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Wheel hub help
Hi, I have a 1998 Caterham super light R (k series), does anyone know where I can find a set of wheel hubs cover (the plastic bit covering the wheel nuts)
thanks
George
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A blat to Rutland Water
Not the most challenging of drives, but definitely worth a visit. And with the bonus of the roads around the reservoir being in excellent pot hole free condition. Story here.
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Carl's ownership blog
Hello Blatters, I've decided to blog my 7 adventures as I now have a 7 again, I've got big plans for it and the games will begin soon :-). Firstly just a bit of house keeping to put my reintroduction post from the main forum below at the beginning of this blog. Everyone needs a backstory...
Carl.
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I thought it about time to re-introduce myself. It's been about 8 years since I sold my last 7 and if I'm lurking on here again it must mean it's time to be back in the fold.
I bought my first 7 in 2002. A very leggy and tired 1995 1.4K Supersport 5 speed that was all I could afford at the time and had a couple of years of tremendous adventures touring in France (camping!), trackdays and regular blats. There were many mechanical adventures too as I improved the car with countless blatchat deals, chasing parts all over the country. After running a bearing at Cadwell I ended up with an ex-race Minister 1.4k which came from a very kind Sevener who was upgrading in a 3-way engine and parts swap deal brokered by Peter Carmichael if I remember rightly. It was covered in Low Flying I think!
Before I had it, the car had been used as a daily drive in North Wales and racked up something like 55K miles in only a few years and was really the worst for wear in the chassis department. When I bought it I didn't know that some chassis of this era often suffered from flaky powdercoat. I had noticed some powdery bubbles in the paint when I negotiated the car and the vendor assured me they would 'ali weld a piece in' and make it good. It looked all tidy with new paint when I picked it up but I then I spent the winter underneath the car with a flap wheel on a drill removing flakes and rust and daubing on Hammerite and waxoil trying to get to grips with the fact that I'd bought a bit of a shed. It subsequently also turned out that the dealer fix to the bimetalic corrosion on the skins had been to mastic a piece of ali to the back of the problem area, fill and paint. I became obsessed with chassis condition and the car really needed to go back to Arch for the full works treatment and I just couldn't really stack it up financially. Oh and it wouldn't idle properly either. I’d chased that nightmare around for 6 months, changing everything from the ECU, sensors, throttle body etc. to no avail. It was time to let the old girl go and so in late 2004 it was sold. N503YAB, where are you now?This time I needed to have a car with a brand new chassis to get over the trauma and so I ordered a new kit that was delivered in late 2004. I did this the hard way though as I needed to count the pennies and so the drivetrain and many other bits were sourced off blatchat. The engine was a young 1.6K Supersport from a Superlight, the gearbox was a used 6 speed and the diff (a 3.9 with a 6spd!) was a fresh rebuild from a race team. My car was a beautiful Reflex Blue and as close to a Superlight as I could afford. The build was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done too and it sailed through the PBC and SVA in March 2005. I was on the Stelvio in June! I went all over in that car. Alps, Le Mans, Ring and Spa and many of the UK tracks. It was all the Caterham I ever needed and it should have been a keeper.
We moved from Essex to Cheshire in 2007 and suddenly I had no blat mates to play with, kids came along shortly after and suddenly the 7 made no sense. I figured it would be too selfish to get away in it often so decided to let it go in favour of something more inclusive for a young family. It was sold to a lovely chap from Germany called Martin. When he turned up at Manchester Airport and saw me waiting for him, the relief on his face was a picture as he'd already transferred the money, entirely on trust! I waved him off in the middle of a torrential downpour and that was the last I heard of Q934KKL. I quickly replaced the 7 with a sports car with rear seats and have since spent many happy high days and holidays with a Porsche 964 C2.We have lived abroad for the last 6 years in the East and living without a car has meant there is a build up of motoring passion waiting to burst out. I was at the Oulton Park Gold Cup on August Bank Holiday weekend mulling over my options, when I happened across all the 7's parked up together and suddenly the memories came flooding back. I want a 7 again. No, I NEED a 7 again! The kids are too big for the tiny seats in the Pig now in any case and so life comes full circle.
