Andrew Willcox

Hi James, Any idea where the team will be meeting on the evening before Oulton Park? Looking to sort some accommodation nearby. Thanks Andrew

Autosol with wire wool worked well for me - be interested to hear if Harpic is any better.

1) Just Buy One… I will always admit that owning a Caterham was not on my bucket list growing up, why would anyone pay so much money for such a basic car? I now absolutely get it - the basic driving experience and the ability to tinker and fettle always leaves me feeling fulfilled. 2) Join the Lotus 7 Club… The club provides access to great technical support through the forums and the 10% discount at Halfords alone is likely to cover the cost of membership! I’m always (pleasantly) surprised by the response on the forum to technical questions and the wealth of knowledge available. With summer coming I look forward to joining more club events to meet more like minded petrol heads. 3) Redline Components… The guys at redline just offer a great service, Chris has big boots to fill taking this business on from John & Mick, but for my money he’s doing a great job even if he hasn’t worked out his members discount structure yet! Cold in winter… A quick Blat up Fish Hill and out to Stow just before Christmas (snow on the verges) confirmed to me there is no heat transfer through the tunnel without a heater. Three days later I went down with the usual lurgy that wiped me out over Christmas - it has been said (many times) that this was entirely down to my stupidity. 4) McMillan Motorsport… Another Caterham business that gives great service, best of all, they explain what they are doing and help you understand the car. Three hours in their workshop and the car was transformed with a suspension setup that suited my plans for the car and a new set of tyres. The car always handled well - but there was always the threat that a bump would throw you into the ditch if you weren’t paying absolute attention! As an added bonus the car even clears the speed bumps at Halfords! 5) Softbits Half-hood… Great accessory, having been caught in a hale storm without weather gear I ordered a half-hood from Softbits. Made to measure and delivered in 5 days and a really great British made product! Only advise I’d add is also buy some ear plugs - long runs with the roof on leave my ears ringing for hours! 6) Caterhams are made for the track… If the Caterham is fun on the road it is absolutely sublime on a track! The Lotus 7 Club Novices Trackday is the perfect event to give it a go - superbly organised and absolutely fantastic value for money! The support, encouragement and instruction ensured that by the end of the day I was cornering and lapping faster than I thought possible. Best of all is the experience of being on the track with just Caterhams, learning from others lines and pace without other bulky road cars to get in the way through the bends. As a life-long car nut I now have a new hobby - Caterhams! With summer coming I look forward to joining more club events to meet more like minded petrol heads. Big thanks to all that have helped make the Caterham experience so far so much fun.

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...

Sorted thanks, found the spare connector, all working now.

Thanks Richard, From studying the wiring diagram, it looks like 3 wires run to/from the tachometer from engine plug... 1 is an Earth, does it matter which of the other 2 I tap into? OK, think I’ve got it... the White and Black wire is the tacho output from the ECU according to the wiring diagram for the engine I’ve just found. Must be that one. So much info on this site if you keep looking! Out of interest, what other inputs have you connected? I see I have a brake flag and throttle position sensor installed.

Hi, Just fitting a race-technology DL1 to my Caterham EU3 K Series. Can anyone advise me on how best to get an RPM input, not sure if I need to connect to rev counter inputs or if there is another way to get the input from the ECU. Thanks!

Hi Grant, Can you confirm what size (profile) the CR500 tyres are? Also, where in Warwickshire are you? I live near Alcester. Might be interested...

Hi, can you put my name on the timing strut and side mirrors / mounts. Are the door mounts also available for the mirror? Would also take the rubber mats... but looks like they’ve sold a number of times! If you let me know total cost with postage. Thanks Andrew

Hi, I’m after a 7 grill, is there one still fitted to the nosecone? I live near Stratford so could arrange to meet there if there is a deal to be done. Thanks Andrew

So I avoided reaching for an impact wrench on this occasion and didn't remove the bung. Just got all the oil out I could by tipping the Apollo tank on its side. Gasket modified, foam replaced and refilled - oil looks really clean. Tappets still noisy when cold though... Just need some slightly warmer weather over Christmas to get back on the road.

