vinnie m Posted March 15, 2004 Share Posted March 15, 2004 hi, new to this web chat type thing but could really do with some advice right now!!! I currently have a base 1.6 k series road sport and am looking for a good up grade for my baby, done quite a bit of research and am now a bit baffaled as to what to do next. I would like to hit approx 160bhp with about £3k-3.5k to spent, is it best to go the caterham after sales route and take it out to 1.8, roller barrels etc, or what about some of the other offerings (QED, etc), and maybe leave the cc's alone. I love the revyness of the 1.6L which works really well with the caterham 6 speed box, and dont want to lose that by going to a longer stroke 1.8l (maybe I wont but would appreciate any comments). I'm in kent and does anyone know any good k series specialists? As a web virgin please be gentle with me, vinnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted March 15, 2004 Share Posted March 15, 2004 If you have read the archives, you will know you have 2 real options 1. If you plan to trade your car in or sell via Caterham it is unlikely they will take the car if it is upgraded by anyone other than them or their approved angine builders. 2. If you do not plan to trade up via caterham, then choose any of the other engine tuners out there, DVA being one of the most popular and well respected. With 3.5K at DVA you should see a hike to power over and above what is offered by caterham in the R upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinnie m Posted March 15, 2004 Author Share Posted March 15, 2004 b ut my real point is about how good the caterham conversion is? and do i really need to be looking to stroke that lovely revvy motor?, and what about those roller barrels? so many questions!!!! help me!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted March 15, 2004 Share Posted March 15, 2004 The chap who sold me my 7 was about to go the official route - but had been talked out of it because it would never be a 'real' R300 and it would be better in the long run to buy the car he really wanted rather than upgrade... ...but if upgrading's the game - Dave Andrews is the man for the engine... (DVA Power - do a search). Keep BC free and open for ALL. Membership No. 43xx Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petrolhead Posted March 15, 2004 Share Posted March 15, 2004 mav is right but this is my thought. have a look here The advantace, as i see it, is when you upgrade but do not thow/sell the origional parts. then when its time to sell remove and return to std. With the 170 DVA kit you do not need to remove the head. The cost is approx £2500 fitted inc verniers and airbox. This retains the revy 1.6 Seems a popular upgrade route but I am sure others here have different ideas and views I'm back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinnie m Posted March 16, 2004 Author Share Posted March 16, 2004 I understand about the-trade in situation if engine work is not carried out by caterham, but is there anyone out there withdirect experiance of the supersport-R conversion, or a equivelent from another tuner (DVA, QED, etc)? would be most grateful for any info. by the way WHAT A CAR!!!! might even have to sell my beloved fire blade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 Advantage obviously with the Supersport R conversion is that it will add value to the car whereas any other tuners work is likely to reduce the value. No doubt people like DVA power are very well regarded and many people wouldn't bat and eyelid at buying a car worked on by him. But a good number of prospective owners would not buy a car modified by someone other than Caterham. The supersport R conversion means you effectively get lots of new bits in your engine and depending on how many miles your car has done this could be a big advantage. Apparently 160 bhp is fairly conservative for the conversion. I have driven an R300 recently and I did not find it any less revvy than my current superlight (1.6ss). It was also certainly a lot quicker! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanB Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 Interesting thread. I've heard mixed views on DVA conversion quality (head work specifically) but there are some very happy customers out there. I'm thinking about an engine and gearbox overhal next winter, and would seiously consider upping teh capacity from 1.6 to 1.8. The 1.8 would IMHO be fine with the 6 speed box and would definitely give more scope for power improvement. Cheers, AlanB Aztec Orange Superlight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom7 Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 AlanB, I have never heard either here, or in any Elise forum where the K series engine is concerned ANY mixed reviews of DVA's work. Dave Andrews 'wrote the book' on head work for the K, He is happy to share his knowledge freely and as far as I am aware produced the head that gave PC his 254bhp. I would be interested to hear where these 'mixed views' came from. I have no connection other than a satisfied customer I and many others on BC would thoroughly recommend DVA Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gimp Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 IMHO i would always use DVA but there have been some issues with some of his work, directly and indirectly though i do not believe anyone has ever posted to any of the BBS's i prowl That said, anyone who dose as many Heads as Dave dose, must expect to get the odd bad one which they probably can not control DVA *thumbup* *thumbup* *thumbup* *thumbup* *thumbup* *thumbup* *thumbup* *thumbup* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwyatt Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 In your position,I'd get the DVA 170bhp conversion and enjoy it, rather than fretting about resale. Edited by - jwyatt on 16 Mar 2004 12:36:51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard J