paul jacobs

Ross, Hope you got my email off list, if not, try giving me another ring:- Daytime on mobi. 077 53 83 41 51 or evenings on 01823 421748

To "feed" your leather, shouldn't you use Hide Food, available from all good tack shops.

Apparently size isn't important, but skill and dedication have much more of an impact. [Although big Vauxhall engines are nicer than "small" Rover ones]. All virgins are welcome here.

OK - what I really, really want is a Blackbird engined Seven, what I've got, is a brand new starter kit, with all the bits, including a nearly new, but now run in, 2000 mile 1.6K engine from my 21 [now Vx engined]. I don't suppose by the merest chance there is a 'Bird engined Seven owner who wants to part exchange their car, for a kit of parts to build a 1.6K engined car with a BGH Geartec modded 5 speed box, on 14" wheels, full weather equipment, cloth seats etc. is there? I would of course entertain a silly offer of cash, if there is anybody who actually has some at the moment, but frankly I don't actually know what this lot is worth. Call me on 01823 421748 if it's the sort of thing you're interested in and we can "consider" the facts!

Hi Graham, Hope the car is running well? I've got an Ali nosecone which I don't think I'll be using much anymore - [to many modifications to make fit it onto the front of the 21]. It cost a fortune when I bought it a few years ago, but I guess that around £450 would be a fair price? [That includes the layer of dust too!] Interested? BTW what happened to your old number A1 6OGO, it's not on retention is it?

I have a set of approx. one third worn Yoko soft compound tyres for sale, suitable for road or track days. Sizes as follows:- 2 x 001R 185/60/13 fronts 2 x Advan HFR 205/60/13 rears [will fit 6" rim] 1 x A001 205/60/13 virtualy unused off spare. I want very close to £80 for the set, but will not split. Paul

Hands in pocket? - You never know Len. More to the point, if you hear of anyone else with a single seater in bits, which they don't want too much money for and that they've lost interest in, I could be interested in it for a Hillclimb/Sprint car. [Especially if it would take a Vx. 16v engine].

Not much response then Len, I s'pose that we don't have too many printers in the club, mostly people who work in the IT industry by the look of it. Worth a try though. Best of luck to Jamie for next season, if things go well, are we likely to see him on ITV on alternate Sundays throughout the summer, in a few years time?

Greg, I assume you meant to say, who made the tank? It was made to my spec. by a local ali. welder, it is rectangular top and bottom [and in the middle too:-)] and sits on the chassis. I used some self tapping screws to hold it in place, although there isn't much room for it to move, but you've always got to assume the worst, and the worst I could think of was inversion! I used it on my SBD Vx 7 originally, then more recently in my 21, and never had any probs. with it, but have now gone for a round tank because it fits perfectly into the air filter housing in the 21 - long story etc. Any idea what the footwell extension would be worth to you?

Just idly reading the postings, as you do, and thought that I'd mention that not only have I got a purpose made tank that fits in front of the extended footwell, but will need the exhaust modifying, but I've also got a spare extension, which came off a mid '90's chassis. They are both surplus to requirements, but might be of some use to someone, don't know what to value them at, but am open to suggestions. Any good to someone?

Excellent, many thanks.

Have you got a 'phone no. for them please?

OK, it'll be from memory because my engine file is at home. It was built up by SBD [but don't talk to Arnie for too long aobut them...] incorporating Omega pistons, modified con rods, balanced crank, lightened flywheel, alloy front pulley, Group A valves, modified head, SBD high lift cams of course, Pace scavenge pump, small Suzuki alternator, Lumination TBs, MBE ECU, open timing belt and a few other bits and bobs that I can't remember. I've got a Dyno plot too, which shows 246bhp at around 7250 or so and 181 lbs/ft/ at 6750. In real road driving it pulls like a train from around 2k, with real power coming around 3500, and BIG power between 5000 - 7750. It's also reasonable economical, driven sensibly, I suppose between 25-30mpg, but this can easily be reduced to the high teens with spirited accerleration etc. Still far better than a X/F though. is this the sort of power unit you had in mind?

