New Guy with Seven Lust

[MisterMike]

Greetings. I'm new here, but have had lust in my heart for a Seven for many, many years. This all goes back into the Ancient Times, when, as a seventeen-year-old, I managed to snag a Triumph TR6, igniting a passion for sports cars that has gone largely unabated for the better part of four decades. It reached a fever pitch back in the early 1980s, when my wife and I lived in England for three years, and I'd regularly find myself in the company of lovely Morgans and Lotus Sevens.

 

But, enough about me. I truthfully don't know if I'll be able to swing it, practically or financially, but I'd really like to build or buy a Caterham SV sometime in the next couple of years, most likely filling the spot in my garage presently occupied by my BMW motorcycle. I won't bore you with the questions that have been asked and answered a million times, except to ask if you folks could refer me to some websites/blogs where owners have detailed their build process. The thought of buying a kit and putting together my own Seven is alluring, but my mechanical experience is pretty meager. I'd like to try to get a handle on the question of whether building my own is within the realm of reason for a ham-fisted, attention span-handicapped noob like me.

 

Thanks.

[Croc]

Welcome to USA7s. These are the blogs I found useful as I went through the thought process a few years back and more recently as I was day dreaming:

 

http://home.btconnect.com/gwiddicombe/kitcar/build.shtml

http://www.biggles.net/build.html

http://howardwright.typepad.com/howards_seven/

http://my.voyager.net/~quadrant19/

I am sure there are others but these were more comprehensive than most.

 

I am not sure where you are located in the US but this may have a bearing on which direction you want to go because registration realities tend to intrude at the worst possible time.

 

Ask plenty of questions here and use the search function as there is a lot of knowledge and experience on this site to tap into.

 

Cheers

[yellowss7]

Welcome! I too started my love of sports cars with Triumph. My first car was a 68 mklll spitfire, and after that to a TR7. Even my experience with the TR7 didn't extinguish the fire.

 

I built my Caterham in 2000. I do not have any real mechanical skill what so ever. Assembling a Caterham is alot like putting together a model, minus he glue. The most difficult thing was identifying the bolts in the bag marked Miscellaneous. All told it took only 80 hours of actual assembly time. I spent more time going back and forth to Pep Boys and the hardward store than I did assembling it. (Caterham kits are notorious for not including all the necessary fasteners.)

 

 

That said, if you are cost conscious, I would strongly recommend buying a used one. The cost difference will more than make up for any upgrades you want to add. And you can always dissassemble it and rebuild it again, if you feel the need to get to know your car.

 

10 years into ownership, I'm still having a blast with it. As Nike says "Just Do IT" PS They are not getting any cheaper. :seeya:

 

Tom

[MisterMike]

 

I am not sure where you are located in the US but this may have a bearing on which direction you want to go because registration realities tend to intrude at the worst possible time.

 

Ask plenty of questions here and use the search function as there is a lot of knowledge and experience on this site to tap into.

 

Cheers

 

Thanks. I'm located in the western 'burbs of Chicago. I've only researched this on line, but it appears that Illinois, for all its screwed-up government, is a fairly good place to register home built cars. According to the U.S. Caterham website, there's a retailer in Joliet, IL, pretty close to here, though I can't find any info about them on the web. If indeed Turn 7 Motorsports exists, I'd likely work with them on this.

[jimrankin]

Research what a kit and the finishing parts will cost, and then factor in the changes you will probably want to make not long after you find you didn't like everything you already did and buying a well built and shook out used 7 will really make sense. There is also the problem of "tools", and I don't mean just wrench type hand tools either. Drill press, grinders, MIG/TIG welder, tap and die sets etc.......Even the most talented builder can only fab to the point where he needs a special tool to do it right, or even do it period.

I bought a very slightly used top end build 7, took just about anything with a bolt through it off, back to the basic frame and panels and then put it back together properly torqued, locktited, aligned etc. just so I wouldn't feel uncomfortable at 120+. Drove it and began pulling it apart again to make changes and then spent a lot of time on track/highway with it this season and still found more I'm going to change this winter.

All in all it just means you aren't really missing that much in "putting the kit together" when there will always be something else it will need or you will want.