Darnell Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 I suggest you go and test drive a R300 as I did when I was thinking the same as you. The extra performance was noticeable over my 1.6k SS but not enough to make me want to spend 3.5k on a Supersport R conversion. (What impressed me more was the brakes which made me upgrade to 4 pots.) Since then DVA power have given me vernier pulleys + 52mm TB (see the drivability kit on DVApower website) and the car now pulls like a train. A very happy DVA customer 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alias Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 An R300 has a much torquier engine, and the torque curve is flatter due to the variable valve timing. It is an 1800 so won't rev quite so readily as the 1600. One car - 1400 Supersport with 6 gears and clamshell wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 R300 engine does not have VVC it is a TB engine. Extra torque is mainly due to the capacity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_thombs Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 Vinnie I have the Supersport-R conversion and am available in Essex for test drives 😬 Can't comment on the pre/post thing as the car has had it since new but I agree on the fact that for a good px the Caterham route is better, if you are selling it privately then it makes no difference. I would imagine that they are all reasonably similar but the cost varies greatly ! Jon Ex Beaulieu no31 now Supersport R.. My Caterham Pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanB Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 Tom7, I'm absolutely not slagging off DVA. However the fact is that - having asked around people I know, owners and engineers, I've had a mixed response with a couple of specific examples of problems given. Suffice it to say that, as Gimp says, there is always a risk of a problem due to a bad casting or whatever. The response here is wholly positive. Enough said. AlanB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles W Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 I upgraded from a standard 1.6 to SSR last year and think its fantastic. I only have a 5 speed box but the difference was absolutely amazing. The car really flies now and the noise teh engine makes under acceleration is well worth it (not forgetting the crackle from the exhaust on overrun). I am currently driving Caterham's SSR demonstrator with a 6 speed and that is even more manic in terms of pure acceleration. Personally I think its well worth the money. That said if you want an R300 then get one of those as it will be cheaper in the long run once you start upgrading everything else (I speak from experience on this front!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinnie m Posted March 16, 2004 Author Share Posted March 16, 2004 hey thanks for all the info guys, I think i will call into dartford and have a chat with the guys there. charles, it was nice to hear that you are pleased with the ss-r conversion, what about low engine speed running with the roller barrels?, any probs after the conversion? this blat chat is great I am well impressed!!! (I have led very shelltered life!!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles W Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 When you first get the conversion done the car bunny hops a bit especially in slow moving traffic. That said Caterham said that the ECU is self learning to a degree and therefore this problem becomes less so. Personally I think that a combination of getting used to the new engine and the ECU doing its bit soon makes it a non issue. Try Caterhams demonstrator and I think you will love it. Only problem is the car's fully specced and that can only mean one thing........a huge bloody hole in your wallet!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinnie m Posted March 16, 2004 Author Share Posted March 16, 2004 got a weird feeling this is going to hurt!! (my wallet that is) just been out for a blat around the villages (slowed while in them of course!), and now know that that 3.5k is drifting out of my back pocket! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_thombs Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 In fact the old demo car was so good I bought it...........get used to the empty wallet feeling.... Charles - Has the car you have got at the moment got the indicators on the wheel still ? Jon Ex Beaulieu no31 now Supersport R.. My Caterham Pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles W Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 Yes the demo car does but they don't work sadly. Great car though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyC Posted May 6, 2004 Share Posted May 6, 2004 Vinnie. My car started out as a 1.4ss k, I bought as second hand 1.6k, fitted 1.8k crank and pistons, supersport cams, roller barrels, mbe with R300 map, R500 exhaust, Arnie built the engine for me, the result has been great, whether it would have been better to sell the car and buy another remains to be seen, however I liked the idea of upgrading my existing car and I will continue to do so. TC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted May 6, 2004 Share Posted May 6, 2004 Received wisdom is that Jenveys offer better performance than the Rolly Barrow throttle bodies. The RBs are felt to be a sexy toy all the same. I think Tony C has hit the nail on the head re upgrades. If you want to do it for its own sake and enjoy the process then this is great but if you want to do it with the aim of getting to a specific destination then it may be more cost effective to sell what you have and buy what you want directly. But who cares about "cost effectiveness" when we all know that that's not what these cars are about? Mostly they are a spectacularly exciting means of digging a hole and tossing fivers in... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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