Welcome Caboose. Happy to have you along
Feel free to comment, question, poke fun
It's very relaxed in here

just joined, had a caterham for about a year the constant references to pubs is what lured me ! have had chris from the seven workshop do a couple of bits for me. stumbled on this website and recognised him

Welcome - happy to have you along

Surely not

nice to see everyone

Hi Everyone,

Bought my Caterham 18 months ago, and had a nightmare with it ever since - however, all sorted now (with new engine and a considerably lighter wallet, which has got to be worth 20bhp alone) and pick it up this Friday after 10 months in the garage (long story), so looking forward to getting out in it over Easter weekend.

I can be found haunting the roads of Mid Wales as lucky enough to live there, and plan on a few European trips this year or next if time permits.

Happy blatting...

You are going to have to give us the full story, with pictures!

Pictures I'll have to do later, but sold my old toy as grew out of love with it after 11 years - it was just sitting in the garage and always wanted a 7, never driven one (or a car like it) before so didn't have a benchmark.

Anyway, shopped around and saw one I wanted- 1998 1.8 with one owner from new, 36K miles. Bought from a garage after test driving it - went OK as far as I could tell.

After a few weeks, it didn't seem that quick - everyone said it must be fast but I used to reply by saying that it was nippy, not fast. Took it back twice to garage / dealer I bought it from for them to have a look at and each time they said it was fine. No smoke, no noise, nothing in coolant, started up fine, drove fine, just.....didn't pull as well as I thought it should. Wrote to Caterham to check power of engine and had it dyno'd. Meant to be 140bhp SS 1.8 engine. Dyno came back with a record breaking 77bhp...

Compression test revealed 2 cylinders not holding compression.

So, not going to return it as the selling garage obviously didn't know what they were doing with it (not a Caterham specialist I add) and entrusted Chaz at I-Tech Racing in Trowbridge to give me a lot more power.

As I was going to have to re-build an engine, I may as well re-build a more powerful one (ie - VVC) as my goal is to get it to 200bhp one day. Chaz agreed and suggested the VVC route - it will always be a road car and I may do a trackday, but wanted something that was driveable on the roads and not track specific. I bought a VVC lump off the internet and new liners / pistons, head sent off for skimming.....all the usual K Series stuff.

This was Chaz's first Caterham, although I chose him as he was a K-Series specialist and could also do a turnkey service - I don't have the time or skills to start taking engines out and send them off, so just wanted someone to fix the thing for me and I pick it up at the end.

Engine was from a MG ZR 160.

First problem strut brace doesn't fit as clouting some oil feed.

Second problem of plumbing a transverse engine into a longitudinal chassis.....

Clutch cable fouls engine.

Engine won't talk to car / car won't talk to engine as VVC and non-VVC wiring completely different. Emerald K6 ECU fitted but wires everywhere and having to re-wire it completely.

Cam sensor intermittent.

VVC lump didn't have a fuel pressure regulator, but for some reason it needs one in a Caterham...another day at the dyno wasted as it won't rev past 5K.

Lots of head scratching and decision taken to finally cut losses and ditch VVC gear, piper mild cams and veniers fitted to simplify and get it out of the workshop. Engine in and out 4 times to try and figure out various problems. On the last time, I instructed to fit Forged pistons and Con rods as it was being stripped again, so whilst it was apart they may as well be fitted to future proof it and save another strip down when I go for the tune again to 200bhp. I was originally keeping the cost down by not fitting them, but as it's been so long I had put some money by to have them fitted.

Now run in, everything works (new radiator was also needed so upgraded to triple core one in readiness for 200bhp), plus new battery, alternator, various sensors....etc....which all were failing or had failed on the old engine. Now has a healthy 165bhp on the dyno. And I can't bloody wait to get it back.

It's the one I wanted - BRG colour with clam wings, yellow stripe and Prisoner wheels - it's just a posing hack and not intended to be tracked, I have other stuff for that itch. It now goes as well as it looks (in my book anyway), and having drove it to run it in before being dyno'd for the last time, it just wants to send me backwards into the hedge compared to beforehand. The wait and expense has been worth it - now eyeing up suspension, LSD, brake upgrades......I know, I know, I should have bought one with everything already done, but I didn't do my research properly and fell in love with it as it was the colour and shape I wanted. I don't plan on selling it anyway so don't mind spending the money to get it properly sorted.

Having had my 7 for some 30+ years, I know where you're heading...

Hi. Just joined and just back from 2,275 mile road trip in 1995 Imperial S3 Zetec 1800. I spent a lot of time and ££s making the Caterham reliable and the roads/rain was dire but nothing went wrong! Cambridge via NC500 plus Glen Coe, Aviemore, Inverness and then back to Cambridge. I now need fresh tyres....????

Next: Cambridge>Plymouth>Santander>Madrid and back, 2019. Prefer the sunshine and smooth tarmac!

Matt

Hi Matt
Welcome. There are 2 regulars from Cambridge (me in Trumpington, Smuts in Newnham), we do occasional runs in the area, and blat to the monthly North Herts meet. You'd be very welcome to join us.
Stuart

Hey all, I'm new here 👋🏻
Got my first 7 last year - a 2015 620S. Loving it so far but only done the 1 track day. Also drove it down for Le Mans which was a lot of fun.

Car history - I'm a long time petrolhead and have run a number of lovely cars over the years across AWD, FWD and RWD configurations including Subarus, Lotuses (Exige and Elise), TVR Sagaris, Astons (V8S and V12 Vantage), Nissan GTR & 350Z, Focus RS, Audi RS4, M3s (E92 and F80), Golf R, Abarth 595 and many more. However I can safely say that the 7 is the most exhilarating of all of them!

Looking to learn from you guys and also hoping to join some weekend meets! I'm based in Hitchin, Herts

Hey - welcome!
See you at The Moon & Stars, every second Sunday...

Hi everyone
My reason for joining the forum is to try and find out any information on a Caterham 7 I built 32 years ago. I know it is still on the road, and would like to pass on the original build documents to the present owner. I know this is a long shot but worth a try. DVLA are unable to help. Any help would be most welcome. Reg No. D720 CCJ first registered April 1987. Thanks Mike.