coffee break Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Now that winter is leaving us (some sooner than others) what upgrades have you been up to? :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Rebuilding my broken Stalker…upgraded it with a new chassis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMike Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Also rebuilding my broken Storker...replacing the rear panel and fenders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Absolutely nothing to upgrade - I am happy with what I have. My two pet sevens got their annual winter pampering and they are happily tucked up warm in the garage awaiting spring. My cash has been getting spent on the Beemer restoration. I just splurged on a nice new set of 1970s look gold BBS cross hatch 12/14 inch alloy race wheels. The Holden is getting a new T-5 since the T-10 broke on me late last year. Also needs a new steering rack by the looks of it since it is leaving a lot of red power steering fluid all over the garage floor... :banghead: Ummm....why do we have a second broken storker on this forum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 (edited) Car started spluttering on wide open throttle at end of last year's NJMP event. So in August I took it to my mechanic's and it is starting to look like I will actually get it back next week. The cat and trailer were gone so long that when I checked my trailer spot last week, a squatter trailer had taken over. So I had him evicted. Things replaced, fixed, etc; spark plugs, spark plug wires, gas, O2 sensor, leak down showed low compression in 4th cyl, valve job, source the valve gasket, new bolts, its a SVT so nothing is kept in stock by Ford or parts stores, some things are available at Massive, some in England, car is put on dyno, wont pull over 3500 rpm's w/o going lean (which is likely why engine was spluttering and then damaged), fuel system makes good pressure, but volume isn't there, fuel pump is suspected (4th in 1200 miles), after head scratching it is decided to install a return fuel system in place of the current return-less system, car is plumbed for that, extra fuel filters are added, incl before the fuel pump,ECU is reprogrammed to understand this change, much larger capacity fuel pump is added, everything is buttoned up, back to the dyno, now the car makes great, smooth, reliable power (161 hp, 143 torque at rear wheels). Looks like I will be ready for NJMP/summer. Edited February 26, 2016 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 I've been chasing a coolant pressurization issue since I bought the car. Last season I replaced every part of the coolant system, Radiator, belt tensioner, thermostat, water pump, rerouted hoses, installed one way valves and moved the expansion tank and added a secondary overflow tank. Car ran steady 190-195F on track and at idle. Still puked when revs exceeded 6000 RPMs. Exhaust gas tests all negative. I had the head pulled yesterday and first impression is that it was detonating at the higher rpms. Head is at the machine shop now getting checked out. Head gasket showed some signs of not sealing completely/lifting? Now I have to find someone to retune the MBE Ecu on the dyno. Bruce???:seeya: Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Tom: Have you tried substituting Kentucky bourbon for Water Wetter in your coolant system? I have heard that can really help:). The more expensive the bourbon the better results-remember, this is a Cosworth, not a lowly Zetec. And, best of all, unlike the Water Wetter, you can drink anything that's left over! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Hopefully you will hold on to the bourbon and keep it away from me until I get the car sorted. Hopefully I'll still have a few bucks left to pay you for it. :jester: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Speaking of bourbon, I made my way in January to Beacon NY to taste test Karl's (Blubarisax on here) small batch production of spirits. http://www.denningspointdistillery.com Very tasty stuff! Definitely drop in if you are in the area. Karl is a top guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FE07 Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Tom, Don't remember whether we brought this up before, but ever consider the Evans waterless coolant?? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 Jim, I switched to Evans right after I bought it and had the issue. I've been using it ever since. Absolutely no pressure during normal operations, i.e., under 5000 rpm for me. My pressure problems only arise above 5500rpm. Good stuff, but expensive. You can reuse it over and over though, so as long as it's not puking out like mine was, it's not too bad. It has a really high boiling point so it is does a good job of preventing the coolant flashing to steam at hot spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FE07 Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 Well I'm definitely NOT a mechanic but if it's not a temp/pressure problem and head gasket seems to be OK, what else could it be? Pulley or impeller on water pump wrong size leading to too much flow with increased revs?? See why you're scratching your head!! Please let us all know the problem if you get it figured out. See you at the track, Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 Yeah, Jim its been a head scratcher. I replaced the water pump, there was no evidence of cavitation, and I do have the larger water pump pulley to slow down the pump at higher revs. My mechanic sees to think that it is a detonation issue at the higher RPMs only as that's only when I've seen the bubbles in the coolant. So after we button it back up, I will try to get it on a dyno to check it out and remap it. Fingers crossed. Any other suggestions welcomed. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 My mechanic sees to think that it is a detonation issue at the higher RPMs only as that's only when I've seen the bubbles in the coolant. Maybe inadequate fuel pressure at higher RPMs? The stock Caterham fuel pump is a known weak point in higher HP cars, especially with the Duratec as it requires high pressure. Even when the fuel pump is replaced with one up to the job, the standard wiring for the fuel pump is typically undersized for the task. Or so I have read. I first learned about this weakness on the first trip to a dyno with my own 7, where fuel pressure would drop significantly at high RPM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 Thanks Sean. Never considered that. I'll add that to the list of things to check on once the head is back on. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 (edited) If it was a detonation problem, wouldn't you have some trace of damage to the head/valves? You pulled the head and all was fine, right? As my post above notes, the current theory for my SVT's spluttering issues is inadequate fueling over 3500 rpm's, so maybe there is something to your engine having fueling issues, even tho no visible detonation damage-yet. BTW-I think the "stock" Caterham fuel pump is made by Bosch for Porsches. We replaced it with a higher capacity pump. Edited February 27, 2016 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 No damage to the pistons or valves. Spark plugs seem ok as well. My mechanic says I'm not driving hard enough to melt anything. :jester: I'll have him check out the fueling possibility. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee break Posted December 21, 2016 Author Share Posted December 21, 2016 With the exchange rate looking good I'm thinking (again) about going to ITB's. I would like to go sequential but how to rig up a cam position input on a xflow. (yes, I am nutz) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 Definitely go ITBs - they make such a lovely enhancement to the overall engine music experience! :bigear: I just bought a big bunch of parts from Caterham to take advantage of the English pounded with the dollar so strong. So I now have a good supply of spares to have handy should there be a problem. My winter refresh items are fairly conventional on both of my sevens - fluids, filters, nut and bolt check, new belts, etc. My sevens are perfect as they are - no upgrades needed. However, I have 4 other cars address with their items so it is a looooong work list and some are just ugly items (e.g. rebuild L34 V8, buy new M49/M30 engine, source/install a new T5G (Holden), source/install and BMW dogleg Getrag (E9), buy a new 9" heavy duty rear axle for the 65 Mustang to replace the Versailles one I banana'ed...sigh...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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