After weeks of obsessing, the budget is signed off, I've rejoined the club, caught up on the goings on in the world of Caterham over the last 8 years (wow!) and am now officially on the hunt. I know Autumn isn't the best time to buy a Caterham but both of my old 7's arrived with me in November :-)
I have no idea what sort of Caterham I really want this time. My thinking has initially centred on K-series cars, partly because they fit the budget but mainly because they are what I know. I'm ignorant of the later engines, especially the Sigma and am ambivalent about the Suzuki triple, even though those limited edition Sprints and Supersprints are just beautiful. My head is spinning with all of the options. Touring or track bias? K vs Sigma vs Duratec? A sweet Superlight or R300? Maybe a savage R500? Spend at the lower end and improve a car? Build my ideal K-engine (unfinished business)? Go all in on something newer and shiny and blow the budget? Man maths, spreadsheets, hours on the internet, blatchat, Pistonheads. Soooo excited.
I’ll be seeing some of you soon hopefully, especially the North West folk.
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The most challenging thing I have attempted
It is not that I want to do this, nor do I feel I need to do so to prove anything. I think I know my limits and getting the engine out (and then, even harder, getting it back in) is at the furthest edge of what I think I can manage or wish to manage. I won't pretend that I don't find this very intimidating.
So, why am I putting myself through this? To which there is a simple answer, to clean, de-rust and repaint the engine bay of my Caterham 21.
What makes things more difficult? Firstly this is unknown territory. Secondly, I am working in a single garage; this is narrow enough that you can not park the 21 in it and open the door fully. Thirdly, this garage is remote from home and has no mains power.
I tried to be well prepared. I checked the guides section of this website: https://www.lotus7.club/guides where I fully expected to find a good guide. There is this https://www.lotus7.club/guides/how-guides/removing-k-series-engine which has value but can hardly be described as comprehensive or step-by-step. So I asked on BlatChat, in TechTalk and received some answers and reassurance. See: https://www.lotus7.club/forum/techtalk/k-series-engine-removal-1
One part of the preparation was thinking on where to store all the bits as they were removed from the car. One was a cargo net suspended from the roof.
Top of the list for a 21 is to remove the bonnet. It is huge, unquestionably a two person job. So I persuded a friend to help; between two this is easy and we lifted it onto the cargo net.
You will see that it is far too heavy! (the yellow is an old bedspread from my parent's old house, the blue is the 21's car cover).
So we stood it up at the end of the garage.
Cardboard underneath, heavy side against the wall, car cover to protect the paint work and the bonnet catches make good securing points.
Here is the car without its bonnet.
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Tyresome
A few photos of adapting La Jet Sept's cycle wing stays to allow Yoko 195/50/15s to be fitted in place of discontinued CR500 195/45/15s.
Wires to indicator repeaters and daytime running lights were removed. Stays were cut about two thirds up from the hub fixing. Attachment angle to hub fitting plate adjusted and rewelded. Rod and sleeves welded in to achieve extension. Painted, before wires soldered back together and insulated with heat shrink, and run externally with cable ties. I think that was it!
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Hello to everybody,
I am in Argentina (excuse my English)and I am new in Lotus Seven Club
I bought a new 620R (this is the only and first Caterham car in my country)
I want to use it only for racing/training
The car was supplied with 6" front wheels , 8" rear wheels and ZZR 185/55R13 and ZZR 215/55R13 Avon Tyres
Duration of events will be: 20 minutes
Ambient conditions: min 10 C° max 26 C°
BMTR Avon dealer recommended me X-Ply 7.0/20.0-13 and 8.2/22.0-13 with the ONLY available compound A37 (????)
I think that this is very hard compound for a Caterham car with 310 HP Duratec engine, and I can not believe that Avon have availability of only one compound !!
Which is the Slick Tyre best option (brand, size and compound) for my new 620R ?
I really will appreciate your help and experience on this matter
Thanks a lot in advance
My best regards
Ing. Alberto Dominguez Sarmiento
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TAKE ALL MY MONEY. HERE, JUST TAKE IT!
In the eight months since my last blog post I have entered my first winter as a Seven owner and come out of the other side. I was a bit worried going into the winter months mainly because I have an unpowered garage and the immobiliser on the Seven would eventually drain the battery if the car sat unused for long enough. Don’t get me wrong, I intended to use the car over winter as much as I could but only in the dry so there could be weeks at a time where she would be left to stand. Turns out about one month was the longest period.
