years ago and I didn't go with it. Has been in my garage, still has the "protective" plastic on the outside. Let me know. OBTW, the battery Anthem shows does not have the "metal jacket" making it fit in the fully enclosing box I am offering--also, I guess the additional protection could come into play in some installations?

I recommend the Odyssey battery PC680 MJT and their holddown. Our winters here in Florida are not hard on batteries, but the first one lasted from 2011 until 2022. You need the correct terminal kit to fit your cable ends. They sell two "battery boxes" the one shown and one that encloses the battery for a horizontal mount.

I rarely take the bonnet off, as it tends to get knocked about, blown over or otherwise mistreated. IF someone shows GREAT interest in motor, I will remove it, but I hold onto it for the duration. I have let "hundreds" of kids sit in the Cat over the years. Either they think it is "their size" or it duplicates something in their games, stories, etc. I have won the "Kids Choice" award a couple of times. Letting kids sit in it makes up somewhat for my British car club buddies who get nervous if a child approaches their $30K paint job. I have told a Mother, after her child was sitting in the car, when she asked if it were mine, "No, I stole it from the Walmart parking lot this morning!" Her look was priceless. I always remove the "kill" switch and then check all switches when I get back in. I did tell one mother--she was having problems with her three children--that her kids at that moment were more important than all of the sports cars I have owned since 1969!

Based on the amount of really useful information that I got when I posted my Diff fill plug, I thought I would see if anyone knew or could recognize my fuel filter. My mechanic couldn't read any numbers on it, and didn't want to remove it before procuring a replacement unit. Any suggestions for what filter it might be would be appreciated.

Thanks for the replies--all good info and much appreciated!

My mechanic is wanting information on just how much wear, evidenced by metal filings on the differential fill plug--which is magnetic of course--has been experienced by other owners of the Zetec SVT. I don't think the plug has been cleaned since October of 2014 when I had Redline Synthetic put into it. Since someone else did it for me, I am not really sure that it was cleaned then. We found the entire area between the body of the plug and the magnetic center post filled with filings. Hopefully the attached picture shows this. Any opinions or thoughts would be appreciated.

That badge came out in 2007, which was "50 years" of the Seven, and Caterham continued to use it for several years. Apparently to include your 2010. In 2007--I don't know for how long--you could order a large decal very similar to the nose badge that went across the bonnet.

My collection of Caterham/Lotus 7s. Trying to emulate Croc's collection of cars, but due to limitations had to start "SMALL"

Wow, this is REALLY embarrassing: I have added just 1520 miles in the year and a half since I posted to this thread last. Total Mileage on CAT7SV: 21997. NO EXCUSES, but we had a really HOT summer here in the Panhandle of Florida, and I am 73 years old--I don't tolerate the heat like I used to. I was scheduled for a Veteran's Day parade Monday, but it was cancelled due to the inclement weather. I will TRY HARDER for the rest of the year!

My first Odyssey PC680 lasted over 10 years. I have had to replace it and I used the Odyssey mount. Works great. When I added a "catch can" I mounted it to the battery also.

WOW--So SORRY to hear this news! My wife and I got to spend time with Skip on the Grizzly Bear Blat, as we were all fans of both Caterham and Miata fans. Skip and I cruised together as we each had exactly the same chassis--but not the same drivetrain. He once told me in Colorado that he wouldn't take the Caterham out unless he was SURE that he could go over 100 mph! Until GBB, I hadn't seen that kind of speed in my Cat 7SV. We exchanged lots of emails over the years, addressing Caterhams, Miatas, Corvettes (we both bought C8s at about the same time), Colorado and cars in general. He will definitely be missed--May he rest in Peace. Taber

I am going to add the fourth edition and another Brooklands edition that I find helpful: Caterham Seven 2000-2010 The Magnificent Seven FOURTH EDITION

First, Thanks IamScottius for posting this list. Great post and a real resource especially for newer owners. I think the intent of the separate posts was to comment on each book individually, however my computer skills don't allow me that option, apparently. BUT I want to make an important comment: Chris Rees had CONTINUED his EXCELLENT effort started with The Magnificent 7 listed above. That appears to be the First Edition, published in 2002 and reprinted 2002 and 2004. Second edition published 2007 (MIGHT I ADD A GREAT YEAR FOR THE CATERHAM 7 and ME!) Third edition in August 2013, and THE POINT OF MY COMMENT, Fourth edition published in December 2017. The Fourth Edition has MUCH added information, such that it is 254 pages and adds about 30+ versions of "the 7" not included in the list above. I would strongly recommend NOT getting the earlier editions and seeking out the Fourth: it appears on eBay regularly. Just my thoughts

Thanks for the diagram--really neat to see the system drawn out. I can't answer the question, but I want to add that getting my fan to come on while underway is very difficult. I have to sit stationary in the garage and rev the engine to get the temperature up to operate the fan. Also, I have had three temperature guage sending units, and found that the "eBay" switches were at least as reliable as the Ford switch that came on my Zetec SVT and MUCH cheaper. The Ford parts counter employee wanted me to get the date when I purchased the second one, as she thought it would be under warranty and at the time--several years ago--the Ford switch had gone from about $32 to about $34 for the third one. One of them failed in about a week, so I relied on eBay for about $8.

