More Lotus DNA in the Stable

[Valenz]

I just flew back from Arlington, Texas this evening and boy are my arms tired! Ba doom boom!

I spent the day looking at Caterhams, Birkins and other beautifully engineered toys. I appreciate the help I received from people here and those over on the USA7s site which helped deepen my Lotus addiction. I returned home tonight with a title and bill of sale for the newest bit of Lotus DNA to grace my garage. I can't wait for the car itself to arrive. The new addition is a 1964 Caterham Super Seven S3 (Zetec & DeDion).

It was great to meet and interact with Dick Brink. We had a great time talking about a variety of things mechanical and growing up with a wrench in your hand and grease on your face.

Now all I have to do is learn to drive (I mean really drive) the new toy.

[Valenz]

A few more pictures.

[mopho]

Congrats! You will have a blast.

But just checking, you do realize that car was not built in 1964 right? (just checking )

[PhlypSide]

I have 7 envy!

Congrats!!!!

[Valenz]

Originally Posted by mopho

But just checking, you do realize that car was not built in 1964 right? (just checking )

Yep. Know that. The chassis is an '88 build, but it's titled as a '64 Lotus (which is how it will stay).

[Valenz]

Originally Posted by PhlypSide

I have 7 envy!

Congrats!!!!

Thanks! I guess that size really doesn't really matter as long as it's at least a Super Seven.

[Alphonse]

Most excellent! Now all you need to do is get that air cleaner pointed in the right direction.
Enjoy the ride!

[Valenz]

Originally Posted by Alphonse

Most excellent! Now all you need to do is get that air cleaner pointed in the right direction.
Enjoy the ride!

Yeah, it's too bad about that, but in the other direction lies the hamster and his running wheel that turn the alternator. Turn the air cleaner around and the poor fellow would be plastered across the filter every time you accelerated hard.

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Valenz

Yeah, it's too bad about that, but in the other direction lies the hamster and his running wheel that turn the alternator. Turn the air cleaner around and the poor fellow would be plastered across the filter every time you accelerated hard.

TWM-Throttle Bodies-2000 Series




.

[uglyduck]

Very nice.....Who did the Zetec conversion?. Look at get some throttle bodies such as TWM or go to Raceline in England for their fuel injection setup.
What oil pan does it have?

[Valenz]

Originally Posted by uglyduck

Very nice.....Who did the Zetec conversion?. Look at get some throttle bodies such as TWM or go to Raceline in England for their fuel injection setup.
What oil pan does it have?

Thanks! Dick Brink at Texas Motor Works did the conversion. I spoke with Dick at some length about the engine fitting and the oil pan did come up in that conversation. As I recall Dick mentioned that the oil pan was a special design (for him?). I left much of my notes with the car manuals and records to be delivered with the car. I'll have to get back to you on the details when the car shows up.

[uglyduck]

I have talked to Dick when I was planning my Zetec conversion. He had done quite a few, as well as the Birkin 7s. I went with the Raceline allow pan and Kubota alternater to keep things as compact as possible

[Valenz]

Originally Posted by uglyduck

... What oil pan does it have?

Sorry for the long delay in answering your last question. I've finally finished the installation of a second lift so I just now had the chance to get the Seven up on its lift. The pan is a shortened (re-baffled) stock pan. I don't know who did the pan modification, but as I said earlier I seem to remember that Dick Brink had someone do this for him, but I've seen similar modifications from Scholar Engines. There was also an aluminum skidpad (not shown in the photo) that was installed to protect the leading edge of the pan.

A.J.

[tvacc]

Much luck on the Caterham. It is my favorite car. I hardly drove my Elise this year. I am enjoying my Caterham. I like my crossflow...but wish I had a Zetec or a Duratec.

Dick Brink knows his stuff and I am sure the car is set up right.

About the only thing you should really consider is a Fuel Safe Fuel Cell to replace the aluminum tank. Makes the car much safer.

[Valenz]

Originally Posted by tvacc

Much luck on the Caterham. It is my favorite car. I hardly drove my Elise this year. I am enjoying my Caterham.

