OldAndrewE

#10 you say "could it be a faulty sender" but higher up you say it is a mechanical gauge. There is no sender on a mechanical gauge, just a pipe connecting the gauge to the oil system

Do you have an oil pressure warning light, does that come on?

I take it you have four over centre clips as originally fitted to sevens.  I had the same issue with an S2 I has some time ago (the bonnet once went backwards over my head).  If you are not concerned about originality then I suggest fitting the spring latches to the front as current Caterhams and do what you can to make sure the rears have decent tension on them

#8 If so, how did you (#2) get at the MOT history?

Here: CATERHAM SEVEN (S3) - Check MOT history – GOV.UK (check-mot.service.gov.uk)

If that is the one then it is not on carbs, surely fuel injection (on 45 mm Webber throttle bodies?)

The Haynes manual for the Escort Mexico and RS1600 (which must be similar to your BDR) says 12 to 15 lb/ft. It does not differentiate between Mexico and RS  

Is that a Ford type 2? No experience of that, sorry.

OK Graham, when I said supplier I meant the supplier of any potential new one and explain your concern about different lengths.  Like you I would prefer to see all four barrels identical

Speedo drive O ring seal: 2000E Bullet gearbox (burtonpower.com)

The O-ring, can't find the small seal

Graham, is this the arrangement you have?

It may be possible to undo the bolt holding the forked clamp and then get things out without removing the engine/box.  The housing (aluminium on mine) has a small oil seal inside for the drive gear spindle and an O-ring on the outer diameter

Do the aux venturis have any part numbers on them?  If so I guess you have checked they are all the same

Might be worth a call to the supplier, I would think they could advise on the length issue

Burton have got this (or at least they would if it were in stock). They say on order so might be worth checking when they expect it

90 degree speedo drive adaptor: Type 9 5 speed, Type E 4 speed (Rocket), Type 2, Type 3, 2000E, Type F & Type 5 V6 gearboxes (burtonpower.com)

Graham,

This is a useful book to help you learn about these carbs How To Build & Power Tune Weber & Dellorto DCOE, DCO/SP & DHLA Carburettors 

It is worth making a note of the main settings for your carbs as they are now (and as Roger says make sure they are the same for each barrel)

Perhaps Roger will comment but I would think is unusual to change choke size without changing anything other settings

They do both go in, in the order shown on the diagram.  It is part 22 that will be changed and they are available in something like 24 mm up to 36 mm for a DCOE40 carb.  If he changed 22s then you should have a spare set of them, if not then he has kept them. Were you charged for new chokes, some will just swap and keep the old without charging as they will all be useful somewhere.  At around £20 each they are worth having

Snap

DCOE & DCO/SP parts Archives - Eurocarb (dellorto.co.uk)

Plain nuts and a spring washer according to the official supplier.  The diagram is interactive

Is this the housing you have Anthony?

Special thermostat housing: X/Flow, pre-X/Flow, Lotus Twin Cam & Raceline water rails (burtonpower.com)

I think Redline has them as well

There are a few more contacts to try here:

Committee – MG Car Club South West Centre (mgccsw.com)

Not an easy question to answer and probably needs some experiment.  I would say as much as possible without causing the bottle to overflow.  If you are sure the system is properly full with no airlocks then I would start at 1/3  to 1/2 full

It is important that the overflow/catch bottle always has liquid in it and the pipe is always below the liquid level

still trying to think how to describe a vacuum that I know isn't a vacuum to explain aircraft lift and how a straw is used to .. drink coca cola.. and return fluid to my cooling system.

All these situations create a pressure difference. It is the high pressure that pushes, not the low pressure pulling (sucking)

If you have no luck the details to make one are here:

timing strut.pdf (caterhamlotus7.club)

The switches on Car Builder Solutions are APEM

So B is definitely for Universal Radiators.  L for LHD? 2071 twentieth chassis in 1971?  Is it a 1971 car?

I am only an interested spectator on this but I can't help adding a couple of thoughts.

I would be very surprised if someone from CC does not pay attention to things that are posted on here, they must already be aware of the issue, albeit informally.

The main problem we have with these cars is that the first response to any problem (for most of us) is to try and fix it either by ourselves or with the help of the collective knowledge here, not revert to the manufacturer or dealer.  This has lead to quite a few of these instances occurring without any collation of data.  If this were the failure of a major suspension component on a 'main stream' car I think the situation would be very different