TheManAlive

Quoting Dave Jackson: don't post on Blatchat - your better off getting out of the car 😬 That was what I was thinking!

I tried this on my Sigma and it did not work. Was rather disappointed and never found a solution.

Brilliant. Why didn't I think of that! Doh. I'll be rummaging for an M2 nut or some small washers later. I blame the heat - I know its hot in the UK right now, but here in Cyprus the garage hasn't been below 33 degrees for the last few weeks and it makes even the simplest jobs a test of endurance!

When i built my car I put the poppers on with a standard Riveter. At the time I did not realise, but the nose of the riveter was too broad to fit into the opening of the popper. As such, some of them are loose. I have purchased some of directional poppers form Soft Bits to keep the tonneau on when I am driving and am now looking to replace the poppers on the car. What is the trick to getting the riveter to work properly? Is it a case of finding one with a smaller fitting or is there a trick to it? Thanks

I am on my second plastic top one. When changing the coolant the other day I noticed that there was some evidence of it leaking again. I havent been out for a run yet but if it is still doing it then I will probably opt for one of the aluminium ones as well.

Second one is now nearly 10 months old and a noisy little thing. Lucky she is so cute. The eldest is constantly telling me that the 7 is her car - she wishes!

Thanks for the advice. I'll have a crack at it whilst the kids are down for their nap at lunch. Its amazing how much longer jobs take when you get to do them in one hour bursts when the little monsters are asleep!

Silly question, but what is the technique for draining and refilling the coolant on a Sigma engined car. I havent done it myself before so before I end up drowning myself in the stuff I thought I would check. I've searched here but all the guidance is for K series cars. I am hoping the lack of comments mean it is a simple job!

Great, thanks for the suggestions.

I'm trying to find a few bits and pieces without having to pay the ridiculous delivery prices that Caterham want. I've had the front and rear wings re-sprayed and I want to replace the rubber piping that runs around the edge of the wing-guard (the spray shop misplaced the original!). They also failed to hang on to the little rubber grommets that go between the cap head bolts and the front wing. I've been googling for a while now but havent found either the rubber piping or the right size grommets so in the spirit of weekend laziness I thought I'd ask here and see if anyone else has bought these from someone other than caterham.

I will be using the stone guards again - the film is for the unprotected edges as you have done. I have seen the wrap around C/F ones but I am not keen on them. I like the shiny metal guards 😬 Thanks for the advice.

I am having the wings of the car resprayed and am looking at ways of giving them a bit more protection from grit being fired at them at speed. I am going to order some of the paint protection film from PPG as a first line of defence. As I am in Cyprus I will be having a crack at installing it myself - so I may be ordering some more shortly after I mess up the first batch. I have two questions though. Firstly, when you have a paint protection film on, does it look obvious if you polish and wax the non-protected bits of paint work? Secondly, I want to protect the wings from starring. I am looking to glue some closed cell camping matting to the undersides and was wondering what to use as the glue? What have people used before? Thanks

I tried a variety of places including behind and under the seat, but the wind noise was too much. Ended up taping it next to the charging socket on the passenger side. No wind noise, but its still not quite what I am looking for. I'd like to get a bit more of the exhaust note which probably means I should be putting it on the drivers side.

Whilst I have learned my way around most of the car over the last 5 years or so of ownership I have never really delved into the confusing world of engine upgrades - as its a Sigma there are not very many of them out there. So, when I saw this (Jenvey Throttle Bodies) for sale I started wondering just what it would do for the engine. Is it a power increase or is it throttle response? What else would need modifying?

My car is 2008 vintage as well and the rear wings are more chip than paint now. Since I put R888s on this has become significantly worse. With hindsight I would have put the paint protection film over the wings, put wrap around stoneguards on and put small mudflaps on the front wings. As and when I return to the UK I will get the wings resprayed and do all of the above. How do I find out the paint code? Is it a case of ring Caterham and ask them to check their records? Edited by - TheManAlive on 17 Mar 2013 05:58:20

Thanks for the kind offer. I found someone on the web and they are hopefully already winging their way to me!

