where to find good parts

[Alex-Ks1]

I started doing this back in the late 60s So building cars to me is no big thing   . Building my 7 was very easy and didnt take time, Im a certified welder in MIG ,TIG and stick, also build electric vehicles so all of this to me is just another vehicle to work on, Now the reason for this posting is to let people know about all the garbage in the parts world that is out there now/  So when putting a clutch master and slave unit to my trans, I went through 3 of each because they were from some place in the far east. Not Japan.

I finally had to go to both GM< for the clutch slave and Toyota to get new master OEM parts, they worked, not to say I'm sane in any way, I bought 4 brake master cylinders, that to came from a faraway land not called Shangri-La ..  again, back to GM for a OEM unit, it worked. made in the USA by Bendix. Still unwilling to give up, for the turn signal switch I went to the realm of E Bay. where I foolishly bought the other wonderful parts, that worked for 2 minuets at best. The turn signal used to be made by a company here named GROTE. they make all sorts of truck and trailer lighting. Now they dont make the turn signal switch which clamped to the steering Column . So with the help Of E bay and 

and very loose check book, bought 1, then 2 then 3 then 4 ,5 ,6, . none were any good, they were made with no external ground. by putting my test light to a terminal on the flasher it would flash. this artificial ground would heat up fast, Just more junk, they gave me a refund and told me to keep the switch, that's the kind of junk that comes from THERE.  So, it all comes down to buyer beware. you get what you pay for and if you can! Buy from a OEM supplier and ask where it is made things will work smoother ans better and last 

 

[Frankie]

After reading the post I thought you might be telling about some actual parts stores.   Its easy to google for the regular cars, such as Merc, Porsche, even Ford. My trouble is trying to find actually parts for the caterhams.   Do you by chance have a list of part such stores?  Looking for parts such as flywheels, wiring harnesses, ECU's.  Thanks in advance.  Frankie

[Alex-Ks1]

Frank, All I can say is trying to find OEM parts for any 7 is next to imposable, the auto parts stores here don't even know what a Lotus 7 is.  Besides all the 

parts on their shelves are from Asia. not Japan. about 90 % as I'm told by one chain is from that mythical land beyond the sun. and what thery have is pure crap, gotta remember buy cheap as you can find, sell as high as you can, and screw the warranty. they actually change vender ever 6 months so your lifetime part is no longer warrantied. 

  I was lucky my background made it easy for me to build my own parts, make what I needed, and mix and match things that don't go together will, and it works. As far as finding Lotus 7 parts, they're going to be expensive and far and few between. I made my own wiring harness, that was the easy way to go, 

The steering and suspension were from a Mustang 2, much stronger safer and had everything in a bolt on package, which I welded to the frame 

   I wasn't looking to build an exact 7. just a car to drive and have fun. I was asked at a small car show, How much to build one with an automatic trans, . That is better and much simpler to do and give more foot room in the toe box area.  He asked, How much , I said ,, all of it   LOLOL

[kayentaskier]

Frank

your profile indicates you live in SLC area, the closest Caterham dealer is Josh Robbins, in Denver area. Josh has a large inventory of parts for Caterhams. 

[Alex-Ks1]

The car I'm about to build doesn't use any lotus parts , all I really need is the rear fenders and nose ,I found a place out west that has them at a real good price . Can't remember their name off hand right now ,kinetic something or other .

 I have to make an est.of time and cost for a longer , wider 7 ,and he wants an automatic trans , no big thing even simpler  to do .So as far as OEM lotus parts go , I really don't need any . Hope you can find all you need for yours 

Edited October 2, 2022 by Alex-Ks1

[Frankie]

Thanks everyone it looks like I'm heading to the google maze.

 

[IamScotticus]

Frankie, 

What version of Seven are needing parts for and what parts?