This meant removing the battery, bringing it into the house, and using a CTEK charger on it to keep it well conditioned and topped up. It was a real pain which often took away the spur of the moment drives but it had to be done. Me being me I decided that spring was the time to do something about it.
As I saw it there were three approaches I could take to fix this problem. One, dig up the garden and concrete path so that power could be run to the garage. Two, move home to one with a powered garage. Three, fit a battery isolator switch to the Seven. I’m really lazy so I chose option three. I’m so lazy that I decided to pay someone else to do it. But who?
This lead me onto my other winter dilemma. Who was going to service my Seven when the time came? Who could I rely on to fix her up when she eventually let me down? Who would take enough care when I want this or that other thing done? Not me. I’m lazy. Sure I could take her back to the excellent folks I bought her from but Kent is some considerable distance from the North of Hertfordshire. Even the fabled workshop near Ware was a fair distance from my village. I wanted the convenience of a local garage because, you know, I’m lazy.
I discounted everyone I could find within a convenient distance from my home. Everyone except those exotic car guys in the next village over. These guys are all Ferrari, Lamborghini and the like and specialise in really early model cars. Big ticket ones. Tickets the size of the sun. Surely they know how to treat a car.
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Dear all,
I don’t suppose Caterhams are on your radar.
Kind regards,
John
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Hi John,
They most certainly are. Why don't you pop in and one of our engineers will sit and have a coffee with you while you discuss what you would like to have done?
Regards,
L
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Sit and have coffee. Sounds super expensive already. I’m an idiot so I was in.
A week later I was heading towards Big Ticket Autos (I made that up) in the Seven which I reached in about 7 minutes. I was confronted with imposing automatic wrought iron gates and a button on a pedestal. Attached was an intercom. Through the gates I could see approximately 8 million quids worth of old steel and new carbon fibre. It was all on wheels.
I released the harness and swung open the door but it was prevented from opening fully by the pedestal. I drove forward so I could open the door fully but now I can't reach the intercom button. I drove backwards with the door open but even then I can't reach up to the height of the button. I move forward and get out. I hope no one saw that.
"Hello, John here. You're expecting me."
"Hi John, come through."
The gates glide open and I park the Seven next to the cheapest looking thing I could see. Some kind of Porsche. They all look the same to me. (Ed: so do Sevens).
Within one minute two well-dressed engineers are shaking me by the hand and showing me around the showrooms. I mean workshops but they could have been showrooms. I'm underneath a raised Enzo, I'm next to a 1960s racing Lancia, there's an E-Type over there with its engine out, here's a Dino and that looks like a Lamborghini monster truck. You can eat off the floors and there's not an oily rag in sight. The model boat in the window is designed and built by Ferrari. The guys talk like they're in love with the machines and I'm falling for it all hook, line and sinker.
In truth I'm having a ball.
You know that feeling you used to get as a kid when you went to a really good toy shop? You're kind of glazed over and all dreamy? Yeah, that was me.
"So we've removed the engine from the Enzo and have found the oil leak. The replacement part will be here soon. We took the opportunity to check the clutch, given that the engine was out. That vintage Lancia was a bit tricky. We've had to remanufacture part of the <slips my mind> but it's all going back together now. It won a lot of races back in its time. It really is very rare. So the Caterham, what do you need doing?"
Oh poop.
"Ummm, mumble mumble"
"Sorry Sir?"
"Yes, I’d like a battery isolator switch fitted thank you very much"
"Yes Sir, we'll come up with a plan for it. Absolutely no problem. We'd also like to book your car in for a two hour slot. We like to get to know our customer's cars personally. We'll give her a good checking over for you and then let you know about our plan for the switch. How does that sound?"
"Take all my money. Here, just take it!"
Engineer Dennis books me in and we walk outside. It's just the two of us and he seems nice.
"Dennis, I know if I have to ask I can't afford it but how much do you guys charge?"
Turns out it was £10 an hour more expensive than the guys who dealt with my old Audi. Not cheap, but I thought remarkably affordable given my expectations.
I left Big Ticket Autos (I made that up) feeling that I'd just been to the theatre. It was just so utterly entertaining. I never did get a coffee, though one was offered, but I’m willing to bet it was made from some of the best coffee beans money could buy.
