'Tis the (upgrade) season! What are you doing?

[JohnCh]

Now that we are entering upgrade and maintenance season, what do people have planned?  There is nothing significant happening in my garage.  I hope to finish up a few things from my Caterham build that require scuttle removal: diagnosing heated seats that never worked, modifying and reprinting the back of the AiM mount so I can affix the remote button loom, finally wiring up the short-cut button for the trip odometer reset, and installing the windscreen quick change retaining channels.  

For the Westfield, it's just general maintenance and deciding what to do with the car.  It's not logical to keep it, but there is a strong emotional attachment, and I hate to see it go.  
    
So that's my short list for the se7ens.  What's yours?

 

-John

[KnifeySpoony]

Race rear brake upgrade. Finally ditching the garbage Sierra calipers.

Edited December 11, 2024 by KnifeySpoony

[S1Steve]

New tires and replaced the battery a few weeks ago.. Done …

Edited December 11, 2024 by S1Steve

[wdb]

A laundry list!

 

First things first, I need to get the Elan back on the ground; that has turned into a bit more of a project than anticipated. Fresh suspension is the objective there, something a tad or two above 1967 original, something that takes advantage of materials and technology improvements since 1967, something utterly roadworthy and still true to the ethos of the original. I want it to still lean in corners. I never drove an Elan in period and I want to feel as though I'm getting that experience. I'll probably stop there, for now.

 

The Caterham needs some fiddling with the dry sump, and it cries out for tires. I may stop there. I may not...

 

The 996 targa cries out also, for a fresh windshield surround. Which means taking out the windshield, so a new windshield too. I may stop there...

Edited December 11, 2024 by wdb

[Rodnok]

Decided I couldn't wait any longer for the completion of my S2 and in October picked up the 08 Birkin GullyGully had listed here. I'm just getting to know the car but am quite impressed thus far. The Birkin had been very well maintained with nice attention to detail in the build. I was able to move the throttle pedal about 1/2 inch to the right, vastly improving my ability to contact only one pedal at a time. As I'm in Arizona I'm still able to drive the car on most days and I do. I'll be going over all of the routine maintenance items starting in January and we'll see what surprises are lurking beneath the skin. I'm not sure if I really need two Sevens in my garage but the Birkin is well set up for track days and a stock 1965 Lotus Seven might well be a hazard on a racetrack. 

[CarlB]

New engine. I needed a rebuild. Quicksilver is doing some head work with bigger valves, and I am going there tomorrow to select new cams.

 

[11Budlite]

My goals for this offseason:

Lighter 13" wheels with new tires. 

Race wing stays.

Adjustable suspension, stiffer springs, wide track.

Tillet drivers seat. I hate having to use my nice leather seats for wet track days.

 

Possibilitys:

Half doors

Decat pipe

 

Future:

Duratec???

[Outbound]

I have a laundry list of things to do for my Superlight R

 

- new Emerald ECU to improve that 1.8 VHPD engine from Dave Andrews

- pulleys associated with it.

- jack webb road tuned Nitrons

- the various bits and bobs to get the bumpsteer and alignment under control.

- new gauges and switching to a gps speedo.

- machine some nice pedals after some reverse engineering. Have a new Haas VF2SS being installed at my warehouse, and intend to do a few fun projects.

- replace the radiator that seems to have a small leak.

- whatever else to get it ready for a few track days next year, and just to be able to idle in traffic fine.

[Grady]

Planned right now is, finish welding up exhaust. After that installing a Digital Guard Dawg PBS1 for keyless and pushbutton start. looking int a CF dash and replacing the instrumentation with a ECUMaster ADU5. 

[Croc]

On 12/11/2024 at 9:26 AM, KnifeySpoony said:

Race rear brake upgrade. Finally ditching the garbage Sierra calipers.

 

After all these years of multiple Caterhams on track and I have never had a problem.  I have read your issues with them over the long term and it really makes me wonder if you just had a bad set? 

 

Does the race set force you to ditch the handbrake?  The race rears used to do so. 

[Croc]

On 12/11/2024 at 10:32 AM, S1Steve said:

New tires and replaced the battery a few weeks ago.. Done …

 

 

Nice choice of P-Zeros.  I just changed to those for my 13 inch wheels.  Lovely grippy things - lots of stones thrown back in the face.