I've built custom bikes, boats and extensively modified cars and have the luxury of having just about every tool I ever wanted (unfortunately, comes with being older) but still thought buying a really good used "7" made more sense (unfortunately that aquiring of sense comes with being older too. LOL)

[scannon]

Caterham kits are pretty much cookbook builds. Everything but the engine and transmission is furnished and not much in the way of tools is required for assembly. Someone who has done it regularly can do it in 40 hours, figure about 100 hours for the rest of us.

 

Even the engine and transmission can be sourced through Caterham USA or your local Caterham dealer. They give you a part number to take to the Ford dealer where you purchase the engine. It comes without all the parts you would have to remove and discard and the parts to replace them are included with the Caterham kit.

 

Assembling one is fun and you will bond with your car and enjoy driving it that much more.

 

That said, I agree with Tom, it is much more economical to find a slightly used one that has been de-bugged and perhaps already licensed in your state. Then you can get upgraditis and make it your own.

 

Here's a link to my build of an SV with a non-standard engine and transmission. It took much longer than 100 hours as I had to fabricate mounts, intercooler plumbing and create a new wiring harness to control the engine.

 

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/636168/1992-mazda-miata-mx-5/page-10

Edited November 24, 2010 by scannon

[breezy7]

Take a look at http://www.the caterhamproject.com to see what is involved with a Caterham build, it is the best build site i've found and then download the assembly manual from the technical section of the Caterham UK site. Those two things should give you a good idea if you can handle it. As others have said the assembly is pretty straight forward, everything fits no welding or machine work and basic handtools are used. I did have to borrow a 200lb./ft torque wrench and 41mm socket for the rear axle but that was it.

 

I live in Illinois and the registration process in 2006 was a piece of cake but looking at the Secretary of State website things might have changed. There is a requirement to have a mechanical inspection done before registration is complete. In 2006 the State allowed inspectors from the National Street Rod Association do the inspection using the State's criteria. That is who inspected my car but from what I saw today it is done by the Secretary of State's police officers and that may a bit trickier. There are 2 possible gotchas on the inspection, a DOT stamp on the windshield and steel brake lines, Caterhams have neither. The inspector who looked at my car never mentioned the brake lines and after a 30 second discussion about the windshield he approved that too. He was a car guy who was impressed with the build quality of the kit but a cop from the Secretary's office might not look at it the same way. I would contact the State about the process, I may have the number of the person I dealt with at the State if you are interested, there was only 1 person who handled these type of registration at that time.

 

As far as a dealer I dealt with Rocky Mountain Sportscars (now Caterham USA) and was very satisfied. The few bits were missing or broken were quickly replaced and I never was on hold waiting for parts. Having a dealer near you would be nice but I haven't seen any web activity from the guy in Illinois and he has been listed for a while, call Ben at Caterham USA to see if the guy is active.

 

Mike

[GBOLT]

Mike pm me, I am in the western burbs. Recently finished a superstalker. I be around most of the weekend.

[MisterMike]

Thanks, all. Gbolt, thanks for the invitation. I'm out of town for the next two weeks or so, but I'll try to get access to a computer sometime (responding from my iPhone).

[Jim Gunther]

Greetings. I'm new here

 

 

The thought of buying a kit and putting together my own Seven is alluring, but my mechanical experience is pretty meager. I'd like to try to get a handle on the question of whether building my own is within the realm of reason for a ham-fisted, attention span-handicapped noob like me.

Thanks.

 

Hey Mike,

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Before I built my car, I did not OWN HAND TOOLS and had very little confidence in my ability to build anything.

 

I went ahead and bought a Stalker (Lotus 7 replicar) kit anyway.

 

I stared at the pile of "stuff" in my garage for several months (Build Manual -at-that-time- was pretty THIN) before attempting anything. However, once I saw this fellow's site, I completed my build in less than 4 months (part-time, of course).

 

http://home.hiwaay.net/~sbuc/stalkerv6/index.html

 

Whether you build a Cat (or a Stalker or any other 7-esque), many of Sam's build princples apply. For me, it was like a build manual and an inspiration.