Part 2 to follow (possibly). Dropping off the Seven, having her checked over and that isolator switch.
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Latest Entry
June Trip to Germany then Italy
Advice requested for driving a 1.6 Zetec Caterham 7 to Germany and Italy in June 2019.
In June, we are driving from Sidmouth , Devon, to Trier (Germany) for 2 days and then Lake Maggiore (3 days), with stops on the way there and back. Last time, we only went to Trier, but this journey is a lot longer.
We have backdated low flyings, (but only kept from 2016), and I know there were some articles on this before that date, which would be good if we could find. In particular, though, have you any advice on
(1) Spares to take , (have cable ties, tow rope, tape, spare clutch cable ... ) but any suggestions including light deflectors; last time we used well placed tape.
(2) Any recommended hotels / routes .. and to avoid .. ???
(3) Any rules / regulations etc. (besides triangle, high vis jackets, light bulbs, GB stickers, breathaliser kit, swiss vignette pass ....... ???)Thanks in advance
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Feeding my addiction
Hello, my name is Malc and I have a 7 problem.
It's been a month now since I purchased my own Seven and it has become an obsession. Every spare moment is dedicated to planning my next drive, weighing up options for weather, traffic avoidance and hunting for the next best 'B' road to explore.
It began for me with a long-weekend break in the Scottish Highlands, and a trip to meet Boyd Stokes at Highland Caterham Hire. I'd known about Caterham's from an early age, as my mum grew up in nearby Coulsdon and we would drive down Caterham Hill when visiting my grand parents. Mum and Dad liked their Triumphs (in the 70s) and I heard many stories of my mother four-wheel-drifting her Herald or Dolomite Sprint on wet roundabouts before 'the children' came along. I guess it was fate… I never stood a chance really.
So a brief taste of 'Seven heaven' in the Highlands had me hankering for more. First up was a 4-day trip to navigate the North Coast 500 in another of Boyd's SV 7s , taking my fellow petrolhead and lotus-loving best mate along for the experience. Then followed a couple of dry years while I plotted and saved, saved and plotted my way to my own Seven. This included a garage demolition and new garage construction. A big project with many phases. A brief foray to Book-a-tracks' Drift Experience confirmed that a Series 3 chassis was a 'good fit' and the hunt was on.
With a partner, two kids and a dog plus mortgage to feed, the off-the-shelf purchase price of a new Seven was never in contention. I looked a a loan, decided the interest rates were too high, and settled on sourcing an affordable Seven for cash. Lots of reading. Lots of web searches. Lots of 'this is never going to happen'… until finally it became the right car, at the right price, at the right time (well maybe 2 months earlier than planned… it is an addiction after all).
So now I have the car and the garage. She's an older lady, with personality, but she wears her miles with pride. She gets me out of bed at 5am on a weekend (sometimes earlier) and we play together for a few hours until the roads become clogged with normal folk. There are plans in the making for longer travels (next year) and I would really like a house (with garage) in the far north west of Scotland…
It's been two days since my last drive. Thanks for listening.
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Here is a route starting in Somerset and heading towards the Dorset coast. It includes spectacular coastal scenery, a good place for a pub lunch, and a visit to the Cerne Abbas giant. Much of the route is ideal for a Seven, although on a busy summer day you are likely to get stuck behind slow vehicles.
It would go very well with the Cheddar Gorge blat if you have an extra day in the area.
The route is here: MyRoute
It starts at the A303 Podimore roundabout and heads to West Bay via Crewkerne. West Bay is a good place for a morning coffee and a quick look. Interesting fact: Reggie Perrin walked into the sea here.
Follow the coastal road and admire the beautiful views of Chesil Beach. Pass through Weynouth. I suggest that The Red Lion in Winfrith is ideal for Sunday lunch. The carvery is good and they are generous with potions.
If you have time, then nearby Lulworth Cove is worth a visit. There is a large pay and display car park with toilets/cafes etc. The cove is worth seeing, but I suggest the 2.5 mile walk to Durdle Door is really worth the effort. Durdle Door is a spectacular natural arch.
Follow the route past Dorchester to Cerne Abbas. Then stop at the layby to see the giant carved into the hillside.
