Croc

Jeff is running a Ginetta today

Some freebies from when I bought my UK Caterham.

Following on from the 2018 event http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?11929-A-return-visit-to-Sp-Francorchamps-in-a-Caterham&highlight=Donington So I am back to Spa for some days on track. This time I brought JBH (Jeff) and rnr (Rahul) from this forum plus a few other friends. Yesterday was the museum to see the rotating car displays.

That could be used to describe me.

Look on the bright side - it could be a divorce! They are really expensive! I would not beat yourself up about the 1/4 mile drive home doing more damage. The initial oops noise did everything it needed to guarantee an engine pull down and rebuild.

I can think of a few forum members who hit deer. Then there was Taber who went bear hunting one day.....[emoji15]

Bit unfair there Tom, Lucky-7 is probably a much better driver than you and won’t hit cones....or rocks...[emoji14]

Todays ad on Bringatrailer https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1962-brunton-super-stalker-2/

This week's update: NEW Birkin (I think this was featured on Craigslist in the last 3 months but back on consignment this time) http://sodo-moto.com/listings/1993-birkin-seven/ REPEATS Lotus 7 S1 https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1065332/1958-lotus-seven-for-sale-in-stratford-connecticut-06615 Super Seven Sportscar (Fejer) http://sodo-moto.com/listings/super-seven-2tg/ Caterham http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/2000-caterham/ Caterham SV http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/201216-nos-caterham-sv-roadsport/ Caterham SV http://vintageracecarsales.com/portfolio-view/2013-caterham-seven-480/ Lotus 7 S1 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/7/2099394.html Stalker https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/7/2167534.html Lotus 7 S2 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/lotus/super-seven/2150667.html Caterham SV hayabusa http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/other/1458694360/1458694360ss.htm Caterham https://www.wirewheel.com/2001-Caterham-race-car-for-sale.html Caterham https://www.wirewheel.com/2014-Caterham-Seven-for-sale.html Stalker https://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Replica-Kit-Makes-Brunton-Stalker-Classic/163584221374?hash=item26166120be:g:jhIAAOSw6xVcgV2V&frcectupt=true Stalker https://www.ebay.com/itm/1962-Stalker-Super-7/273749962571?hash=item3fbcc4ef4b:g:~XkAAOSwTOZcgZZ8 Project https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/knox-miata-based-locost-project/6838053397.html Project https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/cto/d/lakeland-lotus-7-style-chassis-alfa/6834856461.html Dutton project https://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/d/pasadena-1978-dutton-lotus-7-recreation/6827462413.html Replica https://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/d/hubbard-first-6500-takes-it-lotus-super/6822144414.html Lotus 7 S1 https://huntsville.craigslist.org/cto/d/1960-lotus-7-rare-early-series-one-with/6827115589.html Chevron 7 https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/tempe-lotus-super-7/6824784311.html Lotus 7 S4 project https://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/d/sierra-vista-lotus-s4-seven-8000-or/6811196570.html Diva https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/cto/d/phoenix-1962-lotus-super-7/6813823091.html Westfield V8 https://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/cto/d/starlight-1968-lotus-super-seven-8/6823280717.html Rotus 7 https://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/d/canton-1990-rotus-seven-kit-car/6821329023.html Replica project https://pueblo.craigslist.org/cto/d/pueblo-lotus-super-seven-style-tube/6804612338.html CANADA Caterham SV https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/red-deer/caterham-sv-hayabusa/1413694224?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Caterham https://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camions/sherbrooke-qc/caterham-super-7-sylver-jubilee-1982/1410777802?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Next week a few of us from here are headed to Spa-Francorchamps to have some fun on track. So no update on this thread from me next week.

The following Daily Turismo link is already listed in the Sunday update (CRaigs list - Dayton OH, under Replica) but the commentary is entertaining http://www.dailyturismo.com/2019/03/spitfire-kit-1960ish-lotus-seven-replica.html

LOL :rofl: No chance of that. Priority is to get running reliably again with minimal cost. A potential SC installation is a whole world of new pain. Lets not put Steve through that! Reason you dont see much SC on sevens is packaging - its really tight.

