Nemo Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Just got my first Seven a 1990 de dion 1700 crossflow. It has clamshells which I'd like to change for cycle wings. Caterham parts told me I would also need to change the steering rack. I'd rather not go to the expense of a new rack and I don't want to go widetrack at this stage. Is there a way to alter a clamshell steering rack to stop it fouling the cycle wings against the body of the car ? TIA I hope you're enjoying the ride....I am! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom_C Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 My car was built with cycles and still fouls on the indicator pods, so I don't think that can be why you need to change Cheers Tom FH54WLX - only the car supports ManU, honest! see here - UPDATED Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EE Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Before the rest of the clan reply...................What's wrong with Clamshells!!!!!! Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo Posted September 20, 2006 Author Share Posted September 20, 2006 EE & the rest of the "clamshell clan" I think clamshells look fine ..... on other peoples cars.......oh, and on the appropriate sealife 😬 😬 I hope you're enjoying the ride....I am! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclefester Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 There are three RHD steering racks for post 74 cars, a silver 22% one part no 75605A a black 8% one, 75615A, and the widetrack rack is green, rated as 8% and part no.75608A I'm surprised about needing to change it for fitting cyclewings though. Your biggest problem will be filling in the holes left by the rivnuts, specially the ones behind the engine bay bulkhead, as the interior is double skinned, so you won't be able to put a little ally square inside the outer skin to hold the filler. I think Caterham recommend reskinning the car! The trouble is, if you remove the inner skins to get at the outer panel's inner face, you end up with hundreds of rivet parts swilling around in the spaceframe. CC's answer to this? Spray some sprayglue into the spaceframe tubes......... Blackout!!! 😬 😬here *eek* Edited by - Unclefester on 20 Sep 2006 18:32:11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Obvious question................. Why buy a car with clams, if you don't like them I bought my car because it had clams ❗ Very strange. Still Shaking 6 speed 1600k Supersport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo Posted September 20, 2006 Author Share Posted September 20, 2006 Ozzy Being a first timer I bought the car because it was generally in very good for its age and it suited my budget. It's a shame it had clamshells(not that I dislike them that much) but as with buying anything secondhand it had to be a compromise. I'd always resolved to change to cycle wings if I happened to buy one with clams and I thought it could be sensibly done.In fact I managed to get the seller to further reduce the final price to cover the cost of the cycle wings and associated bits (but not the steering rack I didn't know I'd need to change/alter that at the time) But all this is academic for the moment because tonight I seriously damaged the sump, bellhousing and God knows what else on a stone some b**tard left (or put) in the road. ☹️ Only had the bloody thing since Sunday ☹️ Just got back from getting the car towed in so I'm a bit p*ssed off to say the least. I hope you're enjoying the ride....I am! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclefester Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Good grief! That's really bad luck KAP. With luck it won't be too serious if it was 'just' a stone, and not a hunk of local authority iron like the projecting manhole Harryflatters encountered one night recently, which was attached to the ground and immoveable. By the way, Darren at Caterhams has just emailed me an update on the rack situation. What I quoted in the last post was what is printed in my recent (and supposedly current I assumed) Caterham deDion catalogue, ordered this summer, so I assumed it was up to date. Here's what he sent today..... > 😬 Blackout!!! 😬 😬here *eek* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DohNut Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 As far as I know the only difference between the clams rack and the cyclewing rack is the range of movement. You dont HAVE to change it There will be an issue with the rear of the cyclewing being able to hit the body but I have round that the front of the cyclewing is hitting the headlight so you never reach that point. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Sorry to hear of your mishap KAP. I sort of know how you feel, as mines been off the road for the last 6 weeks, as a pistons blown. Not quite the same I suppose, although I have lost 2 wheels so far, thanks to the local authority's inability to repair roads. Hope it's not too bad. Oz. Still Shaking 6 speed 1600k Supersport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo Posted September 22, 2006 Author Share Posted September 22, 2006 Thanks for all your sympathy chaps. I'm hopeful insurance should cover the damage.[:) ] Heard late yesterday that the bellhousing is only chipped not cracked. Just a new sump (purpose made,as apparently Caterham no longer supply them) and replacement engine mountings required.I stopped the engine within thirty seconds of the collision with the stone and the oil didn't flood out until I stopped so hopefully no internal engine damage. Hopefully I'll get her back soon. 😬 I hope you're enjoying the ride....I am! