d15b7

hi jim! i'm an experienced road racer; i've been racing for 9 yrs, and doing track events for 16 yrs (yikes!). i typically race two different tin top cars (a Ford Probe GT in NASA PTE class (or SCCA ITS if you prefer) and a Honda Civic in ST2 class). both of those cars i run on DOT R compounds (the Probe on Toyo RA-1s and the Honda on Hoosiers). my Super Seven is typically my 'fun' and vintage racecar; it's got a race prepped crossflow motor in it, and has all suspension mods to support an E Production race seven. the engine should have been dry-sumped, but instead i run a wet sump, with a fully baffled race pan. anyway, here's the point i wanted to bring up -- when i run slicks on the Seven (usually goodyear 430, 6.5" front and 9" rear on 13" wheels), it grips like nothing else i've ever driven! the braking and cornering is unbelievable; in fact it takes some getting used to in order to 'believe' that it can corner and brake at those levels..... but, here is the big 'but' -- i've had TONS of trouble keeping oil pressure up when running the slicks; huge drops in pressure, all the way to 0 psi for a second or more on hard corners (especially right turns, and especially worst when cornering and braking at the same time). i tried all manner of things, and now currently have an accusump plumbed into the oil system (big remote HP4 filter, big oil lines, and a decent size oil cooler, and a mechanical non-damped oil pressure gauge). the accusump keeps the oil pressure from dropping below 30 psi (you can see the gauge go down from about 65 psi in a corner to 35 or so; it slips down smoothly, and then will hover at 35 for a sec, then climbs back up to 65 again). this is not 'good', but is sort of kinda 'livable'. when i run R compounds, i see much less dips in pressure; with the accusump, i might see the press drop to 50 psi for a half sec, and then shoot back to 65. this is much better! with street tires on it (i vintage race it on an old old set of little 185 street tires; this keeps me slowed down enough to have some fun with the other guys!) i never see the oil pressure budge. the long and short of it is this: if you are a good driver, and are pushing the car really hard (as i do; i run it out at 100% -- that's what it was built to do!) and you run full slicks on it, and you are not dry-sumped, then i think you might run into a serious oil pressure problem.... a harder compound Rcomp tire might work out better for you in the long run... oh, and i have a blast running on the rock hard yoko A509 185 street tires! the car drifts and slides around all over the place, and it really feels very 'vintage like'! at Summit Point Raceway, i can run a 1:22.xxx on the slicks, and i have to try very hard to run a high 1:28, low 1:29 on the old skinny street tires. if i ever ran it on a toyo RA-1 (which, if i were going to run on Rcomps, that's what i'd pick, due to price, longevity, and 'fun factor') i am sure i'd run a low low 1:25 or so (with only little to moderate oil press fluctuation). hope that helps! todd

thanks alot; i will! todd

hello. i have stripped down my 1992 Super Seven Super Sprint for racing, and have the following parts for sale: lucas horns: http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5193/supersevenlucashorns.jpg complete handbrake assembly: http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/1498/supersevenhandbrakeassy.jpg tonneau cover, modified to fit FIA cage: http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6082/supersevencustomtonneau.jpg windshield wiper motor assy: http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/8152/supersevenwindshieldwip.jpg thanks for looking! these parts have been downstairs in my basement for some time, and now i guess it's time for them to move on to another home. i am located in elkton, md, and i'd love it if the parts were put to good use on another Super Seven. please make an offer on the parts! you can reach me by email or on PM; d15b7 at aol dot com thanks again. todd

hello. i have stripped down my 1992 Super Seven Super Sprint for racing, and have the following parts for sale: stock front swaybar: http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3854/supersevenstockfrontant.jpg stock front suspension (thats all i have, some pieces missing): http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/9627/supersevenfrontsuspensi.jpg stock front and rear springs/shocks (missing one front set): http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/2341/supersevenshockssprings.jpg passenger side wing with headlight and turn signal assy: http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3593/supersevenpasssidewingh.jpg thanks for looking! these parts have been downstairs in my basement for some time, and now i guess it's time for them to move on to another home. i am located in elkton, md, and i'd love it if the parts were put to good use on another Super Seven. please make an offer on the parts! you can reach me by email or on PM; d15b7 at aol dot com thanks again. todd

hello. i have stripped down my 1992 Super Seven Super Sprint for racing, and have the following parts for sale: oil cooler, Setrab, lightly used (hoses cut): http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6448/supersevenxflowsetraboi.jpg stock radiator, heavily used: http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9356/supersevenxflowradiator.jpg interior carpeting for tranny tunnel, great condition: http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4247/superseventunnelcarpeti.jpg floor mats: http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/9902/supersevenfloormats.jpg thanks for looking! these parts have been downstairs in my basement for some time, and now i guess it's time for them to move on to another home. i am located in elkton, md, and i'd love it if the parts were put to good use on another Super Seven. please make an offer on the parts! you can reach me by email or on PM; d15b7 at aol dot com thanks again. todd