Worked quite well. It was hard to see but what I saw: #1 Looks fine #2 Could not see much but I thought I may be seeing a metal fatigue crack on the piston top lower down on last image? Could be dreaming? Could be a dried oil mark. Likely all good and its me being confused by the video. #3 The dandruff is probably metal flakes or dried coolant. Given you did not have head gasket symptoms before this exercise, my money is on metal flakes (they seem to reflect/shiny in the video). No chunks so I suspect you swallowed an exhaust valve since your intake valves seemed to be present from your earlier check through the throttle bodies. It could be in the sump or more likely disappeared out the exhaust. Could not ascertain piston tops in this cylinder due to the shiny stuff. #4 Similar to #3 but no where near as bad. Wonder if the flakes were transported from #3 via the oil galleys? Trying to remember the oil circulation cycle of a zetec. If it was then the bottom end bearings are toast. Piston tops did not look too bad. Hope everyone else weighs in on that video. If I was you...breaking it down into steps, I would: 1) pull the sump off and see what bits are lurking in there. Easy enough for you to do. I bet you find shavings around the sump magnet but no bits. 2) Get it to a mechanic to pull the head and inspect for certain. If confirmed then put it back together for convenience and pull the engine out. 3) Work out why it failed. Oil pump flow inadequate? Sump baffling? Were you autocrossing? Track? You may need to buy an accusump/baffled raceline sump/dry sump to protect yourself depending on how it was caused. None of us really know this. 4) Define the purpose of your Caterham - casual drives? Autocross? Track junky? Racing? Determine whether your proposed solution will work. e.g. racing/autocross might justify a dry sump. Track HPDE should be fine with a Raceline baffled sump pan and a accusump. Casual drives will be fine with the crate solution. Again, none of us really know this. 5) Buy the Focus Power engine and drop it in. I like it has a high flow oil pump - critical in Zetecs. Swap over peripherals. Make other mods as suitable for your intended usage. Check clutch and related bearings for possible replacement at the same time. You might as well....ask me how I know... 6) Save the old engine as is, and one day when you have money and you decide you want more power, send it to Quicksilver for big hp. Once built, swap it over and sell the Focus Power engine on Ebay. The step up to a SVT is not really worth it in the long run. Its not that big...maybe 20hp at the flywheel realistically (ignore the Caterham USA claims of bulk hp from the period). You would need to do dynoing to extract potential and that takes time/cost. I could never tell the difference between my Zetec SVT and basic Zetec when I had them in my yellow and maroon Caterhams. Felt about the same to me - was about a second a lap when tested scientifically. The Quicksilver package was noticeably quicker on track than the SVT cars when I saw them performing back to back. I would not go for Duratec as the change over is more than engine. You need to worry about a new ECu map, dyno tuning, wiring harness, you are creating a new hole in your body (exhaust exits other side). I think you have to change the gearbox input shaft from recollection. Too costly - discard. Your biggest issue is cost so keep the hp demands modest, stay with the standard zetec with throttle bodies, make sure it is a quality crate build with some warranty (unlikely but try), pay for a good tune and you will be bck on the road quicker and with less cost. There are some seriously knowledgeable folks on this forum - I hope they chime in with their experience so you get a range of views to evaluate.

Yes there have been times when I could have cheerfully set fire to one of my cars from it misbehaving. Glad you restrained yourself.

Apologies - I misread the ad and did not read the long block. Gaping holes in pistons are quite possible - look at my earlier picture example. You are looking for divots in the piston or bore walls, possibly holes, stray bits of metal, maybe mice? John's suggestions are all good pointers. Oh come on...you mean stuff from Hardly Frighten is not quality? :rofl:

