Lotus Boy

Wasn't it you that was considering a Routemaster bus for a business idea you were thinking of? I e-mailed you to offer my Dad's services regarding advice, locating one etc. If not you then sorry for any confusion, ignore 'all after hello' on the subject! Cheers Dave Edited by - Lotus Boy on 9 Feb 2006 18:04:23

Hi Dave My Seven (with clams!) was fitted with interia belts only when i bought it. I had a set on Willans on order (BC bulk buy) at the time of purchase as I too just didn't feel secure using interias. Car now has both belt arrangements incidentally. Quite a few of us showed interest in the Willans in particular so Luke Beaumont arranged the bulk buy - top fella Putting aside 4 or 6 point, the main differences are belt width, release mechanism and adjusters. Belt widths - usually 2 or 3 inches, think the most popular is 3" shoulder and 2" lap so you get good width across the shoulder and chest to spread the pressure and 2" on the lap as they are more comfortable and don't pinch so much. Release mechanism - aircraft turnbuckle is the one to have. Adjusters - go for the ali adjusters is you are happy to go for the extra expense, much easier to loosen the straps than the steel ones, though the steel ones are perfectly liveable with once used a few times. One other thing to note is that the lap adjusters for the Willans are reverse adjusters in that you pull the strap down to tighten, I believe with the Caterham/Luke ones you pull up (sure someone will confirm), best see which arrangement you prefer. Also the Willans eyebolts do not allow the belts so swivel as you can't fit a tophat but again that doesn't seem to bother most people. Mine are bolted down tight and I don't have any hassle with them, don't even notice it. I went for red Willans 3"shoulder / 2" lap 4 point, turnbuckle with the steel adjusters ☹️ and paid IIRC £220 for a pair. Dave ps was it you enquiring about the RM? Any thoughts?

Oh 😳 sorry...

Mike (Free BTTT ) Was this for Vanessa's(name?) Seven? Recall you talking about looking for one at the last Spraywash? Hope you are enjoying the E-Type Dave

A fellow sevener in my town has a short cockpit live axle car with a FIA bar. Believe he doesn't use the hood sticks as the hood is a snug fit over the top but fits nonetheless. He has the original (low viz ) doors and hood if that makes a difference?? Dave Edited by - Lotus Boy on 31 Jan 2006 21:22:35

Dave, I had a stack of EVO's, Performance Car's and other mags that I wanted to get rid of so i contacted a couple of the car mag E-Bay shops and one of them came down from Lincoln and bought the lot off me for between £1-£2 each. I was £80 richer with more cupboard space to boot! Perfect! Try dropping them a note? Dave

and pepper your lovely new paint job with salts rocks Stew!!!!!!! What are you thinking????

Desmo This may interest you then?? here Tony Lloyd who often frequents this site designed and made his own wind deflectors which are apparently a big improvement over the CC ones. I got CC ones last year as I enjoyed driving with the full screen and no doors but they make absolutely no difference. Have to say that after plenty of passenger rides in brooklands and aero screened cars I now have a set of brooklands waiting to go on my car along with the CC half doors as I feel it is the only way to go for that open air feeling. Looking forward to it! I'll get a helmet for the longer drives and undoubtly will wimp out and put the full screen and doors back on for the Swiss Trip 😬 Dave

Thanks for the replies guys. All I plan to do is roll the car in and out of the garage occasionally, it won't be driven with the 'winter' wheels on. Try before I buy seems to be the logical step. Steve - was wondering that as I chatted to Darren about this last night, he has never bothered and finds no problems even when storing the car for 4 to 5 months so if I can't find a set of suitable wheels that will clear the calipers/de dion etc then maybe I could just pump up the pressure to 25psi? Cheers Dave

Can anyone tell me which Ford wheels will fit my '94 HPC? Basically I want to lay the car up over winter but need to keep it mobile so am not in a position to leave up on axle stands, so I thought the best way to look after the tyres is to put the car on some old Ford steel wheels or something. Am guessing that any 4 stud Sierra wheels will suit but would Fiesta or Escort wheels from a similar '90's period fit ok? Thanks Dave Edited by - Lotus Boy on 9 Dec 2005 13:29:58