I know the feeling. I kinda feel like I'm cheating on one car when I'm driving another and I'm spending way too much time in the mornings trying to decide which car to drive. It is, however, easy when it rains because then I can just take a utility vehicle.

I like my crossflow...but wish I had a Zetec or a Duratec.

I'll bet the Crossflow is nice too!

About the only thing you should really consider is a Fuel Safe Fuel Cell to replace the aluminum tank. Makes the car much safer.

I'll add that to my wish list. There are a lot of minor mods and repairs going on now; the most critical of which is to trace down a problem in the fuel supply system. The first "major" change is likely to be replacing the intake manifold and injectors with a set of four new throttle bodies. That will also allow me to replace the upper right chassis strut that was removed for the Zetec install (with the stock intake).

[tvacc]

The first thing on your list should be a fuel cell. time spent in a burn ward is not good time.

But I understand. I know of no one else that has one in his street 7 other than me. And I have 2 in mine. I try and tell people..but few listen.

Back about 8 years ago we did a survey of 7 owners both here an in Europe. We could not find one instance of someone being killed in a 7.

that is however no longer the case. Somebodys son in Cleveland took a friend out in his dad's 7 and the most unforunate thing occurred.

All in all....7's seem to be pretty safe....but you have to drive it like you are on a motorcycle. Most accidents in 7's happan in the rain.

[mopho]

I have a fuel cell in my car and I have to say it's caused me all kinds of trouble.

[tvacc]

Originally Posted by mopho

I have a fuel cell in my car and I have to say it's caused me all kinds of trouble.

What kind is it? I have 1 fuel safe cells in my car since 1994 or so snd I put in the second one as an upper cell in 2000. I have refurbished one of them 2 times and the upper one will get refurbished next year or so. I also had cells made for my early elans. None has given me one bit of trouble.

I believe that fuel safe used both my elan cells and my Caterham cell as a pattern for products they now sell. My custom upper tank is a modified Caterham JPE tank.

You can see pictures of them on LotusOwners Lotus Owners of New York. Go to the repairs/upgrades section.

[mopho]

It's an ATL "55 liter" (14.5gal) cell that the PO had installed. First off, I don't like it because it takes up what little boot space the car had, so I can fit an umbrella back there, but that is about it.
Gasoline eats away at the foam and that is accelerated by ethanol (CA pump gas contains even more ethanol). This caused the fuel filter, which was foolishly installed inside the tank at the pick up, to clog up with foam and goo. As a result, my very expensive fuel pump ate itself leaving me stranded, and my fuel lines filed with aluminum bits that clogged my injectors causing the car to run terribly. It took months of chasing down bits out of my fuel lines and cleaning the injectors, finally had to have them rebuilt.
Ended up putting new foam in the cell and installing an external inline fuel filter as well as another fuel filter at the fuel rail, but still have had issues with foam in the filter (and it is still a PITA to remove and clean the filter) and the car still doesn't run right.

Also can never get the fuel gauge to work right, so have had to estimate, but just recently ran out of gas, found out the tank is only 12gal, not the 14.5gal it's labeled as, so my math has been off all this time

[uglyduck]

Oh yes, one of Dick Brinks or Dunnell sumps. I was going to get a Zetec from Dick but he didn't have any kicking around so I had a motor built up with the Raceline sump and alloy bell housing. Now to figure out a skid plate. As far as fuel cells go, I am using two pump setup, one low pressure to a swerl pot and then a high pressure for the injectors. I will see if I can get a cell made and then make myself an aluminum housing for.
Go out and enjoy


Z

Originally Posted by Valenz

Sorry for the long delay in answering your last question. I've finally finished the installation of a second lift so I just now had the chance to get the Seven up on its lift. The pan is a shortened (re-baffled) stock pan. I don't know who did the pan modification, but as I said earlier I seem to remember that Dick Brink had someone do this for him, but I've seen similar modifications from Scholar Engines. There was also an aluminum skidpad (not shown in the photo) that was installed to protect the leading edge of the pan.

A.J.