Alaskossie

The clips that hold the mirrorsforsevens mirror are very thin, but strong. They make no noticeable change in the profile of the leading edge of the soft top. i have run in the rain at speed (80+ mph) with top up (including the SBFS bikini top) and had no water ingress at all. Alaskossie

I have found this to be the complete answer for rearward vision, if you are running with a windscreen: http://www.mirrorsforsevens.com/index.htm I use this panoramic mirror in combination with two windscreen pillar-mounted Spa c/f mirrors. The pano mirror works well, even with a SBFS bikini top or the full CC top up. Alaskossie

I believe that the "America" flared wings were first made for the American market because the American race regulations at that time did not permit cycle-winged cars. Alaskossie

Dignity, Wow, I didn't realize that the RS was Russell Savory's operation -- home of the Levante. Thanks much! Alaskossie

Anybody have the Web address of RS Performance? I can't seem to find the right one with my trusty search engine (turns up too many Porsche RS items...) Thanks. Alaskossie

They exit on the correct side on a lhd Caterham..... Alaskossie

I know one of your criteria was carrying sufficient luggage without a spare tyre rack, but.....I fabricated a rack out of aluminum tubing that uses as its support the spare tyre rack (with spare tyre in place), and carries three nylon ski-boot bags. Combined with the SBFS Re-bag, this set-up gives plenty of space for two people for extended tours (I used it on a 6100-mile jaunt this past August). My main criterion was that my luggage not obscure my rear vision. My rack is supported at bottom by the spare tyre carrier, and at top by straps running to the FIA bar supports. The two side-pod racks can be removed, leaving just the central rack for one bag; or all three racks can be removed, leaving only the basic rack frame affixed between the spare tyre and the rear panel. I'd post photos, but don't have a website to link my photos to. If anyone wants photos, please send me a PM. Alaskossie

Any opinions on the S3 "Super Wide-track," as marketed by Freestyle? Alaskossie

But of course the larger Tilletts will not fit a Series III Seven... Alaskossie

I'll vote for the Tilletts (if you fit). I am 5' 10", and in last August I completed a 25-day, 6150-mile trip in my S3 with Tilletts. That's a lot of sitting. They were very comfortable, even for long distances. The only mods I made were the installation of the Oxted Trimming quilted leather seat insert, and an adjustable aftermarket (Demon Tweeks) lumbar pad velcro'd in the right place, to support the small of the back. Alaskossie

Neil, I seem to recall that the US Caterham distributor got them for me directly from Oxted Trimming in UK, along with some removable floor carpets, but I can't be sure now. Alaskossie

I applied the Caterham boot-liner carpet kit (boot floor, and sides) to my 2007 S3. However, instead of just gluing the carpet to the ali, I cut some blue foam camping sleeping pad material to fit each piece of carpet, and glued these pieces to the backside of the carpet. The I glued the combination pieces to the ali in the proper places in the boot. It takes a little fiddling, and cut and paste trial and error, to get each piece to fit properly, but can be done in an evening or two. The blue stuff is about 3/8 -inch thick, and it weighs next to nothing. However, it does seem to offer additional soundproofing, and it definitely guards against toolboxes and other heavy objects denting the bodywork from the inside. Alaskossie

On the question of wide-track vs. conventional c/f clams, RiF had informed me that his patterns were for wide-track clams, so I don't know if that part of the possible production by Carbon Bits could be changed now. I agree it would be helpful to appeal to as wide an audience of potential c/f clam buyers as possible. If the c/f clam pattern and mold were for narrow-track front suspensions, it might be possible to sandwich a 1-inch or 1 1/4-inch square aluminium tube between the clams and the body to bring the clams out for "wide-track" configuration. I saw that done once, years ago, with a narrow-track Seven in the Washington, D. C. area that had wider-than-stock tires for autocrossing. Alaskossie

Ah yes, but think of your carbon footprint... Alaskossie

Is there any interest among the POBC for a set of wide-track carbon fiber clamshell wings, to make your Seven really unique among equals? Several years ago I had corresponded with the late RiF about making such wings, and he told me that he had the patterns, but had not yet had the time to make the molds. Sadly, time ran out for Richard, but I have corresponded with Nick at the renewed Carbon Bits company. He has assured me that c/f clams are a possibility, if there is enough firm interest. It is expensive to move the process from pattern to mold, so Carbon Bits would need at least 5 or 6 firm orders before undertaking the process. The estimated cost for a set of wide-track clamshell wings, in prepreg c/f, is £850.00 per pair. Is there any interest out there, or am I a solitary Seven aficionado with a c/f clam fixation? Alaskossie

