So, tell us a little about yourselves

[Croc]

Welcome to USA7s!  

 

2 hours ago, BTR said:

.... I was reminded that the last 7 I test drove was a 1987 Caterham 1700 Supersport (?) with a Cosworth BDR 1700, de Dion rear end and 5 speed. What a car! 

 

 

I so agree - what a car!  Don't you wish you had bought it?  If I could only turn back the clock to buy some dream cars I let go....

 

[BTR]

4 minutes ago, Croc said:

Welcome to USA7s!  

 

 

I so agree - what a car!  Don't you wish you had bought it?  If I could only turn back the clock to buy some dream cars I let go....

 

 

[BTR]

Just now, BTR said:

Yes, hindsight can be tough, but good times ahead in the build process; gathering desired bits, the actual assembly and installation; and THEN getting behind the wheel. 

 

[panamericano]

Welcome.  I'm sure folks here are going to enjoy photos of your car's progress.

[MV8]

For the rear skin, measure what gauge you have with a dial caliper. I'd probably go with 3003-H14 in .050" from aircraft spruce, wicks, or whomever is operating nearby to save crazy shipping for a 4x8 sheet. Probably costs about $150 carryout. Get the N rivets while you are there.

[BTR]

Thanks MV8, that’s just what I needed to know. I’ll add it to the list. Just found that an acquaintance has some Cortina gauges that I think will meet some needs. Being old and sentimental, I enjoy looking at gauges that remind me of past vehicles, from my Super Seven, Minis, Austin A40 Farina, Lenham GT Midget, etc., and I’ve already got a Smiths speedo identical to the one I had in an XK140MC drophead, so lots of good memories. Thanks for the specific help. 

[Christopher smith]

The 3003 H14 is what I used also. Hint: If you need to "form" it, like over the round rear tubes on my series 1, the trick is to take an oxy-acetylene torch, but run acetylene only and deposit black soot in the area to be formed. Then turn on the oxygen as well for a normal flame and very gently bring up the heat all over the area, just enough to burn off the soot but no more. That gives you the correct temperature to slightly soften H14 alloy so you can form it after it cools.

[BTR]

You could have heard me asking myself the questions you just precisely answered—a huge help. Thank you so much. I’ve added it to my instruction list. Greatly appreciated! 

[jmardy]

Hi all,
I've just joined because I've been interested in Caterhams/7's for a long time. Recently I went to visit Rich at Kampena Motors in Sonoma. He was nice enough (or evil enough?) to let me drive his 420 Superlight. I was instantly hooked. I'm in the process of selling my 1973 Pantera and have put a deposit down on a (very far away) Lotus Emira. I'm looking for something to fill the void and the Caterham does it for me. But so does an Elise so I have some thinking to do. First world problems, as the kids say...

[BTR]

Congratulations on having nice problems to solve! 
I vote for the Caterham. They are so visceral, so immediate, and unwaveringly pleasing. The fifteen years I had a series 2 Super 7, it never faded in its joy.

Best wishes on your next acquisition, whatever it may be. 

[Silber]

I guess I should introduce myself. I am a long-time Seven fan, and have had one on my list of "Dream Cars" ever since I was a kid. It's always kind of awkward when someone asks me "What's your favorite/dream car?" and I always have to reply by asking them if they've even heard of a Seven, and then try to explain what it is after that...

 

I have been an avid autocrosser for many years, having a '96 Miata that progressively turned more and more into a racecar. In the end I had a car that was still registered and insured for street use (barely) that weighed about 1950 lbs but only had the stock 108 whp. That car was a riot and so much fun to drive, but I was always yearning for a better power-to-weight ratio, and had plans to supercharge the car, but sadly it was wrecked and parted out.

 

Since then I tried to cure the driving itch with a supercharged BRZ, but that never fully did it for me. So, after a lot of pondering, spreadsheets, google searches, and introspection, I decided recently that a Seven is likely the car I need to have. I say likely because I have never driven one or even ridden in one, so there is still a miniscule chance I may not like how they drive, but regardless, my journey has started to try an obtain a dream car!

 

Regarding my new-found journey, if anyone in the greater Salt Lake City or surrounding areas has a Seven and would be willing to entertain a fanboy to come look at it, please reach out to me. And if anyone at all has any suggestions on resources and must-do's regarding buying, owning, or racing Sevens, I would be happy to hear any input.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

-Gregory

[BTR]

Buy a seven, and I don’t believe you’ll be disappointed. I had a Lotus 7 series 2 for  15+ years and the thrills never ceased. Performance-wise for context, I had a heavily modified street legal ‘02 Mini: 235 whp, all fully adjustable suspension, etc. which was a really great car, but nothing like the Seven for what your Likes and priorities seem to be. I’m gathering parts for a Seven kit project now. 
Best Wishes for fun ahead! 
Rick

[Selo]

New SV owner here..... Almost!