Thanks for the suggestions. Will have a look at the options and a think before having a go. One suggestion a work colleague had was cutting a straight groove in the bottom of the bolt with a dremmel so I can then get the end of a flat headed screwdriver into it, allowing me to have a crack at removing the nut. Will have a look when I get out to the garage next and ponder the options! Well, just looked at the parts on Caterham website. No way I paying £10 delivery on 10 small screws! Searching online I found these - Titanium Screws Would that be taking weight saving to the extreme? 😬 Edited by - TheManAlive on 11 Mar 2013 17:24:12

I tried to take the cycle wings off to put on some mud flaps (the grit on the roads here in Cyprus has been taking its toll on the paintwork), but the dome head bolts and nuts were pretty well seized. I tried a bit of WD40 to no avail and now the allen key head on the bolts has been ruined (cant think of the correct phrase for it but the allen key will now turn in it). Trying to think of ways to get them off and open to suggestions - hack saw through the bolt under the wing? Also, what is the correct replacement part? Is it this? Dome Head Screw Thanks.

It is a little squeely!! Always open to driving hints/advice if anyone has any.

One set of Yoko 539s ordered. Managed to get a company to ship them for me! Anyone care to guess how much slower over a lap they will be compared to the R888? Longer term I'll look for a set of rims and a source of slicks. Its too good an opportunity to spend time on a track learning to run with slicks. Here is the website for anyone holidaying here and fancies a bit of track action. There is a selection of cars you can arrive and drive and they are a very friendly bunch. Achna Speedway Thanks for the advice.

It was a set of mediums (GG). I have never seen them available in hard, but if anyone knows of a supplier please let me know and I will try to get them to ship to me.

It's in the eastern SBA between dkhalia and Agios Nicolias , about 15 minutes from Larnaca. It's called Achna Speedway, if you google it it's on googlemaps. Edited by - TheManAlive on 30 Jan 2013 21:03:04

It is an absolute bargain. If I lived a little closer and didn't have a baby and a toddler to juggle with SWMBO I would be there all the time! I was surprised how fast I wore through the R888s. I knew they would be soft, just not that soft! The grip they offer is amazing and nearly three seconds faster over a lap than the old tyres with more to come. It's just the cost if I wear through them so fast. I have been trying to find a company that will deliver to BFPO the A539s but no joy so far. Because they tend to be delivered by courier they won't accept them. So far only Demon Tweeks will do it and all they have in 13 or 14 is the R888 and tr1. I spent ages trying to source something on island but no one stocks anything in those sizes that would be suitable. R15 ao48s can be bought but at quite a high price, but nothing smaller. I met a guy with a Westfield BEC and he had had cr500s shipped over from the UK that it cost him a fortune. To be honest there are only a handful of 7 style cars here, I haven't seen a single caterham in nearly two years and most of the cars I have seen at the track are saloons, so not much demand for track orientated small tyres. I will keep trying various suppliers, but I may just have to end up going for another set of 888s and just accept the cost and the wear and try to just get better lap times!. Slicks would be great, but it's the sourcing them that would be hard as I guess I would have the same problem with shipping. Still, at 30 euros a day whenever i can get away and a virtually private test track with almost guaranteed good weather I can't really complain it's a nice problem to have! Regarding the abrasiveness of the surface, I had a set of zv3s that had done about 9k miles and 15 or so track days with hardly any wear at all. 4 visits and I had them on the wear bars. I have a photo somewhere as I was fairly sure that given they seem to be made out of granite worn out zv3s must be rarer than a horny panda! Edited by - TheManAlive on 30 Jan 2013 20:39:27

I did have a think about it. I'd need a spare set of wheels (in storage) and the wheel rack for getting them to the track (also in storage in the UK! Doh!). So I think I need some decent sporty road tyres. I have used Yoko 539s on my old MX5 and I liked them. Am currently searching for a supplier - sadly the courier Camskill uses wont send to BFPO .

My set of 13s are sitting in storage in the UK. ☹️ there was no track when I came out here 2 years ago so I didn't bring them with me. Sourcing tyres on island proved to be rather hard as the prices were much higher and the choice was very limited, hence ordering from the UK. I can get T1Rs in R14 from Demon Tweeks - not the cheapest source in the UK but they will deliver to BFPO (British Forces Post). I can get more R888s from them but I'd happily trade the excellent grip (and great lap time) for a bit more durability. Here's a video of the track - its no Brands or Goodwood, but it does serve to scratch that trackday itch nicely! Edited by - TheManAlive on 30 Jan 2013 14:40:47