Croc

Isn't nave plate the British term for a hub cap?

Damm this is not fair. I have a so so summer in NJ and now I am in the Bering Sea checking out crab boats at Dutch Harbor just in time to miss the spectacular weather Tom is enjoying back home. It is good to hear you guys are all out enjoying your cars! I am having major withdrawal symptoms from cars up here

Congrats on the new Seven. Yellow is a great color! Oh course I am somewhat biased.... I love the Barber pic. Slightly O/T - maybe it is me but does it look like the Seven and the Lotus behind are both smiling? Probably because they are about to catch the Merc...

Hi Al - was this your new Seven acquisition? :seeya:

Gert - It is interesting that you say the oil and water temperature is the same. I installed the mocal oil temp gauge at the same time as the mechnical oil pressure gauge. Reads about the same as water when pootling around town, back roads, slowly, but becomes very inconsistent when I get on an interstate and boot up to 70mph. Readings go from 80C and spike upwards before settling and then spiking up and down from then. I even had the gauge clocked at one point - 140C. The sender unit is one of the sealed capiliary action type - very reliable - I have used them in past cars before without an issue. On Friday I went back over the line and made sure it was not touching anything that could transmit heat. Now I know a mechanical temp gauge should not spike or rapidly change temp - it should be a slow or measured progression - up or down. Engine is fine per water temp/oil pressure so I do not believe the readings Trying to diagnose this, I think it comes down to one or more of the following: - faulty gauge - vibrations of the car/road quality (on NJ's finest rubbish quality roads) - engine thrash/sender unit becoming momentarily uncovered by the oil (because of vibrations/lack of road quality) Any thoughts of wisdom?

My mechnical oil pressure gauge is up and running now with no leaks. As a comparison to Brad's Zetec SVT my oil pressure stats are: Cold start 75 PSI 4000 RPM at 60 degrees Celsius 80 PSI Warm idle 35 PSI 4000 RPM at 80 degrees Celsius 70 PSI I have the stock 195 degree F unit in what is a perfectly stock crate (brand new not used) SVT Zetec motor with 5900 miles on the clock. On a long cruise on a 90 degree summer day I find the oil pressure drops to about 60-70 PSI (depending on the revs).

I joined the LEO Group's Spirited drive in the Catskills today. I have been on their drives before and found them a great bunch of people. Today saw the usual Exige and Elise's but also had a smattering of V8 Esprits (lovely look and sound), some beautiful Elans and a Europa or two. We started in Pine Bush NY and weaved our way around the Catskils for 80 miles ending up at the Mountain Brauhaus in Gardiner NY. It was a great routing with lots of fast uphills, stunning views from mountain tops and nice tight twisties through valley floors. I will be making a note of the roads we went on as it was one of the best drives around the NY region that I have come across. There was this white Europa which had a glorious engine soundtrack. From nearly 1/4 mile away ahead of me in the convoy I could just hear this Europa drown out every other car and nearly mine as well. Had to be straight through pipes :drool:. Before we started I was introduced to Ron from northern NJ who recently bought a very nice looking red and aluminium vauxhall engined caterham from Sevens & Elans recently. He said he is signed up here as a member but not sure of his signon name. He would have joined the drive today in his car but his Seven was misbehaving (I can sooo relate!) - so he joined the first half of the drive on a lovely Ducati. Its great to have another Seven on the east coast. I told Ron to post the problem on the forum - someone here must have a vauxhall engine Seven and can probably help troubleshoot the issue. Some pics for those that are interested: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Catskills%20Run/DSC05716.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Catskills%20Run/DSC05723.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LEO%20Catskills%20Run/DSC05724.jpg When I took the last pic the kid was going along saying "Dad....I wanna that one and that one and that one and...." Excellent taste in cars!

:rofl:....As the token Aussie on the board driving a funny little British car with metric gauges...I automatically forgot that there was such a thing called Fahrenheit! :blush: Ok so 210 F to 220 F equates to about 100 C to 105 C - so I am in the range. Now if I can get the blasted thingy to stop weeping oil at the connection.... Thanks Guys!

I am installing an oil temp gauge and at this stage of the installation are getting some inconsistent readings between 85 and 110 degrees. I am pretty sure this is an earth/loose connection issue on the installation that I can solve by fiddling around today. However, for a stock standard 2L SVT Zetec, what oil temperature operating range should I expect to see?

Lovely looking car! Congratulations. Here is to a long summer and dry weather for you. It has come up on the board in the past http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3408&highlight=raceline&page=2 It was definitely identified as being in MD on the ebay ad. Just in your backyard.