Follow the good roads past Sherbourne back to the A303.
I hope that this is useful,
Simon (Somerset AR)
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Carrotland Low Flying Articles
These are Low Flying articles written about some of our memorable Carrotland events
2002 - A trip to France
2003 - The Grand Carrotland Tour of Scotland
2005 - Our first Big Blat
2007 - 50 Years of the 7 celebrations in Norfolk
2010 - Trip to Switzerland joining LSOS in their 30 year celebrations
2012 - Tour of the Apache Helicopter facility at RAF Wattisham
2015 - Big Blat to RAF Marham
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Super Seven 1600k 40th Anniversary Model
Moving home. Having to sell my exceptional condition 7, only 12520 miles and 3 owners - all mots and service records. Pearlescent red and silver stripe as expected. Number 23 Factory. Brand new condition weather gear - never used in wet.
15250 if anyone interested before i advertise.
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Hungry for another 7 !
After too many years away from serial seven ownership I have the hunger again!
I simply want a fun 7 to drive in the good months, get away from the Surrey speed humps and go to France, mechanical reliability. Cosmetics are not an issue but an 'individual' car would be!
Having had some serious stuff including a JPE and a CSR 260 I now just want some pleasure on a budget hence my absolute top limit of £12k.
Anyone wanting to sell at this miserable time of year?
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Lotus 70th Anniversary at Hethel
“My” 70th started from France on Tuesday.
A story from the 70th by Nicolas Callawaert. Thanks Nicolas.
The day before the event my S2 was booked to make tonneau cover: The final touch of my 3 years rebuild !
When Ben is not working on upholstery at Vamped trimmings he plays music in a group.
I was lucky enough to start my 70th with live music during his test session on Tuesday night !Friday was a mix of tonneau cover tailoring lesson and quick look at Crawley showroom where I spotted the master of a toy most of us have at home and also M.Wary seat (French equivalent of Mister Men's Mr Prudent) !
On Saturday exceptional sunshine magnified 70th with a good mix of factory visit (widely opened), cars display and Classic Team Lotus F1 evolution on track. My favorite was the type43 F1 with its BRM H16 engine: Amazing sound !
James Whiting Serie2 was the perfect 70th car with its Lotus livery and 70 race number: Well done !
On the down side parking could have been made by decade to avoid having the early cars lost in an Elise field…as exit streamer said “See you next year”. I’m sure this will be improved in future.
Parade laps were the climax of this fantastic day with 700 Lotus on the track at the same time.
A perfect way to show our passion for the 7 exciting decades of this iconoclast sportscars manufacturer.Fingers crossed new Chinese ownership will offer us exciting news soon and for a long time !
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Western Isles Tour 2018
We are recently back from a very good trip to the Outer Hebrides. The area offers an excellent tour for small groups of Sevens. We had excellent sunny weather, which made for a very pleasant trip.
The Outer Hebrides are sparsely populated and parts of them feel very remote. Many times we found ourselves virtually alone on beautiful sandy white beaches. The tourist season is short, and caters mostly for cyclists and walkers. The flora and fauna is rich and varied, and the roads are pretty empty and well maintained. Overtaking is easy. Our favourite Isles were Harris and Barra.
The restaurant prices are fairly high, but we found that the service was cheerful and the seafood is really very good.
Here is a brief account, which maybe of use to others...
Our first night was in the Inveraray Inn – a good stopover with cheap Sunday night dinner deals.
The next day we drove to Oban to catch the ferry to Castlebay, Barra (at the southern end of the Hebrides). Oban is an interesting town and certainly worth a look around as you wait for the ferry. Head for the Oban Chocolate company for tasty cake and coffee (and chocolate).
We stayed in the Barra Beach Hotel – which was comfortable, clean and friendly. It is also right next to a beautiful and isolated beach. We tried our hand at surfing on the hotels kayaks – and loved it. We also visited Barra Beach Airport – which is only used when the tide it out. They have a good cafe where you can watch the incoming aircraft whist you munch on cake and coffee. We also climbed the tallest hill, Heaval; a short but steep walk with great views.
Next we caught the ferry from Ardmhor to Eriskay and stayed at the Polochar Inn. Polochar is a comfortable, no nonsense, type of place right on the seafront. We had good food (like everywhere we stayed). We drove to Benbecula and on the way we picked up hot smoked Salmon from Salar Smokehouse for lunch. We also took a short hike up Rueval to take in the views.