JJF, Interested to note from your previous Blog that your car was raced by late Martin Kay. To help you build the picture, in 2014/15 Martin Kay raced a Black & Green Caterham (Number 102) that was previously was raced by Dylan Stanley. My Caterham now has the engine taken from this car. So I guess Martin Kay must have raced your car in seasons prior to 2014 before buying Dylan Stanley's car? Hope you had a safe trip home, great to meet you yesterday.

Hi, yes I only need a cap. Will message you directly. Thanks

Thanks guys, So I managed to manoeuvre the tank onto its side just removing the breather pipe and got a further quantity of oil out. Also plenty of oil retained in the sump cleared with sump removal. Just the foam to cut and sump to replace now... Will enjoy dipping the clean oil when back together.

Hi, Just drained hot oil from sump and filter - but I can't shift the bung in the bottom of the Apollo tank. Purchased the recommended Halfords 32mm spanner but still can't get the bung to turn with Allen Key. Worried about damaging the tank itself and wondering if it is worth persisting. How much oil is likely to be in bottom of the Apollo Tank with the system fully drained - feels pretty empty? Andrew

Hi, I need a fuel filler cap to tidy up the back of my car, finishing disc missing from mine. Aero Filler and neck would be great if anyone has a spare. If not a plain cap would do, black preferred if someone has one. Let me know if you have anything available. Thanks!

Paul, 5w40 and 5w50 will have the same viscosity at 0oC (hence the same 5W. As temp increases the 40 will thin more than the 50 hence the lower viscosityat 40oC. Im trying to be an engineer and working on the assumption that Lowe viscosity will help top end lubrication at “normal” temperatures. Assuming the higher viscosity of the 50 is only really a benefit at sustained high temp running. Makes sense to me... but I’m sure there are alternative theories! Comma oil ordered from Amazon last night @ £25 per 5l

Thanks for the inputs... Checking the Owners Handbook it actually recommends 0W-40 (not 10W-40) road or 5W-50 track. 0W-40 only seems to be available in premium brands that I'm not going to pay for - and I'm sure a slightly worn engine would benefit from a slightly thicker oil! So it looks like it's a choice between Comma 5W-40 and Comma Motorsport 5W-50. Looking at the Comma spec sheets for the oils, there is quite a difference in the viscosity @ 40oC (5W40 @ 80cSt vs 5W50 @ 103cSt) so... in the interest of improving flow at normal temperatures (tappet lubrication) I think I'll follow Tom and Ians advise and go for the 5W-40 over the winter months. Will keep and eye on oil pressure next year as the weather warms up. Andrew

Thanks Jonathan, I see both grades recommended in various places. Also sensitive to rattley tappers when cold and I’d don’t know whether 5W50 exacerbates this problem... hence trying to get to some of the theory behind the grades. Regarding Foam, I hadn’t picked up on this debate. Assume replacement at every opportunity is food practice.

Hi, Looking to complete my first oil change in ex race 1.6 K Series, wet sump with Apollo tank. Foam and filters ready, just need to sort the oil. Trying to understand the trade between 10W40 and 5W50. Sounds like 5W50 is recommended for extended track us but what are the downsides in “normal” everyday use? I intend to use the car for track days / sprints next year, not sure if that justifies the motorsport oil. Thoughts and Advise

So with my ex-graduate Caterham through the MOT I’m having my first experience of driving on the road. I want to understand whether the current track set up with some serious camber angle is appropriate for general road and track use? Im sure the answer here is to take the car to an expert - can anyone recommend a suitable expert in the Midlands area? Thoughts and suggestions?

Thanks guys, connector ordered.

just arrived by post...

Ok, thanks guys. So I’ve removed the sensor, system is electric from gearbox. Wire from sensor was clearly broken so I've ordered a new sensor from redline which should arrive today. Interested in wiring suggestions - the OE connector has been removed from the car loom so I’m faced with cutting the nice OE connector from the new sensor to replace with a pair of horrible crimp on spades. Doesn’t feel like a great move! Not sure if it’s possible to buy and fir the OE standard connector for the loom?

Hi, yes in stock with cc and also red line. Was hoping there might be someone out there with a spare lying on the garage shelf... if not red line will have an order tomorrow. Will be out of time, I think I need a working Speedo to clear the MOT.