This was an entertaining read - for many different reasons. The automated translation service provides for a version of "minglish" that is highly amusing. Some excerpts and my (tongue in cheek) views of what I think they mean: Quote: "Something in years, but sprightly and adventurous Lord of slender shape looks hardy and fun-loving person" Comment: Well I am not slender, thats why I have an SV! Must be referring to Al or Mazda? Quote: "the driver must be in closed canopy but only once with acrobatic contortions in the bathtub-sized cockpit fit." Um...yes....especially if the hood is up! Quote: "For the actual wheel then makes a wild rattle while driving." Ah no....actually thats the driver cackling away with sheer enjoyment. Quote: "The noise disturbs any softies." I dont think we have any softies in our club? Do we? Maybe the odd Kia driver.... Quote: "So prefer the raindrops can slap in the face." He would love Franken7 or Steve's S1 then - no hoods for them Quote: "It is the Englishman with the long nose is always enough power and pressure are available" Don't tell my girlfriend that my nose is not long enough, let alone about my technique. Hang on...whats this got to do with a Seven? Quote: "The extremely narrow and closely spaced pedals requires some Fußspitzengefühl." You bet it does. When I am diving down into a corner and my size 14s simultaneously get both the brake and the accelerator before I have had a chance to put the clutch in, I fubspitengfokall through my pants too. Quote: "In tight turns, it is therefore recommended that Muckis earlier times in the gym to steel and the brake pedal to engage with Schmacke." If you do not schmacke the brake pedal then you mucki up the corner?

Well it could be true. I have this problem where all this new Se7en related parts/accessories/stuff just magically appears on my door step and the better half (ok g/f) gets upset. Oops! My problem is that I do not have a cat to blame - can I borrow someones? Here Kitty Kitty...... Man blames cat for downloading porn August 8, 2009 http://images.smh.com.au/2009/08/08/670679/cat2-200x0.jpg Florida investigators say a man accused of downloading child pornography is blaming his cat. Keith Griffin of Jensen Beach is charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography after detectives found more than 1000 images on his home computer. According to a sheriff's report Friday, Griffin told investigators that his cat jumped on the computer keyboard while he was downloading music. He said he had left the room and found "strange things" on his computer when he returned. Griffin is being held on $US250,000 bond in the Martin County jail. AP

No idea if this has been posted before but I just received the link from my father. Having flown Aeroflot before I can believe this footage of an Antonov - world's largest cargo plane having a close take off at an airfield in the State of Victoria in Australia. [/url] The commentary is priceless...

I also drove the green SVT last November at Dick's and found its handling ok (probably in the same parking lot as you - down the hill and take a left). However, I did not have Dick with me at the time. The extra passenger can make a huge difference. My new car liked to plow understeer initially until I had it corner-weighted and then it made a huge difference - turning in beautifully. Imagine my disappointment when I find it goes back to plow understeer with a passenger along for the ride. The extra weight of a passenger upset my nicely calibrated car. I discovered that tweaking tire pressures to inflate the rear more overcomes that little problem. Lesson - dont be hung up on the car not being perfect. That is what is so great about these cars - you can have fun fiddling with them to get them where you like them. I also agree with TheGoat - its a buyers market right now - quite a few cars for sale at a good price. Be patient and the right one will emerge.

Absolutely awesome photos. The website is full of cars under varying states of control.....in a perfect place to experiment. Great photos of your car - and you looking like a drowned rat soaking wet in one of them! :smilielol5: I am like Hank....love to know more about the wing and how you find it works...

While I have no affiliation with the place, as an ex-Mainer, I can recommend the Museum as a great place to visit after a Maine lobster lunch if you are in the area - lots of old planes, cars and other antique mechnical devices to browse around.

Just browsing the goods from the site and came across this rather fetching Seven for auction come August 22. The brooklands screen and no roll bar give this car a nice balanced look. http://www.ohtm.org/gallery/album840 website home for the auction http://www.ohtm.org/*NEauction09.html There are quite a number of lovely cars for sale that has me looking around for cash....

Just came across this - no affiliation, etc - looks nice! 220hp caught my eye. http://www.lotusowners.com/ForSale/PDCat/index.htm Actually there seem to be a bunch of cars for sale on there right now.

The smile on Lauren's face looks pretty big....and says it all! Bruce, I think you need to direct your daughter here to buy a Seven for herself. Otherwise you will lose out....

Hi Bill - Congratulations on your new purchase! Lovely looking car.

I know he is also driving at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedford UK, just north of London. Great facility if you ever get a chance to drive there.

Let me take both for a nice long test drive and then I can tell you! :drool:

Hi Rob, Thats great to hear! I would love to see pics of your car - you have done a ton of work on it in the last few months. cheers

Congratulations - she looks a nice car! Perfect timing - plenty of summer left to enjoy. Are you ready to start buying upgrades? I think you get a nomination for garage of the month award. I would love one like that....with a hoist too!

Hi Jen - That was really good. One thing that struck me from watching the video - it appeared so slow - as if we were crawling along. I wonder if that is just an illusion from the small screen?