Have I got an Anti-cav/Apollo Tank?

[Tomlil01]

Hi, all,

I have just purchased my first Caterham - a Superlight R300k - and because I'm intending to try my hand at some track days, I was just trying to work out whether my car is fitted with an anti-cav tank. It is not being delivered for a couple of weeks, and the attached is the only picture I have of the engine bay. Is the circled pipe going into the engine going to be coming from an anti-cav tank? I notice that this is only present on the "R" cars, looking at the other k-series cars on the dealer's website.

Also, I've tried to do some research on this forum, and I get the impression that the anti-cav is probably going to be fine (as opposed to a dry sump) for the following reasons:

- I'm only starting out with track driving so probably will be relatively slow on the corners.
- I'll be using road tyres (CR500s), which limits my cornering speed anyway (e.g. versus more race focussed tyres).
- The 1.8 is not highly strung in the R300, compared to more highly tuned engines in R400 etc.

Is my understanding along the right lines?

Cheers,
Lee

[HustleRussell]

Looks like you probably do. The massive rocket shaped anti-cavitation tank which is currently obscured by the nosecone in that picture would be a dead giveaway!

[Tomlil01]

Ha! Yeah, I was guessing it might be somewhere under the nose cone. That's good news. Saves me getting one fitted.

[PiersR]

I am reasonably sure that all wet sump R300 K’s were fitted with the anti cavitation unit as standard. Mine has it fitted and I haven’t seen one without it and I have had mine for 10 years now. Good luck with it. Do you have a local 7 specialist who can help you look after it ?

[Tomlil01]

Thanks. I was wondering whether it was standard. Guess it makes sense for it to be standard on an R300, given it is more track focused.

I've been living in Oz for the last 10 years and am only moving back to the UK in a couple of weeks, so not actually sure where I'll be living yet, and therefore don't have a local specialist! Got my priorities straight, buying a car before I even get back!

Incidentally, do you know whether the R300k has a light weight flywheel as standard? I couldn't find any info on that.

Thanks,

Lee

[BertBert]

OT a little, but do I recall correctly that the early R300s had the RBTBs and the later ones were VVC with "normal" induction?

[Tomlil01]

My one is certainly roller barrel. I think I heard/read that the later ones are variable valve.

[DVandrews]

BertBert said:

OT a little, but do I recall correctly that the early R300s had the RBTBs and the later ones were VVC with "normal" induction?

Exactly right.

Dave

[PiersR]

I am not sure if the R300K has a lightweight flywheel as standard. The R500 certainly did.

[Tomlil01]

For anyone else who might be interested, I contacted Caterham to get confirmation regarding the light weight flywheel.

They have confirmed that the RBTB R300 has a lightweight flywheel as standard.

They weren't sure whether it was standard on the non-RBTB R300.

Lee

[PiersR]

That is interesting information. I had no idea it had a lightened flywheel. My 2004 R300 is the same as yours and has a Throttle bodies. Hope your move is going ok considering all the Corvid issues. If you move to the south east of England, you will have Classics & Sevens based at Brands Hatch to help you with your R300. They look after mine and are first class.

[Tomlil01]

PiersR said:

That is interesting information. I had no idea it had a lightened flywheel. My 2004 R300 is the same as yours and has a Throttle bodies. Hope your move is going ok considering all the Corvid issues. If you move to the south east of England, you will have Classics & Sevens based at Brands Hatch to help you with your R300. They look after mine and are first class.

I'm trusting they gave the correct information. A couple of people at Caterham said it was standard, so I'm hoping they're right.

My understanding is that it should rev more quickly than the standard flywheel. Not sure whether you've driven a car with a standard flywheel to compare?

I'm likely to be reasonably close to GP Sevens so I will keep that in mind. Thanks for the recommendation..Thinking I might go somewhere to get the suspension adjusted ("flat floor setup", people seem to call it).

[PiersR]

If you are moving to Kent, both east and west Kent have an active 7 scene with three separate monthly meetings spread around the county- when allowed of course.

We also have some excellent 7 specialists too.

Piers

[Tomlil01]

Thanks, Piers. That's good to hear. I'll be staying with relatives in Ramsgate whilst I look for a place to buy, so might be able to join some of these meets whilst I'm there.

[PiersR]

OK, so if you are in Ramsgate, your nearest meet is:

East Kent Meeting at the Ringlestone Inn (2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00PM) Ringlestone Road, Nr Harrietsham, ME17 1NX. By the way, this pub is in the middle of nowhere and not that easy to find. You will need a Sat Nav. Contact is Garry Hooton

Further away are:

North Kent Meeting: Fox & Hounds, Toys Hill Road, Brasted Chart, Westerham, TN16 1QG. (4th Tuesday of the month at 07:00 PM) Check before attending as it can move. Contact is Richard Brunero.

Kent Weald Meeting: The Spotted Dog, Smarts Hill, Nr Penshurst, TN11 8EP. (3rd Tuesday of the month at 07:30 PM) Check before attending. There is no area organiser at the moment.

None of the above meetings are taking place at the moment due to the Epidemic. I am not sure when they re-start. A number of areas have Zoom meetings and East Kent meets this way at the moment. I can provide telephone contact numbers for the East and North Kent area organisers in due course if needed.

I live near Canterbury, so no far away. There are plenty of 7 owners about in Kent, but the cars tend to be tucked away for the worst part of Winter, due to salt on the roads. Slightly different to Australia !

Piers