andrew7

I thought they would be heavy and look goofy. They are very light about a pound. They also have a vintage look. They are lighter than my aluminum ones. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070327_182706_7finish_007.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070327_182808_7finish_008.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070327_182850_7finish_006.jpg

new pics today. 1st blat this year,every thing is fine, tested video and other pics going up in BEC section.

I'm not sure about other chemicals but Formula V is a pinkish fluid and myself,dad and my neighbor all agree it smells and looks like mineral spirits. Maybe the pink is tranny fluid mixxed in. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif It has been a while since chem class, but a thinner/kerosene type chemical on rubber will soften it. I might take a useless tire and experiment. Wheels came in today, tomorrow I'll mount the tires on them and start the tire treatment on the Yoko A048s. I have high hopes for them.

Would you define Track Machine? Which racing body and division? SCCA E-mod? Mazda doesn't need luck to catch up, He needs a Pope verified Miracle. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/rofl.gif

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/sleep.gifhttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/sleep.gif Its been over a month since any post here so I thought I stop in and say hi to all my friends. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/grouphug.gif Ya know the emoticons http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif . I just finished watching R1s video but I have 1 question. Jeff, why do you have outside mirrors and 1 on the rollbar on an Autocross machine? http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/confused5.gif Ya know that's just excess weight you don't need. Are you planning on rubbing fenders with other racers or do you want to look back to see the whole grid getting smaller and smaller? http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif I'm finishing the upgrades to my interior and should be blatting later this week. I may even get my 13" A048s on as well. I'm also working on half doors with clear vinyl windows and a shorty tonneau top for those not so perfect days. Most of the polishing is finished but I may go back over a couple of spots and edges. Finished and installed my new exhaust guards. They're approx 1 lb. not bad for steel. Contoured expanded steel grating and its lighter than my aluminum guards I removed. Cut down my leaf spring and centered it. Now its softer and my weight is only 10lbs off center not 50lbs. Busa and R1 later. Mazda, I'll keep coming back and ramble to myself. Its O.K. they know me in my own little world. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gifandrew72007-03-26 20:42:17

My current tires are over a dozen years old and 500 treadwear. They are hard and I was concerned about cracking. I bought newish Yoko A048s and have no rims yet but with 1 heavy heat cycle on them, they feel hard and I believe they would benefit from chemical conditioning. I did some digging on tire conditioners and most are outlaw by racing bodies. Formula V is made 1/2 hour from me so I stopped in and talk to the owner. I have to admit I was sceptical if any chemical would work. I put 4 coats on yesterday and 4 more today and my old 500 treadware tire are softer than when I started and they feel stickier than my A048s http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/eek6.gif . Its not alot of trouble to treat the tires. Jack up your car, use a roller or spray bottle, spray tread, let dry & repeat 3x, then the next 2 days repeat. I guess the treatment penetrates the rubber and gradualy softens it by replacing the oil that was in the tire when it was manufactered. I think through UV rays, heat and age the oil in tires dries out and they harden up. I must say again I hoped it would help but gave it 50/50 that it would http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/skep.gif . I was very surprised that it worked so well and surpased my expectations. My 13" wheels should be in tomorrow and I am looking foward to reviving the Yoko's to better than new condition. They should be very sticky with a treadwear of 60 and marked SRF(Spec Racer Ford). I'm not plugging one brand over any other but if your tires are old and hard try it. If it doesn't work, why is it outlawed for racing? Keep lowflyin' and hope to see you at the 777 rally.

I got mine from a hardware store and they look very close to your latches from Protex. The safety clasps I got from a frabric store. During my locost build I had to find parts from "outside the box". Autozone didn't have everything.http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070325_184335_Picture_1008.jpgandrew72007-03-25 18:43:43

Jeff, great video, reminded me of mine. Did you notice how rapid things happen above 7k. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif My only recomendation is to get a windshield and a reverse for the DMV so you can drive it longer than 60 sec. The downside is you try for FTD on your daily drive to work and start seeing cones everywhere. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif

Thanks to all and keep them coming, I haven't decided yet. Al,the half doors, there the ones that go from the shoulder height to the cowl, all black about 10" wide. I thinking of a combo. Using half doors and if I want zip a clear piece from the doors to the convertible top. I added small plexy motorcycle wind deflectors and the turbulance isn't bad during a general ride.