hello! i have several kent crossflow parts for sale (these were in/on the engine for my 1992 Lotus Super Seven Dedion); these have been languishing in my basement for years (pics and descriptions below): used crossflow crankshaft (this one was balanced): http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/4315/xflowcrankused2.jpg second used crossflow crankshaft: http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/7569/xflowcrankused.jpg complete xflow distributor: http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2937/xflowdistributor.jpg used Ford oem connecting rods (all four were balanced with the first crankshaft): http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/1087/xflowbalancedreworkedro.jpg i also have a set of used dual valve springs with retainers from the previous engine. i am located in elkton, md. i'd like these parts to go to a good home, and to be used in a Seven, if possible! reason i am selling the parts is that i have had a 'full race' xflow motor built for me, and alternate parts were used.... please make me an offer on any/all of the parts! thank you for looking. you can reach me by email, or by PM. d15b7 at aol dot com todd

hi! try 'Pegasus Racing'; they carry all manner of that heat resist stuff. i run alot of it on my road race turbo honda civic; to protect the fuel lines, and plastic looms, and shifter cables, etc etc. works really well, and not too expensive! they have a nice website; give it a look! good luck todd

hi. i'd be a bit curious and wondering if the throw out bearing is working correctly? i've had cars (not the Seven, though) on which the throw out bearing would act wacky, and stick, and do what you are describing.... when you put in the clutch, did you use a new throw out bearing, and grease it according to the manual? and was the arm good, with the correct hardware, and lubrication? just a couple of thoughts that come to mind.... good luck! todd

my brother just ordered and received a new Mini Clubman; it seems to be a really nice, well put together car! i begged him to get the S model, but he ended up with a regular Cooper (at least it has the 6 speed manual, though!). i do like the car, i must say! my 'nice' daily driver for the last 5 years was a 2003 Mitsu Evolution; an awesome car, and extremely good in snow/bad weather. mileage not so good, though; about 18-20 in city, and 25 max on the highway. big power, huge grip, great brakes, and plenty of room inside.... todd

hi. when i drive my seven, i have to hold my left foot up in the air, in order to keep it off the clutch. or, if i will be driving on a highway, i can slither my left foot under the clutch (i dont like doing that, tho!). i have size 11-1/2 shoes, and the footwell is small! also, i have the cable type clutch actuator, and it needs to be checked, and adjusted fairly frequently; this can be a source of clutch slipping -- i try to keep about 3/4" freeplay in the cable. good luck! todd

hi jeff! its great to see you on here!!! and, as a matter of fact, i picked up my completely rebuilt xflow motor from R&W late last week..... mmmmmmmmmm..... it looks great (and sounds incredible! they broke it in on the dyno and tuned it; wowsers, it is going to be awesome to drive that car again!). hope to see you soon! todd

that is a REALLY neat track! i've driven it in my honda race car; i'd love to participate in a Sevens get-together at that track (either Thunderbolt or Lightning would be fine with me!!!) todd

hi! i race with NASA Mid Atlantic chapter, and they will classify and let any car run, as long as it is safe! they have classes for many cars, based on power to weight (PTF thru PTA, and ST2, ST1, etc). there is a guy here with us who has built a really nice Locost with R1 bike power; it is very fast, and very nicely put together! he drives it in the HPDE4 group; the fastest driver's ed group (pass anywhere with a point by). he could race it if he wanted, but he is satisfied to track it without doing wheel to wheel competion (he does run his in time trials, though). if you have more questions about NASA, please let me know! todd

wow! great pics! i wish i had been able to attend!!!! as an aside, NJMP is great! i was instructing there for the RTR PCA, and really enjoyed driving on Thunderbolt (was driving my honda civic racecar; not the Seven). todd

hi! i have extensive track experience with the Z212 Hankook (on a tin top, not a Seven); they hold up extremely well to track duty; no chunking or melting or falling apart (this on a 2800 lb FWD car). good grip, for a street tire. good in the wet, when fully treaded. practically unbeatable pricewise!!! i recommend it. good luck. todd

hi! i got mine from 'Pegasus Racing'; it was a 2-1/4" inlet/outlet, round style canister in stainless steel. length is about 2' long. i use a Chessman 4-1 header, into the race muffler, and it exits just in front of the rear wheel. sound is fairly deep, but i think it sounds nice.... motor is a hotted up crossflow, which i drive a tiny bit on the street, but mostly do track events with.... price was reasonable (somewhere between $100 and $200). i typically only use this muffler/pipe on the street, and at 'quiet' tracks, like Limerock. i have a complete straight pipe that i use at loud tracks! good luck in your search! todd

good afternoon! i have the original distributor off my 1991 caterham super seven super sprint (1600 kent xflow motor) for sale; it is in good working condition, and is the non points type unit. its markings say 'Lucas 103FXYULS 7/94'. comes complete with cap (side exit wires) and rotor. i also have a complete set of racing plug wires for this disty, also. please see picture below for more info: http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2333/xflowdistributorlucas10oc0.jpg i'll take best offer for it. thanks! todd (oh, i'm located near newark, de.)

hi! i own a 1991 caterham super seven super sprint dedion, which i mostly run at track events.... engine is a crossflow, moderately to heavily breathed upon (176 flywheel hp at 7200 rpm). i instruct for many DE groups (PCA, BMWCCA, Ferrari, Mercedes, NASA, EMRA, and more). i road race with NASA and EMRA (not in the Seven!). i live near Newark, DE. todd