Don't forget Freddy Kumschick has built a number of VX 2.0 Turbo cars for the Swiss market with some getting around 300bhp - I heard a rumour when on the Swiss Trip that Freddy kept the last one built and that produced 330bhp and weighed a little over 500kgs! I very much doubt that finesse and delicacy are words you could use to describe them, especially when you consider the enormous wheels and rubber they run on. Dave

Red Lambo Miura on the A12 at Ipswich. Still a bl *cool*dy stunning and beautiful car. Why doesn't anyone make 'beautiful' cars anymore?? ☹️ Edited by - Lotus Boy on 28 Sep 2005 21:55:53

Pot...kettle, Arnie since I have photographic evidence of you in the kitty litter at Brands last year. It was good fun watching you bury yourself deeper and deeper into the gravel

Yes they come in 195/50 R15. See here

Alan, I have brooklands and half doors...but plan on fitting them over winter ready for next year. Sorry to get you temporarily excited. Always puzzles me when people say they are rare as wotsits as you can buy them new, though admittedly they are not cheap but if they are that rare then prices of these items at re-sale is surely going to be high too Anyway good luck with your search. LB

Great day for supercar spotting. Coming home from work I spotted a new Ford GT in white with blue stripes. Wow I thought...then it got better...travelling behind was a geniune Ford (GT40) MkIII chassis no 1107 sporting similar livery...holy sh*t WOW!!! *eek* I got so excited I nearly crashed the car. The driver looked a little over heated even if the car didn't 😬 Bet you can't tell I like GT40's (the original ones rather than the 'Ford picking up the cheque modern day copies') Bit later after that I spotted a tidy rare Aston Martin Zagato Volante too...which was nice. Anyway back to Sevens and the real world...

That sounds like Bryn7's car and yes that is the right reg number. Don't think I have seen him on here recently so may have lost him when it went members only or...if it is sitting on top of a car transporter he may have sold it I guess. Dave

Howard, why don't you try Steve Parker in Stansted? I've only used him the once and found him very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable not to mention noticeably cheaper than Hyperion. I would be more than happy to use him again. I know that Mark and Jennie Piper have taken their cars to him too and been happy with the work. Dave

On the A404 between High Wycombe and Amersham. Dept 77 plate (Is that near Paris??), dark red-ish colour I think. Dave

Mike - if I can't get mine repaired after my little...ahem...incident you may be able to have mine. WIll keep you posted. Dave

I may be able to get my existing bonnet repaired but if not I will give you a shout, cheers Bozz Dave

Does anyone have a standard bonnet in Caterham Post Office Red they don't want? Must be in very good condition...or better! Ah just need to add that the car is an injection car (so no air filter cut outs) with the seven louvre arrangement! Cheers Dave 07739 131 735 Edited by - Lotus Boy on 10 Jul 2005 23:15:01

Look under the tottie section of this set of images...There are a few of the Aston girls... here Edited by - Lotus Boy on 7 Jul 2005 21:46:06 Edited by - Lotus Boy on 7 Jul 2005 21:47:09

Just to add, I understand the standard Vauxhall sump is too deep and unsuitable for a Seven as the ground clearance would have been to small so Caterham fitted their own tapered sump to the engine to increase clearance. Also don't forget that the bell housing is Caterham's own design too so that it could mate to the Ford gearbox.

I'm sure someone with more knowledge will come along in a mo but the Vauxhall engine used is the C20XE engine. I think there were two versions, the later known as the LN (Low Noise?) version. One of the differences between the engines is that they changed the profile of the teeth on the cams and timing belts. Engine numbers from 14142839 onwards are the later types. Couldn't tell you which is better though. They were fitted to Astra GTE's and Calibra's. Might be fitted to Cavalier GSI 2000 too but not sure. Oh by the way Michael, ever so sorry but the guy who owns the car you built has moved to Spain and I believe the car is soon to follow. I will keep in touch with his friend over here and if he gets hooked up to the internet I will pass on details. Must remember to send you some pictures in the meantime though. Cheers Dave Editted to say great choice of engine though 😬 Edited by - Lotus Boy on 11 Jun 2005 21:25:32