I agree with R1 on this. The newer bikes are very different. After I got my engine I decided to get the upper harness, instrument cluster and ignition switch with key for $300 shipped. The big bonus is all functions needed; turn, high beam, low fuel, water, speedo,tach with shift light PLUS the diagnostics. My engine wouldn't start and the computer had shut down the FI. Why? After pulling codes off the cluster, the tip over switch was mounted 90 degrees off. and it also though the kick stand was down. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif I couldn't have found it with out reading the codes. Last fall I decided to pull the useless swithes off the car. The tip over switch was unplugged and the engine wouldn't start and it flashed a code. I disassembled the switch, it had 4 wires going to a small computer board and chip, its not a simple mercury switch. I plugged everything back and she's happy 'n running. For us BECs, the electronics are wired into everything. The car guys they can buy any gauges with senders and wire them in independently.

In a few weeks I'm going to have a top made, another 7 rally precaution. I wanted to ask those that had tops for their sevens about the doors. At first I was only going to have a tonneau top made from the windshield to the roll bar but for the money and material a full top made more sense. I was going to have the doors zip in but that meant I could only use the doors with the top in place. How many of you have driven with just the doors in place like on a cool autumn day to keep the wind down or did you wear a leather jacket instead? If I wish to use the doors separately this means fabbing up brackets 'n bits and I'm not sure if its worth it. I noticed last fall that I had to dress like a motorcyclist. A windbreaker day meant a heavier coat in the 7 driving down a highway. The car is fair weather only but if I'm caught out in a Microburst I want to be covered, besides those Dollar store umbrellas don't last long above 35mph. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif

The rally in July should help you make a good choice because of the diversity. If I were to buy one it would be a used Caterham or a Westfield from Flyin Miata. To build a street legal Locost from the ground up becomes very difficult. There are many unforseen problems that must be solved and you start wishing it was finished already so you can start driving it. With that said, I own a BEC 7 Locost, approx. 1050lbs and 175hp. I'm still not sure what to think of all these web racers http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif The following is from The Magnificent 7 book. The Caterham JPE was developed with the help of EX-F1 racer Dr. Jonathan Palmer and then-current McLaren F1 test driver. It held the world record 0-60mph in 3.46sec. and 0-100-0 in 12.6sec - over 3 sec faster than a Ferrari F40.(These records have been beaten in the last couple of years by the Ultima GTR.) Palmer commented, "It's the nearest thing to a Formula 1 car on the road." The car weighs 1168lbs. and has only 250 hp. My opinion is any 7 with 150-250hp will be very fast for the road. Anything over 300hp save for the track. The only exception is Mazda with his Cobra in Sevens clothing http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif .

I figured with the bike engine at 14000rpm and the flash of light as I pass. All the locals in NC. and Tn. will start reporting lowflying UFOs. Just what the south is known for http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/rofl.gif .

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif I color code too. My SVs are grey and yellow. I looked at the other models but the Prototipos are full leather and I wanted something cooler for the summer. SVs have more nylon mesh. The bike clutch needs a sensitive sole and hopefully I will have a good feel of the pedals. I also did not want to be walking around in loafers all summer, I'm conservative but not English http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif . Anyone else wearing a pan hat and wool driving blazer http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif .

Major snow storm underway. Started getting ready for spring. Rough polish mostly done. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070213_151908_SUNP0045.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070213_152041_SUNP0048.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070213_152342_SUNP0052.JPG

I don't play basketball. I don't look like Shaq. I don't like shoes with more rubber on them than my seven wears. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif I haven't worn "tennis shoes" in almost a year, giving up on them. I've been wearing loafers or hiking boots. I wanted light shoes for the 7 and summer and I did not want wrestling shoes. I found Piloti driving shoes and bought the SVs. They have backpack lacing are light and look ADULT not HOMIE IN DA HOOD http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif There at www.Piloti.com Thought somebody here might be interested. Get a pair of SVs for your Caterham SV.

