Croc

Can you handle all that horsepower? It may be too much for little ol' you? You are used to VW 911s and non-running Loti's

4000 miles in 5 years? Pathetic! :seeya: Forgetting whooshy noises for a moment, a quick leak down on one cylinder is either: - stuck or open valves - worn rings - leaking head gasket I assume you have no symptoms of head gasket - leaks, mayonnaise in tank, overheating, swear words, etc so we should be able to discard this. How did you make sure the valves were closed prior testing? I know you probably set at TDC but did the test air pressure inadvertantly turn the engine over slightly and open a valve for number one cylinder test? I have found diagnosis from listening to air escaping to be inconclusive in the past - you never know where it is coming from. Engines are not like humans in that they fart and leak from many orifices. Humans only have 2...anyway... Is this the oil filler in the cam cover? Isnt it right over the top of cylinder 1 on a 2L Duratec? What if you keep that sealed and remove dipstick to see what air escapes from there or via the valve cover breather holes? I have never done it on a 4 cylinder but for V8s (notoriously leaky things) I just rely on dipstick hole and valve cover breather holes since they slow the process down enough to allow me to check thoroughly for where the worst air noises are coming from. Old hands always told me that you can have 20% leakdown with no appreciable loss of hp, its only if you are well past the 20% that you might consider a rebuild. You are only at 23% so you can punt the problem longer

Nonsense - ponies shit and gallop and kick you when you least expect! More than one trick in that! :jester: Yes - exactly. No Caterham or Birkin I know of reaches 150mph on a track though. Best I saw was when I drove the 620R at 146mph at both Estoril and Hungaroring circuits although I suspect I did it late in the day at Portimao but I was shitting myself as I came off the cliff into the high speed understeer drop onto the main straight and not paying attention to the speedo or rev counter. They all have big ass F1 long straights. In theory my CSR does 155mph at vMax but I am yet to take it to Bonneville to see if I can find it after a 5 mile run up. Just call him Shane. I find I giggle when I use an inoffensive name. He's not that scary then! Some user on this forum did a Birkin one - I think it was TheGoat or Goat. A search here might surface the name for you to PM and inquire. I vaguely recall an intercooler being used but cannot recall where installed. On a positive note, the Caterham 620R installation has been quite reliable on track based on UK owners I know who have done 6000 track only miles. Yes you move from a fully loaded 1250-1300lbs to a 1750lbs Stalker. While not totally cruise ship like in handling, a Stalker does have more weight/inertia in being thrown around. A Caterham is quicker in the corners but the stalker walks...errr....runs away out of a corner. Torque is your friend there. Not much between them under brakes though. It depends on your local circuit. A tight circuit like you get in the UK suits a Caterham well. A big open USA circuit suits a Corvette/Mustang/Heifer/etc which only go fast in a straight line then wobble around corners. The Sadev tops out around 350-400hp from memory. But there are sequential transmission options for the LS engine Option 1 https://shop.quaife.co.uk/chevrolet-chevy-ls-six-speed-rear-wheel-drive-sequential-gearbox This is T5 sized so should fit a Stalker gearbox tunnel. Option 2 https://www.lgmotorsports.com/corvette-sequential-transmission.html Both can be combined with paddleshifters. Option 3 Put a hydramatic in it and just pretend it is sequential. Anything can be done with money and a shit eating grin. The 620R is RHD only. Cannot be LHD as the supercharger packaging gets in the way. You can order a 620R SV with the wider cockpit and bigger footwell. I had no problems driving that version in Spain and Portugal. I drove the S3 version in Hungary but did not notice the footwell issue as I never used the clutch after getting rolling and just left foot braked to avoid confusion. Cheers mike

I have heard a LOT of mixed stories around that supercharger package over the years but to make sure it is not just like UFOs/intelligent blondes/honest politicians/etc. (i.e. you hear about them but they don't exist in my real life) it would be interesting to hear directly on this forum from a happy customer. Fails your hp requirements. A 485 is only around 237hp and thats Caterham claimed hp so it is probably overstated by 5%+ for marketing purposes as claimed hp never seems to be achieved under owner dyno testing - my own cars included - until the ECU tune is remapped from standard. So a 485 is a healthy hp car but less than your Ultralite's 243hp which you stated was a condition. It is an SV wide body. Given your hp focus, I don't think you would be happy unless you have more.

I have always thought octuples were cute little critters. :jester: More hp than 243? I like your style Bruce! There are only 2 options in the current list that qualify - the Stalkers or the Hayabusa. There have not been a lot of high hp Caterhams or Birkins lately and I have not seen an ultralite come up for sale in quite a while.

Yes it has.

YEs and no. The base spec was comparable to a base Zetec. However, thanks to the superior breathing of the Vauxhall, it could produce big hp - think 250-280hp with work and good strong builds. A Zetec cannot do that (for long anyway). However, unlike the Zetec, the Vauxhall weighed more than a few elephants....