I don't suppose that you're interested in taking a very well sorted 245bhp Vx engined 21 in part-exchange are you? I've wanted one of these for months......

Well, for the complete engine, with throttle bodies,dry sump equipment, ECU and engine loom, all ancillaries, but excluding the exhaust system, 'cause the one on the 21 just wont fit a Seven, I suppose that the figure I had in mind would be ITRO £4K -as I said "Not a giveaway", but when you spec. up the engine at cost, it will come out over double that! But, if my wife asks, I never said that, OK?

Would you be interested in one that was shown on a dyno at 245bhp, fully drysumped etc. It's at present in the car and can be seen working. Warning - not a giveaway though.

Hmm, interesting reply by both RK and Arnie. Could answer some questions to the problems I'm currently experiencing with my Vx engine. It's fully sealed system, with a breather out of the dry sump tank to a catch tank, then vented to air via a pipe run down the underside of the car exiting just behind the axle. Whats happening is that the engine, instead of sucking everything down and out of the sump, seems to want to have POSITIVE pressure in it and is blowing oil out of the top of the rocker cover oil filler [recently changed from a push in alloy plug in a quest for a tighter fit], and from around the sump pan gasket causing a holy mess down the underside of the car. Perhaps Roger has a point, and I shouldn't be running the engine in a vacuum but should have a small breather somewhere to help pull oil/air down through the scavenge pump?

I'd forget the green stuff, based on my experience anyway, I really couldn't tell any difference over the standard Caterham supplied pads, . There is just no initial bite to them and they make just as much dust too. Maybe the Reds will be better judging from the comments.

I can vouch for the Suzuki alternator. I've been using one on my XE for the last 4 years and it works a treat. Don't know which particular model it came out of, as my local dealer pulled a dead one out from under the bench and I had it repaired. The front pulley had to be changed for a samller V belt so that higher revs didn't kill it too quickly. Anyway worked for me, hope you find the same.

Yes I can can see the problem, especially on a hot sweaty drive. My belts have a little spreader bar, which Luke call a moustache, 'cause it looks like an old fashioned handlebar moustache. It works by holding the crotch belts apart, so that they actually pull tight against the inner thigh, not those more sensitive areas. I find them very comfortable over any time span and in the event of needing them for real, it is one less bit of damage to worry about!

I just fit my "crouch" belt onto the same bolts that the lap portion uses, but put in a longer seat mount bolt. Because I don't want to cut my seat, I just sit on the belt. Seems to work fine. As far as bolts and washers are concerned, you'll need a longer bolt if you use the lap belt mountings, and use some spacers so that the belt fittings are free to move, but the bolt is tight. I would've thought about 45 lbs of torque should be about right, I just tightened mine up 'till I thought it was tight enough though.

I think that I've got a brand new one somewhere in my garage Steve. I'll have a look when I get home tonight. What are they worth? [You'll have arrange collection from Somerset though] Paul

No, not really Mike, I find them far too comfortable, even though they do weigh a ton each. There is a company who claim to have designed the "S" type seat and made them for Caterham and still make one very similar, and who may be persuaded to make a replacement "S" design. From memory I think that the company is the Richfield seat company. I was talking to the guy at the Exeter show last year and he was telling me all about them. If it isn't Richfield, I'll look up the advert in an old Kit Car mag. and post the contact details if you're interested.

Surely everything has its price? I just don't know what the price is!

As far as the wheels and tyres go, logically, you should try and match up the two rear tyres, otherwise you will be doing some damage or at least making your dif. work harder if one rear wheel is turning faster than the other, if you drive carefully, I doubt that you would notice the difference on the front. And yes, the FIA bar boot cover has to have larger holes for the bracing struts at the rear, though it might be possible to enlarge the existing holes enough.