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When i heard this in Jan the reason given was simply cost, CC can only order in small numbers, the costs are high and with CC’s margin, the cost to the customer was simply too high

I have a duratec with the mazda 5 speed gbox and did hear that there was a possibility that quaife might start making a gear kit for it. Would be interested if anyone knows more about this? Also heard from someone at CC that they were going to discontinue the 6 speed due to cost? I struggled to believe that but they seemed very sure

Chris, that was my thinking, have seen a few Caterhams fail the noise test at Brands when sporting TB’s. Getting close to the noise limits just becomes a nuisance. Then there is the cost, it was £2k to go from 180 to 210bhp. Not sure i can justify £3k for 10bhp more? Its not exactly lacking in power!

A lot of shared experiences here First off, that black plastic plate on the engine is the oil breather which vents into the plenum. If you overfill a wet sumped car the oil will vent into the plenum and create smoke, very concerning when you get black flagged at Brands! I am told by Caterham that you can either vent this into the catch tank which will create a lot of oil or simply blank it off altogether, something i am seriously considering I think i posted on here about my 360r exhibiting lag when the throttle snapped open and my experiences are very similar to others here. Car would start from cold and idle ok after 30 seconds and no signs of kangerooing (which my previous sigma did badly). Recently upgraded to 420r spec and throttle lag is still there but much reduced and much better. Engine starts well from cold but can hunt at idle and exhibits mild kangerooing, no doubt due to lumpier cams. General engine character is much better and i would be loathe to fiddle with it to avoid cost and hassle. Overall i like the Duratec engine, its torquey and powerful and easier to drive than the sigma which felt too highly strung just need to book some 2019 track days now...

Thanks Jim whine is speed dependent and comes and goes with load and speed, worst at 50, although it never really disappears. Going on the throttle or coming off makes it reduce, worst on a steady throttle at 50 on the A2 (which has average speed check) Not gear or rev dependent, pretty certain its the diff and this seems to fit with others experiences of whining at a particular speed. Had the car from 500 miles and its now 2500 and noise has definitely got worse, which suggests diff bedding in rather than bolted in wrong? (Its a bmw titan diff in that diff cage adaptor) the mazda gearbox also rattles when coming off load and on overrun but this isnt so bad, have driven two others with similar characteristics i will take a look at spacers to see if this might be the problem but suspect its a difficult job to replace them, very hard to reach. Sound deadening does appeal because transmission is just so very noisy. This is my third caterham and the one with the worst noise. I wouldnt mind if it was just the engine! (I built a tiger 6 with an xflow in 95 and the noise that made was amazing, noisy doesnt begin to describe it, brilliant)

Thanks for the feedback, i will take a look at the bushes but doubt its going to fix things, these diffs need to be bolted in pretty tight think i will try some sound deadening and use the carpets as template for the rear panel behind seat and inside the boot, possibly also transmission tunnel, suspect this will make a big difference

My 2017 360r bmw diff whines badly at 50 and i have just tried changing the oil to motul but alas to no avail. The transmission noise on these cars is frankly rubbish. I doubt there is anything substantially wrong with my car, have drive a few now and they are all noisy. Would be interested to hear if anyone has had success with sound deadening, the transmission noise really ruins the enjoyment of the car? many thanks simon

I think this is normal behaviour, the rears do more braking than you expect and are out if the airflow. Mine are always considerably hotter than fronts after a run.

Think that is the crankcase breather, mine goes to the plenum but am planning to move it to the oil catch tank, (other breather comes from cam cover) having recently found overfilling sump leads to smoke from exhaust when oil breather sends oil to plenum

Chris really interesting comments about the Duratec throttle lag, my 360r has this and its really noticeable so pleased to hear the explanation. Its booked into Caterham for a cam upgrade at the end of the month so am looking forward to the difference, will see if the lag improves at all and will investigate the remap suggestion further. Oh, and i will reroute the sump breather Regards the OP about 310 vs Duratec, having had a 270 and upgraded it to a 310, completely agree its a great engine and very exciting and enjoyable to drive, almost as nice as my old K series. I upgraded to the Duratec because the sigma has little low down torque and does run out of puff on the track, the Duratec has a lot more grunt and you do notice it. Economically i suspect upgrading to Duratec will save money over upgrading the sigma away from caterham (good as the premier power upgrades are). A 6 speed 420 is probably as far as you can easily go with a caterham unless you go 620 which just seems bonkers! simon

Thanks John, link to previous thread very helpful. Think my 360 only has one breather to catch tank from head which supports your experience that block breather goes to plenum. Will check on car tomorrow and if this is so will definitely reroute to catch tank. would prefer any over filling to go into catch rather than laying more smoke screens :-)

Hi John yes, standard plenum, curious, how does the oil get into it, i thought the breathers went into the catch tank? (Brands is mostly right handers, lots of smoke) thanks simon

My 360 has a flexible cable dipstick with an alloy shaped end with a flat crosshatched marker area on one side, very difficult to read when oil is clean and difficult to judge if over filled (which is easily done) hadnt realised that the dipstick enters sump at an angle which makes its orientation all the more important. Earlier this year at brands i overfilled oil by a litre and got black flagged for smoke, had to drain some oil with the help of Burton mechanics (thank you) and all was well. Interestingly nothing went in the catch tank? Odd

Pete have BM ‘d you

For sale - stormshield caterham car cover purchased for an SV two years ago and used twice, it fits an sv and also s3. It comes with straps and clips and a carry bag. it is an expensive fabric with a soft lining and a waterproof but breathable outer and of good quality it is in as new condition £100 from blackheath se london near blackwall tunnel on A2

Now sold with thanks

Bm sent

Caterham branded half hood with two half moon zips with fitting straps in excellent condition for an S3 metric car £150 collection from blackheath se3 nr blackwall tunnel on a2

Now sold with thanks

Mike im guessing you are in sevenoaks, why dont you pop round to blackheath at weekend and see if it fits? thanks s

Im not sure, is there such a thing as an imperial sv chassis? I suspect there is only one sv chassis size but could be wrong? happy to measure it if that helps?

purchased in error, new black sv petty strut £40 located blackheath se london near blackwall tunnel on A2 please bm me for questions thanks simon

From a 2017 s3 metric car, as new in black £150 located in blackheath se london near blackwall tunnel on A2 please bm me for questions thanks simon

Thanks Chris, interesting to hear your experiences of the upgrade. Whilst the cam upgrade sounds very successful, the dry sump sounds less so. i have had two precious caterhams, a k series and a sigma and have done a Caterham cam upgrade on both very successfully. I completely agree with you point about standard Duratec lacking something. Definitely lacks urgency at top end. Not saying the car is slow, it isnt, engine just lacks a bit of character I think the mocal water/oil cooler on the 360 is a recent addition but was surprised they didnt remove it when adding new oil cooler? Actually think the mocal unit works well, oil never goes over 85 unless on track when i have seen 90’s but never over 100 and this is when absolutely caning it. Also surprised you didnt get the nylon wedge as part of upgrade given that the 420 has it. Am now thinking of having the cam upgrade done first and see how i get on, hmmm

Hi Chris from your recent threads it looks like you have had both the dry sump and cam upgrades to bring your 360 to 420 spec? Would be interested to read your thoughts on the outcomes, is the power increase very noticeable etc thanks simon