So, tell us a little about yourselves

[Croc]

4 hours ago, JimSVO said:

I met the GBP guys at Sonoma and got to try on a Zero. These are well engineered cars. I ordered a GT with slightly more room.

 

 

Did you get to take it for a drive?  Impressions of quality?  How big is the GT over the standard chassis?  Interested in hearing more. 

 

What drive train are you thinking of for your car on order you are planning to build?

 

 

[JimSVO]

I wish I had been able to take one for a test drive but their display cars were pretty boxed in to the paddok, so no. It was good to be able to sit in both the standard and GT chassis, though, and get a real feel for the ergonomics. I definitely prefer the bigger toe box in the GT so I was able to make an informed choice.  Also great to meet Richard and Paul and a couple of the owners that were also there.

My powertrain choice really is the reason for my project in the first place.  I owned a 1984 Ford Mustang SVO and I would still own it except it was totaled in an accident, I got T-boned by a teenager running a red light.  I kept the engine and transmission with the hope of some day being able to build a new car around them.  That day is almost here! 

[Reiver]

New to the 7 ...but have owned a Lotus Elise and numerous other sports cars...daily driver is a '23 Corvette.

 

Just purchased a '99 Caterham series 3 w/ a nice Vauxhall 2L /webers and 18,500 original miles...all of the cylinders reg 210 on comp test.

 

Retired Army CSM...10 years Inf/23 years SF.  I'm soon to be 74 so relatively young. Yes, I can get in it...and out too!  Always thought I'd enjoy this model and will be asking questions etc. from the experienced here.

[GLBaxter]

Congrats on getting the 99 Caterham!  I've bought a 1997 Westfield about 6 months ago w/ a 1.7L Ford Xflow and two Weber 40 DCOEs.  Just finished the rebuild on the carbs and doing the final tuning on the carbs now, but with temps in the 30's, where I am, not able to spend nearly enough time in the garage.  I too am 73 and can get in and out the Westfield w/ relative ease. Great fun!  You should post a picture (or N) of your car.  Been working steadily on it for the last 6 months.  Your 210 on the compression test measures appx 14.5 to 1 compression ratio.  Must be one hell of an engine!

[Reiver]

The guy I am getting this from put SBD cams in the lump with the 45 DCOE's and the SBD belt system with  ARP studs thruout....he sent the pics of the compression tests but they could be off some....hard to tell.  Like this except for no dry sump pump.  Est. 190/195 hp.

[Croc]

14 hours ago, Reiver said:

Just purchased a '99 Caterham series 3 w/ a nice Vauxhall 2L /webers and 18,500 original miles...all of the cylinders reg 210 on comp test.

 

 

Congratulations on your (new to you) Caterham purchase.  Glad you could achieve a car wish list milestone.

 

 

[MV8]

10 hours ago, Reiver said:

The guy I am getting this from put SBD cams in the lump with the 45 DCOE's and the SBD belt system with  ARP studs thruout....he sent the pics of the compression tests but they could be off some....hard to tell.  Like this except for no dry sump pump.  Est. 190/195 hp.

If you want to run typical E10 pump gas, I hope he bent the "rules" a bit with the testing (temporary truck high cca battery, very hot motor, oiled cyl) and/or the weather and altitude was favorable. I've never tested an engine where every cyl was the same psi. Not really important at this point but just discussing.

 

If it is really that high and you want to do some touring, you can adjust the cam timing for more overlap or slip in a standard thickness head gasket.

[Reiver]

Honestly, I suspect a not so solid check...either hot (as he had to drive it over)...as far as I know the pistons/head are original so it should be the 10/1 ...I just didn't want to see low numbers....he has miles on it with no issues using pump gas.  BTW, I have some history with the seller and trust him implicitly....

 

I read yesterday in 'The Magnificent 7' Chris Ree's that it is recommended to use a tank of leaded every 5 fill ups for the carb running 2L VXhall.... so am assuming more fuel wash of the valve train .... anyone doing a little Redline lead additive in this lump periodically? 

Edited December 14, 2024 by Reiver

[Reiver]

Another question on the seating...car not arrived yet and I can get either the individual movable seats or the bench.

I am 5'9" 180 lbs.  Can I use the bench seat as is or will I need to 'choke up' a bit to heel/toe.  I know the pedals are adjustable outward but that can make H/T more of an effort.   Yes, I am going to put head pads on the bars.

Edited December 14, 2024 by Reiver

[pethier]

4 hours ago, Reiver said:

Another question on the seating...car not arrived yet and I can get either the individual movable seats or the bench.

I am 5'9" 180 lbs.  Can I use the bench seat as is or will I need to 'choke up' a bit to heel/toe.  I know the pedals are adjustable outward but that can make H/T more of an effort.   Yes, I am going to put head pads on the bars.

It's not how tall you are, it's how long your legs are.  I can tell you a fairly-boring story about how some BMW promotional people ignored me pointing this out and caused a ridiculous situation in their ridiculous competition.

 

I am 5'8".  I have Caterham black-leather bucket seats in my car.  I drive with the seat well-forward on its tracks.  I do sit a bit tall in the saddle.  OK, I have shorter legs than people expect.

