New 420R owner
Discussion
BertBert said:
Curious as to why you fitted tow straps when you have towing eyes anyway?
Mainly to make it more obvious where they are, also the towing eyes are pretty small, you would need a tow strap to use the towing eyes anyway I would imagine, so fitting these takes care of all that.framerateuk said:
I meant to ask too, how was fitting the new rear lights?
I didn't realise they came with the reversing light built in too! Did they come with the little blanking parts?
Fitting the lights wasn’t bad at all! Took about an afternoon, yes the kit comes with everything.I didn't realise they came with the reversing light built in too! Did they come with the little blanking parts?
The only things I did differently was when routing the wires the video states to drill a load of holes in the chassis rail and secure the wires with clips and rivets, but I didn’t fancy Swiss cheesing the rear chassis bar! So I managed to secure the passenger side wires with one cable tie that I managed to get around one of the upright chassis rails and that worked fine. I didn’t drill any more homes for the number plate light either, I just used 3M tape and secured using one screw in the middle using the existing holes.
Also, you are left with a big hole and 4 old screw holes in the rear wing after fitting the new lights, I sealed all of them up with heat resistant silicone, so you don’t end up with mountains of grot behind the lights.
I had my first track day out in the seven at Bedford autodrome on Monday.
the car is incredible out on track, my last track car was a BMW M4, so it took a bit of adjusting with the driving style getting used to driving a light car.
the cornering speed and braking in these cars are mind blowing! It's going to take a while for me to catch up with the cars capability's for sure!
the car is incredible out on track, my last track car was a BMW M4, so it took a bit of adjusting with the driving style getting used to driving a light car.
the cornering speed and braking in these cars are mind blowing! It's going to take a while for me to catch up with the cars capability's for sure!
Finally a member of the Aeroscreen club, the change is absolutely fantastic! On the road the sensation of speed is such it feels like you have another 50bhp. The car feels so much more frantic and raw.
I took it out at Bedford autodrome GT circuit yesterday and on track the Aeroscreen is amazing, more visibility and another level of engagement, you feel like you are in a single seater at times. on the main straight with windscreen the car would “stall” at around 120mph, whereas with the Aeroscreen the car was still pulling hard up to 130mph until you have to lift for the chicane.
Very happy! It looks fantastic too.
I took it out at Bedford autodrome GT circuit yesterday and on track the Aeroscreen is amazing, more visibility and another level of engagement, you feel like you are in a single seater at times. on the main straight with windscreen the car would “stall” at around 120mph, whereas with the Aeroscreen the car was still pulling hard up to 130mph until you have to lift for the chicane.
Very happy! It looks fantastic too.
jezzaaa said:
Hey Max ... nice looking 7. I've ordered mine with the windscreen, but how difficult is it to remove the screen and fit the aero screen? Ta.
If you can order the aero screen to come with your car as well as the windscreen that’s a very good idea, when you do that, the factory will fit the retaining channels behind the ends of the scuttle, which is a bit of a horrible job.If the retaining channels are already fitted it’s a 5 minute job to change them over.
Matt W said:
Lovely looking car and great to see you enjoying it so much.
Do you have lowered floors? In those track photos it looks like you'e sitting quite high up and your helmet is almost the same level as the top of the roll bar.
Thanks mate, yes I do have lowered floors, I did notice that also, bit too close for comfort with the helmet, not sure what else I could do, maybe try and lose the adjustable seat rails and solid mount the seat lower?Do you have lowered floors? In those track photos it looks like you'e sitting quite high up and your helmet is almost the same level as the top of the roll bar.
Fitted a few bits I had in the garage this week, some posh hardware for the aero screen etc
Low profile rear Center caps
High effort brake pedal and master cylinder shim (not sure I have this set up correctly, the pedal seems softer and travel longer than the standard pedal, I have a feeling the shim is causing the issue)
And fitted a GO RACING QR boss and upper column, feels much more solid than the lifeline, zero play, and the steering wheel spacer is much lighter than the old one I had, plus it looks great!
I fitted a new upper steering bush at the same time, as there was some play in the old one, all in all feels much better!
