Reiver

Thanks gents. Bill I've seen that padding and it is hard itself, that is for use with a helmet I believe. I'm not sure about its ability to absorb shock unless wearing one. Still, better than steel. Charles, how hard is that padding you have?

CBuff, yeah, my padding would fit under that no sweat...I've sent in the new naked bar measurements, so we'll see what shows up (in 8 weeks or so)...we have the same roll bar. Dreamer, Very nice cover there...who made that for you btw. I suspect your interior guy did so. If the hood comes a bit large it'll be perfect. Either way I'll figure a way to pad the bar. Just makes me feel better even if it is not really a thing. The FIA cross hoop I have leans a tad forward but is mostly upright.

More than likely true...... I am only 5'9 and 180 ... my wife tho is 6'2...lol...nah

That is thicker facing forward, oblong, but obviously thicker than required..... I think I'll order the hood with the measurements taken without the padding and make it work when the top arrives. As you mentioned a V wedge in the proper location could offer more room.

Gents, I contacted soft bits yesterday to get a half hood and once they got my measurements Tristan said it would not work due to the padding on my roll bars. They could send a pattern, I'd measure and send back and no idea about the price etc...sounds like a pita. I will need a 'sunscreen' come summer. I rarely see padding on anyone's bars but it seems to me a pretty obvious safety issue if in an accident. Am I being overly cautious and what is/are the experiences here. I do use the 4 point harness.

I've put about 300 miles on my new to me 7...99 build Vaux 2 l. I know I'm not telling you anything new, but this thing is simply brilliant. I've had an Elise, and Maserati's and Porsche's, Jaguars etc., but the driving experience and fun level of engagement in this Chapman platform is simply fantastic. I bought the 7 sight unseen and had never seen one in the flesh so took a chance. I won the lottery here. Just a perfect combination of old school and not. I thought I'd want to change the large chrome headlights but, damn, I love looking thru them and the clamshell front fenders. Sometimes you just get lucky aye?

Looking for a nice spare....as new or repairable ....

What main jet's /idle jets are you running. My car came with 145 mains (middlin emulsion tube) and F8 55's. It was a tad lean on the low end so went to F9/55's and that dealt with the lean muffler popping. I may try 140's as I suspect an over rich on top. What do you run. All individual throats are balanced as are the two carbs. The only mod is an SBD uprated cam (mild still use the original tappets) so about 190+ hp so SBD says.

Was unaware of the Swindon aspect. No idea of the age of my lump but it has the mild upgraded cams and belt upgrade. Looks like this except with a conventional Caterham wet sump. The pics of internals are of my VX. Shows the SBD cam marking that still uses the original tappets.

Bob, the Vaux I have is the early 20 XE with the round tooth cam belt. I'm guessing yours has the later square tooth. This was a later '99 build but that was the motor sent to Chris Tchorzniki who imported/built the car. (7 & Eleven's of St. Augustine Fla.)...seller had the cars history as the second owner. I suspect the oil threads are 3/4x16 but won't know until my oil change. I'm going to pull the sump and replace the foam baffle at that time too.

This is the stock oil filter .... Genuine Vauxhall C20XE / C20LET Oil Filter 93156954 can't find specs, but a Vaux car site has comments about it, and they say it has no internal bypass feature. Why, no idea, but what I've found so far.

Thanks, good info. It presently has a Caterham marked filter in place so I assume it is the 3/4-16 thread. However, I'll check that on the first oil change I do.

Thanks for your comments.....

The Mann w77 (cross referenced) has a 0.8 Bar or about 12 lb bypass rating.

Thanks, I see that now...otoh, the bypass psi is only 8 psi so I was wondering what the original Vaux 2 l filters were rated at? Most car filters are rated at 14 to 20 psi? Many of these short filters (like the Caterham issue) are used on small tractors etc.... I sent a note to Caterham parts asking the question about their filters bypass rating.

There are many filters that will fit but what is the required filter by pass psi for the Vauxhall 2l 20xe? Anyone know off hand?

Thanks..... not much clearance down there so I'll stick with the shorty, 3k or less is my oil change interval with carbs anyway. I get a cross reference of this rather than the other wix for the Alco sp898 , is that simply the 'gold' designation...Wix WL7064

The Caterham part # is 380E0003A.....marked on the filter itself. Is there a US made replacement of the same size and bypass pressure?

Sold for USD $38,250

FYI...the 55 aspect tires are too much for the car...if bumpy or driven hard too much scaping on the inside of the rear wheel wells and the clamshell supports... not really dangerous but a pita so I went to 50 aspect for about a 1/2 in bump up and will get adjustable coil overs to raise it a tad more. A try and fail on the 55's. I don't want anyone to think that's an easy option.... 50's otoh have no issues at all.

Nice, thanks, I will

MV8, those should work fine as the measurements match the present Billsteins I have.

Thanks, that answers that then....

Ok, I knew it was not an SV...when did the 'wide tracking' become a thing. This was a '99 build.

Thanks, that's a great idea....