Fender/wing change out

[DB6]

Has any one changed just one or 2 fenders/wings on a Caterham 7 ( I have stock front clams and stock rears with the color (Post Office Red) in the gel coat and look pretty good, They are readily available, just wondererd about the accuracy of the color, mine have no fade at all, just some rear damage from someone backing in to a pole (not me), and it looks like some one sat on the front clam as there are cracks all around the 2 mountning brackets.

By the way, I see some owners have switched from clams to cycles and just blanked off the old holes with stainless bolts and washers, any one on here done it? What are the pros and cons of clam versus

cycle ? Is it true the clam shell was banned in Germany somew years ago? are the stories abouy wing lift and light steering true with the clams?I have yet to get over 8o mph in mine (kinda like being in a big clothes dryer on tumble dry).

Cheers.

 

[Al N.]

I know that Graeme G. did the conversion on his white Cat...pretty sure he's got brooklands and carbon front cycles....it looked very sweet.

 

You could see the mounting holes, but I think Graeme did put fasteners of some kind in them, and it looked fine IMHO. He's not on here alot, but you might send an email to the usa@se7ens.net listserv (which you should join, if you haven't already...this forum has taken alot of the volume away from that resource, but it's still a good source of info/connections)

 

-A

[sparecr]

I have fiberglass in 2 colors and swap it from time to time not really that hard. (I could use a yellow nose if anyine is listening). Of course this is clamshell to clamshell, going to cycle wings shouldn't be to bad.

 

For the other part of your question, matching fiberglass to fiberglass would be difficult. The gel coats still are a mixed product and red is the hardest color to match anywhere. you might be best repairing and repainting what you have.

[slngsht]

Sevens in general, and clams in particular have lift problems at high speed.

[southwind25]

Yes Virginia..there IS lift problems with the clamshells..

 

best example is a local freind/racer craig chima

 

look up pictures of craig chima's F production lotus 7 racecar..he had to run the clamshells to be legal with the car..but has them riding ON the tire., and has them angled to spill out all the air he possibly could.

 

yeah on a normal height above the tire they catch a whole bunch of air..

 

i like my cycle fenders. though they are not the anti lift ones..and it seems as if it's easier to work on the car, since you dont have to lean over them.

[Kitcat]

No lift issues with my clams up to the 110mph top speed on my stock Caterham. Many track days too, and no lift issues there either.