While I signed on the dotted line a couple years ago, my red on black 360S is now on a ship to LA due in port 8/21, after which it will need to make its way to my home in New Mexico.

I am a car fanatic, having owned a fair amount of cars over the years including BMWs, Porsches, a Cobra Replica, GT500, etc.  I've also done a fair amount of HPDE work, the last one in a Mini Countryman which was a blast, and it's led me on a quest for "lighter is better,"  which has landed me with a new Caterham.

I gave up my medical practice last summer, so once the car gets here I plan to approach the build as my daytime job until it's completed. I'm really looking forward to the building process almost as much as owning and driving it. 

[Austin David]

24 minutes ago, Selo said:

New SV owner here..... Almost!

While I signed on the dotted line a couple years ago, my red on black 360S is now on a ship to LA due in port 8/21, after which it will need to make its way to my home in New Mexico.

Congrats on your 360S!  I had a little weirdness in my setup and build, but was able to mostly puzzle it out from the 2015 guide and a few build logs.  I think I posted all the hard-to-figure out stuff, but if you get stuck please holler!  And, of course, be sure to share your pics

[Selo]

Amazing offer, thanks very much.  Considering the fact that I've spent my adult life handling surgical instruments instead of manly tools, I have no doubt that I'm going to be flummoxed more often than not! 

[Alex-Ks1]

Hi, I'm new here , just about finished with my 7 , did all the work my self , started in late March of this year , so my back ground is 

European auto classic restoration , did hundreds of classics in my business but never did a car for my self , so I did .

Bought the book low-cost , then modified it for my use , but kept the frame to book size 

  I put a 3.4 GM V 6 , in it after  I rebuilt it and and a T5 ,5 speed trans and a 3.08 S10 rear end . It's carbureted , no fuel injection .

I did all my own work on rebuilding all the components , made my own seats , made the instrument cowling useing GPS speedometer 

Plus taco and the other 4 gauges , I used brookland wind screen instead of the full frame windscreen . It has a 18 gal gas tank I made .

    What I didn't like was the front steering and suspension , I used a new Mustang 2 front system , and steering much stronger and more rigid .   

[MV8]

That's a great power train. M2 is a popular IFS.

Looks like a TBI intake in the pic but it is hard to tell. It Also looks like you kept the bumpsteer in check and added some ackerman too.

There are several locost books now. I assume you are referring to Champion's book.

[Alex-Ks1]

It is a TBI both Edelbrock and Offenhouser stoped making the four brl manifold , becides the holly 390 CFM is way to expensive.

Im the process of making my own low profile manifold .it's really not that hard , jus time and patience. So for now I have a Ford autolite two brl Carbonite with an adapter I made to fit , again not that hard ,just time and patience , An interesting thing is I was about to make the front fenders I went to a place called TRACTOR SUPPLY. They had fenders of all sizes for farm equipment and trailers ,I bought on , set on a wheel and laughed, it fit perfect so I cut it in half to make two , what a time saver that was 

I haven't had it on the road yet but it runs so sweet , loud as a dragster it has no mufflers just straight pipes .But who cares , it's a racecar 

     

     By the way ,,,,,,, racecar spelled backwards is RACECAR 

[MV8]

If you want to start with a lower intake that is a little bit lower than the tbi for a lower bonnet:

 

I made an alternator bracket to hug the engine using the newer cs alternator.

 

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by MV8

[Alex-Ks1]

That's all well and good but you can't buy any of these manifolds ,I made a three bolt to four bolt adapter for the Ford autolite carb for the TBI manifold .

This two brl carb has the same CFM as the holly 390 . I have looked all over the the Eddy or Offy manifolds, none are for sale and no new ones anymore , I have seen these photos on the web on alot of 2.8 V6 forums ,

   Yes the carb sticks out of the hood , yes I had to cut a hole in the hood ,Yes I'm making a scoop for it and I do all my own painting and body work , in fact  I did everything in my shop  

   The frame is much stronger than the book frame I put gussets at every joint ,I wasn't concerned about how light it could be , but how strong it can be where it shows no gussets is because I didn't put them in yet