After a break the ads are back NEW MK Indy R https://www.ebay.com/itm/Caterham-Lotus-7-MK-Indy-R-Kit-Car/153594574919?hash=item23c2f33847:g:xcIAAOSwRwddG5CQ and here http://www.dailyturismo.com/2019/08/hayabusa-powered-2011-lotus-caterham.html Champion chassis project https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-7-Champion-kit-car/133147990739?hash=item1f003d1ad3:g:CTYAAOSwn1RdXVsq' Caterham https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/d/sonoma-lotus-caterham-super-7/6949706342.html REPEATS Caterham SCCA https://www.wirewheel.com/2001-Caterham-race-car-for-sale.html Lotus 7 S2 http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/lotus/1557321710/1557321710ss.htm Stalker http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/lotus/1437589044/1437589044ss.htm 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 Early Caterham (not Lotus 7 as advertised) https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1234047/1965-lotus-seven-for-sale-in-north-andover-massachusetts-01845 Caterham SV https://vintageracecarsales.com/portfolio-view/2013-caterham-seven-480/ Lotus 7 S2 and S4 Project http://taylormadeclassiccars.com/vehiclesforsale.html Caterham SV http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/201216-nos-caterham-sv-roadsport/ Caterham http://britauto.com/portfolio-view/2000-caterham/ Super Seven Sportscar (Fejer) http://sodo-moto.com/listings/super-seven-2tg/ Birkin http://sodo-moto.com/listings/1990-birkin-seven-so-cal/ Birkin http://sodo-moto.com/listings/1991-birkin-seven/ and here https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/d/seattle-1991-birkin-super-7-sprint/6961453660.html Lotus 7 IRS Special https://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-Other-Makes-early-LOTUS-7-IRS-Seven-with-Lotus-IRS/153606968563?hash=item23c3b054f3:g:90UAAOSwOB1dXBEo Blakely 7 https://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/d/miami-blakely-lotus-antique/6953297920.html Diva https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/phoenix-1962-lotus-super-7-deva-kit/6945207365.html CANADA Caterham https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/oakville-halton-region/lotus-caterham-super-7/1454204099?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Caterham https://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camions/sherbrooke-qc/caterham-super-7-sylver-jubilee-1982/1410777802?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Replica https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details.html?adId=1449826562 Wolf Racing 7 https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details.html?adId=1436702029 MCC 7 Project https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details.html?adId=1432118799' Replica https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details.html?adId=1448981191 Observation: The new fee for listing at Craigslist has killed the number of ads we used to see for Sevens. Not sure where they are now being advertised for sale?

Some photos of Scott in happier days doing what he enjoyed. 2018 NJMP Sevens event - Scott front and center with his orange/black nose cone Caterham Superlight

I am in shock - I swapped emails with him two weekends back. Way too young to go - he was full of life. I am going to miss you good buddy.

S = road touring spec. R = track spec In substance, the track one will get an aero screen, Tillets, maybe LSD, 13 inch wheels, etc. It’s an option packaging that focuses on intended usage. But it’s not hard and fast. I have a 420R and I have the leather seats.

Damn a I will be at the office otherwise I would just sit on my balcony and enjoy the view.

With all apologies to Gordon for messing with his ad for a really nice looking Birkin - I like the two tone look. Good spec and very competitively priced even with the work required.

Come on Astro Bob - I have 50+ lawyers on my payroll and I am the one who needs a psychotherapist for exactly the type of indecisive multi-layered ill thought logic Kitcat demonstrated. Only HR flunkey are worse.

OK I found that ad. Looks nice but very little detail to sort out a fair value. No idea what is meant by the high hp head option? Who cares how much was paid at day 1 - if a regular daily driver car depreciation curve was followed then it would have lost 50%+ of its value by now after 7 years. However, Caterhams and Birkins hold up better than that in their residual values given their specialist nature.

Mike - you are right. So much depends on condition/maintenance. Is it ready to drive 2-3000 miles without problem or does it need fettling to get to reliability? The level of included options can add a premium. I would liken an R500 to a current model designation of 485R. $45-50k is not a bad estimate given the huge amount of variables. It could easily edge up to $55k as a higher estimate depending on spec/condition. It is unlikely to get above that as I can think of slightly more recent cars with similar spec out there that are currently asking less around the $50k mark after haggling.

Is PBI the new name for what used to be known as Moroso? I did a shake down run there in the 1965 Mustang before doing a HSR race at Sebring. Sorry I don’t live close otherwise I would join you.

Hi Taber- you are quite right. I always forget about the civilized portion of Florida. I just tend to think east and south since that is where they cause all of my problems.... Not sure whether association with Alabama is a good thing though?

Yes PanAmericano was a little harsh there. I have always enjoyed the company of Locost owners. I would not afflict that Reliant Robin beast on them. Mind you, you have to watch out for Westfield owners - they sneak up on you when you are not watching and some of them even like Porsha Boxsters.

I think it means he has an early Caterham (correct - look at chassis restoration photo) that is titled as a 1967 Lotus in his state. Graham Nearn did not buy the rights off Lotus to manufacture the seven until 1973

And you were going to drive it home from Millville to Albany, dealing with NY metro traffic. I think you made the right choice not to....

Well that makes sense. It is our good friend Graham who is also on this forum and has a well set up and very quick Honda Locost. Sadly I won’t be posting tomorrow as I just do not have internet signal to get the search results processed. So I will have a nice relaxed breakfast bobbing around the North Sea.

Portland Oregon? Should be an interesting trip. Town is mostly run by hippies and communists but they do a good range of beers by microbreweries which redeems them in my view. Could be worse I suppose, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, all of Florida, Arkansas, etc. Think yourself lucky!

This is a good blast from the past! You still in Brisbane?

First observation is that it has been for sale for a very long time through a variety of channels. Good indicator of over-pricing so be sure of your value going in. There is a photo and some discussion (I think) of this car in the Dennis Ortenburger book. Its not clear if this was a Lotus experiment with IRS or an individual owner's modifications. With history so vague it makes valuing the car difficult. Also it makes it very owner specific in terms of liking or not. I suspect it is a very effective vintage racer which is why you are actively considering it. How effective a racer it is should be something with some level of documentable proof by the seller so you have a guide to potential before diving in.