EdWills Posted October 7 Posted October 7 Does anyone on this forum have a Caterham fitted with a Cosworth BDR engine? If so, I have a full set of spec. sheets from 1987 sent to me by Cosworth, that are available free - if you don't mind paying postage (at the lowest rate available from Canada)? Unfortunately, there is a postal strike going on here, but I just thought that I would put the offer out to see if there are any BDR engined cars in North America prior to the strike being settled. You can buzz me a message if you are interested. W.
wdb Posted October 7 Posted October 7 That's an interesting set of data. Do you have a scanner? It could be digitized and added to the information kept on this site.
EdWills Posted October 7 Author Posted October 7 Hello @wdb. Unfortunately my HP printer/scanner has not kept up with my iMac updates - even with the assistance of HP technical help line, and so I am looking at purchasing a new one. I have received a request from a BDR owner, and the 18 pages of assembly data will be sent to him. If he wishes, perhaps he can add them to this site? Cheers. W.
Vovchandr Posted October 7 Posted October 7 29 minutes ago, EdWills said: Hello @wdb. Unfortunately my HP printer/scanner has not kept up with my iMac updates - even with the assistance of HP technical help line, and so I am looking at purchasing a new one. I have received a request from a BDR owner, and the 18 pages of assembly data will be sent to him. If he wishes, perhaps he can add them to this site? Cheers. W. If you have a phone made in the last 10 years you can easily take pictures of the 18 pages if you're willing to put in the effort and those can easily be converted into PDF/Scan files. If you're willing to put a tiny bit more effort there are many apps that act as a scanner too.
CBuff Posted October 8 Posted October 8 I’ve used turbo scan app for many years. Super easy and free https://apps.apple.com/us/app/turboscan-document-scanner/id1017559099 1
EdWills Posted October 8 Author Posted October 8 (edited) 17 hours ago, Vovchandr said: If you have a phone made in the last 10 years you can easily take pictures of the 18 pages if you're willing to put in the effort and those can easily be converted into PDF/Scan files. If you're willing to put a tiny bit more effort there are many apps that act as a scanner too. If I'm going to scan 18 pages, I may as well have them added to my website along with the information from Holbay with all of the original parts they offered. I have found a way into my HP printer via a 'back door'. It's slow, but it seems to work so far. The pages are U.K. sized paper, which is longer than North American standard, but just fits on my printer platten. I didn't realize that there was interest in the BDR. According to a Caterham book, there were not that many produced, but some must have made it 'over the pond' to North America. I also do not know if any/many of the parts listed are available anymore? Same with Holbay.? Will advise, and you can then download whatever info. is of use to you. W Edited October 8 by EdWills 2
EdWills Posted October 9 Author Posted October 9 Just an update. As the BDR is not applicable to a Lotus constructed car, I have finally been able to successfully scan all 18 pages and sent a note to @Croc and @JohnCh for their approval to add the pages to the forum library (the first attempt at scanning probably ended up in the ozone, as I still cannot find them on my computer.!). I will still add the Holbay parts list to my website as time allows. Chris Rees in 'Caterham Sevens' advised that "480 BDR engines have been built to date, and only two remained unfitted to cars at the time of writing (note: my copy published 1996); 331 were 1700s, the remaining 149 being 1600s. Some 400 Cosworths went to Japan" (page 77 in your hymn book). The 1987 Cosworth parts list that I have only mentions the 1600 cc version (1601 cc actual) but in 120, 150, 160 and 170 BHP tune. Rees mentioned weeping cylinder head gaskets, comparatively temperamental running, and carburettor flat-spots (plus being a very expensive engine). As far as effort goes, I've curtailed the riveting on my chassis, and packed up all the tools for the fall and winter. Snow expected this weekend (0 deg. C) + no heated garage! Oh well. W 1
Carz01 Posted October 9 Posted October 9 (edited) I can’t wait to see the documentation you have, and I’m certainly willing to be a caretaker of the originals since my car is a 1600 BDR. Sorry to hear winter has appeared early. Edited October 9 by Carz01 1
MV8 Posted October 9 Posted October 9 Also fwiw, I have ford service manuals for the Sierra and Escort RS 4x4 cosworth turbo cars if anybody needs something specific not covered by the BDR docs. I also have a book by Des Hammill covering cosworth and other ford DOHC and a very early instruction pamplet by David Vizard on ford twin cam tuning. 1
IamScotticus Posted October 10 Posted October 10 (edited) I've lost the URL, but there is someone who is casting the top side BDR components. Like the Twin Cam, if you must have a BDR, you can still build one. Edited October 10 by IamScotticus 1
IamScotticus Posted October 12 Posted October 12 On 10/10/2025 at 8:53 AM, anduril3019 said: http://www.blueskyracing.com/index.htm In California!
EdWills Posted October 12 Author Posted October 12 17 hours ago, IamScotticus said: In California! Hi Scott. The son of a friend of ours here in Canada worked for Cosworth in California when the company had a facility there. His mother went through a lot of challenges to get him a green card (had to hire an immigration lawyer), as merely using 'auto mechanic' or 'auto technician' didn't separate him from all of the other men and women in the same occupation. He had originally been hired by Toyota to build racing engines, and finally moved to Indianapolis where he opened his own machine shop building engines for the truck racing category. He suffered a fatal heart attack and his business folded. He provided me with a lot of engine build tips, which I still have in my collection, although I would prefer to leave engine building to the professionals as twice is enough for me (Honda 250cc m/c engine, and Triumph Herald!). W
IamScotticus Posted October 13 Posted October 13 I hope to build a Crossflow and a VW 1600. If I could build them for $5k, I'll have a nice side hustle. Problem is shipping costs of getting heavy parts and lots of smaller parts together in one place. Where I live, these parts are scarce. I would be better off on East or West coast.
EdWills Posted October 13 Author Posted October 13 (edited) The spec. pages for both the Cosworth BDR engine, and the many parts that Holbay Engineering sold for their engines is now listed under 'Technical' on the website: https://anglocanadianlotus7.ca I am advised that it is in both jpeg and pdf format for free download if it is of interest. JohnCh has been advised, and it may end up in the library. The Cosworth sheets are spoken for and will be on their way to a BDR 7 owner. W. Edited October 13 by EdWills
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