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickD Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 The pre-94 racks were based on a lhd Austin Metro unit and were available in cycle and flared wing versions. The only difference between these was that the cycle wing version had a nylon lock-limiting spacer fitted to each end of the rack. Post 94, Caterham supplied a purpose-made rack manufactured by Titan and these are only available with the restricted cycle wing travel. You can fit spacers to your early rack - I made some steel spacers (about 1/2" thick) for mine years ago. You will have to remove the track rods from each end of the rack to fit the spacers so a bit of a fiddle to do. I reckon that the Metro racks are a better engineered unit than the Titan ones although they are only available in the slow (0%) version, whereas the faster (8% & 22%) Titan racks are nicer for track use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikevernontalktalk.net Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Well done NickD, yours was the first reply to answer KAP's original question! The wings fouled the sideskins on full lock on my previous car so I did think think about trying to fit spacers to the rack to restrict the lock, but it never caused any damage and the MOT man didn't seem worried so I never bothered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wile7 Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Stay with the clams for god sake - the car will be worth more (just look at the cycle winged cars that do not sell ) and you will be a cooler dude for it 😬 😬 😬 Dave Ardley. White Xflow with Clams Don't point that beard at me, it might go off. Groucho Marx Updated photos here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 i think off memory that BURTON performance still supply the sump listed as the ones caterham use, I will be back in a minute with a part number hopefully X/FLOW 1700 DD 1990 ROAD USE ONLY..SO FAR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Sump as used on Caterham cars FP655 £186.95 inc vat but it does inclued the pick up pipe. It might be worth trying REDLINE X/FLOW 1700 DD 1990 ROAD USE ONLY..SO FAR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo Posted September 27, 2006 Author Share Posted September 27, 2006 Thanks everyone I hope you're enjoying the ride....I am! 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 NickD I know my post was some time ago but I have now removed the clams and (nearly) finished installing cycle wings. As expected one of the stays fouls the bodywork on the nearside. I guess when I bolt on the wings themselves the offside will foul as well. What did you make your spacers from, Nick? You don't happen to have any pictures of the spacers/track rods showing what you did, do you? I hope you're enjoying the ride....I am! 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.SHERMAN Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Hi Kap Sorry to hear of sump damage I damaged mine a couple of months ago. Luckily, just took it off and got it brazed. No internal damage but sounds as if you hit yours pretty hard if the engine mounts are broken I got a quote from Redline and im sure they were much cheaper than the Burton one. About £100 i think. As for the wings, I also changed my 1990 xflow to cycles. I didnt worry about them touching body on full lock as mines a bare ally body and therefore dosnt really leave any marks on it. Only slightly marks the edge of wings. Dont find it a hinderance in any way now im used to the slightly restricted lock and you only notice this when doing a three point turn. Hope you get it sorted soon Cheers Greg Blat happy chappy.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 Greg Thanks for your comments on sump damage. That was sorted back in September.I didn't actually damage the engine mounts it was just a precaution that they were replaced. They needed doing anyway. I'm extra wary of anything I see in the road now. My car's sideskins are painted so it is possible they will get marked by the wings. I'll find out when I drive it again, I suppose. I'd like to restrict the lock if it's not too tricky to do rather than leave it or change the rack. I hope you're enjoying the ride....I am! 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 I may have a standard track steering rack available soon..... I have to point out that one of my wings still fouls the body on full lock though 😳 Only dead fish go with the flow.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alextangent Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 I may have a standard track steering rack available soon..... Is it an 8% suitable for clams on a 93 LA? If so 2nd dibs if KAP doesn't need, and you're shifting it. Alex McDonald A loud 1700 SS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 I am not shifting it yet... Have to wait until my new suspension turns up Only dead fish go with the flow.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NevDyson Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 KAP, If you need a sump, specialized engines in essex are worth a call. (on the web for number) Ask for Ian, he is more than helpful, and may well have something lying around he will sell. By the way I have the original clam rack in mine, and with cycle wings on it only fouls slightly on full lock, never been a problem, and the MOT man does not give a damn. Get In , Sit Down, Shut Up, Hang On. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 So did you have to replace the h/light supports or indicators, what size wheels are you using? X/FLOW 1700 DD 1990 ROAD USE ONLY..SO FAR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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