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My 1995 Caterham S3 X-Flow Emotional Support Vehicle "Beater" refresh and other journeys down the rabbit hole


IamScotticus

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So, I have this "Weber" 34/34 DGEC.  It's pretty much in perfect new condition.  I'm kinda digging it because it doesn't have the stupid secondary choke plate and the secondary has a dump tube, something I would pay extra for on a FF prepped 23/36 DG.

The carb was basically free (you know who you are, TY) but considering the efforts I may incur to get it dialed in right,  would it be better to order a prepped 32/36 from Ivey?  Or try this one first?

Also, if I switch, there would have to be a filter plate change in the transition as the 34 is that diamond hole pattern.

 

Edited by IamScotticus
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Don't try it. It might work fine. Send it to me for peace of mind. HA!

 

I dialed the waaayback to Feb 22. Have you fixed the rear wing mount? Do you have the T9 ready to go in? Why are you taking more stuff apart/adding lightness? I have no room to talk, but why should I let that stop me?

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There are four lists that are endless:

List of things my wife wants done,

List of things my wife says I'm guilty of,

List of all 7 parts and what buckets,

List of things to fix on Beater.

 

I live in a rotating cycle of to-do's.

 

And the garage is 100 degrees F when her hot car isn't in there.

 

I do what I can when I can.

Edited by IamScotticus
  • Haha 2
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On 7/4/2023 at 6:08 PM, wdb said:

My garage has insulation and a mini-split...

 

...no excuses for me!

 

5 hours ago, IamScotticus said:

My Brother in law did that

It's a nice solution. Mini-splits are relatively inexpensive, and they use almost no electricity. Very very efficient.

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  • 1 month later...

So, as I get closer to the plucking of the lump,

My two goals are to clean out all the congealed coolant residues from the cooling jacket and run something through the oil galley, brushes & what not, with an oil friendly solvent of sorts.

No, this is not taking it to an engine shop for a washing, hot tanking or any of that.  I think I can do a decent clean-out job in a largish parts cleaner of my own.

Therefore, no, I wont get back some shiny pristine thing ready to paint. Thats not the goal. A clean-out with minimum to no damage is the goal.  An engine doesn't need to be purdy to run well, it just needs to be cleaned correctly in the right places.  I will save purdy for later.

 

Which brings me to surface prep and cleaning in critical areas.

 

After cylinder deck and head surfaces are cleaned well, they are checked for straightness, but to get there, what are the best and least destructive surface cleaning methods to use?  I got razor blades; they work pretty good.  Ive done amazing work with WD-40 and green ScotchBrite on intake surfaces.  What else is popular?

 

If I find that my deck and head surfaces are all wonky, of course I'll take them to a shop for millwork.  But not until then.

Its not because Im cheap.

OK, Im cheap.  But life has taught me this...  If you hire a landscaper to cut down some trees, and you tell him not to cut the trees with the yellow ribbons, 9 times out of ten he will do the exact opposite and cut the trees with the ribbons.  I've learned this lesson enough times, to do what you can yourself.  To be perfectly honest, in the land clearing business, the SOP is to only mark the trees to be cut.  Its just an example I can think of (Walt Disney) how things can go wrong, and still do, in recent memory.

Edited by IamScotticus
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On 7/6/2023 at 6:38 PM, wdb said:

 

It's a nice solution. Mini-splits are relatively inexpensive, and they use almost no electricity. Very very efficient.

My house configuration doesn't allow for a discreet installation.   Garage in front and the entire length is open to view from ths street.  There isn't a way to hide the condenser duct from view.

I considered a swamp cooler but learned those put out a lot of humidity, which isn't something I want more of.

Other option is a window type unit or portable with the exhaust ducted out.  I need a 115V circuit run for that.

Pannel and outlets upgrade is another project for later this year.

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mini splits can easily be hidden behind a bush..plumbed low through the wall so no outside 'casing' running down the side of the building

 

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Screenshot_20230831_164344_DuckDuckGo.jpg.7f9f7888daf35997f7e373940d4130c9.jpg

I really wanted to go straight to installing a dry sump during the engine refresh. 

Then I realized it's better to first make sure the head gasket will hold.

That's OK, one less project to get between me and the road. 

I can put in a DS with engine in car.  Just need to prefit the pan to deal with any interference issues like the BH blanking plate.

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Kind of a special personal thing lately.

I finally got a book I've been obsessing over for 37 years.

Now that everything is available on the internet,  it wasn't hard to find a copy.

 

This book in my high school library on the Lotus family wasn't my first exposure to the brand, but it is probably the introduction to the 7 that made the permanent impression. 

It is here the 7 obsession started.  Other Lotus cars were very cool, but There was (and is) something about the 7 that it is simple enough of a performance car to be exotic yet also accessible and affordable.

I've often considered the head on pic of an S3 to be the best 7 photo I've ever seen.  Slightly over exposed,  but a perfect picture of a perfect 7.

20230905_183605.thumb.jpg.68a51f508f0ff2d2aa2d050f97044b00.jpg

Screenshot_20230906_161544_Gallery.thumb.jpg.dd5e9f44208f59af92a6417b21f8f067.jpg

 

Screenshot_20230906_161557_Gallery.thumb.jpg.b7e2b093bbef5ca1e3fdc05406fd4475.jpg

 

Screenshot_20230906_161605_Gallery.thumb.jpg.1a4e78b4ca686d29324ad54cce4fd39c.jpg

Edited by IamScotticus
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  • 1 month later...
On 7/3/2023 at 5:01 PM, IamScotticus said:

I finally answered a burning question....

Will a 90s Cat bonnet be too tall or short to use with a downdraught carb?

I don't think so.

.....................................................................

I'm at this VERY juncture myself, but on a 'real' Rotus 7. (yep, that BAT BMW powered one)
The oem Solex was so roached the butterflies couldn't be opened with pliers...    I digress....

My 'quick fix' has left me contemplating cutting a hole for the air filter of this cheap and quick Cannon manifold / Weber DGV DD swap in. ( ain't hind sight beautiful)
BUT...tomorrow arrives a scoop that might be a perfect fit.  (pics to come). In my case ,my filter top will sit proud of the bonnet by less than 1/2".
yep wider too as need engine motion room. It been very hard to consider cutting the bonnet metal ...vs side draft-ing , and yet another megasquirt buld by me. eh...
was trying to stay originla for now.... 

As to the bonnet hole... well... I guess since the first owner lost the louvered original, to a tractor trailer tire on the highway after it flew off , post show)
cutting a hole in a local made bonnet is no that hard.



 

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