 

I knew a guy named Duane Johnson (actually I knew several guys named Duane Johnson, including a guy who changed his name to Duane Warren because there were just too-damned-many Duane Johnsons about) who was way shorter than I but had longer legs.  Duane built us a single-seater out of my old SAAB parts.  When he put the seat in to suit him, I could not reach the pedals and the roll bar was too short.  We solved that by making the seat re-positionable so I was in the "Lotus position" and he sat upright.

 

I suggest you get the bucket seats with seat tracks unless perhaps you always drove your Elise with the seat all the way back.

 

BTW, I just turned 75.

[IamScotticus]

30 minutes ago, pethier said:

BTW, I just turned 75

Happy B day 

[pethier]

Just now, IamScotticus said:

Happy B day 

thanks.

[theDreamer]

Congratulations on the Green with Yellow nose C20xe. We are very happy with the 1993 HPC that we bought earlier this year. It had about the same mileage but I don’t think anywhere near the level of care in its later years. We will fix things as they come up.

As for your seating I agree with the others, go for the adjustable buckets. I’m only 5’4” so I have the seat moved up so I can reach the pedals. I don’t like that this puts the steering wheel so close to my chest. I’m used to a 60’s style arms straight out driving style. I think I can move the pedals back towards the seat which will allow me to move back. However, I like my position to the shifter for 3^rd and 5^th gears. So I’ve left things for now. We’ve only driven 2668 miles so far so I’m still learning.

Oh, I’m close behind you as I’ll be 71 next month.

 

Edited December 14, 2024 by theDreamer

[IamScotticus]

6 hours ago, Reiver said:

anyone doing a little Redline lead additive in this lump periodically? 

Negative.  All the engines are unleaded, even the Cat built X-Flows, at least since the late 80s.

[IamScotticus]

6 hours ago, Reiver said:

I know the pedals are adjustable outward

My Crossflow chassis (your DeDion may differ) is 1/2 front-back adjustable.  This isn't much.  My 30" inseam needed adjustable seats to reach. 

But I don't like having enough room behind my seat for luggage either.  I'm looking to move my pedals back and build squabs to suit.  Why squabs?  I'm a purist snob now. Some buckets are too thick and I sit too high. IMNSHO, the 7 looks better in squabs.

Have the squabs just to have.  The 7 looks right with them.

There were some folks here selling buckets recently.

 

What's a 99 DeDion VX doing with squabs anyway?  Perhaps the PO was too tall for buckets?

Edited December 14, 2024 by IamScotticus

[Reiver]

2 hours ago, IamScotticus said:

Happy B day 

Congrats...I'm catching up

[Reiver]

1 hour ago, IamScotticus said:

My Crossflow chassis (your DeDion may differ) is 1/2 front-back adjustable.  This isn't much.  My 30" inseam needed adjustable seats to reach. 

But I don't like having enough room behind my seat for luggage either.  I'm looking to move my pedals back and build squabs to suit.  Why squabs?  I'm a purist snob now. Some buckets are too thick and I sit too high. IMNSHO, the 7 looks better in squabs.

Have the squabs just to have.  The 7 looks right with them.

There were some folks here selling buckets recently.

 

What's a 99 DeDion VX doing with squabs anyway?  Perhaps the PO was too tall for buckets?

He has both the bench and the adjustable seats so I suspect, as he is taller, he like the bench 

[Reiver]

4 hours ago, IamScotticus said:

Negative.  All the engines are unleaded, even the Cat built X-Flows, at least since the late 80s.

Thanks, the author knows that too as he outlines all of the different models.... but he made a specific comment that the Vauxhall 2L 20XE 'should' have one tank of leaded every 4 tanks of normal unleaded 'if' using carbs...the twin DCOE's. 

I am guessing he is saying the top end, valve train, requires a bit more lube (lead) due to the heavier fuel washing effect of the carbs compared to the other fuel injected mode.  Just a guess here.

Edited December 15, 2024 by Reiver

[Reiver]

3 hours ago, IamScotticus said:

My Crossflow chassis (your DeDion may differ) is 1/2 front-back adjustable.  This isn't much.  My 30" inseam needed adjustable seats to reach. 

But I don't like having enough room behind my seat for luggage either.  I'm looking to move my pedals back and build squabs to suit.  Why squabs?  I'm a purist snob now. Some buckets are too thick and I sit too high. IMNSHO, the 7 looks better in squabs.

Have the squabs just to have.  The 7 looks right with them.

There were some folks here selling buckets recently.

 

What's a 99 DeDion VX doing with squabs anyway?  Perhaps the PO was too tall for buckets?

 

 

Why the bench/squabs.... I suspect like you he wanted that look as he has the original adjustable seats too...he asked what I wanted so I will get both.  I like the bench too, but my inseam is 31" so it would need fettling.  Thanks for the specific measurement....

Edited December 15, 2024 by Reiver

[Reiver]

BTW, talked to Steve, seller and a very nice gent, and he will put the adj. seats in place and box/ship the squab seat so I'll have both.  Also, he is running 92 Octane pump gas, without issues, so obviously the ratio is probably normal.  Given the holidays probably get the car soon after Christmas...and Merry Christmas to ya'll and thanks for your help.