Sorted a few niggles too, removed the grill 7 and cleaned it is was filthy and re attached one of my carbon front carnards as there was one rivet that I didn’t instal correctly originally.
Unfortunately I also found that the new radiator fitted by Caterham two months ago is leaking now in the same place as the last one! This is radiator number 3. I think this time I will get Caterham to send me a new rad and fit it myself, as I think the issue is in the mounting and hardness of the top coolant hose, and needs some investigation.
Low profile rear Center caps
High effort brake pedal and master cylinder shim (not sure I have this set up correctly, the pedal seems softer and travel longer than the standard pedal, I have a feeling the shim is causing the issue)
And fitted a GO RACING QR boss and upper column, feels much more solid than the lifeline, zero play, and the steering wheel spacer is much lighter than the old one I had, plus it looks great!
I fitted a new upper steering bush at the same time, as there was some play in the old one, all in all feels much better!
Sorted a few niggles too, removed the grill 7 and cleaned it is was filthy and re attached one of my carbon front carnards as there was one rivet that I didn’t instal correctly originally.
Unfortunately I also found that the new radiator fitted by Caterham two months ago is leaking now in the same place as the last one! This is radiator number 3. I think this time I will get Caterham to send me a new rad and fit it myself, as I think the issue is in the mounting and hardness of the top coolant hose, and needs some investigation.
KnifeySpoony said:
Does the upper coolant hose touch anything (like the frame bracket) other than the radiator itself? The radiator needs to be able to able to move around on its rubber mounts. I think some have had issue where chassis vibration caused rad failure. I noticed on my car that the end of the coolant hose was touching the bracket and potentially limiting radiator freedom to move, so I trimmed the hose a bit there and the rad is free to move better.
Yes it does touch the hose slightly, I think the issue might be that top rubber hose is too stiff.When I fit the new rad I might see if I can replace part of it with silicone to reduce the vibration in that top corner. I have seen another 420r owner has done that and it seems to have cured the issue.
Not much to report, removed Aeroscreen and changed back to windscreen and doors. Went for a good blat as I haven't driven the car in a few weeks. Miss the Aeroscreen already! Gave her a quick clean when I got back.
When the car was laid up while on holiday I had left the indicator on, and even though the ignition was off and the car was on a ctek it killed the battery, which I find odd! But got a new banner from redline and all is well again!
When the car was laid up while on holiday I had left the indicator on, and even though the ignition was off and the car was on a ctek it killed the battery, which I find odd! But got a new banner from redline and all is well again!
A few shots from Snetterton on Thursday, a great day and loads of Sevens there.
getting a lot more confidence in the car now, and learning a lot every time I go out on track with it.
the high effort brake pedal i fitted a few weeks ago made a huge difference on track, so much more progressive and a lot more feel at the bottom than the stock pedal, you can feel much better when the car is about to lock up, really impressed with the difference.
I did burn through a set of rear pads, luckily it only happened about a mile from home, the car sounded like a rusty old train coming to a stop, so I have some new pads on order and get that sorted soon!
getting a lot more confidence in the car now, and learning a lot every time I go out on track with it.
the high effort brake pedal i fitted a few weeks ago made a huge difference on track, so much more progressive and a lot more feel at the bottom than the stock pedal, you can feel much better when the car is about to lock up, really impressed with the difference.
I did burn through a set of rear pads, luckily it only happened about a mile from home, the car sounded like a rusty old train coming to a stop, so I have some new pads on order and get that sorted soon!
A few more bits off the “to do” list this week.
Fitted a quad lock wireless charging phone mount, which works nicely!
Also fitted a fire stick I bought a while ago
Finally I fitted a 255mm SPA steering wheel I had in the garage, as my Momo was almost completely bald, so I thought I would try out the SPA until I get a new Momo
And a nice shot from Bicester heritage last week
Fitted a quad lock wireless charging phone mount, which works nicely!
Also fitted a fire stick I bought a while ago
Finally I fitted a 255mm SPA steering wheel I had in the garage, as my Momo was almost completely bald, so I thought I would try out the SPA until I get a new Momo
And a nice shot from Bicester heritage last week
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