The chrome tip was cut off the muffler then welded a 2 foot pipe on and rewelded the tip on. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070210_160126_7_photos_sdexh.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070210_160210_7_photos_215.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070210_160242_7_photos_216.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070210_160318_7_photos_217.jpg New guards are made up, maybe welded up Monday. I personally thought it would look stupid out the back but it looks nice and the sound reduction is worth it all. Unless you like driving all around town with a helmet on in your car this is the next best thing. Its illegal to drive with earplugs but I had to before I did this.

Busa, got a napkin handy. The screen is not water proof. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070210_155344_7_photos_padl1.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070210_155429_7_photos_padl2.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070210_155521_7_photos_padl3.jpg STOP drooling and go build it! http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif

air shocks and leaf spring http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070210_154851_7_photos_spng1.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070210_154939_7_photos_sprng2.jpg

Busa, I had the same problem. Mine is straight thru, I added 2 feet and a chrome down turn tip. The car sounds completely different. I can talk and hear people in the cockpit and all around the car now. I did not lose any ground clearance either, other more important parts will get hit first.

I bet Mazda and V8 guy still go thru life 1/4 mile at time and chances are they still have those way cool mullets. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/rofl.gif Skip, I seen the new suspension systems using air. I have air shocks front and rear but if a front line ruptures the nose will grind right into the ground. The Corvette like front leaf helps with the load and is a backup if I loose air pressure out on the road. Its not like I can press the Onstar button. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif

Yes they don't officially make it available here but it could be an easy option and there are many BECs in England. First I don't consider any 7 a daily driver buy a beater. I have other vehicles for DD and probably most others here do as well. Second is the nature of the engine. The ultra light flywheel revs up very fast but it also drops just as fast with a load, i.e. pulling out. The clutch has about 1" of travel from free wheel to full lock up so your foot movement is important. At first it feels like everything is either on or off. The engine revving to the moon or dead and the clutch locked or free. The transmission is close ratios drop a gear and the change is less than 500 rpm. Anything over 6k rpm and its a violent acceleration to redline but you have to rev between 4-6k to pull out get the idea. You either stall or smoke the tires at every stop and sound like an F1 car, its a razors edge. Every one loves the sound including me but the constant sound on a main highway is terrible. Sit in a chair with your favorite magazine and tape the switch on for your circular saw and sit it 2 feet away for 30 min. I'll do almost any route to stay off of a straight freeway. My car is a delight, used to clear my head and enjoy the drive, its basic and simple and a real driving pleasure. The 1000# weight handles like a ballet dancer while my other cars feel like Rosie O'Donel. Gear changes with both hands on the wheel, the car never feels like its trying but encourages me and doesn't punish me if I do something stupid. Its almost a surreal experience just don't make me drive it every day.

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/sleep.gifhttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/sleep.gifhttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/sleep.gif Its hard being unique. 1 month since last post on here. Should I install a Duratec?, so I can join the rest of the forum. No,I don't want to go through all that work. All this typing has made me http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/sleep.gif . http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/grouphug.gif This is sad,http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/cryin.gif more emoticons hugging than bec 7 owners here. Maybe I should just ramble on over here, who's going to complain? 2 people http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif Tell the Web I just ran new horn wiring today. Yesterday covered the dash. I have to weld up exhaust guards as soon as its above the teens. Plan on cutting down my front leaf spring so the air shocks work better. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/rolleyes5.gif you emoticons are my new best friends http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif

I can't figure out why Caterham would not make these available to the US, one has to build their cars and source your own engines and transmissions. A Hayabusa with a reverse box and sump pan would be easy and cheaper. Yes, the wail sounds familiar. I first started shifting by sound just like an MX bike. My Dad,65, co-builder of our car asked why I only shifted between 7k and 8k rpm. I really scared myself and him too when I shifted at 14k. BEC 7's should all be named Rush 7's cause of the adrenalin. His nick name for the 7 is Stupid Quick. See you at the Dragon. andrew72007-02-09 10:48:42

Sorry, I forgot to tell about sizes. 7 different manufactures and sizes from 10"-18" diameters. www.jbracingtires.net