not in this case - he drives Porshes...porschi...porkers...those things! So it was a Ford Racing crate engine to begin with. That helps. Makes a plug and play solution easier. The link you provided is for a short block - so no sump and no head. Not necessarily bad but it explains why it is cheap. We don't know if you have head damage (the engine...not you) although you will probably be able to reuse the old sump without concern albeit it you may want to upgrade if oil surge was the cause of your issue. As Mike notes above you will need to determine why it failed so it does not go boom again. Did it happen on road? (bad luck) Do you autocross? (oil starvation) Are you a track day fan? (oil starvation) Did you over-rev it? (oil pump/valve train) Do you let the wife drive it? (clutch) If you think you like the crate engine approach then will you be pulling the old engine and swapping out or getting a mechanic to do it? You want an old-school mechanic. Race guys have smarts on dealing with out of the ordinary types of installations. The crack head monkeys at dealership service departments cannot take a piss without an OBDII reader. Edited to add - there is a long block description there but my failing eyesight failed to see it when reading the page! duh! I would see if I could resurrect the existing head before buying a long block. Looks a good solution otherwise.

NEW Stalker https://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Replica-Kit-Makes-Brunton-Stalker-Classic/163584221374?hash=item26166120be:g:jhIAAOSw6xVcgV2V&frcectupt=true Locost https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-Lotus-Other-Basic/333106077073?hash=item4d8eab5d91:g:FkUAAOSwzE5cgMrF&frcectupt=true Replica project https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/d/vail-replica-lotus-7/6834612990.html REPEATS Caterham http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/2000-caterham/ Caterham SV http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/201216-nos-caterham-sv-roadsport/ Super Seven Sportscar (Fejer) http://sodo-moto.com/listings/super-seven-2tg/ and here https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/d/seattle-lhd-super-seven-lotus-7-s3/6837033709.html Caterham SV http://vintageracecarsales.com/portfolio-view/2013-caterham-seven-480/ Caterham SV Hayabusa http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/other/1458694360/1458694360ss.htm Lotus 7 S1 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/7/2099394.html Stalker https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/lotus/7/2167534.html Lotus 7 S1 https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1065332/1958-lotus-seven-for-sale-in-stratford-connecticut-06615 Lotus 7 S2 https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1133292/1962-lotus-super-seven-for-sale-in-palmetto-florida-34221 Caterham SCCA https://www.wirewheel.com/2001-Caterham-race-car-for-sale.html Caterham https://www.wirewheel.com/2014-Caterham-Seven-for-sale.html Stalker https://www.ebay.com/itm/1962-Stalker-Super-7/273749962571?hash=item3fbcc4ef4b:g:~XkAAOSwTOZcgZZ8 Project https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/cto/d/lakeland-lotus-7-style-chassis-alfa/6834856461.html Dutton project https://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/d/pasadena-1978-dutton-lotus-7-recreation/6827462413.html Replica https://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/d/hubbard-reduced-lotus-super-7-replica/6822144414.html Replica https://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/d/mount-juliet-2009-hand-built-lotus/6831345987.html Lotus 7 S1 https://huntsville.craigslist.org/cto/d/1960-lotus-7-rare-early-series-one-with/6827115589.html Chevron 7 https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/tempe-lotus-super-7/6824784311.html Lotus 7 S4 project https://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/d/sierra-vista-lotus-s4-seven-8000-or/6811196570.html Diva https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/cto/d/phoenix-1962-lotus-super-7/6813823091.html Westfield V8 https://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/cto/d/starlight-1968-lotus-super-seven-8/6823280717.html Rotus 7 https://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/d/canton-1990-rotus-seven-kit-car/6821329023.html Replica project https://pueblo.craigslist.org/cto/d/pueblo-lotus-super-seven-style-tube/6804612338.html CANADA Caterham https://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camions/sherbrooke-qc/caterham-super-7-sylver-jubilee-1982/1410777802?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Caterham SV Hayabusa https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/red-deer/caterham-sv-hayabusa/1413694224?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

I happened to come across this car again in my travels and am posting an update of where it is today: http://classicjaguar.com/cj/caterham7.html All credit to the owners - they have been honest and upfront about its history. Speaks well of their business dealings.

