Wayne Stambaugh Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Today I picked up my 1986 Caterham BDR. This car belonged to a good friend of mine who was my fathers age. He passed away five years ago and left the car to his youngest son. Unfortunately he died at 59 years old and never got the car on the road. His older brother got the car after he died. At the funeral the older brother mentioned to me that he may be calling me for help in selling his brothers belongings since he didn’t really have an interest in them. The Caterham was one of those things. I just couldn’t let him sell it so I bought it. Considering our friendship he made me a price I could afford and could not turn down. I had been watching this car since 1987 and I just couldn’t let it go. The car appears to be fairly complete and I have many boxes to go through with extra parts and who knows what else. It does have a full top but no doors. It has little wind deflectors that fit with pins on the sides of the windshield posts. The steering wheel is a Motolita and is not the quick removal type. I don’t know if the wheel is closer to the dash than most 7s but it really is close. At almost 6’ tall when I’m in the car my left knee is actually on the steering wheel. If I can move the wheel closer to me I think the clearance would be fine. People talking about the toe box weren’t kidding. With my work boots on I couldn’t tell what I was doing. It’s going to be stocking feet or racing shoes for sure. The engine had me asking all kinds of questions previous to getting the car. It is definitely a 1.6 BDR. It does not have a dry sump system. The engine block is cast iron. Some folks said it may be aluminum but it is cast iron. It has two 40 DCOE carbs on it. The transmission is a 5-speed unit. Currently I can’t move the shifter out of neutral. I guess it’s better to be stuck in neutral than in gear. I have attached a number of pictures for you to see. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Stambaugh Posted October 23, 2023 Author Share Posted October 23, 2023 Keep in mind, the car is just as picked up. No cleaning or prep has been done what so ever. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 That is a particularly spectacular find. Lots of work to clean up and fettle it to make it work reliably but there are not many Caterham BDRs stateside. Will be looking forward to seeing you progress this car to its working end state. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Stambaugh Posted October 23, 2023 Author Share Posted October 23, 2023 This is the first car I have been totally obsessed with since I was a kid. A good friend of mine went with me to pick up the car today. He does a lot of autocross with a Honda S2000. He too is now obsessed with this car. It’s great to have someone like him around because when you say Caterham to most folks they get a puzzled look on their face and ask you what you are talking about. This is going to be a real adventure, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoz3 Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panamericano Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Congratulations. That will be well worth the work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Very cool project! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MV8 Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Nice! Amazing unrestored condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1Steve Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Congratulations, you now have a Seven in one of the best specs ever made… 🍻 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IamScotticus Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 Lucky. Previous owner already did the scuttle rivet to rivnuts swap. Makes for easy removal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Stambaugh Posted October 24, 2023 Author Share Posted October 24, 2023 I have figured out I have a problem when I’m in the car. The steering wheel is in the way of my left leg near my knee. I can turn a spacer on my lathe and drill the bolt hole circle and just set it out an 1” or so or maybe there is a quick change hub that would also bring the wheel back toward me. Anyone have any recommendations? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 4 hours ago, Wayne Stambaugh said: I have figured out I have a problem when I’m in the car. The steering wheel is in the way of my left leg near my knee. I can turn a spacer on my lathe and drill the bolt hole circle and just set it out an 1” or so or maybe there is a quick change hub that would also bring the wheel back toward me. Anyone have any recommendations? First check the clamp on the steering column forward of the firewall to see if there's any adjustment left there. You might be able to get a little more clearance to move the steering wheel further from the dash. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Stambaugh Posted October 24, 2023 Author Share Posted October 24, 2023 Doesn’t look like there is any more there but I may not be understanding the adjustment. I’ll loosen it up tonight and see if I can get a little more but I’m thinking I need at least an inch more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnifeySpoony Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 bigger project, but you probably want lowered floor 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Stambaugh Posted October 24, 2023 Author Share Posted October 24, 2023 Lower the floor? It's almost on the ground now. How much are we talking about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesG Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 Another option would be to change the steering wheel. I put this one in my seven and have plenty of clearance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 22 minutes ago, CharlesG said: Another option would be to change the steering wheel. I put this one in my seven and have plenty of clearance. Very Tesla Model Plaid themed.. I like it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sltous Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 (edited) 14 hours ago, Wayne Stambaugh said: I have figured out I have a problem when I’m in the car. The steering wheel is in the way of my left leg near my knee. I can turn a spacer on my lathe and drill the bolt hole circle and just set it out an 1” or so or maybe there is a quick change hub that would also bring the wheel back toward me. Anyone have any recommendations? If you are already planning on a quick release column and you are looking to bring the wheel towards you the Meteor Motorsports sourced Bell Rapfix quick release https://meteormotorsport.com/shop/caterham/steering-wheels/rapfix-racing-caterham-quick-release-and-top-shaft/ added about an inch of additional column/quick release length compared to the standard Caterham quick release upper column I replaced due to excessive wear. I am not sure how that compares to the fixed upper steering column. Cost is somewhat high compared to fabricating a one inch spacer on the lathe. Edited October 24, 2023 by sltous 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MV8 Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 1 hour ago, Wayne Stambaugh said: Lower the floor? It's almost on the ground now. How much are we talking about? As much as you want but if you have speed bumps and railroad tracks to traverse, maybe not. You could make a new wheel that is smaller in od by a couple inches that bolts on to the existing hub. Fabbed steel with a wire hoop covered in rubber and leather or milled plate with epoxied wood rim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnifeySpoony Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 A lowered floor does not really reduce the ground clearance. It will give you a lot more room in the cockpit and under the wheel though. It's a popular factory option nowadays. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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