New to the site

[mac_daddy_snor]

Hello, I'm new to the site and until a few days ago new to the vehicle. I was looking into getting a kit of either a classic or a superlight300 and was wondering if anyone knows if uscaterham.com sells their vehicles the same as the uk site as either a kit or a rolling chassy.

[scannon]

Welcome aboard.

 

Caterham USA will sell you the kit and they will assemble it to most any level you want. If you want a complete car they will give you a part number to take to the Ford dealer to buy the engine which they will then install.

 

The engine and transmission have to come from a different retail source than the kit to comply with the laws that allow kit cars to come into the country without meeting current safety standards.

[mac_daddy_snor]

Thank you for the quick reply scannon. I have a few more questions on them if you don't mind. Reading on the us site they suggest a 2.0 ford engine and tranny for the SL300. While the classic they are saying is sold for a custom engine to be installed. Would this require making custom mounts if I use and engine outside of the 2.0 ford?

Also with the price difference between us and uk if I'm only buying the kit without the engine and tranny couldn't I purchase it from the uk and have it shipped as is, as parts.

Sorry for all the questions but thank you for looking

[mac_daddy_snor]

Also I see on your link showing you have a mazda 1.8 turbo in yours. How did you go about installing that?

[yellowss7]

Welcome to the wacky world of 7's. You asked if Cat USA do a "rolling Chassis" I'm sure the dealers on here can answer that question. But if you have any assembly skills, and room to do it, I'd recommend assembling it yourself. That's half the fun.

 

As for the engine choices, What engine are you thinking of dropping in?

 

If you are looking at a Series 3, just remember that it's a fairly tight fit in the engine bay and tranny tunnel.

Usual engines for the series 3 are the Zetec, the Crossflow, the Rover K and the Vauxhaul and now the Duratec. Although I think someone crammed in a Hartley V8 in a series 3. For any of those there are stock engine mounts, and sumps.

 

Tom

Edited November 20, 2010 by yellowss7

[mac_daddy_snor]

Thanks for the response yellow. Reading my post back I could see I worded it wierd. Im actually looking to assemble it myself, I was wondering if the prices on the us site where rolling chassies or kits, but from your post Im assuming that those are kit prices.

[mac_daddy_snor]

As far as an engine choice Im not sure yet, as all I have personal experience with is toyota and mitsu motors. Ive been trying to find a thread on this site about it

[scannon]

Also I see on your link showing you have a mazda 1.8 turbo in yours. How did you go about installing that?

 

My car is the wide body SV model so I had a little more width in the engine room to work with. AFIK my Caterham is the only one with a Miata engine. There is a Westfield kit designed to accept a Miata engine without modification. It also uses many other Miata parts. Check out Flyin' Miata's website for more info: http://www.flyinmiata.com/westfield/

 

I had to fabricate engine and transmission mounts as well as trim quite a bit of material off the transmission case. More detailed build info is at: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/636168/1992-mazda-miata-mx-5-erie-co-us?p=10

 

Almost any engine can be adapted/fitted to a Se7en. There are Ford and Chevy V8s and Chevy V6s on this forum as well as a variety of four bangers and a Wankel or two.

[Kitcat]

Not to mention the ever-popular Bike-engined se7ens: which add both power and lightness.

[jturrell]

Not to mention the ever-popular Bike-engined se7ens: which add both power and lightness.

 

. . . but reduce reliability. Having owned a bike-engined car, you should be prepared for more frequent rebuilds. If you're okay with the additional upkeep, they're a blast.

 

I would personally need a pretty good reason to stray from the duratec. It's the current engine in the R300. It's cheap. It's got lots of support for upgrades. It was designed by Mazda and is very reliable. There are many dry-sump options. Why go anywhere else?

[Mondo]

variety is the spice of life..

 

http://www.texasmotorworks7.com/Home.aspx

 

http://www.wcmultralite.com/

 

http://www.bruntonauto.com/

 

 

and many more...

[Alaskossie]

Since your original inquiry was about the Caterham variety of the Seven, i think you should not plan to consider putting any V-8 or V-6 into it.

 

Other purpose-built variants on the Seven theme have used engines other than lightweight straight 4's or motorcycle engines, but the Detroit-sourced domestic V-8 or V-6 just doesn't go into a Caterham.

 

If you are still looking at Caterham, I'd personally recommend a Ford Duratec in 2.0 or 2.3 form, with from 180 to 250 hp, which is plenty. It is a modern engine, and it is relatively light, being all aluminum. Engine mounts and a variety of transmissions are available.

[Hank]

. . . but reduce reliability. Having owned a bike-engined car, you should be prepared for more frequent rebuilds. If you're okay with the additional upkeep, they're a blast.

 

I beg to differ. The one day a month I get to drive the Megabusa it cranks up just fine and drives flawlessly. :driving::bigear:

[mac_daddy_snor]

Thank you all for the responses has anyone tried putting an mitsu 4g63 on one of these? Im looking at a automobile engine over a bike just due to familiarity but a high reving caterham does sound fun. Do the engine bays differ from the classic to the 300?

[mac_daddy_snor]

Mondo looking at your link for texas motors brings up another question is a birken a caterham or a different company? Their prices for kits seem alot cheaper then uscaterham as well

[Alaskossie]

Birken was the Caterham licensee for Caterhams built in South Africa, and I believe later started building its own Seven-type cars. I don't know what the present legal relationship, if any, is.

 

Birkin was subject to the same kind of "design infringement" and "passing off" litigation that Caterham brought against Westfield in UK a number of years ago, but unlike in UK, the court in South Africa held in favor of Birkin.

 

The complex story of Lotus, Caterham, and "Seven-like" cars is all detailed in Dennis Ortengeberger's book, Lotus Seven & the Independents.

 

Birkin owners on the list can add a lot more to this question, I am sure.

[jturrell]

I beg to differ. The one day a month I get to drive the Megabusa it cranks up just fine and drives flawlessly. :driving::bigear:

 

How many hours are on your motor? Powertec recommended refreshes every 30 hours for my Radical if racing, and something like 40-50 if I wasn't racing (I had a standard 1300cc Hayabusa). Having a bike-engined car was REALLY fun, and it was reliable with appropriate maintenance. But it wasn't low maintenance. It's all about having the correct expectations. Bike engines just don't last as long in cars.

[Mondo]

Birkin & Westfield look very similar to a Caterham... hard to tell a Cat from a Birkin even when they're sitting side by side. Caterham has the pedigree and you pay for it... but it also holds it's resale best (after the "new" to "used" initial hit).

The S2K & Stalker are a bit larger and taller, making it not so long looking (love or hate thing). S2K probably has the widest driver seat out there.

As far as high revving... the honda S2000 motor goes up to 8500rpm. Makes 240hp stock and easily another 100 with supercharger or turbo. The new Ford 4 cylinders are up there now too.

Edited November 22, 2010 by Mondo

[Hank]

How many hours are on your motor? Powertec recommended refreshes every 30 hours for my Radical if racing, and something like 40-50 if I wasn't racing (I had a standard 1300cc Hayabusa). Having a bike-engined car was REALLY fun, and it was reliable with appropriate maintenance. But it wasn't low maintenance. It's all about having the correct expectations. Bike engines just don't last as long in cars.

 

I have a couple thousand miles on the odometer after completing the build. No lapping days in that, but I did attend 4-5 autocrosses. Other than changing the oil I have not done anything. What is recommended in the refresh?