Andy nailed it. It was 2009 at LOG in Gettysburg when over a few (too many) drinks that a bunch of forum members - Yellowss7, Boxologist, Kitcat, MichaelD, Taber, plus others I have forgotten, and myself - hatched a plan for an annual sevens social event revolving around a two day HPDE. We decided we all liked each other. It worked better than I ever hoped. Over 8 years we have cycled at least 45+ seven owners (plus a lot of spouses and family members) through the event. Everyone I have met has been just wonderful and we have all got on so well. The unofficial network we have created as helped solve problems, source parts, source solutions to our cars offline from the forum but as a whole the forum helps knit it together. There have been other efforts to knit us together socially over the years - 2007 Tail of the Dragon, The CA Rockies trip, the (former) annual Carlisle PA Kitcar event, the work that Bob does to publicize Cars and Coffee in MD each weekend, the Stalker touring party down south, various other group drives over the years, etc. These all work to enhance our car owning experience. So I feel for you Ron but I dont have the solution sadly. There are very few of us hard core enthusiasts that know how special our cars are.

Brightonuk: Don't worry about John - he's afflicted living 3 hours behind the civilized world plus its just that time of the month when one of his cars has gone belly up in the garage and oozed some noxious fluid all over his mirror polished white garage floor. John: Was it the Porker or the Lotus this time? The Harbor Fright borescope option is a good idea - detected 6 holes in pistons for me so far. However, a fundamental truth exists - if it sounds like a bucket of bolts or a mother-in-law then its f*&%ed and you need carefully consider tear down and rebuild options. Running it while it sounds like this is likely just doing more internal damage - so dont until you can confirm what has gone wrong. Given you are worried about the wife...errr....cost then I would seriously consider buying a cheap used crate engine from a reliable source, shipping it to you and just swapping that in. It gets you back up running quicker and longer term you can decide to later have the broken engine rebuilt using the quicksilver or other reputable local solution with a lot more power, or even sell off the broken engine as spares. Allows you the phase in costs over time and tiptoe past the better half. Just make sure you are swapping like for like engine. The advantage of this is you may be able to plug and play without having to buy a new ECU or needing to remap - saves a bit a money there. Find out what ECU you have now - as it will inform your search process. Its not clear from your posts what exact version of Zetec you have (your engine number will help you identify it) but if it is the regular cooking model then some used engine options are on this link: https://automotix.net/usedengines/2002-ford-focus-inventory.html If it is the SVT then here https://www.jegs.com/i/ATK-Engines/059/DFDP/10002/-1 JEGS also has remanufactured crate engines for other types of Zetec. I did not check but Summit probably has the crate engine option too plus there may be other sellers out there.

Sad thing is that I did not blink at that price. My BMW installation is many multiples... MichaelD had the 220hp Zetec Formula Atlantic streetable spec build done in 2015 but later sold his car to CarlB - both are on this forum. Jcerier (on this thread) is running a BDR build by Quicksilver, that was originally done in 2015 by Sabbot I think FE07 was contemplating work there at some point but don't know where that ended up. You could probably search for others under the key word "Quicksilver"

Having enough numbers to make a forum work is critical. There are enough hard core participants on the US side to get a bit of back and forth. But if there are not then the discussion is dead - no interaction and no point in participating and the site withers. Facebook splintered our computer time from forums and then twatter came along and other forms of social media. Each sucks up some more time from that allocated to the computer.

As someone who has seen a lot of engine rebuilds in the last few years eg BMW CSL Group 4 race engine, Group A Holden, v12 Ferrari (shudders).....just think of the character building you are about to get! [emoji15] I genuinely know the pain you are going through - more than most. If you dropped a valve then figure your piston looks like the one below - in my example there were 6 others.... [emoji22]. It was an epic drive on track before that though! [emoji16] Pull the engine out, get it to a reputable expert to diagnose and work out next steps for a high end rebuild. Quicksilver have a streetable 220hp zetec strong build that a few forum members have bought. Or buy a $800-1000 engine out of a car being salvaged and drop it in as a temporary measure. Don’t try a cheap high hp build - it never works.

Quicksilver in MD has been the long time preference around the east coast for rebuilding Zetecs http://quicksilverraceengines.com/

I saw it alright but I thought there was no way anyone would think it was a seven or sevenesque. Grotesque possibly... Drivers will get a new title "donors"

Yes it’s listed under “Replica” in my list. Seller advertises in a few areas - I only listed the buffalo ad area. Been for sale on and off for close to 2 years.