The following day we blatted onto North Uist (via Hebridean smokehouse). We had a quick scout around the RSPB reserve and were harassed by Arctic Turn – it seems the bird population of the Western Isles is not keen on visitors. This was not an isolated event.
We then went to a huge, beautiful and deserted beach on the North end of Berneray.
Our next island was an unexpected highlight. The Isle of Harris is mountainous and beautiful. We headed to the east of the island after arriving at the Leverburgh ferry port (and it looked like a complicated navigation for the ferry captain from Berneray). The eastern road is also called the ‘Golden Road’. It was virtually empty and twisted and turned through the hillsides – ideal and
for a Seven.We then did the faster Harris road (A859), and this was good too. Harris is a nice place.
After a quick look in Gin Distillery in Tarbert (thank you for soup and toilets). We headed off to look at Scalpay bridge. This is worth doing for the excellent blatting roads and views.
Our accommodation for the next few nights was in Seacroft, Aird Uig (we stayed in the Seapods on the cliffedge). Aird Uig must be one of the remotest places in the UK, and the site of a dilapidated radar RAF station from the cold war. The hosts were welcoming and it was a lot of fun (and great seafood). Aird Uig is beautiful place but it is slightly alternative – I loved it (although I also like Zombie films). It is good – go there.
We then
the Northern end of Lewis, including the Butt of Lewis and the ancient Callanish Standing Stones. It was OK, and it completed our journey, but it could not compare to what we had seen on the the other islands.We caught the ferry from Stornaway to Ullapool and stayed in Ardvreck B&B. Word got though to the local bird population that we were visiting, and they also decided to let us know their thoughts while we tucked into fish and chips (b*****ds).
Finally on route back we decided to have a look around Skye (and stayed in Seafar). Unfortunately we missed the best of this island (due to low cloud and drizzle), but we had fun on the excellent mountain road B885 across from Portree to the western side and popped into the Talisker Distillery.
This was probably our favourite tour of recent years (and quite a long one at 2100 miles). The excellent roads, weather, remote and beautiful scenery, great seafood and company really made it.
Simon (and also Alice, Rob and Sally)
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Bucket list.
Greetings to you all. A touch late posting been a member for the last 3 months.
My S3 Super sport is my bucket list car. 72 going on 35. Been lucky with my passion 2 lotus7s 2 lotus elan's 1/130 2 elites an 1 exige. Much respect to you all for all the knowledge you have on 7s.
Not wishing to bore you all,have a tale to tell on the day i meet Collin Chapman. Will post if interested.
Safe driving all.
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Caterham Ownership - First 6months Lessons Learnt
Six months ago I purchased my first Caterham, a mechanically solid Graduates Super that needed some fettling and tidying for the road. Yesterday my experience culminated with the fantastically organised Caterham Novices Trackday @ Rockingham where I got my first taste of circuit driving which took the ownership experience to a whole new level!
As I was driving back home I reflected on how much fun Caterham ownership has already given me and what I’d learnt along the way so I thought I’d share some of highlights through the formatted comment below the post...
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Kop Hill Vs Caterham
Rain stopped for a bit & went for a quick blast up Kop Hill, fortunately got stuck behind an old lady lol.
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Fitting a rollover bar and strut
Dear Folks. I am complete 7 novice and need to fit an approved roll bar and strut to my 7 so as to take art in the club novices track day. I have ordered the bar and strut from Caterham parts, now I need some guidance as to where to take my 7 to get it fitted. I live in north Hertfordshire. Any suggestions to a local garage / mechanic would be much appreciated. Kind regards Jason
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Latest Entry
At Last I have a Seven
Apologies, I'm not sure why the paragraphs aren't being picked up correctly. Hi "at last I have a Seven”, something I’ve been waiting to say for many years having wanted one as a teenager 30 years ago. When I had my first job acceptance the first thing I did was to write to Caterham Cars for an order form for a Seven, unfortunately having to move to central London meant that the order form was never filled out but I still have it today, dated October 1986, then another dated 1991, also a list of second hand ones dated 1998
However, earlier this year I picked up my year 2000, blue with silver stripe, k-series Roadsport 140 from Caterham Cars and drove it the 20 miles home to Epsom in the pouring rain – not how I envisaged my first drive in a long awaited Seven! Part way through the journey the passenger side wiper blade flew off and before I had time to pull over, the bare metal wiper arm had scratched the heated windscreen with a permanent arc. Great service from CC though, after a few emails back and forth to salesman James with a photo and it was booked in to have the windscreen (and wiper) replaced.