[Croc]

On 12/11/2024 at 1:30 PM, Rodnok said:

..... a stock 1965 Lotus Seven might well be a hazard on a racetrack. 

 

Not at all.  I used to race one and they were still quick even with the original puny power engine outputs.  Its a different drive to the Birkin - less mechanical grip and more slip angles (= fun).  Even so, as a one off experiment, I think you will find it a very interesting driving experience. 

[Croc]

On 12/12/2024 at 7:03 AM, 11Budlite said:

Adjustable suspension, stiffer springs, wide track.

 

 

 

Total fan of the wide track set up on a Caterham.  Which Caterham spring set would you go for?  Track option?  Or would you go custom?

 

 

[fastg]

Nothing major this year. New tires the Toyo's are 4 years old, probably Hoosier's A7's. Tidy up the dash area and get myself some more knee space. Most importantly find a new dyno shop, the EPA shut down my last place, I have a lead on a shop in Gatherberg.

 

See if I can get a lower profile sump to improve ground clearance.

 

Graham

Edited December 14, 2024 by fastg

[11Budlite]

2 hours ago, Croc said:

 

 

Total fan of the wide track set up on a Caterham.  Which Caterham spring set would you go for?  Track option?  Or would you go custom?

 

 

I ended up going with the Core 1-way with their recommended valving and spring rates, and the smallest front sway bar for the wide track kit.

[slowdude]

On 12/12/2024 at 10:58 PM, Outbound said:

I have a laundry list of things to do for my Superlight R

 

- new Emerald ECU to improve that 1.8 VHPD engine from Dave Andrews

- pulleys associated with it.

- jack webb road tuned Nitrons

- the various bits and bobs to get the bumpsteer and alignment under control.

- new gauges and switching to a gps speedo.

- machine some nice pedals after some reverse engineering. Have a new Haas VF2SS being installed at my warehouse, and intend to do a few fun projects.

- replace the radiator that seems to have a small leak.

- whatever else to get it ready for a few track days next year, and just to be able to idle in traffic fine.

I have a list of k maps from Dave. Did he give you a base map to start tuning with?

 

Dave walker can remote in to help as well. I've been going through mine a lot lately so holler If you have questions.

 

To do list:

-finish wiring up Wideband O2

-flash emerald ecu to use obd output for AEM digital gauge

-leakdown & compression test to find out where my coolant is going (it's not in the tank and it's not in the oil)

-intake manifold gasket (I think i didn't put enough liquid gasket around the cooling holes and I'm losing coolant there)

-replace injectors (theyre 16 years old)

-hound magnecor for my leads

-dynotune

-generalized anxious rabbit holing when I cant figure out my random misfire after 25 minutes of driving.

 

[bsimon]

On 12/12/2024 at 8:58 PM, Outbound said:

Have a new Haas VF2SS being installed at my warehouse, and intend to do a few fun projects.

 

Here's a Se7en project for your new Haas.

 

PM me and I'll get you more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KnifeySpoony]

On 12/14/2024 at 4:06 AM, Croc said:

 

After all these years of multiple Caterhams on track and I have never had a problem.  I have read your issues with them over the long term and it really makes me wonder if you just had a bad set? 

 

Does the race set force you to ditch the handbrake?  The race rears used to do so. 

I think I heard that since the Sierra calipers are no longer available new/NOS, Caterham is rebuilding/remanufacturing old ones. Perhaps that has led to a decline in quality. However there are plenty of people on blatchat with very poor rear pad life, and even DPR ( I believe a popular UK 7 race tuning shop) says this on the page for the rear brake upgrade- "This upgrade provides far better rear brake pad longevity, much improved brake pedal compliance and a more robust and leak free system as found with the standard rear Caterham calipers.  If you are tired of going through so many rear standard pads and discs after only a few track days this is a ‘must have’ upgrade!"

 

Pads lasting only a few days and leak issues - yep that's my issue exactly...

Edited December 15, 2024 by KnifeySpoony

[Croc]

Remarkable really.  I am on original pads front and rear for 15 years on my CSR and have only just changed rear pads on the 420R after 30000 track miles since 2018.   

[KnifeySpoony]

Which pads in the rear? OEM pads I went through in 8 days, so I "upgraded" to Ferodo DS3000 and only was getting 5 days. And one of those sets had catastrophic failure on the 5th day (completely crumbled off of the backplate)