Skip's Corvette on the picture's right is also good for "top-down" driving, although the C8 HTC doesn't give the same "topless" thrill as my Cat7SV. Good to hear from you Skip! Taber

Gert, As Croc said, good to hear from you, and hope you are doing well also. Joan and I can't forget the plexiglass "wind wings" you had at the Grizzly Bear Blat.

Bought my Caterham at 56 years old, having first test driven one at the age of 27, in 1978 in the town of Caterham. Took many years to put together garage, financing, time, etc. Now I am 72, and I don't drive it as often as I would like. I trailered to the British Car Festival in Covington, Louisiana recently and drove around on both Friday and Saturday. I find that if I have lots of stops, i.e. getting in and out, I tend to choose another vehicle, although I don't have any problems getting in and out--Weather equipment hasn't been installed in about five years! I intend to keep driving it as long as I remain able. I know older drivers who have limited mobility and slow reaction times and I WON'T be one of those. But when I have to stop driving, I will probably be in such a depressed state of mind that it will greatly hamper my quality of life!

Plus one on what Vovchandr said: Wonderful garage! Too bad you are so far away or I could house the Evora for you to give you room for the build! Good luck. Taber

I strongly recommend NOT using the Caterham supplied gasket on the side of the tank. The "square" holes apparently allow the gasket to be used in a wider variety of tanks, but the larger than necessary bolt holes lead to failure and leaks! Find some fuel resistant gasket material--I found it at a local hardware store--and cut out a gasket then punch holes for the bolt that CLOSELY match the size of the bolts. I'm thinking 1/4 inch but that was years ago. I used THREE of the "mini" gaskets and they didn't last long. The gasket I made and sealed with marine grade sealant, has lasted for over ten years with no leakage.

Billy, First, CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of a new Caterham! Second, be advised that my advice and/or experience may have NOTHING to do with your registration process, due to the years (16) that have transpired since my registration in 2007 and due to the "idiosyncrasies" of different DMV offices within Florida, and I only have experience in TWO counties in the Panhandle! But the process--at least prior to the changes for "limited" vehicle manufacturers which occurred years ago but was not implemented by either the DOT or the state of Florida, you must show to the inspector at the DMV the source (e.g. Bill of Sale) for at least two parts from separate providers. In my case, the chassis (in the Caterham kit) and the motor were separately procured. The inspector--a uniformed, armed State Trooper assigned to the DMV for this purpose--was very impressed with the pictures of my Caterham as it arrived in various crates and boxes, definitely proving that it was imported as a "kit." Every DMV office does not have an inspector assigned; in my case I had to travel to Pensacola after being turned down in Crestview. In my case, the fact that I had previously registered the car in Colorado, where I assembled it (wink, wink) was a big help, although it was only a temporary registration. I was informed that "previously registered" meant "PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED" and I should not argue with the inspector's interpretation. In Florida, you must certify that YOU assembled your "specially constructed vehicle", and you did NOT hire someone to do that for you, although you are allowed to hire as much "assistance" as your abilities may require. I found that the "Cobra" clubs and web sites can offer assistance, as apparently in Florida many more Cobras fall under the "specially constructed vehicles" than do Caterhams or other LSISs. Good luck. Taber

I was really surprised--and greatly DISAPPOINTED--to realize that I only drove the Cat7SV for 626 miles in 2023! NO EXCUSE, but this was the hottest summer since we moved to Florida 18 years ago! I computed my annual average mileage since I bought the Caterham in 2007--average 1308 miles per year.

Croc, Yes, I left out the K--my reading/typing are POOR but otherwise doing well! Thanks for asking! Taber

Croc, CharlesG, Thanks for the information!

Wow, great information here. Thanks. I guess I had never thought about decoding my VIN--which is SDKLDK5NS7xxxxxxx The 5th digit "D" would indicate? The seventh digit "5" would indicate the chassis type? It is an SV chassis. The ninth digit "7" might indicate 2007 when the kit was assembled. Thanks for the information. Taber

Wow, 8 inch wide wheels seems impressive! I just replaced my original wheels (14 X 6) with VTO wheels (15 X 6) because I thought I'd have better tire choices at 15 inches. I was told by VTO that the 2007 Caterham 7 SV uses a 4 1/2 inch backspace. I had been told that "offset" was +15mm. I couldn't find either marked on the wheels. As you found, online you may read lots of numbers. Of course my car could be ordered with a choice of three wheel diameters, three different sets of front wing stays and at least two sizes of front wings, so that can lead to a variety of choices. My new tires are 195/50 R15 and JUST BARELY--less than 1/4 inch--clear the inboard wing stay. Good luck!