With hindsight, this January and Feb hasn’t been the best choice to pick up a Seven but I have managed a few local trips with the roof off in between the rain and snow and I hope to try and come along to the local Surrey Se7ens meetings.
One reason I have delayed buying one is that living in a Victorian house, there is no garage and only a small off-road area to park the car so mine will be kept outside under wraps which whilst not ideal I decided that it was this or nothing. I have a Storm-force cover fitted for a Seven which certainly keeps the recent wind and rain away and I’d be interested to hear from anyone else who also has to keep their Seven outside in terms of key areas to keep clean and dry – I guess all of it!
In terms of longer trips, I am born and bred from Carmarthen in West Wales and spent my formative years hooning around in a Mini on roads that you’d swear were designed by Colin Chapman and Alec Issigonis. I’d love to take the Seven there and retrace some of the routes at some point but the only trouble is that between Epsom and Carmarthen lies over 200 miles of M25 and M4 which isn’t the greatest environment for driving a Seven (thinking of Mrs MarkD).
I’ll try and upload some photos when I can get to take a few, but in the meantime, that order form from 1986 – in component form with engines from Ford 1.6 GT (84bhp) £7,590, Ford RS 1600 BDR (150 bhp) £10,624. Loads of extras such as Heater £76.47, De Dion £569.25, Aeroscreens £35.02 and Lucas electronic ignition for £56.12.
Bye for now thanks
MarkD
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Latest Entry
Wile7 Adventures
The first page - a starter post. Let's see what transpires... -
Latest Entry
Crankshaft pulley - stripped thread?
I recently did a cam belt change on my K series and when I went to tighten the crankshaft pulley bolt it did not tighten properly. I torqued it in stages as I am always cautious in tightening bolts and started at 80Nm, iit clicked so altered the setting to 100Nm but the bolt continued to move for another 1/4 turn with limited resistance. Took out bolt, which seemed OK, but I couldn't see inside the crank to check the state of the threads. Re torqued to 80 and left it (should be 205Nm i yhink). Is it possible to strip such a large thread in steel or am I missing something. Is it safe to run the car with the pulley torqued up at just 80Nm?
Before I had it, the car had been used as a daily drive in North Wales and racked up something like 55K miles in only a few years and was really the worst for wear in the chassis department. When I bought it I didn't know that some chassis of this era often suffered from flaky powdercoat. I had noticed some powdery bubbles in the paint when I negotiated the car and the vendor assured me they would 'ali weld a piece in' and make it good. It looked all tidy with new paint when I picked it up but I then I spent the winter underneath the car with a flap wheel on a drill removing flakes and rust and daubing on Hammerite and waxoil trying to get to grips with the fact that I'd bought a bit of a shed. It subsequently also turned out that the dealer fix to the bimetalic corrosion on the skins had been to mastic a piece of ali to the back of the problem area, fill and paint. I became obsessed with chassis condition and the car really needed to go back to Arch for the full works treatment and I just couldn't really stack it up financially. Oh and it wouldn't idle properly either. I’d chased that nightmare around for 6 months, changing everything from the ECU, sensors, throttle body etc. to no avail. It was time to let the old girl go and so in late 2004 it was sold. N503YAB, where are you now?
We moved from Essex to Cheshire in 2007 and suddenly I had no blat mates to play with, kids came along shortly after and suddenly the 7 made no sense. I figured it would be too selfish to get away in it often so decided to let it go in favour of something more inclusive for a young family. It was sold to a lovely chap from Germany called Martin. When he turned up at Manchester Airport and saw me waiting for him, the relief on his face was a picture as he'd already transferred the money, entirely on trust! I waved him off in the middle of a torrential downpour and that was the last I heard of Q934KKL. I quickly replaced the 7 with a sports car with rear seats and have since spent many happy high days and holidays with a Porsche 964 C2.
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