andy couchman

My Ford crossflow engine is dry sumped and runs a remote filter. I've always used whatever Halfords filter looks to fit. Is there a best filter I should be using? Think it's all Titan gear.

Thanks.

Andy

Anyone have one they wish to sell?

Thanks.

Andy

I think Burtons do a blanking fitting. I use that and vent from the rocker cover through one of those nice shiny ali caps(!) into the dry sump tank. Check with Burtons as to their recommendations if running a wet sump though.

Wouldn't rely on the pic as it's the Tamiya model not a real car. Darned good though!

On mine, the filter and oilstat are mounted on the front top tubes. A bit fiddly and all secured in place with tie wraps to supplement the hoses.

Andy

Anyone used T Cut on carbon fibre?

I had some overspray on one of my wheelarch protectors and cleaned it off using T Cut. Now have a very shiny piece of carbon fibre. Also worked nicely on the carbon dash.

Anyone else used it?

Andy

Hi - am after a pair of new tyres for the Caterham. Apparently there is a shortage and Demon Tweeks don't have a delivery date and I need a pair fitted by the weekend...

The alternative would be Avon ZZS's? Lower profile (55 rather than 60) and a bit wider (215s rather than 205s).

Needed mainly for road use and want something that's reasonable in the wet.

Any suggestions/recommendations?

Thanks.

Andy

Thanks all. The marks on the rocker cover are tiny but at least I know where to machine Roger! Silicon's a good idea too - my Triumph Vitesse uses a silicon gasket there and the ali rocker cover is pretty oil tight. 

Thanks again all.

Andy

You're right Gulf1 but I use Burton's (thick) paper gaskets as the cork ones seem to just compress then leak. Looking for thick gasket material. Does it exist?

Just replaced the big old Duratec style alternator with a  little Denso unit on the crossflow. The old alternator had two big wires going to one terminal and a little wire to the other. The new alternator offers one big terminal (so the two big wires have gone there) and a smaller terminal with two terminals - ignition (IG) and light (L). I've connected my little wire to IG.

Now have no ignition light and am not sure the alternator is charging. Should I just switch the little wire from the IG to the L terminal?

I don't get electrics... 

Thanks.

Andy

Just had the engine rebuilt and it works!

However, like before (we now have an ali head), am having to run a double rocker gasket as the end of the roller rockers just touches the ali. Anyone else had this and what's the cure? I'm thinking of making a specially big gasket but don't know what from? My experience has been with brown paper and guess I'd need quite a few layers...

Andy

Burtons do a kit for the crossflow. Just installed it on mine - nice small Denso alternator and every elegant looking mounting. Check with them if would fit a BDR.

Andy

The nice thing about looking a dick wearing a race hat in a Caterham is no one can see it's you...

Andy ;-) 

A nice rolled edge (say 1% diameter) on the bit that faces the driver will probably keep the scrutineer happy, as the idea of a tonneau acting as a blade in an accident doesn't bear thinking about.

Aluminium is flexible and there is a long history of it being used on race cars (think 50s Jags) so you should be OK. Makes a nice table for picnics too.

Just not so great if you have a passenger...

Andy

Full face helmet and earplugs for me. Don't usually carry passengers with the aeroscreen but if I did then the passenger gets the helmet. Also race gloves - provide some protection plus fireproof gloves are always useful in any car - you never know when you might need them.

Have tried big hat, muff and sunglasses and sometimes use that on local journeys but crash hat is fine and, as a glasses wearer, easier to keep the rain out when it's wet. Chamois leather and a quick wipe now and again plus Rain x on the visor. Incidentally, I use an old race hat rather than current one on the road as the helmet tends to get knocked about more by the rollbar. Each to their own on these issues though - I write for a living so eyes, ears and hands quite useful!

Andy

Phew! Had a panic that it was in the wrong place.

Thanks.

Andy

That makes sense. My set up is pump to TB's, TBs to fuel pressure regulator, and fuel pressure regulator back to tank. Is that correct?

Andy

My injected crossflow runs the Caterham ali tank with inbuilt Rover (I believe) fuel pump. 

Daft question perhaps but does the pump push fuel out up to the injectors or suck it through back from the tank if you see what I mean?

Thanks.

Andy 

With the standard crank I'd agree Eric but after the rebuild we'll have steel crank, rods and flywheel and forged pistons. So, everything is both lighter and stronger. Those I've spoken to reckon 8,500 should be OK but very happy to consider alternative views! Most of the time, I'll probably run no more the 7 or 7 and a half.

Thanks all.

Oliver, is this the Mobil 1 high mileage oil or the Mobil 2000 X1 oil? I'm struggling to find anywhere that sells the former. Where do you get yours from?

Thanks.

Andy

Opie has been very helpful, as usual, in recommending a 10w/40 oil for the crossflow (new steel internals so rev limit hopefully up to 8500). There's a range though from fully synthetic to semi. Anyone any recommendations? For mainly road use, would a fully synthetic give a great advantage? In the past I've used Shell HX7 quite happily and the engine internals were perfect when we stripped it down.

Andy 

...and tyres have a rolling resistance made up I guess partly of friction against the road but also compression and expansion of the tyre sidewall and the tread 'pinching' on the road. Hot tyres may also 'stick' to the road a little.

So I guess we have:

- tyre friction/stiction/whatever

- resistance in the wheel bearings, brakes (more so with discs than drum brakes?), halfshaft CVJs (are live axles better in this respect?), diif (various bits), propshaft UJ's and gearbox (straight cut gears improve that a bit by reducing friction)

...it's a wonder they move at all!

Andy

I'm after two things:

- braided steel/rubber hose from injectors back to fuel tank. Best place too buy? I guess I need high pressure hose?

- am having the crossflow engine rebuilt with all steel internals. Which oil would you suggest? As tolerances should be more 'modern' can/should I use a more modern oil than before?

Thanks.

Andy

BP7ES plugs here. I mainly do touring these days but also use the car for the odd sprint, hillclimb and trackday. In the past swapped to 8s for competition, than back to 7s at the end of the day. When I ran the car on carbs I used a choke (Dellortos) for cold starting, half pressed the throtlle and hoped! Good luck!

Andy

PM sent 2cv7. 

Yes please - this is the 1/12 scale car?

Andy