By "flared wings," do you mean clams? Or is this a new CC option I've not heard about? Alaskossie

I went to an auto upholstery shop and had a "purse" made for my removable wheel -- black nylon fabric, circular in shape, with a lining of foam (camping sleeping-bag mat) on the wheel side, and a cut-out tennis ball over the splined hub; Velcro closure and two nylon strap handles. It looks like a small briefcase when I carry it into a shop or restaurant, and attracts no attention at all....... Alaskossie

I suppose it is not light enough, but I always thought that an Alfa Romeo 2600 engine with three 2-barrel Weber side-draughts (2.6 liter straight 6) would look wonderful under the bonnet -- perhaps with a rear-mounted transaxle to allow more rearward engine placement, and to move some of the mass to the rear. Alaskossie

For touring and not racing, I went a slightly different route for my 9800 km drive in my S3 from Colorado USA to Alaska, two months ago. I had a removable "jerry can" constructed of aluminium, somewhat triangular in profile, and designed to fit in the boot between the shock towers. It has a removable filler cap and a vent cap (loosened during filling), and a one-way vent with a snap coupling (outboard motorboat fuel fitting) that is hooked to a vent hose installed in the car, to vent any build-up of pressure while driving. The jerry can is held in place between the shock towers by two safety-belt straps and scuba-diving buckles, which pass through metal loops (taken from car seat belt shoulder strap keepers) that are bolted to the underside of longer versions of the Caterham shoulder harness bolts. When my main tank gets low on fuel, I stop, remove the jerry can from the boot, and re-fill the main tank. The jerry can holds 4.4 gallons (US), and weighs 11 pounds, empty. Alaskossie

I fitted mine with a number of small black oxide stainless hex-head button bolts and nuts around three edges, spaced about 5 inches apart. I had my Millwoods clear-coated (as I did all my carbon-fiber parts), but after 7000 miles, the protectors are quite pitted and dull-looking. I would have also put two layers of clear-bra on the protectors, if I had thought of it before installing. Does the c/f weave pattern in your Millwoods run on the diagonal? Mine does, and thus they don't blend with the CC c/f rear wings, where the pattern runs vertically. I have been in touch with Millwood about getting a set of protectors with a vertical weave pattern. We are still discussing it... Alaskossie

Does Ultimate Carbon have a a website or other internet contact? I have not been able to find it. Also, does anyone make c/f rear wings that eliminate the silly (and actually, useless) notch-up on the leading edge of the left (offside, I believe, to you Brits) that long ago accommodated the exhaust pipe as it made an exit over the rear axle? This notch is useless for any Caterham with its exhaust on the right side of the car (Duratec, etc.), as well as useless for any left-side exhaust that does not exit out the back of the car. Why can't CC update their left rear wing? Alaskossie

Does Ultimate Carbon have a a website or other internet contact? I have not been able to find it. Also, does anyone make c/f rear wings that eliminate the silly (and actually, useless) notch-up on the leading edge of the left (offside, I believe, to you Brits) that long ago accommodated the exhaust pipe as it made an exit over the rear axle? This notch is useless for any Caterham with its exhaust on the right side of the car (Duratec, etc.), as well as useless for any left-side exhaust that does not exit out the back of the car. Why can't CC update their left rear wing? Alaskossie

I have been contacted by Jason F. by e-mail, and he is next in line for the Nifty mirror mounts. Alaskossie

I have used the Radtec Extreme on my 250 hp Cosworth/Duratec 2.3, and am very pleased. One advantage over the triple-pass I earlier received from CC (don't know if this has changed), is that I specifically ordered the Radtec with the upper inlet and outlet ports on their proper sides, so that the radiator hoses would not have to do crossovers to reach their proper ports. Alaskossie

I have a new set of Nifty's mirror mounts that I ended up not using in my Seven build. They are complete as I recall, but do not include the SPA mirrors. I will sell them to whoever wants them, for half of what I originally paid (I'll have to look it up), plus postage from USA. Alaskossie Alaskossie